What have you done to or with your splitter today?

[Tar12]

After a few years years of choking big logs with 5/16" chains, I just bought my first pair of big tongs. Haven't used them yet, but I'm sure I will over the holiday vacation. Can't wait to stop passing choker chains under logs, as that is the one thing that wears me out more than anything else, on wood skidding days.

It does get old...may try a set myself.

 

[Sodbuster]

After a few years years of choking big logs with 5/16" chains, I just bought my first pair of big tongs. Haven't used them yet, but I'm sure I will over the holiday vacation. Can't wait to stop passing choker chains under logs, as that is the one thing that wears me out more than anything else, on wood skidding days.

Where and what kind did you get Ashful?

 

[firefighterjake]

Splitter is in bed now . . . waiting until Spring and no snow until I fire it up again.

 

[VirginiaIron]

After a few years years of choking big logs with 5/16" chains, I just bought my first pair of big tongs. Haven't used them yet, but I'm sure I will over the holiday vacation. Can't wait to stop passing choker chains under logs, as that is the one thing that wears me out more than anything else, on wood skidding days.

I cut mine into pieces and I couldn't believe how much more energy it took to roll them up hill. The last time I rolled them up hill was a mistake on my part but this time I wanted to preserve the appearance of the area I was in- maybe it was still my mistake as it wears me out, haha.

 

[Ashful]

Where and what kind did you get Ashful?

Despite some mixed reviews, I decided to try these:

Heavy Duty, SOLID STEEL 32" Swivel Skidding Tongs, for Logging, Forester, Timber Cutting https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EGLM0Y2/?tag=hearthamazon-20

Mine arrived sharp, and seemingly well-built. I’ll be sure to let you know how they work soon, I usually start cutting in January.

 

[maple1]

Splitter is in bed now . . . waiting until Spring and no snow until I fire it up again.

Mine too - tucked it in this past Saturday.

 

[Sodbuster]

Despite some mixed reviews, I decided to try these:

Heavy Duty, SOLID STEEL 32" Swivel Skidding Tongs, for Logging, Forester, Timber Cutting https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EGLM0Y2/?tag=hearthamazon-20

Mine arrived sharp, and seemingly well-built. I’ll be sure to let you know how they work soon, I usually start cutting in January.

I would completely discount that first review, some people groan about anything. If their dull grab a grinder, and in 30 seconds, their sharp. Look nice.

 

[Tar12]

Splitter is in bed now . . . waiting until Spring and no snow until I fire it up again.

I cut and split year round but really ramp it up when the ground freezes and allows access across crop fields to wood lots.

 

[firefighterjake]

I cut and split year round but really ramp it up when the ground freezes and allows access across crop fields to wood lots.

Too much snow here . . . a couple more inches and we'll start seeing a lot more folks riding their sleds locally. Up north they're riding already.

 

[VirginiaIron]

I would completely discount that first review, some people groan about anything. If their dull grab a grinder, and in 30 seconds, their sharp. Look nice.

I only observed two reviews at that link. I dismiss all ratings that do not go into detail, unless there are many reviews that are either positive OR negative.

 

[Tar12]

Too much snow here . . . a couple more inches and we'll start seeing a lot more folks riding their sleds locally. Up north they're riding already.

Never thought about your location...we do not get that kind of snow thank god!

 

[firefighterjake]

Never thought about your location...we do not get that kind of snow thank god!

Ah, you don't know what you are missing. Riding my snowmobile is one of my favorite things to do in the winter . . . which is why I look forward to the season so much . . . second favorite thing is sitting in front of a roaring fire on a cold, winter night.

 

[jwfirebird]

I like doing It in the snow. frozen ground in jan/feb is better than the swamp a couple feet of snow turns into in spring. plus I get to feel like I need to do something outside. not much to do otherwise, atv trails are closed

 

[Tar12]

Ah, you don't know what you are missing. Riding my snowmobile is one of my favorite things to do in the winter . . . which is why I look forward to the season so much . . . second favorite thing is sitting in front of a roaring fire on a cold, winter night.

Years ago when we had regular winters here and regular snow fall snowmobiling was the thing to do...miss those days.

 

[Ashful]

second favorite thing is sitting in front of a roaring fire on a cold, winter night.

Add a nice snifter of cognac, and I’d reverse that order.

