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livingontheland - Re: [Livingontheland] wood splitters

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  • From: Dan Conine <dconine@dotnet.com>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] wood splitters
  • Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2007 20:18:39 -0600

I don't recommend that you use this screw type of splitter unless you are experienced. I've got lots of experience, and I would like to try one, but I've been around machinery all my life. I intend to put it on a motor stand with a safety switch nearby. PTO shafts DON'T STOP if you slipped on a piece of wood and fell on the screw. If the wood block slipped, and you stuck your hand onto it, you would need more than a bandaid.

Scared? Damn right. My dad had a recent accident with a PTO shaft and would have been killed if the tractor had been any bigger or above an idle speed. He slipped on some ice.

The DR splitter gives you something with a cord that doesn't make you stand and breathe carbon monoxide for hours on end, or deal with gasoline and oil all over things. It won't have the splitting power of a big engine-driven model, but will probably work well enough if you have time to kill on the homestead. Take your time and take small bites.

I realize that the STickler was the first one that popped up on a search. I assume their $259 price is 80% liability insurance, and 10% material costs (a rolled and welded sheet of steel with a thread cut into it.)

I also recommend anyone who is going to handle firewood should get some kind of bucket loader or skid loader to handle the rounds and bring them to a comfortable place to work, like a flat yard. Splitting wood on some slippery, cluttered hillside in the woods just so it's easier to carry is often what gets you into trouble.

Just a couple of thoughts from the guy who had an axe bounce into his foot. (behind the steel toe)

Wear a helmet. The sky really does fall in the woods.

Dan
Belgium, WI
Message: 10
Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2007 07:22:30 -0800 (PST)
From: mtncats <mtncats@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] Slightly off-topic: DR woodsplitters
To: Healthy soil and sustainable growing
<livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <616374.72116.qm@web59101.mail.re1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi Dawn,

I too balked at the price/maintenance of a hydraulic wood splitter. We don't
burn much, heat the house passively. My solution was a PTO powered screw.
If you don't have something with PTO, they also can be bolted to a vehicle
axle.

I've got mine on the back of a tractor, loader bucket available for moving
the firewood. Works very well.

Many consider them unreasonably dangerous as there's no way for the operator
to stop them during splitting. I don't stick my hand or sleeve into the
screw and have no problem. Jam the log onto the screw, let it rest against
the pipe or whatever keeps it from turning and let go. The screw runs into
the log, splitting it. Quickly.

Mine, almost new, came from an auction where everybody else was fearful or
disinterested. Cost me $45. As any tool, misused they can hurt you. The
first one that popped up on my search isn't particularly cheap:
http://www.thestickler.com/

Beats an extension cord.

Tom (in central Va)







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