splitters dangerous !!!!!!!!

[Coldfront]

Add one more for getting hit in the nuts. I posted about it earlier this fall we were splitting some big rounds of white pine when one popped flew about 5 feet and hit my friend right in the nuts, he wasn't hurt bad but we laughed our ass off. Makes you think more about it when splitting for sure. I am a mechanic and its the same thing with working with a 30 ton press pressing off a big bearing, I had one explode fly about 30 feet and take a chunk out of a brick wall. That was a wake up call.

 

[chugbug]

Maybe I'll start wearing my chaps when splitting !!! I have a couple big scabs on my shins that are just healing up !!!

 

[jerry wayne]

3rd splitt

the very third split i had EVER done popped and caught my buddy in the gonad's......never take your eye off the piece,and never get to comfortable in the repetition.when we get a piece that seems like it could pop,we both turn a Lil sideways,automatically,in sync.Experience guided by practice

 

[aokpops]

had a hallow log ran all the way through splitter. kinda got stuck on the wedge . thought just pull it off . hears the warning don.t put your fingers where the wood just got spilt . now I got a log stuck on my finger instead of the wedge .

 

[turnkey4099]

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.

You are right if you never get a 'pop' I have seen them fly 6 feet or more and they always go _past_ the wedge, not sideways. Of course if usign verticle the wedge will be on ram anyhow and those pops will be coming _up_.

Harry K

 

[turnkey4099]

Maybe I'll start wearing my chaps when splitting !!! I have a couple big scabs on my shins that are just healing up !!!

Yep. Chaps are great leg protectors. I started wearing them for splitting several years ago. Still get the scrapes, etc. when I am too lazy to go get the chaps.

Harry K

 

[046]

all you folks that's had wood split off at speed, got wacked and/or almost got wacked.

are all these incidents in horizontal mode?

has anyone ever had that happen when using splitter in vertical mode?

simple physics indicate splitting forces by wedge directs wood 90 degree from face of wedge. just as we would drive a wedge when falling.

25+ tons of force directed against a stubborn knot.... when that breaks free... yikes... wouldn't want to be standing in the way!

 

[SWI Don]

Actually the wood usually shoots off at the angle of the wedge (along the wedge). When you are building up pressure in the log before it pops you are loading up the beam, foot/wedge, cylinder, log and cylinder mount like a big spring. The more flexible the system ie the more deflection, the more severe the pop.

Don

 

[Moss Man]

Yo mama nevah said this firewood business was not gonna hurt ya Spanky!

Be careful out there!

 

[Adkpk]

My truck was behind me and I was sitting on a log facing the splitter, I was rushing to finish. I was recklessly throwing them from the splitter into the truck over my head. I was on the last log when the one I was throwing hit the splitter and then my face. There was blood but I finished, cleaned up and hitched up the splitter to be returned to the rental store tomorrow before I cleaned up my face. It looked cool before I cleaned it up and now it looks like nothing really. I'm thankful and warm.

 

[ropensaddle]

My truck was behind me and I was sitting on a log facing the splitter, I was rushing to finish. I was recklessly throwing them from the splitter into the truck over my head. I was on the last log when the one I was throwing hit the splitter and then my face. There was blood but I finished, cleaned up and hitched up the splitter to be returned to the rental store tomorrow before I cleaned up my face. It looked cool before I cleaned it up and now it looks like nothing really. I'm thankful and warm.

That a boy we dern wood cuttin sobs are tough no matter how ya draw it.
I always laughed when my company hired a purty boy to try and do mans
work they just can't do it If you can't take the occasional bruise
scrape,cut,rope burn just stay behind the counter sheesh:monkey: