Log spliter

While it is a splitting tool, it also does give me the willies. After all, you're spending your time near, and shoving against, the nastiest wood screw ever made. Twice I've stumbled while around it and scared myself doing so. There's no safety device and no way to shut it down.

I've also propellered some logs on that screw, that's exciting, especially if you have your face near enough to get smashed when the log starts spinning. Hurt, a lot when it did that to me. If you don't get enough log up on that stop pipe, or if the log breaks the end off, it twirls most violently. Getting it back off the auger screw is a real job. I've got one on mine now that I've spent several hours on and still don't have off.

I know you asked about a pto driven one, but I think I'll pipe up here about the truck mounted ones. I can't imagine a better way to tear your truck apart as it goes crashing down the road with a log stuck to the wheel. Using one of those is just plain nuts in my opinion.

They are cheap, they are a splitting tool, but honestly, if I had the money, I'd prefer a hydraulic unit.

Simon

I took a look at the website that brought up a question:

When the screw wedge begins to split/bite the log, doesn't the log try to twist over on it's side?

Is the screw wedge always started low towards the log end?

T_Bone

There's a large amount of twist. My splitter has a pipe in the 3 o'clock position, parallel to the screw, rather than that bottom plate. I rest the log on the pipe, ease it into the screw, and let go. No reason to get anywhere near the screw with anything but the log. Incredibly fast and two grease fittings on the universal joints are the total maintenance.

After seeing the picture, I think I like my pipe better than that plate. It's farther from the screw for better leverage and resists rotation from the side of the log, rather than the end.

Thats what I thought as I couldn't see them not jamming the log against anything. I like the sound of your set-up much better.

Seams like a simple system to make.

T_Bone

Right you are, super simple to make once you have the screw. I picked my rig up at auction for $45 with the paint barely scratched. Probably from somebody who read the gov't warning and followed it, rather than considering why exactly they were complaining. Or maybe that clumsy one-armed guy.

Major problem was no control of the PTO for the guy with the log. DUH! Not any different from anything else you hook back there. Get caught up and you have a serious problem.

My pipe is parallel to the outside of the screw, not the center. Don't know if that makes any difference. Mine also has a couple of adjustable legs that rest on the ground to give stability. No platform, just a screw and a pipe sticking out. Put a decent log on it and there's some interesting forces at work. That elm would be a challenge. Around here we use red gum to test things.

--->Paul

--->Paul

Send her down if you really think I'm endangering myself. I've had one for a few years and wouldn't consider owning a hydraulic splitter. Dangerous? Sure, if you're clumsy enough to stick a part of yourself in one, like most anything you hook to your PTO. I read why the gov't thinks I should retire mine and don't buy the argument. To each his own, but I'll stick with what works great (and safely) for me.