Picked Up A New Splitter Yesterday!
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cptoneleg said:
When the rounds weigh 150 pounds there is nothing easy about sitting down and splitting. Thats why I roll them to a log lift. :coolgrin:
I believe I am the guy who told the above poster about the log cradle off ebay. I do have one question for all the vertical splitters on here, how do you get your wood to the splitter other than getting up off your butt and going and getting the log? I agree with using the splitter in vertical if the wood weighs a ton, but sitting and then getting up to get the wood doesn't make sense to me.cptoneleg said:
Shipper
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
firefighterjake said:Backwoods Savage said:
Now hold on Dennis . . . it was one thing when you were saying that folks should split vertically since it is easier on the back and knees and that it was the superior way to do so . . . now you're saying a troglodyte like me isn't sophisticated enough to be able to split vertically and I should probably stick to splitting my wood horizontally . . .
Sorry about that Jake! You are okay so you have my permission to go ahead and learn how do split wood the correct way. You too Jags.
Shipper50 said:
Shipper - I believe the master of vertical (Dennis) uses a hook (hookeroon) to pull wood to the splitter. Thats all fine and good with smaller stuff, but it doesn't happen to 30" white oak rounds. Heck, I have had rounds so big that they weren't gonna slide - period. They had to be rolled.
Note: Jags can muster a lot more power standing then sitting.
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Shipper50 said:
No. One does not get up to go get the next log. That would be foolish; sort of like bending over to pick up the next log. No, one simply places the splitter next to the stack of wood and simply reaches for the next log. I usually do this one-handed by tipping the log onto it's edge and rolling it like we used to roll the old milk cans. That is the easiest way I know of to do it.
As for the log cradle doing the lifting, you still have to roll the log onto the cradle. Do you do this while standing or do you have to bend over to roll the log? My point is that although I do try to not be lazy, I still like to do things the simplest and easiest way. Now if I could get Jake to learn this it would be a happy day. lol
For sure there will be some big logs that one has to wrestle while on your feet but those are the exceptions (not matter how you split) and not the rule.
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Jags, no, I do not use a hook. I use my hands. As for a 30" oak round, I see no reason I could not do that while sitting. I do not slide any log; large or small. I tip them and roll them.
Perhaps the rolling is what people misunderstand. I do not lay them flat and roll them but tip them onto their edge. Try it, you might like it.
Perhaps the rolling is what people misunderstand. I do not lay them flat and roll them but tip them onto their edge. Try it, you might like it.
Got Wood
Minister of Fire
I split in vertical mode 100% of the time. I typically have my rounds to be split piled or stacked. I start by locating my splitter close to the pile to be split and plan where I'm gonna toss the splits....usually on the opposite side of the to be split pile. I start off splitting everything within arms reach of my sitting position. Then, yep I do get up (stretch too) and roll/move the next set of rounds to be split to within arms reach. This usually means I have to get up and do this maybe every 10 min which I find to be a nice break. Moving the rounds usually means just rolling them closer, sometimes lifting or tossing them....not much effort.
Getting wood to the splitter cant be avoided (I see no difference in horizontal or vertical in this regard, other than maybe having to "get up off your butt" which to me is a good thing!). Once the wood is at the splitter I find it ALOT less work and effort to split vertically - rolling and turning the logs on the ground is easier than lifting, holding, etc off the ground.
Getting wood to the splitter cant be avoided (I see no difference in horizontal or vertical in this regard, other than maybe having to "get up off your butt" which to me is a good thing!). Once the wood is at the splitter I find it ALOT less work and effort to split vertically - rolling and turning the logs on the ground is easier than lifting, holding, etc off the ground.
Backwoods Savage said:
I see that I need to take a pic of my rounds pile. For me it seems to be the rule. That is actually why I get so many people contacting me to get the stuff. Nobody else wants to touch some of that big stuff.
That is also part of the reason I pick on the sittin' and splittin' method. It simply wouldn't work for the majority of the stuff I split. :coolsmile:
Edit: Dennis - probably 50% of the rounds I currently have will take a powerlift (think weight lifter) to get on its edge. I am 6 ft tall and weigh in at about 240 pounds of farm boy. It ain't gonna happen sitting down.
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Hmmm . . . while I find splitting horizontally to be more comfortable I do like the ability to go vertical and do so . . . with the real big boys that are just a little too heavy for me . . . it's about the only time I go vertical . . . but when I do I find it very convenient to do so.
SolarAndWood
Minister of Fire
mayhem
Minister of Fire
Shipper50 said:
Agreed you have to get up and get the wood, I'm just looking at the action of putting the rounds in the splitter and then splitting them. From my point of view its a lot easier over time to have to pick the rounds up an inch or so to put them on the vertical instead of picking the whole thing up to waist height to lay it on a hoizontal beam. Not talking about 120lb 24" rounds here, but a mound of 10-12" rounds...less lifting means less fatigue and a lot more work that can be done in the course of a day.
At least thats how it looks to me. To each their own.
Lumber-Jack
Minister of Fire
I look forward to one day getting (or building) a wood splitter, but right now, with two teenage boys, I just can't justify it. In fact it would probably slow our wood processing system down. Practically everyone agrees that you can split wood manually faster than you can split it with a hydraulic splitter, but only for a while, then you get tired and slow down, where with a hydraulic splitter you can keep up a stead pace without getting tired. With our system we operate tag team on the splitting maul, chop like heck on the maul until you get tired, then trade off and stack for a while until you get the urge to split again. Using this system we can go through a cord or two in very quick order.
