The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: chrismahon on May 03, 2012, 11:43:35 am
-
I've been advised to take a wood splitter to France as, like everything, they are expensive over there. Would prefer to buy a hand operated hydraulic unit on the basis that it uses no power (so cheapest to run) and is inherently more reliable. I currently use a Roughneck splitting maul and pretend each log is my next door neighbour.
Looked at a Wolf at £99 plus postage. Also Clarke at £132. They seem to be the same item rebadged. Has anyone got experience of these?
-
it all depends on how young and fit you are
been there with the imaginary next door neighbour i have had two hydraulic log splitters the first an opico one and the second i made myself modeled on the opico but stronger and would make up another one if i was going back to logs large scale after 8 hours with the hydraulic one you will still be buggered but a hell of a lot fresher than 8 hours with a axe or maul :farmer:
o both worked from tractor hydraulics :farmer:
-
Thanks Robert. But these are operated by a manual pump from levers, just like a car jack on its side. So it is a lot more work than a tractor driven hydraulic one.
-
I've got a Hy-crack one that fits on the back of the tractor, but apparently they were developed by Canadian (I think) loggers who jacked up the back of their pickups and fitted a screw where the wheel would normally go revved up and used it as a log splitter.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=2&oq=screw+type+l&hl=en-GB&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_en-GB&q=screw+type+log+splitter+video&gs_upl=0l0l2l25279406lllllllllll0&aqi=g5 (http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=2&oq=screw+type+l&hl=en-GB&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_en-GB&q=screw+type+log+splitter+video&gs_upl=0l0l2l25279406lllllllllll0&aqi=g5)
I must say they work incredibly well and are very quick, and can tackle very thick logs.
-
I have a hydraulic splitter which runs off the tractor but unless I'm wanting industrial quantities I still use an axe. Difference is I fill a big tyre with the logs and then whack them with the axe. Accuracy isn't important and they fly nowhere.
-
INteresting that no-one has come forward saying they use one manually - We are also intending to purchase one this year and trying to decide electric or manual. After a winter of axing I have really knackered my elbow and broken my finger (could have beeen MUCH worse!!) - So I WILL be getting something else! The reviews Ive read on Amazon suggest that they are OK but still knackering on your legs (and at least put a more even and gentler strain on your body). Watching with interest, Fi
-
Hi FiB. I looked at the cheap electric ones and the reviews were diabolical. Lots of moving parts to wear out and fail as well. If you want something decent you are looking at £450 plus and you still have the problems of failure and moving it is a problem because of weight. I'm going to pop into Machine Mart (Clarke unit) and have a look. I think they may be slower overall than an axe but a lot less effort and safer so OH can do some, rather than watching me!
-
Hi Chris - it depends upon what you expect to cut. Only about 20% of the wood I cut needs splitting and the rest stays as logs. I like the physical exercise and use wedges, a lump hammer and very occasionally a sledge hammer to split logs. A good axe does the job too.
I may be fundamentally mean but I make do without a log splitter here ( in France) because of the wood that I harvest. Sweet chestnut provides long poles that rarely need splitting.
-
If you have a good supply of wood that is easy to split, you may get away with a manually operated splitter. I have a supply of ash logs and they split fairly easily. However, if the wood has a twisted grain or the logs are large - say over 6" - then a big power operated one is worth the investment.
I have hired a 6 ton one and that was pretty good. The 6 ton figure is the force exerted by the ram. However, a 4 ton splitter was tedious and need several attempts if the log had side branches which made the grain twisted. Some of the difficult logs I had to split manually using a grenade wedge from Screwfix. See:-
http://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-wood-grenade-log-splitter/51334;jsessionid=yB71PyvSc3GGRp6W4hh1MlK225vdCmjGhrLGZ2y2GDMqlywpnd11 (http://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-wood-grenade-log-splitter/51334;jsessionid=yB71PyvSc3GGRp6W4hh1MlK225vdCmjGhrLGZ2y2GDMqlywpnd11)!-1305922526?cm_sp=Search-_-SearchRec-_-Area1&_requestid=952506
I haven't tried a Hy-crack but have heard good reports of them if you have a tractor or quad bike with a power take off. Their simplicity means low risk of breakdown. have a look at:-
http://www.hycrack.co.uk/log-splitter.htm (http://www.hycrack.co.uk/log-splitter.htm)
-
The manual hydraulic units I've listed at the beginning are supposed to exert 10 tons of force. One lever is for rapid ram movement, the other is for the final push. Takes 450mm long logs apparently.
