samuraijunkie
ArboristSite Member
Been looking at a ss but boy are they expensive. I have a just starting out tree company and need to get a little more production out of making firewood. And help is appreciated
What are the options for a kinetic splitter
- Thread starter samuraijunkie
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
sawjunky23
Just here for the free beer!
Dr.makes one, I think it’s called the rapid fire. Have seen decent reviews on them. I think their downfall is stringy wood like elm/hackberry.
Waltzie
ArboristSite Member
Where are you located?
sirbuildalot
Addicted to ArboristSite
The SS is not that expensive for the productivity you get. If you compare a $2,500 Supersplit to a commercial hydraulic that can produce the same amount of wood per hour, your looking at 2-3 times the price for the hydraulic unit, over the SS.
If your comparing the SS to a TSC unit with a 20 second cycle time for $999, then realize your comparing apples to oranges. Any fast cycle hydraulic unit will cost as much as the SS, usually more due to more parts, bigger engine, hydraulic tank, more metal, lines, etc.
Most of the SS's you see have done hundreds, if not thousands of cords in a commercial setting by uncaring new hires. Many are left sitting outside with minimal maintenance, and still out split the majority of the hydraulic units you see. The initial cost is soon forgotten.
If your comparing the SS to a TSC unit with a 20 second cycle time for $999, then realize your comparing apples to oranges. Any fast cycle hydraulic unit will cost as much as the SS, usually more due to more parts, bigger engine, hydraulic tank, more metal, lines, etc.
Most of the SS's you see have done hundreds, if not thousands of cords in a commercial setting by uncaring new hires. Many are left sitting outside with minimal maintenance, and still out split the majority of the hydraulic units you see. The initial cost is soon forgotten.
samuraijunkie
ArboristSite Member
Kalkaska Michigan
sunfish
Fish Head
Super Split is by far the best option! I've had one 8 years & love it!
sirbuildalot
Addicted to ArboristSite
There seems to be a misconception that "There isn't much to a Supersplit, it shouldn't cost as much as it does".
People need to understand, Paul McCann and his team HAND BUILD every machine here in Massachusetts with high quality parts and use dependable engines from known manufacturers. A lot of imitation machines pop up of unknown origin and within a short period of time, problems arise and a recall typically follows. The couple hundred dollars they saved over a real Supersplit suddenly doesn't seem so important. Paul most likely pays his help well and offers full benefit packages. He's not having a bunch of unskilled 12 year old's in a sweat shop environment working 14 hours a day like many of the other kinetic "companies" do. He also has decades and decades of satisfied customers and machines still in use which NO OTHER KINETIC SPLITTER COMPANY CAN SAY.
Of course his machine will be among the most expensive for a kinetic. You get what you pay for.
If you want to save money, buy a kinetic made near the Yangtze river factory. Just don't get upset when we say "We told you so"
People need to understand, Paul McCann and his team HAND BUILD every machine here in Massachusetts with high quality parts and use dependable engines from known manufacturers. A lot of imitation machines pop up of unknown origin and within a short period of time, problems arise and a recall typically follows. The couple hundred dollars they saved over a real Supersplit suddenly doesn't seem so important. Paul most likely pays his help well and offers full benefit packages. He's not having a bunch of unskilled 12 year old's in a sweat shop environment working 14 hours a day like many of the other kinetic "companies" do. He also has decades and decades of satisfied customers and machines still in use which NO OTHER KINETIC SPLITTER COMPANY CAN SAY.
Of course his machine will be among the most expensive for a kinetic. You get what you pay for.
If you want to save money, buy a kinetic made near the Yangtze river factory. Just don't get upset when we say "We told you so"
I have learned this lesson many time in life. Some times you can get the cheap stuff but most of the time its not worth it. 3 years ago i spent $5,000 on a quality commercial zero turn. Not big, it’s actually one of the smallest commercial zero turns you can buy. Only 48”.....But it also came with a five year warranty and I’ve never had a single problem.
My neighbor on the other hand bought a big box store cub cadet for something like $2500.He’s had it for almost the same amount of time and it has been in the shop so many times now he finally got rid of it and got something of higher quality. That was a super expensive lesson.
All I’m saying is with something like a splitter, if money is an issue don’t cheap out. Just wait a little longer for the better quality one.
JMO
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Whitbread
ArboristSite Operative
If you're in Kalkaska, swing on by and try my Supersplit out. I'm less than an hour away, head east at the light in mancelona and I'm 35 miles down on the left.
I "only" have probably 60 full cords through my SS and it's been one of my best firewood investments. All the main parts have been extremely durable despite having much more torque from my diesel pushed through it than originally intended. I did build a new larger follower bearing setup that's proved to be much better than the original small bearing setup though.
I'd strongly suggest ordering the extra large prouduction table, the regular table isn't large enough for 20"+ rounds.
