manual hydraulic wood splitter

[Charles2]

I need to buy a manual hydraulic wood splitter for rounds up to 14" diameter and lengths between 16" and 24". My wood is often stringy and I'm concerned that some of the hydraulic pistons I've seen don't have enough travel to get the job done. What would y'all recommend?

Tim

 

[mike van]

There is no way I'd consider buying a splitter I had to pump manually - The ram goes out leaving only an inch between the end of the wedge & pushplate even on my almost 40 year old Didier, how can that not split stringy wood?

 

[tcassavaugh]

what kind of wood are you trying to split? might be better off if you could find a used gas splitter someplace. i would think that the manual hydrolic splitter would be a pita.

 

[Charles2]

There is no way I'd consider buying a splitter I had to pump manually - The ram goes out leaving only an inch between the end of the wedge & pushplate even on my almost 40 year old Didier, how can that not split stringy wood?

By manual, I meant either hand or foot operated. If there's only an inch between the wedge & pushplate, that's fine, but the ones I've seen have very little ram stroke, like this one: http://grizzly.com/products/8-Ton-Log-Splitter/H8100

what kind of wood are you trying to split? might be better off if you could find a used gas splitter someplace. i would think that the manual hydrolic splitter would be a pita.

I'm no good at identifying trees. Yes, the manual is a pita but I need the exercise.

 

[Wood Duck]

It seems to me that splitting with a good splitting axe, Fiskar's Supersplitter, for example, would be less effort than a manual-operated splitter. Have you tried alternatives to a heavy maul?

 

[Charles2]

It seems to me that splitting with a good splitting axe, Fiskar's Supersplitter, for example, would be less effort than a manual-operated splitter.

Less effort perhaps, but not as safe.

 

[blades]

Well that's not as bad as some as the wedge is adjustable so with reservations ok, But will likely get some leg cramps from that.

 

[mike van]

I'd turn the furnace on before I used that thing from Grizzly

 

[heavy hammer]

Heck of a way to get exercise. Don't you think swinging a maul or sledge hammer and wedge would be faster and easier.

 

[Charles2]

But will likely get some leg cramps from that.

Is there a hand-operated splitter that you would recommend?

I'd turn the furnace on before I used that thing from Grizzly

What's wrong with it? Is there some other type you would recommend?

Heck of a way to get exercise. Don't you think swinging a maul or sledge hammer and wedge would be faster and easier.

I've got a pinched nerve in my neck that's giving me a lot of shoulder and arm pain, so I'd better not swing anything.

 

[HeavyMetalHippy]

like this one: http://grizzly.com/products/8-Ton-Log-Splitter/H8100

That thing looks like a butt kicker!

 

[tcassavaugh]

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...vptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_95izd77rzy_b
here are a few options on amazon. i've seen a video on the "smart splitter" someplace else but with stringy wood, probably won't work well

 

[Fred Wright]

If it's exercise you're after there are easier ways to get it. Those manual pump splitters are god-awful slow and can work you to death. Especially so with stringy or gnarly wood.

The push plate on our splitter doesn't go all the way to the wedge. For most wood it isn't an issue. But we used to split a lot of gum with it and gum fights all the way down to the last fraction of an inch. To get a round or partial cut through, I'd keep a short piece of 4" round aside to use as a pusher block. Push the round to the end of the stroke, back it off a few inches. Lay the pusher sideways in front of the plate and run the ram forward again. This will force the tough piece all the way through the wedge and cut any stringy stuff.

 

[Wood Duck]

Is there a hand-operated splitter that you would recommend?



What's wrong with it? Is there some other type you would recommend?



I've got a pinched nerve in my neck that's giving me a lot of shoulder and arm pain, so I'd better not swing anything.

I can understand if you have nerve problems that prevent you from swinging altogether, but if you have full range of motion I believe a lightweight splitting axe would be a lot easier and faster than a manual splitter, and wouldn't put too much strain on your neck. I am an average size guy of normal strength and there are lots of rounds that I split without really putting any oomph into the swing. Some I can split with one hand. Seriously, I am not kidding about that and I am not some giant guy. If you can swing an axe I'd buy a light splitting axe like the 2.5 pound Fiskar's Splitting Ax I use and split all the straight, easy pieces with the ax. I'd put difficult ones aside and occasionally rent a gas splitter to split the hard ones.

I have split at least 30 cords of wood by hand, taught kids as young as 11 to split by hand, and haven't yet had an accident. If accidental injury is your concern (as opposed to aggravating a medical condition) I wouldn't worry. Splitting wood is pretty safe in my experience.

if you can't swing an ax at all, I'd probably buy a gas splitter. The manual one seems like a ton of work, and unlike splitting with an ax, not any fun.

 

[heavy hammer]

Could always get someone with a splitter to split it for you would just have to work something out with that person.