You can get cheaper units that are cam operated, rather than hydraulic. But then the force exerted depends on how hard you push and that sounds like an accident waiting to happen.
-
the easy split logs can be done with an axe and very rapid as well get a bit of seasoned dead elm and you will know the small cheap splitters are any good :farmer:
-
Despite Machine Mart doing a VAT free promotion until the end of May which brings the price down to £110 I've decided not to get one. They weigh 47.5Kg and will only split up to 175mm diameter (7" in old money). Not convinced the welding will take the loads either.
So I've bought a rather big (10lbs) sledge hammer (£1.50) which has now got a new handle (£11.80) secured with a new wedge (80p) and one of those wood splitting 'grenades' by Roughneck (£14.00). Anyone got any experience of splitting logs with one of those?
-
Does no-one use a log-splitting axe? Like an axey axe but with a much thicker blade to force the wood apart?
Wedges when the log-splitting axe can't get in there, yes, but mostly the log-splitting axe should do the job?
BH is an education to watch - with a thick log, first a few blows around a ring (concentric), then the radials to split off the first row of chunks, then another concentric, and so on.
-
yes sally there is a art to splitting logs and it is not just hitting any old way
before i bought a log splitter i could outperform the output with just an axe :farmer:
-
i use an 'axey' axe and as mentioned before, stuff an old tyre full of logs then just go hell for leather on it, you cant miss, no logs go flying off and an evenings burners worth is done in minutes.
-
I've got a Roughneck splitting maul, Sally. But sometimes it isn't enough. My axe is only 4 lbs, the maul is 6 lbs, the grenade plus sledge 10 lbs. Like the idea of the tyres Deepinthewoods, but I can see me hitting the tyre and the maul bouncing back at me.
-
occasionally it does hit the tyre, but it doesnt make any difference, and at least it doesnt damage the handle. it does make light work of the job.definitely worth a try. ust make sure the logs are tightly packed in the tyre, and work your way round.
-
what i did was have a very large piece of elm trunk place the logs on top then just work your way round and round the log some you could split in the position but oak you had to go round and round :farmer:
-
The grenades work and are easier than wedges on logs up to a foot but 1 they can get buried in a big piece and 2 productivity suffers from having to pick the thing up.
Packing a tyre and using a splitting axe is plain fast and fun.
-
Fiskars splitting axe v good - keep it sharp, I have found it just as effective (or more) as a much heavier splitting maul, so can conserve energy and keep chopping longer. I have tried the tire and the bungee cord method to keep the split bits together as you chop however I find it takes longer to get the logs organised into these before chopping and out of them after chopping than just picking up each time. Having a big solid piece of wood to rest on rather than the ground helps transmit the force to the round you are working on so reduces effort/number of strikes. 12" rounds seem to be optimum for me - longer means less sawing but the splitting gets harder and 2 12 inchers side by side can go in the woodburning stove and 1 fits the cooker. I really enjoy splitting and would be upset if I had to start using a machine
-
The grenades work and are easier than wedges on logs up to a foot but 1 they can get buried in a big piece and 2 productivity suffers from having to pick the thing up.
Packing a tyre and using a splitting axe is plain fast and fun.
For 6-8 tonnes/year ? :o ;D I'm still following this thread hoping someone has used a manal hydraulic ??? - my joints are failing fast! Done a winter and just kept pace with the addition of a couple of boughtt trailer loads - but need to get cracking on next winters (all seasoned) and the winter afters (still standing!). Thats at least 12 tonnes over the summer! I know the manual hydraulics will still be hard work, but more even and kinder on your body I hope.
-
i need 7 m3 for nest winter, ive cut and split 1 and a half so far. keeps me fit!!
-
6 -8 tons a year FiB and 7 cubic metres Deep. This is a lot of timber. Why do you need so much?
If we have a windfall I'll buy a manual hydraulic one as I'm wondering now will I be able to keep pace for that long. At least my wife can use the hydraulic on some and I'll split the rest manually.
-
6 -8 tons a year FiB and 7 cubic metres Deep. This is a lot of timber. Why do you need so much?
I just recon thats what we've got through.. its everything (2 woodburners, one with top boiler) cooking, central heating, hot water. Deep in the woods - I probably need to hone my technique with our big splitting maul - any tips? Ive done a lot of the splitting with a froe (dont shout, I know its a greenwood tool - but I find it easy for spliting ) and splitting wedges and I think its the constant hammering that has really caused right elbow, shoulder and hip grief. OH uses long maul when he's here at weekends but at over 6 foot he has more room to swing! At 5'3" I wonder if I have the leverage for easy 'mauling'. I'm happy with axes and mauls as I use them in my job - its just the quantity and repetition that has set me thinking about a more ergonomic system ???
