right handers...splitter vale position

[cityevader]

I’m in the process of figuring the best place to relocate the ill-placed valve on my splitter.
I currently use my right hand on lever and position/hold the wood with my left, but am considering flipping it all around so that I stand with all the machinery to my left in order to eliminate bending over the engine to reach the valve.

I’m so used to doing fine work with my good right hand, such as lever movement and timing, and the dumb left on is there for the brainless work of keeping rounds steady on beam.

Question is, any other right-handers switch hit? Does the left hand brain adapt quickly? I’d hate to pinch a right digit or worse because the leftie pulled the lever the wrong way or at the wrong time or something.

 

[sundance]

My splitter is set up to run the valve with my left hand. Works well for me. I work the right side of the splitter (looking from back), so when I toss a round on the beam the left hand is logical to reach for and run the valve lever. All seems to work well. I did position it for this method when I built it so everythings in a good place. Still have all my digits, no pinches yet.

 

[Patrick62]

I take a stab at this one

First, a definition.

Let's say from the perspective of the end of the beam (could be a wedge, could be a plate, doesn't matter) standing there looking down the length of the beam at the cylinder you would have a right side and a left side.

My splitter has the valve pretty close to the cylinder on the left side. It can be reached from either side. I run it that way, from either side.

The "ideal" spot for the handle would be right on top of the cylinder accessible from either side.

Now, it is just as intuitive left and right handed. After all with a stickshift car a left handed person is shifting with their right hand, and a right handed person is steering with their left hand!

-Pat

 

[Mike Van]

I try to switch off & run the splitter from both sides - Otherwise, my right glove is worn to tatters & the left is fine -

 

[Lloyd H]

right/left

Flying might be an appropriate analogy, one normally flies a control wheel aircraft with left hand on control wheel and right hand on throttle etc. and you fly a control stick airplane with your right hand on the stick and your left hand on the throttle. Seems seamless to me either or. My splitter has the control valve atop the cylinder but the handle is out to the right side as you face the splitter in the vertical so I never run it left handed, so what do I know.

 

[turnkey4099]

I put mine dead center on top of the ram back just far enough that the lever clears the wood chunk with the ram fully retracted.

I run it either lefty or righty depending from which side I am working. Avoids having to change the splitter around for best positioning. That is about the only lefty operation I am any good at and it didn't take much of a learning curve.

Harry K

 

[Suz]

The handle on mine sticks straight up from the center of the cylinder. I can use either hand or stand on either side of the splitter.

 

[cityevader]

Forgot to post pics of the terrible ergonomics of my Harbor Freight splitter.

 

[turnkey4099]

Looks like a machine designed by an 'engineer' with no input, or care, from an actual operator. One side operation only, runnign gear smack in the way of the operator. Valve handle where you can't get it in a hurry.

Of course the drawback to any verticle splitter is obvious. No way to brace the end plate. That one is already bending.

Harry K