wishiwasdiving
ArboristSite Lurker
Ok guys,
Here's the run down. I BAUGHT THIS STRICTLY OFF OF A.S. MEMBERS RECOMMENDATIONS AND YOU TUBE VIDEOS. I knew no one who had one I could touch or watch in person. I just went for it. Paul from SS was great to work with. He actually tried to sell me the base model saying I probably didn't need the HD! But come on! Everyone needs the HD!!! So I spent the extra and got the HD with the Subaru 6.0.
It took him almost 2 weeks before he actually shipped it, which would have been fine but he insinuated that it would go right out. I was just anxious I guess. When it did get shipped it cost $400 to get here to Oregon. I had the option of shipping it to my own commercial business (must have loading dock and fork lift) or shipping to a local terminal. He checked price differences for me and said they were both about the same so I shipped it to my buddies shop for safe keeping. Shipping only took 4 days!
I included a couple pics of the SS on its shipping pallet. When we went to put it together the first thing we noticed was..."Man this thing is heavy!!!." It took my buddy and I together to assemble it. Speaking of assembling it, We looked all over the crate for the nuts and bolts bag and found it nowhere! I made a whole shopping list of what we needed to go get to finish it when I finally decided to look in the Subaru box. I figured that this came sealed from the manufacturer and wouldn't have SS parts in it but sure enough it had been carefully opened and all my wonderful little parts and the directions were stuffed inside! Glad I didn't run to Ace! I'm not the sharpest axe in the shed! It is bigger and way better built than it looks like on the videos. It's no toy. It can be moved around by one person but way easier with two.
Once it was finally put together we oiled her and fueled her and with one good pull she came right to life! Oh ya baby!!!! First thought was turn her up! But she was already at full speed! Man is she quiet for a gas powered motor. Now for some wood!
I have a bunch of white Oak. Nothing really big but several with knotts! The Oak was about 16 inches through and fairly heavy to pick up. Once on the table I lined her up and pulled the button and bam!!! Piece of cake! In fact I could turn it down to half speed and still cuts like butter. Now for some knots. The very first challenging piece shut the SS down instantly! I was very disappointed! What a let down! Well I started it back up and fired again. It hit it hard, went 3/4 through it then bogged down. At least it didn't shut down. I tapped it one more time and it went all the way through. I threw another knurly one up there and it went half way through this time and then bogged down and so I hit it again and whamo! Success! So I learned that it will go through one or two knots on one hit and 3 or 4 knots in a row need two hits. So it will take you 6 seconds on really knotty wood instead of three... Oh darn! It's not scared of knotts or twists, just takes an extra wack. As for the shut down? Once the belts got broke in it hasn't done it again. It just kind of stops short and you just pull the knob again and your through.
Things I dont like about it...
Very top heavy!
Wheels to close together, which doesn't help the fact that it is top heavy.
Difficult to move around. She is built tough! And tough is heavy and heavy is hard to move.
It doesn't have a hitch. Since it's not easy to move I'd like to drag it down to the field behind my 4 wheeler but that isn't an option (yet). And if it was then the wheels are to close together (for now) and the SS will want to tip over out in the field.
What I like...
The SS!!!
The table is A MUST!!!
More power than needed 90% of the time.
Very well built.
Just the right working level. I don't have to bend over while working on it.
It is a blast to run. Makes splitting wood FUN! As fun as splitting wood can be, that is!!!
Final Recommendation: WORTH EVERY SINGLE PRETTY PENNY!!!
Here's the run down. I BAUGHT THIS STRICTLY OFF OF A.S. MEMBERS RECOMMENDATIONS AND YOU TUBE VIDEOS. I knew no one who had one I could touch or watch in person. I just went for it. Paul from SS was great to work with. He actually tried to sell me the base model saying I probably didn't need the HD! But come on! Everyone needs the HD!!! So I spent the extra and got the HD with the Subaru 6.0.
It took him almost 2 weeks before he actually shipped it, which would have been fine but he insinuated that it would go right out. I was just anxious I guess. When it did get shipped it cost $400 to get here to Oregon. I had the option of shipping it to my own commercial business (must have loading dock and fork lift) or shipping to a local terminal. He checked price differences for me and said they were both about the same so I shipped it to my buddies shop for safe keeping. Shipping only took 4 days!
I included a couple pics of the SS on its shipping pallet. When we went to put it together the first thing we noticed was..."Man this thing is heavy!!!." It took my buddy and I together to assemble it. Speaking of assembling it, We looked all over the crate for the nuts and bolts bag and found it nowhere! I made a whole shopping list of what we needed to go get to finish it when I finally decided to look in the Subaru box. I figured that this came sealed from the manufacturer and wouldn't have SS parts in it but sure enough it had been carefully opened and all my wonderful little parts and the directions were stuffed inside! Glad I didn't run to Ace! I'm not the sharpest axe in the shed! It is bigger and way better built than it looks like on the videos. It's no toy. It can be moved around by one person but way easier with two.
Once it was finally put together we oiled her and fueled her and with one good pull she came right to life! Oh ya baby!!!! First thought was turn her up! But she was already at full speed! Man is she quiet for a gas powered motor. Now for some wood!
I have a bunch of white Oak. Nothing really big but several with knotts! The Oak was about 16 inches through and fairly heavy to pick up. Once on the table I lined her up and pulled the button and bam!!! Piece of cake! In fact I could turn it down to half speed and still cuts like butter. Now for some knots. The very first challenging piece shut the SS down instantly! I was very disappointed! What a let down! Well I started it back up and fired again. It hit it hard, went 3/4 through it then bogged down. At least it didn't shut down. I tapped it one more time and it went all the way through. I threw another knurly one up there and it went half way through this time and then bogged down and so I hit it again and whamo! Success! So I learned that it will go through one or two knots on one hit and 3 or 4 knots in a row need two hits. So it will take you 6 seconds on really knotty wood instead of three... Oh darn! It's not scared of knotts or twists, just takes an extra wack. As for the shut down? Once the belts got broke in it hasn't done it again. It just kind of stops short and you just pull the knob again and your through.
Things I dont like about it...
Very top heavy!
Wheels to close together, which doesn't help the fact that it is top heavy.
Difficult to move around. She is built tough! And tough is heavy and heavy is hard to move.
It doesn't have a hitch. Since it's not easy to move I'd like to drag it down to the field behind my 4 wheeler but that isn't an option (yet). And if it was then the wheels are to close together (for now) and the SS will want to tip over out in the field.
What I like...
The SS!!!
The table is A MUST!!!
More power than needed 90% of the time.
Very well built.
Just the right working level. I don't have to bend over while working on it.
It is a blast to run. Makes splitting wood FUN! As fun as splitting wood can be, that is!!!
Final Recommendation: WORTH EVERY SINGLE PRETTY PENNY!!!
Congratulations on your purchase. I am sure you wont be dissappointed. I have had mine a month or better now, and it just keeps getting better. You'll learn the best lines for splitting, and stalls will be less frequent if ever. I agree the machine is a little top heavy, but still plenty stable and in no danger of dumping over. Try to lift it from one side. I'm not sure that moving the wheeels apart would do anything for the design. I kind of like them as they as as it requires less room in my shop to store. The number one complaint I have heard about the machine is that it can be difficult to move. The front leg unbolts, and with a little fab work a new L-shape leg, or folding leg with trailer hitch could be added. That would allow you to move it around the yard easier. Other than that I have zero complaints. Mine starts first pull, runs quiet, and works hard.
