-- (copying post by kellog. original posted thread is at: https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/7603/P30/) --
I would like to thank Hard Woods for opening up his home to the group and Harley for bringing his Supersplit mechanical splitter. Both of these guys are very helpful and are true gentlemen.
The Supersplit (Photo links below) started and ran flawlessly for the hour or so that I was there. The 4 HP Honda motor is very quiet. The design is clean and efficient. This splitter is very quick with about a 3 second total cycle. This speed is one of the best features of the machine. While the speed makes it highly productive, extra care must be taken as there is no room for errors. Those who tend to be “accident prone” may not want to use this splitter.
Ninety percent of the pieces split in the first shot. Another 5% would have split in the first shot if we had chosen a better line on the wood instead of trying to go right down the middle of a large piece with a crotch or ugly knots running thru it. Even for the 5% that need to be hit more than once, the speed of the machine allowed this to happen very quickly. I would say that a few more pieces did not split on the first shot with this machine than with other types of machines however the speed more than compensated for this minor short fall as a piece could be hit twice or three times in the same time other machines would take one hit.
Probably the one splittng flaw in the machine was the tendency for “kick outs” caused by a round that was cut at a small angle instead of at 90 degrees to the centerline. There were an extraordinary number of these “kick outs” compared to any other type of splitter I have run. The solution to this issue is not obvious due to the design of the unit but the problem should be able to be solved somehow. The manufacturer should address this issue as it is a relatively unsafe condition.
The one non-splitting flaw in the unit (and granted this was not the latest model unit) is that it is relatively unsafe from a mechanical standpoint. The flywheels are exposed on the lower part of the housing by 1-2 inches. It would be easy to get a finger or clothing caught between the flywheel and the cover. There were several other areas where one could get caught in the mechanical parts of the machine (clutch, belt, etc.). This could very easily be resolved by making a better cover for the unit. I would think the reduced liability exposure involved would far outweigh the cost of the new cover. I’m not sure OSHA would like this part of the machine at all.
Overall I would give this machine a very good rating because it is totally mechanical (very low maintenance) and very fast. Its shortcomings are few and the likely resolvable.
I would like to embarrass Harley and Hard Woods here in hopes of making them safer. Neither used any appropriate PPE during this run. I’m not doing this because I don’t like you guys. On the contrary, I’m doing it because I do like you guys very much and want you to be safe.
Everybody please use the appropriate PPE when using any machinery. You don’t need it 999 times out of 1000 but the one time you do need it could leave you blind, maimed or missing an appendage if you don’t have it.
Again thank you Hard Woods and Harley for your hospitality and time in showing off the Supersplit splitter. I just wish more of the group could have participated in the demo.
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/kelsmi/IMG_0901.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/kelsmi/IMG_0900.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/kelsmi/IMG_0899.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/kelsmi/IMG_0895.jpg
I would like to thank Hard Woods for opening up his home to the group and Harley for bringing his Supersplit mechanical splitter. Both of these guys are very helpful and are true gentlemen.
The Supersplit (Photo links below) started and ran flawlessly for the hour or so that I was there. The 4 HP Honda motor is very quiet. The design is clean and efficient. This splitter is very quick with about a 3 second total cycle. This speed is one of the best features of the machine. While the speed makes it highly productive, extra care must be taken as there is no room for errors. Those who tend to be “accident prone” may not want to use this splitter.
Ninety percent of the pieces split in the first shot. Another 5% would have split in the first shot if we had chosen a better line on the wood instead of trying to go right down the middle of a large piece with a crotch or ugly knots running thru it. Even for the 5% that need to be hit more than once, the speed of the machine allowed this to happen very quickly. I would say that a few more pieces did not split on the first shot with this machine than with other types of machines however the speed more than compensated for this minor short fall as a piece could be hit twice or three times in the same time other machines would take one hit.
Probably the one splittng flaw in the machine was the tendency for “kick outs” caused by a round that was cut at a small angle instead of at 90 degrees to the centerline. There were an extraordinary number of these “kick outs” compared to any other type of splitter I have run. The solution to this issue is not obvious due to the design of the unit but the problem should be able to be solved somehow. The manufacturer should address this issue as it is a relatively unsafe condition.
The one non-splitting flaw in the unit (and granted this was not the latest model unit) is that it is relatively unsafe from a mechanical standpoint. The flywheels are exposed on the lower part of the housing by 1-2 inches. It would be easy to get a finger or clothing caught between the flywheel and the cover. There were several other areas where one could get caught in the mechanical parts of the machine (clutch, belt, etc.). This could very easily be resolved by making a better cover for the unit. I would think the reduced liability exposure involved would far outweigh the cost of the new cover. I’m not sure OSHA would like this part of the machine at all.
Overall I would give this machine a very good rating because it is totally mechanical (very low maintenance) and very fast. Its shortcomings are few and the likely resolvable.
I would like to embarrass Harley and Hard Woods here in hopes of making them safer. Neither used any appropriate PPE during this run. I’m not doing this because I don’t like you guys. On the contrary, I’m doing it because I do like you guys very much and want you to be safe.
Everybody please use the appropriate PPE when using any machinery. You don’t need it 999 times out of 1000 but the one time you do need it could leave you blind, maimed or missing an appendage if you don’t have it.
Again thank you Hard Woods and Harley for your hospitality and time in showing off the Supersplit splitter. I just wish more of the group could have participated in the demo.
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/kelsmi/IMG_0901.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/kelsmi/IMG_0900.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/kelsmi/IMG_0899.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/kelsmi/IMG_0895.jpg
