Manual Wood Splitters

[dave77]

Do you have to winterize it and clear the snow off the roof if it gets too deep.

My uncle used to tell the story of how when he was a kid a guy hired him and some buddies to clear the snow off a small cabin. Said they didn't know to alternate sides and cleared all of one side and the weight of the snow all on one side tipped the cabin over. He may have been exaggerating though, I wouldn't put it past him. I had many uncles but he was my favorite.

Just saw your new photos, like the tree through the deck. I can see why you need a splitter.

[GunnyGene]

20201013_171210.jpg20201013_171202.jpgHere are just a few pics.20200826_183722.jpg20200826_183707.jpg20200826_183521.jpg20200808_144646.jpg

Nice Digs!!

[markiver54]

20201013_171210.jpg20201013_171202.jpgHere are just a few pics.20200826_183722.jpg20200826_183707.jpg20200826_183521.jpg20200808_144646.jpg

Nice Digs!!

Thank you Gunny.

[markiver54]

Do you have to winterize it and clear the snow off the roof if it gets too deep
Just saw your new photos, like the tree through the deck. I can see why you need a splitter.

WhenCarol, her late Husband and her Father built the cabin, ( about 35 years ago ), she insisted that the tree stays!!
Soo, they built around it.
I have grown to like it. Fortunately it is a slow grower, ( Beech I think ), so we've not had to modify the deck.

[Vaquero]

how about something like this ===> https://www.amazon.com/Southland-Outdoo ... 627&sr=8-4

I still do most of my splitting with a good maul, I like the exercise.
But the wife found a used one of these last Summer, it works fine even on some pretty big stuff.
I used it a couple times this past Fall, I would bust some of the larger pieces in half.
Then use the maul, seemed like once I got them in half the rest was fairly simple.
Mark they are easy to move around and don't take up a lot of space.

The only thing that I don't really like is that it takes both hands for the controls.
Hold one button in and then the other to work the lever for the slide.

RP

[Vaquero]

Oh, that is one nice lookin place you'll have there.

RP

[markiver54]

Oh, that is one nice lookin place you'll have there.

RP

Thank you Randy...I love it up there. Lots of wildlife too!
C'mon Spring!

That splitter is becoming a strong possibility!

[Hatchdog]

That’s a project on my short list.

21B904D2-3B14-4F51-9F5A-6927CDB95D17.jpeg (232.65 KiB) Viewed 3649 times

[220]

Mark
A manual wood splitter is you a sledge and a splitting maul. You need the exercise anyway split that would like they did 100 years ago.

yep that my take on a manual splitter

I cut and sell a bit of firewood and keep thinking about a hydraulic splitter but just cant see how most of them would be any less work than doing it by hand. A lot of the trees I am cutting are often 3 or 4 foot diameter, trying to man handle them into a splitter would be more effort than splitting with a maul or axe.

[dave77]

Make your own wood splitter. The comments on the second machine are better than the video. ie "nothing screams safety like a rapidly spinning axe on a giant wheel next to all sorts of loose rope" and "The second machine was a present from his wife, right after he got a large life insurance policy."

Some of them are actually pretty ingenious but some are downright scary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ks_lbtgJSw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LdChUbCUcQ

[JEBar]

some are downright scary.

scary indeed

[markiver54]

I don't split wood for a living. I have about 5 stacks of logs to split. The largest would be approximately 12" diameter. I split on an AS NEEDED basis.
Given my limitations due to health reasons, I cannot raise an ax or sledge anymore. Splitting the old fashioned way is not in the cards for me. Glad your body is still very powerfull 220, and others, to be able to do the task easier than a machine.
I am in no hurry to get the job done either.

[220]

Sorry to hear that, probably worth spending a few hours looking at videos of different styles and types in action to see what is going to suit your needs and capabilities. No point outlaying hard earned cash on something to fit the budget if it is pretty much useless for what you need.
As for splitting by hand I think technique and reading the wood, identifying where it will split easily where it wont and being able to place your blows in the spot you want are far more and effective than brute strength.

[markiver54]

Thank you. I understand about identifying and technique.
My problem in a nut shell, amongst others is Stenosis, ( bone spurs against my spinal cord and in my neck ). Not to mention a ruptured L-5 disc in my back. I can function. Just have to be very careful.
Probably should have mentioned that sooner, but didn't want to whine. I know there are others here with their own limitations as well.
Had I been smarter in my youth, I might not have had issues this bad.

[dave77]

I don't split wood for a living. I have about 5 stacks of logs to split. The largest would be approximately 12" diameter.

I thought you were wanting to split the ones in the last photo, some of those look huge.

[220]

Think we would all be in better shape had we taken a bit more care in our youth. I might be a young un but still the wrong side of 50 depending on where you are standing.
The reason I suggested spending a few hours or a day looking at videos on splitters in action is because no one knows better than you what you can achieve and what will make it easier.
A few things I am thinking would be
are you comfortable working bent over at ground level or a foot above it
can you comfortably lift what needs splitting to waist height and would working at that level be easier
would a vertical splitter where you could roll them into place and just stand them leaving both hands free to operate the machine be easiest.

While I can handle splitting wood by hand for half a day spending the same amount of time bent over lifting logs into and out of a splitter at ground level would probably see me struggling to walk for a week.