Log Splitters

[Doug]

Wow, thanks everyone you've given us lots of food for thought.

We've always used a wedge and either lump hammer or sledge hammer to split with, but I'm not allowed to do too much repetitive work with my right arm and using my left arm to swing a lump hammer is just dangerous and my OH has developed some form of arthritis in his neck, which if he tries splitting too much wood like that he gets really bad migraines.

We've somehow managed to end up with 20 odd steres of wood mainly oak so there's a lot of splitting that needs doing and I thought you lovely people would be able to point us in the right direction.

I'll read through everything when I've got time to take it all in properly.

Thanks ever so much everyone once again - have a lovely evening,
Char

So sorry to hear of the problems for both, know how it is as have, am suffering myself the total hip replacement took its toll and have had arthritis in my right hand (being right handed) for years, job to grip things at times, as normal weather orientated.

[Char]

No need to feel sorry for me - it means I can't do the hoovering, wash the floor, wash windows or the car and I'm not allowed to play tennis - so it's not all bad. It's just a bit frustrating sometimes.

[Loup-garou]

I agree Char, I find it very frustrating when my wife plays that card.

[Char]

I agree Char, I find it very frustrating when my wife plays that card.

[Doug]

We always blame tinkerbelle, she's never about when things need doing.
Then gets the blame when things go wrong.

[Hotrodder]

Just to offer my 2 centimes worth. Just buy the largest most powerful splitter you can afford. If it is a good one you will always have something to sell on when you no longer need it. A cheap one will be scrap before you are done with it. I've had two. Both horizontal types. One that sits on the ground and one that is on legs about waist high. The ground level one was a killer to use because of the bending over to load and operate it. The one on legs proved better in that respect even though it means I have to lift the logs higher. Both are an infernal nuisance because you have to operate two controls at the same time to use it. That means both hands are needed to keep it running. I have to defeat one of the two to leave a (gloved) hand free to steady the log as it is being split. More than once that steadying hand has kept me from being hit in the face with a lump of wood during the split.

[Pathca]

[mention]Char[/mention] Did you want to play tennis?

[hughnique]

Mines a lay on the ground but I put it up on a trestle table when using, most of our logs are 50cm but so thick some of them, much easier when split but burn faster. I worked out that during the cold spell when we have the electric fires on it costs me approx 12-1500€ operating them, just sent off for a couple of those gas fires on wheels, at least you buy the gas and it's not accumulating a mounting cost, when its gone another cylinder another 25€. Wood burners are so messy as well, bloody fine dust everywhere.

[L Austin France]

Just to offer my 2 centimes worth. Just buy the largest most powerful splitter you can afford. If it is a good one you will always have something to sell on when you no longer need it. A cheap one will be scrap before you are done with it. I've had two. Both horizontal types. One that sits on the ground and one that is on legs about waist high. The ground level one was a killer to use because of the bending over to load and operate it. The one on legs proved better in that respect even though it means I have to lift the logs higher. Both are an infernal nuisance because you have to operate two controls at the same time to use it. That means both hands are needed to keep it running. I have to defeat one of the two to leave a (gloved) hand free to steady the log as it is being split. More than once that steadying hand has kept me from being hit in the face with a lump of wood during the split.

Have a look at the photo I posted of a simple modification to my machine. Push down with your foot on one side of the bar to use one hand or middle for hands free.

[niemeyjt]

Both are an infernal nuisance because you have to operate two controls at the same time to use it. That means both hands are needed to keep it running. I have to defeat one of the two to leave a (gloved) hand free to steady the log as it is being split. More than once that steadying hand has kept me from being hit in the face with a lump of wood during the split.

I think the idea is to ensure that you still have your two hands to operate it. Personally, I am not a fan of disabling or adapting safety devices/mechanisms as I guess they were designed after an event. Maybe it is old age caution overtaking youthful indiscretion?

I had a PTO-driven Wessex one on the back of the tractor - a rebadged Italian jobbie I think. The pump somehow lost pressure and would stall the tractor as the pump never got the pressure to blow the relief valve. Not a recommended marque. It was on the ground and for me that wasn't an issue - it involved less lifting. The downside was that I then had to manually bag the logs.