Split-fire math?

[johncinco]

Yep I searched first, HA!

I picked up the catalog and video from my dealer for the split-fire splitters. Between me reading the posts and right ups here, and doing some research first, when I got the catalog in my hand I had questions the dealer had no idea of how to answer. I ended up figuring most out myself, but one I have no idea of nor can the dealer answer.

Their tonnage is listed as their own, and then compared to standard splitters. For instance, their 2260 says 10.5 / 16 meaning they produce 10.5 tons but that compares to 16 tons on a standard splitter. OK, which is more a ton of lead or a ton of feathers? .... old joke there but seriously, how can that be of any comparison? Is the wedge so sharp it cuts through the log easier, thus like a more powerful machine? This apply to all their machines listed.

 

[ray benson]

They must be referring to the inflated ratings some companies use. Similar inflated ratings are used on homeowner air compressor hp ratings, homeowner electric chainsaw hp ratings or circular saw hp ratings.

 

[cuttinscott]

LOL Tonnage.........

Tonnage the age old question dealing with firewood splitters.......

OK take this deal.. Take a 8 lb splitting maul set it atop a chunk of firewood and see how much pressure (tonnage) it takes to push it through the chunk of wood. ALOT would be my guess.
Now take the same chunk of wood and apply swing force to the maul I have no idea how fast you can swing a maul but lets presume its pretty fast, Bingo the maul has made its way through the chunk of wood....
See what speed did to the force needed the faster the cycle time for a splitter the less force is required to make the split.

Does this make sense??


Scott

Edit I was thinking of the super split kinetic energy woodsplitter my bad........http://www.supersplit.com/principle.htm

 

[triptester]

The tonnage figures for the Split-Fire can be explained by its use of 2-way splitting. The cylinder will produce 16 tons when extending but will only produce 10.5 tons when retracting.
When extending there is more square inches of surface area for pressure to push against. When retracting the rod takes up surface area reducing tonnage.

 

[nickblaze466]

marty from split fire was nice enough to bring a unit over to my house to try it out on some maple i had laying around, see about ordering one. the logs i usually split are large, 2ft dia on average. i put a chunk of maple in there about 28in dia, the knife made it through the log but wouldn't pull back out. had to put another piece in there to wedge the knife out of the log. it got stuck another 2 times and then began splitting nicely.

would be a lot nicer pushing a bigger wedge through the log, but as with the surface area issue noted above that may not be an option. i've been working on a setup that uses two cylinders, one pushing on each stroke. not done yet, we'll see.