Added a log feeder to my Huskee splitter

[ZempD]

After months of "planning to build one", reality set in and I went ahead and bought one from Tractor Supply. Bolted on easily enough.

Let's see how my first attempt to post a pic works out.

 

[fox9988]

That will save you a lot of bending while in horizontal mode.

 

[Pallet Pete]

Out of curiosity why not stand it upright ?

Pete

 

[muncybob]

I had a local guy weld one together for me. Wouldn't be w/o it!

 

[ZempD]

Occasionally I "go vertical" to split larger rounds I can't seem to quarter with my maul. This one had some funny grain. You can see the maul marks from my splitting attempts.



Ran through a few rounds yesterday and the catcher works well. Here are the fruits of my labor. Just like Fox9988 said, a lot less bending down.

 

[ZempD]

Note to self: When starting a thread, triple check your spelling. Otherwise you will post about a "log cather".

 

[LLigetfa]

Note to self: When starting a thread, triple check your spelling. Otherwise you will post about a "log cather".

That's OK, I reported it to the authorities. Enjoy your log cather, I know I really like having mine.

 

[kingquad]

Occasionally I "go vertical" to split larger rounds I can't seem to quarter with my maul. This one had some funny grain. You can see the maul marks from my splitting attempts.

View attachment 66168

Ran through a few rounds yesterday and the catcher works well. Here are the fruits of my labor. Just like Fox9988 said, a lot less bending down.

View attachment 66169

Damn, are you making toothpicks? Bigger splits man

 

[ZempD]

Figured I'd get some feedback on the size of my splits. The wife & kids can handle the smaller splits more easily. When my wife told me "it's actually fun helping you with the firewood when you make the pieces smaller"...I started making them smaller every once in a while.

I have a few cords of larger splits scattered around the woodlot.

Earlier this winter, one of the kids (I have three daughters) said "This is just like Little House on the Prairie". I thought...yeah, except for the efficient wood stove, the chainsaw, the gas powered splitter, etc...but then I said "Yep...sure is".

 

[Beer Belly]

Gotta get me one of those catchers for sure

 

[blujacket]

I have the same splitter and catcher, works great.

 

[gpcollen1]

Out of curiosity why not stand it upright ?

Pete

Because many of us don't like to have to bend over that much or work on our knees. As long as the log is not too big to handle, i load them standing up and have a table attached too! I cannot imagine doing it another way. If you like to sit on a milk crate or other then have at it. Sitting and too much bending are the evils that kill my back. Bending my legs and lifting logs from piles do not bother me one bit.

 

[Pallet Pete]

Because many of us don't like to have to bend over that much or work on our knees. As long as the log is not too big to handle, i load them standing up and have a table attached too! I cannot imagine doing it another way. If you like to sit on a milk crate or other then have at it. Sitting and too much bending are the evils that kill my back. Bending my legs and lifting logs from piles do not bother me one bit.

I can tell ya that bending and picking up rounds has destroyed my back and I am not too old yet. That is why I ask ! It just seems like too much work to me.

Pete

 

[Kenster]

Note to self: When starting a thread, triple check your spelling. Otherwise you will post about a "log cather".

I'd rather have a log 'cather' than a log catheter.


As far as going vertical or horizontal (and I know the debate rages on) I go both ways. If I'm splitting on site and have a lot of really big rounds I will split them vertical while sitting on a stump, using my pickaroon to pull them to me. An object as rest tends to stay at rest, so I'll end up splitting the entire thing sitting, once I start off in vertical mode. The idea of bending over or kneeling to work in vertical mode is just crazy. Get yourself a crate, camp stool, or a stump. If you're set up close to the stack or pile of rounds they should pretty much be in reach.

If I've got a bunch of smaller rounds all stacked up, I'm likely to split horizontal. Instead of a store bought catcher, I set two saw horses on the 'away' side of the beam and lay a half size pallet on the horses. I can stack several rounds on the pallet and pull them toward me as I split. The pallet also is a good place to set half a split while I quarter the other split.

