Been quite a few discussions lately of building splitters. Did a little searching and found a ton of threads. Problem is most of the threads are prehack so all the pictures are missing. I am not building a splitter at this time, dont really have any plans for a future build either. Just thought I would start a discussion about the parts a person might choose if they where going to build their own ultimate wood splitter. Cyl, sizes, Valves, Pumps, engines, etc. Features such as lifts, booms, winches, tables. Reading some of the old threads, I saw everything from 9in bore cyl and 300cuin ford engines to power them, and some pretty niffty ways for throttle/governor controls, to the 5hp briggs and 11gpm pumps, with 3.5 and 4in cyl's machines.
I feel for the everyday homeowner, just splitting their own wood, most of the storebrands will get the job done. Then you have the full time firewood producer that needs a fast processor, with all the support equipment that goes with it. And then there is the middle ground, the small time firewood producer that sells 10-100cords of wood a year. For this guy, a full blown processor doesnt make financial sense, but the little homeowner machines wont do either. This is the segment of wood splitter I am targeting with this thread. If you are in this middle ground of firewood producers, what are some of the features you feel is a must have on any firewood splitter. Keep the processors and homeowner machines out of the discussion. I know both types are perfectly capable wood splitting machines, and there are probably tons of folks using these setups in there less than 100,cord a year firewood business, and some probably even producing more than 100cord a year. I would like to keep the flywheel type splitter out of the build thread as well. I do realize those splitter do have their place in producing firewood and lots of folks will use both a hydraulic and flywheel types in their operation. I can easily see the benefits of adding a flywheel splitter in the equipment list. but I feel most folks would buy one rather than build, unless they have a old sq baler laying around to scrounge parts off of.
Anyways, I started the thread, its up to you to add ideals to it.
I feel for the everyday homeowner, just splitting their own wood, most of the storebrands will get the job done. Then you have the full time firewood producer that needs a fast processor, with all the support equipment that goes with it. And then there is the middle ground, the small time firewood producer that sells 10-100cords of wood a year. For this guy, a full blown processor doesnt make financial sense, but the little homeowner machines wont do either. This is the segment of wood splitter I am targeting with this thread. If you are in this middle ground of firewood producers, what are some of the features you feel is a must have on any firewood splitter. Keep the processors and homeowner machines out of the discussion. I know both types are perfectly capable wood splitting machines, and there are probably tons of folks using these setups in there less than 100,cord a year firewood business, and some probably even producing more than 100cord a year. I would like to keep the flywheel type splitter out of the build thread as well. I do realize those splitter do have their place in producing firewood and lots of folks will use both a hydraulic and flywheel types in their operation. I can easily see the benefits of adding a flywheel splitter in the equipment list. but I feel most folks would buy one rather than build, unless they have a old sq baler laying around to scrounge parts off of.
Anyways, I started the thread, its up to you to add ideals to it.