I "only" have probably 60 full cords through my SS and it's been one of my best firewood investments. All the main parts have been extremely durable despite having much more torque from my diesel pushed through it than originally intended. I did build a new larger follower bearing setup that's proved to be much better than the original small bearing setup though.
I'd strongly suggest ordering the extra large prouduction table, the regular table isn't large enough for 20"+ rounds.
I've run many many cord thru my SS. Stringy wood is not an issue. At the same time, how many sellers are working with stringy wood...? The SS will slice rather than crush wood. Another thing it allows you to do is better control your split rather than mash a round thru a wedge and pick out the good pieces. There is very little waste with a SS.
panolo
Seldom right...Always opinionated!
I went between a hydraulic with a 4 way and a log lift and a kinetic. I researched the kinetics and inquired about other brands but in the end it came down to SS. Another reason I decided to go SS was the resale if I didn't like it. Used in god condition they bring a healthy dollar. So I figured if it wasn't for me I would lose a couple hundred and get something different. I ordered the HD model with the larger table. It's fast, runs at half throttle most the time, and so far has been very dependable. I probably have 15 cords through it and couldn't be happier. My only issue is that the graphics didn't stick to the side. I'm sure I could call and get a new set but oh well.
When we split with a few people you can't keep up. It's that fast.
Prime example of why an SS is so quick in the middle of MNGUNS pic. That piece of oak with the black end you can see the knot in it. It clean sliced it instead of ripping it with pressure. It's crazy how well it works.
When we split with a few people you can't keep up. It's that fast.
Prime example of why an SS is so quick in the middle of MNGUNS pic. That piece of oak with the black end you can see the knot in it. It clean sliced it instead of ripping it with pressure. It's crazy how well it works.
When I split a round, if there is a large knot or cut from a branch I will section that out. Then as a Sawyer would, I make a cant then start knocking slabs off. It's like slicing bologna, and near as fast. Few splits off that piece with the big knot then I feed that chunk to the boiler. I'm in the "pretty firewood" business..
samuraijunkie
ArboristSite Member
Ill take you up on the offer of coming to look at it. Im out in West Virginia for 3 more weeks min. I did check out your diesel upgrade yesterday, very nice work.
samuraijunkie
ArboristSite Member
Id also like to get into the pretty firewood business lol, right now I have 25 acres of tops to cut on and just picked up another 56 acre clean up job to get done before spring time. Looking to get a dump truck to make moving wood much easier. little by little right!When I split a round, if there is a large knot or cut from a branch I will section that out. Then as a Sawyer would, I make a cant then start knocking slabs off. It's like slicing bologna, and near as fast. Few splits off that piece with the big knot then I feed that chunk to the boiler. I'm in the "pretty firewood" business..
I remember when I saved up to buy a really nice wheel barrow... HA!..Still got that one.
I use a SS-HD. Not perfect, but not bad for a splitter.
But again, it is important to take a hard look at wood handling.... before and after the splitter.... to increase production.
That is separate from the splitter, but may steer you towards a specific style splitter.
Focusing on how to best handle the log handling, cutting rounds, and stock piling, loading/delivery may increase production with the splitter you have.
Watch the YouTube videos and pay attention to what the operators are doing.
Is he working hard, or easy?
What exactly is he doing?
Extra motions or steps vs the operator of another type of splitter?
Then, what type of splits is he making?
What do the splits look like?
Are they monster splits, or stove wood splits?
How much needs re-split? And if so how much additional (wasted) effort is that?
How much trash is produced from each round (typically a lot from box wedges, which may or may not be okay with you)?
As for expense, that is pretty individual from person to person.
If you have never seen or run a kinetic splitter they probably don't look like much.
Take Whitbread up on his offer to try one, it's a pretty nice offer.
There are wedge on beam splitters.
Wedge on rod splitters.
Horizontal multi wedge splitters with log lift.
Horizontal/vertical splitters
Vertical with table and log lift splitters.
Dual wedge splitters (splitfire)
kinetic splitters.
cone splitters.
skid steer splitters, etc.
homemade
Certified Chainsaw Tester
Buy once, cry once.
samuraijunkie
ArboristSite Member
You can start to increase production by adding a simple table that extends well beyond the wedge.
When you split something in half, let the far side piece lay on the table.
You can stage several pieces on end as well.
Another mod I saw a few years ago was a split table (both sides of the beam) welded to the push plate. The moving table was supported underneath, and on both sides of the beam. Throw a big round on the beam and the table moved with the round past the wedge, where the two halves fell on the table, and the table retracted with the rod and push plate, carrying the splits with it.
One advantage of the SS is the table.
If you split in the woods you will have to figure out how to move the SS splitter. With your present set-up you can add fork tubes quite easily and move it with your tractor (Adding bucket forks). There is a stop bolt in the tube (first pic below) for the fork to hit before smashing the engine. The tubes are tucked in, so not in the way of feet or legs, and the table end is free of a hitch for splitting in a pile, bucket or conveyor. Mounted with two bolts, one in each leg.
