New Approach to the Problem

[ETpilot]

I've been splitting some heavy rounds. Two step process; quarter them vertically then split horizontal. I have a front end loader with forks. Tried loading from bucket but forks alway interfered. So 2-step was the way forward.

Then I had to remove the forks for a job and the light bulb turned on. I can use the bucket to load. Level the bucket, a magnetic rod lets me know when to stop, back up some inches. Then lower bucket to table height. Works great! Roll round onto table. Split and throw splits into bucket. When done carry them to the wood rack. This is one of those “Why didn't I think of that before” moments.

 

[turnkey4099]

I haul all wook home in chunks (cut down to a size I can load in th truck). Like to back that up to the splitter and take the chunks right off the tailgate into the splitter. I really don't care for using the splitter as when I'm done splitting I then have a huge pile of splits to be stacked. I prefer splitting manually and stacking as I split. More relaxed and enjoyable. Of course both the locust and willow are easy stuff to split.

 

[Mustang71]

I haul all wook home in chunks (cut down to a size I can load in th truck). Like to back that up to the splitter and take the chunks right off the tailgate into the splitter. I really don't care for using the splitter as when I'm done splitting I then have a huge pile of splits to be stacked. I prefer splitting manually and stacking as I split. More relaxed and enjoyable. Of course both the locust and willow are easy stuff to split.

Finally someone understands y I don't own a lot splitter. I could rent one for the day split my wood then have a huge pile of wood in the driveway to stack or split for an hour then stack for 20 min and repeat in a few days.

Plus sometimes my 3 year old will stack it while I split it.

 

[ETpilot]

I don't like splits on the ground. Then you spend time bending over and picking them up for stacking. That is why I use my tractor bucket. All splits go in the bucket. When bucket is full I drive to the wood rack for stacking. I position the bucket at a good height for stacking. The least bending over the better. I have a homemade hookaroon for working the rounds. I need to make a short one for handling quartered rounds and smaller pieces. I think it would come in handy.

 

[alleyyooper]

I use my spliter horzontal type only. I some times have rounds to big for me to even roll up on it so will use the snow blade on the pacer to do it.
When I split I just toss the splits far and high enough to get them out of my way and will move the splitter when the pile gets to big.
I quit stacking fire wood when I started harvesting standing dead Ash and Elm so I just have a big pile. I also like to do my splitting in the winter when the wood is frozen.
I also stack 2 1/2 weeks worth in the furnace room so it is garenteed tinder dry by burn time.




I do hand split some at times as I want them pretty small for the start of a fire build.



Al

 

[Sandhill Crane]

You guys might like the pulp hooks from Bailey's with the triangle tips. They are ground thinner behind the triangle and act a bit like a fish hook. Great for picking up small to mid size rounds onto the splitter. Thirty bucks or something, and order a few replaceable tips to have on hand, as they are brittle and you may snap one or two a year twisting it if in a hard knot.. Very handy tool. Replaced the hook-a-roon with these on the log deck too . Don't use the ice tongues either, but did for years hoisting larger rounds on the old splitter. They make great, inexpensive Christmas present too for family or friends into firewood. Something they can actually use, for years and years.

 

[kevin j]

I had an old ruined framing hammer so I sharpened the claws, and ground the striking side into a small ax shaped and then I ground flat spot on the side of the handle so my fingers can orient and know without looking the hooks orientation the way I want it and then use that to just grab logs. I don't necessarily drive into the log all the time sometimes just grab it and hook on it. The sharpen blade side is nice for chopping through the last couple fibers of stringy elm sometimes. have used it about a year now and I like it