Splitter Beam

[thewoodlands]

I decided that I would try veggie oil on the beam when splitting, tomorrow will be my first day using it so I'll post what I think about it. Has anyone tried it?

 

[salecker]

Absolutely no reason to put anything on the beam other than wood you are going to split.

 

[BIGChrisNH]

I have never put any lubricant on my splitter beam. If I'm storing it for a while I might WD40 the metal to prevent surface rust but other than that I've never greased the beam in any way

 

[unimog1300]

We put on used oil from truck oil changes. Oil can on the side of the splitter. Splitting some 32” rounds right now and figure it can’t hurt.

 

[redmanlcs]

can't hurt except making your splits oily... think oily hands everytime you load the stove.. just my o2

 

[unimog1300]

can't hurt except making your splits oily... think oily hands everytime you load the stove.. just my o2

We don't put much on the beam. Just a light coating. Don't see any oil on the splits, and what little there might be by the time they get burned would be absorbed. No worries for me. Been this way for years.

 

[blades]

Oil Grease on beam- makes a mess- not so much on fuel being processed but on you- dry lubricant a better option if you feel you must. long term storage oil or grease ok

 

[Kevin Weis]

I don't see any reason or advantage to doing this and I don't know anyone who does it. To each his own though.

 

[VirginiaIron]

I put some grease under my beam. I think my wedge design lifts when under load so the wear, if any, is likely underneath the beam on the flange. Depending on your beam design, I would use sparingly.
I put a scoash of grease in the channel of my Champion.
A dash or pinch of WD40 is always a good idea under the plate area prior to storage.

 

[thewoodlands]

I actually liked the veggie oil in a spritz bottle on the splitters beam.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

Iv never heard of such a thing. After thinking about it for a moment. I dont see any reason to do it. I didnt see anything in the manual that says.. lube the beam

 

[Sawset]

On the county line I can see two wear areas, and they seem minimal at that. Otherwise still new paint all around after 10hrs. Probably as good an indication as any for future wear. Maybe some grease up under the channels, maybe, and wd40 in some other areas like any other equipment. Otherwise I'll leave it alone.

 

[WiscWoody]

I’ve never oiled any of the beams on my splitters. It’s not needed in my opinion but if it makes you feel better then go ahead and do it.

 

[thewoodlands]

I'll stop using the veggie oil after the last time I used it, there was a good build up of dirt an junk.

 

[xman23]

I'm a oiler on my MTD I beam. It's a steel guide on the steel beam. There are some big forces so some lube makes sense to me.

 

[Ashful]

I'm a oiler on my MTD I beam. It's a steel guide on the steel beam. There are some big forces so some lube makes sense to me.

Do what makes you sleep well at night, but I think the forces in the normal direction of the friction surfaces is likely pretty low, and there’s a lot of material there. Heck, it took a long time just to show some paint wear on my beam, indicating there can’t be that much friction. Even after more than 50 cords thru it, most of the paint is still there, indicating there hasn’t been much metal wear.

 

[BIGChrisNH]

I tried some grease on the beam once, it got so gunked up with splitter chunks I took the pressure washer to it to clean it all off.

 

[Jags]

All I can imagine is grease lines across the bluejeans at thigh height.

I am of the no grease camp. I run a big splitter (big pressure/forces) and after many years and many cords I see no concernable beam or shuttle wear.

 

[johneh]

I do not use any oil or grease
I use a hard furniture/floor wax
lasts a long time and it does not affect the wood

 

[WiscWoody]

Do what makes you sleep well at night, but I think the forces in the normal direction of the friction surfaces is likely pretty low, and there’s a lot of material there. Heck, it took a long time just to show some paint wear on my beam, indicating there can’t be that much friction. Even after more than 50 cords thru it, most of the paint is still there, indicating there hasn’t been much metal wear.

I agree here. The only force on the beam is the weight of the wedge and the cylinder pipe and maybe a little downforce from the way a log might force the wedge down a bit but it’d be marginal if anything. I’ll never grease/oil/wax my beam. But like I and Ashful have said if it makes you feel better then do it.

 

[BIGChrisNH]

Exactly. I think society will collapse before the i-beam will wear out.

 

[Jazzberry]

I will start greasing mine as soon as I see the railroads tracks getting greased.

 

[johneh]

I will start greasing mine as soon as I see the railroads tracks getting greased.

Train wheels roll -----Splitter guides slide so much the same but so unlike

 

[VirginiaIron]

I thought I observed a few old splitters on yt that exhibitted wearing. Anyway, Ill probably never split that much to worry about it. The fact that some manufacturers are using Teflon isolators may speak some truth to this question, or the nastiness of worn paint. Anyway, to each his own.

 

[Ashful]

The fact that some manufacturers are using Teflon isolators may speak some truth to this question, or the nastiness of worn paint.

I wouldn't put much faith in these Chinese manufacturers having any clue as to the true merit of those Teflon isolators. It is more likely they just thought it was a marketable feature.