Rftreeman
Addicted to ArboristSite
me too, if you run one long enough you learn when and where to stand.......
splitters dangerous !!!!!!!!
- Thread starter chugbug
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
treevet
Addicted to ArboristSite
That is true but unfortunately you cannot have a guillotine splitter (goes up and down and sideways) without the wedge on the ram. That was my last splitter and if I didn't have the log lift it was nice to have the up and down for the biggies.
And when it does happen, the piece is going away from you. Wedge on ram, it is aimed right at you.
Harry K
arlen
Me and my wife at Wild Amimal Park San Diego
When I split wood I sit in a chair in front of the splitter. It hurts my back to stand up and lean over the splitter for very long. My tractor is behind me with a bucket of rounds waiting to be split. I grab a a round and put it in the splitter and sit down and start splitting. I hold my hand over the round in case it pops if it is a larger round I use my forearm and hand. when they pop my hand stings but at least I don't get hit in the face or chest. Sometimes when they pop I stop the round from going towards me and it pops out the other side. David
Saw Bones
ArboristSite Operative
Splitters
I have never understood why any one would use a horizontal splitter. I cant see having to lift big rounds into place. I have always used a vertical splitter and just rolled them into place. I have had pieces of wood shoot off 15 or 20 feet with considerable force. I always stand behind the thing well out of the way. Always keep your hands away from the moving parts. A little common sense goes a long way.
I have never understood why any one would use a horizontal splitter. I cant see having to lift big rounds into place. I have always used a vertical splitter and just rolled them into place. I have had pieces of wood shoot off 15 or 20 feet with considerable force. I always stand behind the thing well out of the way. Always keep your hands away from the moving parts. A little common sense goes a long way.
tawilson
Addicted to ArboristSite
Depends on what you have for equipment. I have a tractor and a dump trailer, so I load the dump trailer up so I have the rounds at waist level already. Just slide off on my knee and spin around and it's on the splitter. I don't get into anything I can't handle like that. Then some people got them log lift thingy's.
savageactor7
ArboristSite Guru
Well our wedge on beam horizontal splitter is about 6" off the ground so 28" logs can be easily ramped up using splitter trash and splits.
With a vert splitter you're duck walking for a prolonged period...that's not for me.
In over 20 years of splitting the only wood here that split with some explosive force was apple...and not with enough force to hurt you.
I wonder if it's the woods you split or the shape of the wedge?
We're mostly splitting maple, ash, black cherry, apple, poplar and willow. Also the wedge is narrow and knife like.
With a vert splitter you're duck walking for a prolonged period...that's not for me.
In over 20 years of splitting the only wood here that split with some explosive force was apple...and not with enough force to hurt you.
I wonder if it's the woods you split or the shape of the wedge?
We're mostly splitting maple, ash, black cherry, apple, poplar and willow. Also the wedge is narrow and knife like.
The horizontal/vertical choice will never end, it's kind of like grind/file chain, Stihl/Husky, Ford/Chevy, tractorsplitter/stand alone splitter, and so on...................But, it gives us something to yak about 
CowboyAndy
ArboristSite Member
I always wear steel toes when splitting.
My buddy was splitting with me one day, I was running the handle at the time and he was loading, he put a piece up and as it was splitting he had a hand on each half, it was starting to push up so he was pushing down. It all the sudden split all the way and his face was about 1" from the wedge... that was scary.
My buddy was splitting with me one day, I was running the handle at the time and he was loading, he put a piece up and as it was splitting he had a hand on each half, it was starting to push up so he was pushing down. It all the sudden split all the way and his face was about 1" from the wedge... that was scary.
avalancher
Arboristsite Raconteur
I do my splitting the same way as you do. I dont have a dump trailer,but just a flat bed. I back my splitter right up to the trailer and turn it sideways leaving it hooked to my tractor. I have a short board that allows the rounds to slide right from the trailer on to the splitter. Never have to pick up anything, and the trailer acts as a huge table to throw the unsplit halves.
sorry but that sure sounds backwards...
orientation of wedge will decide which direction wood is headed when it lets go.
in vertical mode... wedge is facing directly operator... when wood splits it falls apart 90 degrees away from operator. this is assuming one not using a four way wedge. then wood would be coming directly at operator. hence why folks warn about dangers of using a four way on ram.
in horizontal mode... single wedge is parallel to operator. when wood splits it falls apart towards operator. but operator has more options to stand out of the way. horizontal is the only way I'd operate a four way.
most of my splitting is done vertical mode... typical round split would take much effort to split horizontal without a lift.
orientation of wedge will decide which direction wood is headed when it lets go.
in vertical mode... wedge is facing directly operator... when wood splits it falls apart 90 degrees away from operator. this is assuming one not using a four way wedge. then wood would be coming directly at operator. hence why folks warn about dangers of using a four way on ram.
in horizontal mode... single wedge is parallel to operator. when wood splits it falls apart towards operator. but operator has more options to stand out of the way. horizontal is the only way I'd operate a four way.
most of my splitting is done vertical mode... typical round split would take much effort to split horizontal without a lift.
Last edited:
Ductape
Addicted to ArboristSite
I've had plenty of gnarly pieces "pop" when using my splitter. Several have popped up, whizzing past my head. I'm hoping my gummit will either pass laws to force me to wear a helmet, a full compliment of football pads, goalie shin pads, and steel toed boots......................... or maybe better yet, ban all splitters as they are just too dangerous. I'm confident one of these measures will shirley save me from myself (and keep me burning that sweet heating oil!). 
I been fortunate over the years the only occasional take one in shin or on the toes. This fall however, I bent over to pick up a piece while left hand was operating the lever in a split, and had one POP, Hit me on side of the head! Thats gonna leave a mark!! Well, Im not the smartest guy in the world, but learned NOT to do that again! Probably a one in a million chance thing, but it happened. Wish I was that lucky in the lottery
treevet
Addicted to ArboristSite
I've had plenty of gnarly pieces "pop" when using my splitter. Several have popped up, whizzing past my head. I'm hoping my gummit will either pass laws to force me to wear a helmet, a full compliment of football pads, goalie shin pads, and steel toed boots......................... or maybe better yet, ban all splitters as they are just too dangerous. I'm confident one of these measures will shirley save me from myself (and keep me burning that sweet heating oil!).
Gummit promised change....you prob get one of your wishes. If not maybe shirley will stop by and give you a hand Ductape lol.
A buddy and I were splitting Oak last winter with my horizontal splitter. We took turns operating the valve and loading/retrieveing. A piece popped in two with alot of force and flew right between his legs, narrowing missing the family jewels. He looked up at me with a priceless expression and said; lucky its a "cold day". I experience the worst explosions with the White knotty Pine. I split it for the outdoor firepit and when they pop a knot they have gone 5 to 8' in each direction.
riskmiller
New Member
lucky its a "cold day".
now that's a GOOD line.............!!
now that's a GOOD line.............!!
sawjo - I've had hard rock maple thats dried some just explode off the wedge with a sound like a gunshot. It seperates along it's grain if you put it against the wedge that way. One got the side of my knee years ago, I think I limped for a week. 
ropensaddle
Feel Lucky
I have contemplated using catchers shin knee pads
but I have not yet but I sort of enjoy shouting obscenities
every now and then
but I have not yet but I sort of enjoy shouting obscenities
every now and then
Similar threads
