mbcijim said:
I've basically split everything by hand at this point have minimal experience with a gas powered splitter.
I have 5 cords in the round at my house and 2 cords at the cabin. I have access to a friends splitter. I would most likely have at least one person help me. We would not be stacking, just splitting. Can I split 7 cords like that in a weekend with 2 guys? What's your production per hour (or morning or however you measure) with two guys? With one guy? Everybody's in pretty good shape just time is not allowing me the splitting time so far this winter. I like to be done by March.
This is a question which can get you a lot of different answers. You'll get lots of variances of time....and they will probably all be right. So how can they all be right but give different times? Good question.
First and foremost is what kind of wood will you be splitting? That alone can make a tremendous difference in time. For example, I can split soft maple and ash and the split will be made shortly after the wedge hits the wood. Yet, if there is a knot then most times you have to take the wedge clear to the bottom. Or maybe you split something like elm or gum or locust and you again have to take the wedge all the way through the wood.
But there is more to that wedge. Not only do you not have to use the entire length going down, but you don't have to let the wedge go all the way up either! You only have to take it up high enough to get the next log under it. This is one of the reasons why I scoff at cycle time. Some folks seem to make a big deal out of one splitter having a shorter cycle time than others. If you don't use the whole cycle, what is the difference? Minimal. In addition, this is not something you want to race while doing. That is how accidents tend to happen is either when rushing or when working after you are tired.
Then comes the point of how you will split; horizontal or vertical. Most on this forum know that I split vertically, the same as I do when splitting with splitting maul or sledge and wedge. I do it that way not because I am lazy (although I sometimes have that tendency) but I do it because it is easier and most times faster. Plain and simple; if you split horizontally, you have to lift each and every one of the logs. Then with most logs you have to make more than one split which then means you need some type of a table to rest the wood on or else watch out for those falling logs hitting your toes! Then there are the heavy logs. Some go as far as to have hydraulic lifters; a large expense. But then some like toys... I split vertically and do not have to lift those logs. This is how my splitting pile looks:
(broken image removed)
(You can also see my avatar on how I split)
We cut during winter and split in spring. I do stack the wood during the winter but don't take any special pains in stacking; more like throwing a pile together. Then come splitting time the splitter goes beside the pile and I sit down to do all the splitting. Most logs and for sure in that stack you see in the picture, I never lift onto the splitter. I simply roll them on and usually use only one hand to do so. If it is heavy then I will use two hands but I still roll them and not lift them.
This is how it looked after the splitting was done.
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And here is one tired man once the splitting and stacking was all done. btw, I stack the wood in the winter where I want to stack it so that when the splitting is done, the stacking is also done right there instead of moving it to another spot.
(broken image removed)
So there are some other factors. How is the wood before split? Is it just thrown together or stacked at least a little bit neat; it makes a difference. If you have two men then you can make one work hard by having him bring the wood or you can simply move the splitter a little bit from time to time so no carrying is necessary.
Tonnage of the splitter can make some difference. Single stage pump vs. two stage pump. A 37 ton splitter should have more power than a 20 ton but it is amazing how little difference it makes. As I've stated, cycle time is usually a moot point. One exception is one particular brand where we've heard the ram moves super slow going both up and down. But usually cycle time is not something one wants to argue about. After all, this is not a race and you don't want to work super fast. Remember this is some heavy machinery and can be very unforgiving if you make just one little mistake.
There is more to the story but this gives you something to think about. Also, know that we use a 20 ton splitter and have for over 20 years now. The splitter can work faster than I can and splits all we need splitting, including that dreaded elm.
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