The future of log splitting

They are unbelievable. A 5.5 hp gas motor drives a set of small flywheels with a pinion gear centered on the common shaft. A rack gear is lifted to engage the rack and pinion. This machine cycles 20-30 times a minute using a spring return. Nothing stops it. It could be a hands-free operation with the operator only handling the logs.

Enough with my poor description. The manufacturer has three You Tube videos. The link below is for the shortest one. There is also a company website. They have included a schematic that shows the mechanism. It looks like it could be made for fewer bucks than a hydraulic machine Search on Super Split log splitter.

• Super split

split those pieces that are too much work to split with a maul.]

I watched the longer video on MySpace. Those were good SIZED logs - red maple I think - but they were all straight and would split with a 7 pound maul and a mean look. I don't know if that was the larger machine, but it could not split a few of those logs on the first stroke.

I also agree about the saftey issue. It looks safe enough when you are fresh and paying attention, but after a few hours of repetitive work, I could certainly seen having fingers draped over one end of the log and not enough time to wake up to the fact.

I fabricated a wider axle with 16x6.50-8 tires for better stability. ....He did wear out one engine, the pinion gear shaft, one centrifugal clutch, and a couple springs in all those years.

These splitters are NOT a toy, despite their size and appearance. ....They are VERY effective in splitting! .....For gnarly and twisted grain, the wedge end of the log can be lifted slightly, and the wedge will split it easily.

The rapid extension of the ram is more like the action of a splitting maul, compared to the slow pushing action of a hydraulic splitter.

We ran a 9hp, 16gpm, 2-stage hydraulic splitter side-by-side with my f-i-l's splitter, and his machine split the same wood as the hydraulic, but his production was much greater due to the quick cycle time.

The wood I saw split in person was large diameter hardwood although I didn't get out of my truck for a closer look.

I presume the operating handle is on top for safety reasons. Seems like a shielded foot pedal might work even better. It seems to me that two handed log splitting is safer than one hand on the hydraulic lever and one on the log.

As to the 5.5 hp, you have to remember that the flywheel is accepting energy while the ram is on the back stroke or when major resistance is over within the first 1/2".