Tell us the pros and cons of this splitter

[ebinmaine 77,334]

The BBT aka Trina person and I have been discussing an upgrade to our firewood processing system. 

 

 

This splitter seems to be a decent idea. 

 

https://www.woodsplitterdirect.com/products/boss-industrial-20-ton-horizontal-dual-action-gas-log-splitter-gd20t24

 

 

 

Thoughts comments questions suggestions??

 

 

[wallfish 19,299]

Cons

lifting the logs up to it, but that could be solved.

No vertical positioning of it?

 

Pros

The 2 way split. That's a pretty good idea

Those rims might fit on a round hood tractor

[WHX?? 54,981]

7 minutes ago, wallfish said:

Those rims might fit on a round hood tractor

Wow talk about a one track mind ... 

 

First I've seen of that style. Kinda of cool tho with the two way splitting. You could really split if you had younguns handling the pieces. 

You know the trays are a must have & usually they are "optional" .

[ebinmaine 77,334]

11 minutes ago, wallfish said:

Cons

lifting the logs up to it, but that could be solved.

 

 

Doesn't matter for our situation. But if the need to lift a log came up we have machines...

 

 

 

11 minutes ago, wallfish said:

 

Pros

The 2 way split. That's a pretty good idea

 

 

That's what Trina thought too.  Cycle speed is similar to our current splitter but obviously using it two ways cuts the actual time in half.  

 

11 minutes ago, wallfish said:

Those rims might fit on a round hood tractor

 

[ri702bill 11,256]

Options: 4 Way Wedge - Split logs down faster with a 4 way wedge.

Should consider this - after watching videos of it in action for proper bind free action...

[Ed Kennell 44,868]

My splitter can be positioned horizontally or vertically.       I have never used it horizontally.   It has auto return (about 5 seconds) which gives me time to position the next round.       TSC 22 ton  Made in the USA was $999  when I bought mine 30 years ago.     Never failed yet.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Ed Kennell

[cafoose 3,591]

Neighbor has one identical to @Ed Kennell and he brought it over to break tire beads. He set it up vertical and put a 6x6 against the grain under the wedge. Then he positioned the 6x6 on the tire next to the rim and the bead broke effortlessly.  Thinking it could be used as a press with the right adapters?  

[Darb1964 1,140]

I personally don't like the wedge on the piston, I'm not sure if it's just me but that's my take. I've only owned one splitter and I bought it used over thirty years ago. It has sat unused now for many years and I probably should sell it, but it took me so long to save for it I haven't been able to. I guess it's a reminder of earlier days when every purchase was debated and needed to be the thing needed most at the time. A time I miss and seems to have gone by way too fast.

[ineedanother 1,872]

I really like the two-way splitter and that one has a fast travel too. The older I get the less I want one without a vertical option though. I almost pulled the trigger on this one last month because it was $999 for members: https://www.harborfreight.com/30-ton-212cc-dual-action-log-splitter-70820.html

[ebinmaine 77,334]

1 hour ago, ri702bill said:

Options: 4 Way Wedge - Split logs down faster with a 4 way wedge.

Should consider this - after watching videos of it in action for proper bind free action...

 

4 way wedge WILL be part of the purchase.  

 

 

 

 

On the vertical splitters....

I understand and appreciate that folks have different needs and methods.  

 

Trina and I both far prefer the horizontal & off the ground usage.  

 

Vertical positioning requires the wood to stay on the ground.

We find it more ergonomic and much safer to simply lift the wood to the table instead of bending to the ground for every split.  

 

We split our firewood twice as much as most people. This creates smaller pieces that are easier to handle. 

We never "bank" a fire for overnight. 

[Handy Don 15,941]

The fastest cycle time splitter I watched demonstrated was the DR Kinetic. It seemed to excel when the round lengths were 16” or less and it had a large enough table to allow successive splits taking a large round into smaller pieces. 

That said, the speed and power were pretty intimidating and I’d wonder about long-term wear and tear as well as how it did on heavily knotted or twisty-grained wood (e.g. the Black Locust that thwarted the standard splitter I borrow!) 

The two-way will be stronger in one direction, too, where the cylinder is extending. 

[wallfish 19,299]

I don't burn wood but still wanted to build a cone splitter for the hoe when it was mine. Basically just poke the logs right on the ground one right after another

 

[adsm08 4,199]

I know I'm the young buck around here, but I don't see the lack of a vertical as a huge drawback. I find it easier to let the split pieces pile up around the splitter as I work in horizontal mode.

 

I have the same splitter Ed does, and I've only used in vertical once, when I was working with 4ft diameter sections of oak.

 

I'm not sure the dual action is going to be that useful. Like Don said, it will not be as strong in one direction, and I usually need the full retract time to reload.

[adsm08 4,199]

3 minutes ago, wallfish said:

cone splitter for the hoe

 

I think they make those already.

[wallfish 19,299]

8 minutes ago, adsm08 said:

 

I think they make those already.

They make back hoes too but that didn't stop me from building one. 

[ebinmaine 77,334]

25 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

how it did on heavily knotted or twisty-grained wood

 

Marginal. That's what stops us from getting a kinetic splitter. 

 

Our forest is approximately 70% beech. 

Knotted. Twisted. Curly. Fibrous. It can be downright nasty to process.  

 

27 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

The two-way will be stronger in one direction, too, where the cylinder is extending. 

 

I did recall you bringing this up at some point.  

I'm wondering if the Boss is over powered on the forward or marginal on the return. 

Not sure it matters as long as we're aware and can make adjustments to routine.  

 

[ebinmaine 77,334]

22 minutes ago, adsm08 said:

I'm not sure the dual action is going to be that useful. Like Don said, it will not be as strong in one direction, and I usually need the full retract time to reload.

 

Trina and I have talked about that. 

Her standard methodology is/ has been accustomed to single direction power and automatic return. Auto return is NOT available on new splitters we can buy here. 

The dual action is likely weaker on return but at least that wouldn't be a waste of time given proper planning.  

 

 

[ebinmaine 77,334]

12 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Auto return is NOT available on new splitters we can buy here. 

 

FYI. This may be available here again.  

[squonk 45,519]

I think the biggest "pro" of that log splitter is the fact that I'm not the guy doin the work! 

[Handy Don 15,941]

40 minutes ago, adsm08 said:

I usually need the full retract time to reload.

Me too! I don’t have a helper for splitting (like Thoreau weeding his garden) so I need the retract time to clear the splits and stage the next round. 

I’ll likely hire some teenaged help the next time, though!

[Ed Kennell 44,868]

58 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

We find it more ergonomic and much safer to simply lift the wood to the table instead of bending to the ground for every split.

I understand that especially if you are splitting smaller rounds.    I burn my stove 24/7 so I don't split any rounds less than 8" diameter.

I use the dozer blade to move the big rounds close to the splitter, then use one of the rounds as a seat while I operate the splitter.