 

[Ashful]

I like doing It in the snow. frozen ground in jan/feb is better than the swamp a couple feet of snow turns into in spring. plus I get to feel like I need to do something outside. not much to do otherwise, atv trails are closed

Ditto. I do all of my felling, skidding, hauling, and bucking in Jan-March each year. I can fell, skid, and haul 2 cords per day, so it really just comes down to setting aside three or four Saturdays, each winter.

The only obstacle, as I age, is going from “sitting at desk” mode to “lumberjack” mode. It used to happen seamlessly in my 30’s... now it’s a little more painful.

 

[jetsam]

Ditto. I do all of my felling, skidding, hauling, and bucking in Jan-March each year. I can fell, skid, and haul 2 cords per day, so it really just comes down to setting aside three or four Saturdays, each winter.

The only obstacle, as I age, is going from “sitting at desk” mode to “lumberjack” mode. It used to happen seamlessly in my 30’s... now it’s a little more painful.

Jeez. I'm currently sitting down "for a minute" waiting for the naproxen sodium to kick in before I go outside.... meh.

I really should be getting in some wood for 3 years out, but I'm going to do the brakes on one of the cars and work on the hydraulics on the plow truck instead!

 

[jwfirebird]

i can never get ahead, always more important seems like, been pretty decent here but ive had to work on the wifes fuel pump, seems never ending.

i normally try to spread it out so i will work one sat then recoup, i dont hurry, seems to save the body better.

 

[thewoodlands]

We still don't have much snow so I split some cherry today.

 

[VirginiaIron]

Yesterday and today I split up some of the larger trees I layed down on Saturday.

Those rounds that I could roll downhill were a breeze, but going uphill is another story.

It's time for a winch, and tongs.

I ordered a 16 and 32 inch set from Northern Tool. They don't have swivels but after seeing a larger number of positive reviews. I figured I would try them and add a swivel if needed.
EDIT: updated incorrect information

https://m.northerntool.com/products/shop~tools~product_200640284_200640284?adv=false&cm_mmc=Housefile-_-RECEIVED-_-707-_-CONF

32 does not have a swivel

https://m.northerntool.com/products/shop~tools~product_200612326_200612326?adv=false&cm_mmc=Google-pla&gclid=Cj0KCQiA9_LRBRDZARIsAAcLXjfJadujWQkJqb8SBeZXn3TvMSXHaDkX9iWUXiA8oo6Yjdqld5yCagEaAiYXEALw_wcB&utm_campaign=Roughneck Logging&utm_content=38563&utm_medium=Logging > Log Skidding + Lifting > Log Skidding&utm_source=Google_PLA

 

[VirginiaIron]

Plus a 5 year LIMITED warranty

 

[VirginiaIron]

I split up another tree and I operated the splitter from the left side which made me very mindful of the speed of the lift. So..., I installed the travel limiter for the lever afterwards.
The limiter came out real good and simpler than the spring loaded version I had in my head. The limiter is still adjustable for wear and I used a 3/4 hose as a bumper which is nice because it compresses. EDIT: I tried this out afterwards and the lift operates real smooth with a heavy log- no more torquing the beam or scaring me as the lift rises.

And my RoughNeck 32 inch tongs were delivered today. I decided on the RN due to the price, reviews, warranty, and angle of the hooks.

 

[Ashful]

Hey guys, follow up on the tongs. They worked AWESOME! Seriously cut down on my work time, skidding a few cords out of the woods today, and hauling some of it home.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/got-trailer-need-winch.160211/page-2

 

[VirginiaIron]

I put a small platform adjacent to my log stop, now the splits don't fall on my feet. Also, I put a receiver hitch on the rear of my small trailer so that I can pull the splitter behind it and save some time with staging.

 

[Knuckles75]

I'm prepping to start cutting up the frankensplitter. The I beam is 12' long and I don't like the detent/tank/motor layout. I have all the parts to build a second splitter and I'm going to make one of them with vertical split capabilities. Both will be 30 ton. I have a motor on a snowblower (auger is all fubar, but the drive transmission works great) so I've toyed with the idea of leaving the motor on the blower, pulling the auger and mounting the pump to it, mounting the blower to the I beam with a pivot and being able to drive it around where I need it. Lol.