Suggestions?

G, I'm in kinda the same situation.

My Wood Dude is coming in with a splitter and charging me a way lower rate than a cord of wood, to split what I have ready to go.

Wood cut off of the property, free labor, etc.

Maybe an idea, to help you out?

I am thinking a bunch of Opa Opa IPA and a good meal would get me to split your wood. Maybe put that out there for bait. going to be firing up the splitter soon before the snow starts to fly.


KC

Girl said:

CZARCAR said:

whats an easy splitter?

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http://www.northlineexpress.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=5EM-1162

There is also this-

http://www.northlineexpress.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=5MH-S-SPLITTER

Thanks!

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The second of these is also available from Bailey's (and at a much better price). Go to:

http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=15720&catID=251

Here's what they said, "We initially tested this simple, easy-to-assemble, lightweight and extremely well-made device on 6" to 12" diameter oak rounds. As we suspected, it would probably be easier to swing a maul on serious hardwood, but with some added manual force it did eventually split the oak after striking a few times. After a bit of practice the Smart-Splitter is effective on small to medium size wood and larger pieces of already split firewood. The Smart-Splitter works extremely well for safely and precisely splitting kindling without the danger of swinging a hatchet.

It seems to be a decent product. But it isn't cheap so before I considered it I'd want to be pretty sure I needed it for years to come and not just this load of wood.

Those easy splitters don't look to be as good as the models where the telescopic handle slides. The telescopic models let you put both hands and you back into it for a more powerful blow.

http://www.amazon.com/Anaconda-878-Slide-Hammer-Log-Splitter/dp/B000VL6L24

Girl said:

I just got next years delivery a couple days ago oak & maple.
Lots of big pieces that I like resplit maybe half a cord to a cord worth resplit, won't know for sure until spring when I start stacking.

Here is my problem-
My wood splitter, the BF, may have a torn rotater cuff.
Me, bad neck, shoulder & back, I can't swing an axe or maul.
Can't justify renting a splitter, not much to be split, if I knew someone that could also use it locally, sure.
Anyone familiar with those easy splitters?
How much would be a fair fee to have someone split a cord?

Thanks!

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Girl, I know exactly what you are talking about. However, there are ways to work around this problem.

Naturally, the easiest is to get someone to split it for you. Why not use that person who helps you out on other things? Some beer, a few good meals, something that he really likes but perhaps is expensive so he doesn't get it often, etc. Or perhaps a gift to go along with a hobby of his. Is he a hunter or fisher? Lots of things you could get that he would enjoy. Or maybe even offer a neighbor kid $10 or $20 to do the splitting.

Now to the bad neck, shoulder and back. Because I have all the above and have had for years I can speak from experience. Although I now own a nice splitter (thank God!) that makes this chore very easy, it was not always so. For many years I still did most of the splitting by hand myself. Many folks would not believe me and I even had to show a few doubters.

Simply what I did was to use a maul, not a splitting maul though. A maul and three wedges. I first sat a log on end, placed a hot seat on it and sat my butt down. I then placed a wedge where it was required and began tapping it with the maul. Sometimes it would take two wedges to do make the split. Sometimes I'd even drive two wedges together; that is, drive one wedge in part way then the other wedge right BESIDE it. Hit one wedge then the other, etc.

It took some time and I had to take many, many breaks, but I got the job done. Many times I could only split one log before having to stop. So, I'd do one in the morning and the next one would wait until I felt good enough to attempt another. For sure it took me a long time to split all of our wood, but I got the job done and felt rather proud that I could still work albeit very slow.

Good luck.

Girl in my experience it's a lot easier to split already split wood. So one of those pole splitters might be easier than you think. In the picture from the link I see the back is straight and in the other the arm isn't being raised over the shoulder. The only other advice I have is don't go cheap on tools...maybe you can call around and find a saw shop that has one of those pole splitters for sale you can test out.

We bought a portable electric log splitter this fall; Ryobi is the brand, cost around $300. The nice thing about it is we can now split wood while working in our attached garage, out of the wind and cold.

Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45O5vxocK-4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NklzLkfh-54

The Ryobi sits very low to the ground so we raised it up using this small table: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200328399_200328399

Everything stores nice and compactly in the garage.

Shari

Where are you located? I might be interested in splitting a splitter with you for a weekend if you are local.

I use a Woodwiz ( http://www.woodwiz.com/ ) on some of the smaller wood I split and sometimes for resplitting splits. It works fairly well on wood that is not too difficult to split, but not work a tinker's damn on Eukie, Gum, or other tough to split wood (OTOH, when splitting those w/ rented 20 ton splitter, its more like tearing them apart than splitting them!).

One thing to stay away from is the hand or foot powered hydraulic splitters. Slower than the slide type (Smart Splitter, Woodwiz, etc.) on easy wood, not worth a darn on tough wood.

Peace,
- Sequoia

Sounds like one of the small electrics would work OK for you, aside from the price - however I've often seen them on Craig's list for fairly short money. I have one of those spear type splitters, and don't find it any easier than a maul or axe, but it is a different action so it might work OK for your maladies. However I think it might be easiest to do some kind of exchange (i.e. home cooked meal, beer, etc) to hire a "set of musckles" to do it for you.

Gooserider

try this http://worcester.craigslist.org/grd/972097611.html
it may be a little to much but honestly with the medical conditions you are describing its going to help you guys go a long way IF wood burning is a way of life for you ... if it is something because of the economy i understand ....
i split at least half of my 8cds by hand and it takes a toll on me ... i have found people to let me borrow splitters or rent and i am trying to get everything done before march .... but last year my wood came late so i did rent a splitter for 75 bucks for the weekend and split 4cds with it... when my luck runs out i will get one because 20 years from i still wanna be able to play... and the way my shoulder hurts now i know a rotator tear is coming for me as well......