The benefits of manual splitting are great and the confidence and skill my boys have gained with that splitting maul is impressive, few adult men can wield that maul like they can. One other benefit my older son has with manual splitting is that he is able apply his wood splitting time towards his physical education schooling (he takes home schooling).
All that said I would still like to get a hydraulic splitter, because they are great power tools to play around with and I'm always thinking about what type and size would be best for us and how we would use it, and I've been following this vertical/horizontal debate to some degree. The way I see it, I would probably be splitting most of my stuff horizontal and here is why.
All of us try our best to move the wood the least amount of times possible. In my case I go cut and haul my own wood home in my pick up. Then we usually unload the rounds in a pile near our splitting area close to the wood shed. From there we split it and stack it in the shed. Because we cut standing dead wood only it is almost always ready to burn, but even if it needs a little more seasoning time my shed is long and narrow, so the wood gets plenty of sun and air to dry while it's in the shed. If I had a hydraulic splitter it would save a step and be much easier to split the wood as it comes off the back of the truck, and from there it would go directly into the wood shed. This would eliminate a whole wood processing step and reduce the amount of bending over quite a bit.
Of course not everybody has the same system, and this wouldn't work for a lot of wood burners, but the way I see it happening you can count us in among those who support horizontal splitting, if and when we ever get a hydraulic splitter that is. ;-P
The benefits of manual splitting are great and the confidence and skill my boys have gained with that splitting maul is impressive, few adult men can wield that maul like they can. One other benefit my older son has with manual splitting is that he is able apply his wood splitting time towards his physical education schooling (he takes home schooling).
All that said I would still like to get a hydraulic splitter, because they are great power tools to play around with and I'm always thinking about what type and size would be best for us and how we would use it, and I've been following this vertical/horizontal debate to some degree. The way I see it, I would probably be splitting most of my stuff horizontal and here is why.
All of us try our best to move the wood the least amount of times possible. In my case I go cut and haul my own wood home in my pick up. Then we usually unload the rounds in a pile near our splitting area close to the wood shed. From there we split it and stack it in the shed. Because we cut standing dead wood only it is almost always ready to burn, but even if it needs a little more seasoning time my shed is long and narrow, so the wood gets plenty of sun and air to dry while it's in the shed. If I had a hydraulic splitter it would save a step and be much easier to split the wood as it comes off the back of the truck, and from there it would go directly into the wood shed. This would eliminate a whole wood processing step and reduce the amount of bending over quite a bit.
Of course not everybody has the same system, and this wouldn't work for a lot of wood burners, but the way I see it happening you can count us in among those who support horizontal splitting, if and when we ever get a hydraulic splitter that is. ;-P
thewoodlands
Minister of Fire
Lumber-Jack
Minister of Fire
Could be, but I might ruin him if I go hydraulic. May have to wait till they move out. :-/zapny said:
nocdpc
New Member
checking bolts all the time is good advice. I also spray my splitter down in spring and fall with WD-40 and coat it real nice. It keeps the rust to a minimum...
bogydave
Minister of Fire
Jags said:
+1
I built a table on the outboard side for mine.
The cradle gets in the way when lifting wood onto the splitter.
That way , the side I stand on (inboard side) , I can stand close.
I really like the cradle beam design, the rounds center themselves & stay in place.
I let the outboard split roll onto the table & hold the inboard split/ split it or throw it to the pile.
Big stuff I use the vertical method.
You'll love the splitter, Good one for me so far. (mine is a Speeco with a Honda)
I did go over mine top to bottom.
Checked all bolts, put in a bigger beam lock pin.
Checked the wheel bearings for proper tightness..
Cut the excess bolt sticking out beyond the nut on the wedge.
The tongue stand is a PIA, I may replace it with a pivoting trailer jack. Pinched my finger a few time already
Have fun
Looks like I made a good choice with this splitter. I appreciate all of the tips and techniques shared here!
Highbeam
Minister of Fire
I am eyeballing that same splitter. Jealous of your purchase. You didn't say which engine but I see no need to buy an upgrade on teh engine when the briggs is so good these days.
Oh, and I always split vertical while kneeling. I roll a hlaf dozen rounds to the splitter and chop them up, throw them to the right, grab a new round from the left.
I do not agree that hand splitting is faster unless, a big unless, the rounds are small and clear. We have knots in our wood that mean several maul swings per split vs. a single hydro stroke.
Oh, and I always split vertical while kneeling. I roll a hlaf dozen rounds to the splitter and chop them up, throw them to the right, grab a new round from the left.
I do not agree that hand splitting is faster unless, a big unless, the rounds are small and clear. We have knots in our wood that mean several maul swings per split vs. a single hydro stroke.
CarbonNeutral
Minister of Fire
Bought the same about a month ago from TSC - loving it. Great splitter - goes through anything I throw at it. The Briggs engine has worked great so far.
EDIT: remembered my point - I think this splitter is far better than the YTD yard machines one I've used before which retails for $1400 plus. Search the forums for some horror stories
EDIT: remembered my point - I think this splitter is far better than the YTD yard machines one I've used before which retails for $1400 plus. Search the forums for some horror stories
Highbeam said:
Highbeam
The splitter has a Briggs engine and from what I hear, it's a solid performer and I'm very happy with it. Don't have any plans to upgrade.
EDIT: remembered my point - I think this splitter is far better than the YTD yard machines one I've used before which retails for $1400 plus. Search the forums for some horror stories[/quote]
+1
Searching through the forums and customer reviews for the Huskee and other brands helped me make the decision. Oh yeah.. and most importantly, the price was right! ;-)
+1
Searching through the forums and customer reviews for the Huskee and other brands helped me make the decision. Oh yeah.. and most importantly, the price was right! ;-)
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