Works well for me. And that's the thing, isn't it? We can argue all we want but each of us has to do what works best for us!

 

[Pallet Pete]

After months of "planning to build one", reality set in and I went ahead and bought one from Tractor Supply. Bolted on easily enough.

Let's see how my first attempt to post a pic works out.

View attachment 66166

You know I don't think I have ever heard of a high valley stove ! Your splits look small but then pics can be deceiving. How big is your box on the stove?

Pete

 

[mellow]

You know I don't think I have ever heard of a high valley stove !

Most people haven't, they were bought out by Stoll not to long ago. OP should post a review of it in the hearth forum.

Almost bought the 2500 but it was going to be to tight of a fit in my fireplace.

You should be able to fit about 10-15 of those splits in that stove for an overnight burn.

 

[Dune]

I can tell ya that bending and picking up rounds has destroyed my back and I am not too old yet. That is why I ask ! It just seems like too much work to me.

Pete

The never ending vertical/horizontal debate. Different strokes for different folks. You will not catch me sitting on a crate, bent over and reaching and twisting arround. Too many decades doing bench work.
I purposely built my splitter "high" so I don't have to bend over to run it. Yes, I ocasional lif large rounds up pretty high, but I lift with my legs not my back.

 

[MasterMech]

The never ending vertical/horizontal debate. Different strokes for different folks. You will not catch me sitting on a crate, bent over and reaching and twisting arround. Too many decades doing bench work.
I purposely built my splitter "high" so I don't have to bend over to run it. Yes, I ocasional lif large rounds up pretty high, but I lift with my legs not my back.

The only reason I bought a Horz/Vert machine is because I couldn't justify the expense of a Horz only model with a a log lift and I get some big heavy wood on a regualr basis. If you need maximum productivity, log lift models are king.

Others can't be working down on the ground constantly and prefer horizonatls. There is no absolute difinitive answer. Some folks cannot tolerate repetitive lifting so parking it on a crate and splitting vertical is the way to go for them. I halve/quarter the big 'uns until I can lift them easily. Then I go horizontal and the fun really starts.

 

[nate379]

Same here.

Because many of us don't like to have to bend over that much or work on our knees. As long as the log is not too big to handle, i load them standing up and have a table attached too! I cannot imagine doing it another way. If you like to sit on a milk crate or other then have at it. Sitting and too much bending are the evils that kill my back. Bending my legs and lifting logs from piles do not bother me one bit.

 

[velvetfoot]

I have a bad back too, and I find rolling those rounds to the vertical splitter easiest.
I still have to lift and move all that wood, but in lots of smaller pieces.

I have the bracket from the fellow on eBay, and it works fine in horizontal mode.

 

[firefighterjake]

H vs. V . . . Dennis and I often kid each other about which way is better to split wood with a hydraulic splitter . . . but the truth is . . . whichever way you find works for you best is the best way . . .

 

[Jags]

Tada - can be easily adapted to almost all horizontal splitters. Cheap to build, to"

 

[MasterMech]

Tada - can be easily adapted to almost all horizontal splitters. Cheap to build, to"

Easy to do to a dedicated horz machine.

The problem is you need to stabilize a H/V splitter before you could add something like that. Otherwise it will flip the splitter in no time.

 

[Jags]

Easy to do to a dedicated horz machine.

The problem is you need to stabilize a H/V splitter before you could add something like that. Otherwise it will flip the splitter in no time.

One main shaft and a spring loaded hook and the table removes from the splitter. I would have to guess all of about 35 seconds to take it off. Or do you mean during horizontal operation? It could be made to be closer to the machines center. Or a quick outrigger could be fashioned in short order.

 

[MasterMech]

One main shaft and a spring loaded hook and the table removes from the splitter. I would have to guess all of about 35 seconds to take it off. Or do you mean during horizontal operation? It could be made to be closer to the machines center. Or a quick outrigger could be fashioned in short order.

You see Jags, you could just keep on modifying the damn things until you wind up with something like this: