Conical screw log splitters

[slindo]

I have been suddenly seized by an irrational desire to build a screw splitter for my old 8n tractor (which doesn't have enough output to run a hydraulic splitter) using one of those conical screw splitter heads that bolt on to a rear axle in place of the wheel.

Anyone used one? Are they as dangerous as they are reputed to be?

Oh, if anyone has an old one kicking around they'd like to sell, please let me know.

 

[CageMaster]

better top up your life insurance premiums

 

[Thistle]

You wouldnt get me near one of those damn things.I remember seeing them in Mother Earth News,Field & Stream & other outdoor/homesteading mags back in late '70's-early '80's. I just figured they were outlawed years ago already.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Not many around now, thank God! Someone on here did have one for sale a while back. Was it maybe Highbeam? But I'd still advise to stay away from them.

 

[fox9988]

My 2 cents:

There is a thread in The Gear forum, page 3 "Real men ply with unicorns".I have one also.It is very fast in non stringy wood.I have split red oak side by side with 2 guys, one with a maul, the other with a hydraulic splitter. I out-split both of them combined.But I probably was working harder than the both of them combined. It's a real workout partialy due to the speed. In stringy wood, it will go through it, but the 2 halves will still be strung together, you have to wrestle them in half by hand or finish them with an ax, maul, or hatchet. All pto driven implements can be dangerous. If you get hung up in the pto, you are going to be in trouble. My friends call mine the "Screw of Death". I prefer the slow and steady hydraulic splitter.

 

[ozzy73]

My neighbour refers to it as the "screw of death" ( few scars on hands to prove ).

 

[Michael Golden]

I think they are neat, but that spinning spike with no shroud and one mishap with a loose sleeve! No thanks......

 

[Kenster]

I own an 8N (see avatar). Building one to go on the rear axle is crazy. Too much trouble getting the wheel off and on. There is actually Dearborn screw type splittler made for N tractors that runs directly off the PTO. No hydraulics, no belts, etc. They came with a frame that would hold the round in place so that it wouldn't spin around when you lose your grip. Too dang dangerous, regardless.

 

[wingsfan]

I seen some of them on ebay about a week ago..there were used and new ones. I wouldn't try one.

 

[Bret Chase]

There is no way I would ever use one of those nightmares...

 

[711mhw]

Make one up for your pto & 3pt hitch. Put a table on it, run it slow & don't wear gloves or loose clothing. Should be sweet! Be carefull, don't put Darwins theory to a test. I'd rather use one of them vs. an axe.

 

[Bret Chase]

Make one up for your pto & 3pt hitch. Put a table on it, run it slow & don't wear gloves or loose clothing. Should be sweet! Be carefull, don't put Darwins theory to a test. I'd rather use one of them vs. an axe.

I'd rather use a dull hatchet...

 

[711mhw]

I'd rather use a dull hatchet...

Chicken

 

[Kenster]

Slendo, post your question at YT (Yesterday's Tractors). You'll most likely get a huge response. Some pro and some con and some that will give you pointers just how to do it.

(broken link removed)

 

[Bret Chase]

Chicken

yup

 

[MasterMech]

Go ahead and ask Highbeam what he thought of his.....

Have you thought about converting a hydraulic splitter to work on a PTO pump?

 

[KodiakII]

Why not run a hydraulic pump off your pto?

 

[fox9988]

I didn't catch the rear axle part. Mine runs off the PTO.

 

[MasterMech]

I think he really intended to modify the splitter to run off the PTO rather taking a wheel off the 8N.

 

[maple1]

I wouldn't touch one of those with a proverbial 10 foot pole.

 

[Kenster]

Here's a youtube video of one in use. The push bar the man added to his platform appears to give him some leverage without having to bend over the splitter. It looks like the cone is set too low to the platform, causing him to have to make multiple passes to get good splits. If he could hit the round more center, it might split in one go. Also, very slow. Just doesn't seem worth the bother to me. I'll stick with my Huskey 35 ton. It will split anything the first time and burns a fraction of the gas that a tractor would.

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[TreePapa]

That things is scary. Did anyone else notice where the cone is pointed, if you remove the log?

Peace,
- Sequoia

 

[Jags]

Ahhh...the cone of death. Wait till ya get one that sticks on the cone...

 

[tbuff]

I don't know.... I can see the dangers.

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[Bret Chase]

Here's a youtube video of one in use. The push bar the man added to his platform appears to give him some leverage without having to bend over the splitter. It looks like the cone is set too low to the platform, causing him to have to make multiple passes to get good splits. If he could hit the round more center, it might split in one go. Also, very slow. Just doesn't seem worth the bother to me. I'll stick with my Huskey 35 ton. It will split anything the first time and burns a fraction of the gas that a tractor would.

yeah, **** that.....