-
:-[
That's the embarrassed smiley because,
I didn't try too much with the splitting axe before I got a log splitter for the tractor. It was worth every penny to me, some slices of trunk had been hanging around on the field for ages. I'd tried to split them with the axe but it just bounced off. Quite literally !!
The hydraulic splitter on the tractor got most of them and the fields a lot tidier for it.
-
One thing that will help in the aching joints department is to get a splitting axe that has a fibreglass handle. The better type has very good damping capabilities, I don't know about the cheaper sort. It's the Nupla handle (marketed throuhg Jafco in the UK) that I know about, and that really makes a difference. I must declare an interest, though - my father and sister run Jafco! :)
-
my only method of heating this old (1750) house is with fire! i run 2 wood burners,the main burner didnt go out for 3 months, because its g2 listed i cant install double glazing or fit more insulation, the roof is fully insulated however, that was the first thing i did.
as far as tips go i think its just practice, try to use the least effort possible, let the axe do the work, the beauty of the tyre trick is you can maintain a rythym so your not hefting the axe ready to strike, its down then straight back up, try to hold the axe lightly and let your hands slide so all the energy is in the head.
-
I went and bought my first pair of reading glasses from Asda today -2 pairs for £2. One pair is broken so to save paying 50p parking I will call into Machine Mart next door and have a look at their hand hydraulic, then report back. Danger is I have money in my bank account -well money of the Bank's to spend anyway!
-
Get 8 pairs and leave them around the house, in the car, everywhere. They hide, and then cluster together in groups
6-8 tonnes per year equals machinery or a supremely co-operative teenager.
-
or a lean mean 40yr old.
-
So I've been to look at this 10 ton manual hydraulic splitter. Packaged weight 50kg ! The two handles advance the ram at two different rates. The one on the left at 10mm per crank, the one on the right at 2mm per crank. The smallest log length it will split is 12" I think as it closes to 10" smallest. Maximum log diameter 175mm is pretty small, but if the large logs are split with the maul or grenade and sledge, they can be split again with this unit. It will certainly take much longer to do the job, but a lot less effort for a 55 year old. Very time consuming if the logs are not all about the same length. The springs on the unit pull the ram back when a control knob is turned to open the hydraulic fluid outlet -just like a car jack. Looks pretty strong but surprisingly not as sturdy as the 4 ton electric units. I guess you could use it all day. Thinking I can split the big stuff and my wife can finish them off. She certainly wouldn't use a maul or sledge.
I still can't decide !!!
-
if i was to buy a machine to do the job, which im sure i will, probably when im 42... i would buy the electric one, cos if im buying a machine to do the job, then id want it to do the job. the manual one, not that ive ever used one, sounds like a lot of fiddling about, levers, knobs and whatnot, if you want to save time, and effort, then get the machine that does what you need, ie spilt tonnes of wood with as least hassle possible. good luck!
-
I'm with deep in the woods, but from a 58y perspective. The manual device sounds like what you want to use on the neighbour - slow and painful. And I would take published capacities with a large pinch of salt as I'm sure you will, and go for heavier duty.
But still take a f***-off axe with you because when you want a couple of days worth of logs it's still quicker and more fun
-
As I said in an earlier post "if I have a windfall I'll buy one". Well one arrived today in the form of an incredibly blocked drain. Three manholes full of toilet paper and poo and from the fourth 17 rods to reach the obstruction -fine tree roots. Nice day for it!!! Then another call out of the blue for a leaking washing machine connector. So by 11.30 I had enough to buy one of these splitters.
I've printed off my discount voucher and will collect it tomorrow. Considered saving for an electric one or even better a petrol one and the problems are obvious -so much more to maintain or break, setting aside the cost. Accepting it will take much longer than a maul, but it will also be much safer. Then there is the noise aspect. The running cost -petrol is expensive. The electric cable waiting to be tripped over or damaged. Operation in wet conditions. So I'll take a risk because, although it may not work well, I don't want to be left saying "what if ?"
Let you know how I get on.
-
Bought it. Not the best build quality and will need more hydraulic oil as the finish on the pistons isn't that good. Tried a really nasty piece of Arcasia I think -has inch long spikes growing from the trunk and grows as fast as Willow. Bone dry and fibrous. Takes time to get the ram up to it and as the piece was short I had to put a packing block in. Couldn't move the fast traverse arm so three efortless pumps on the high pressure side and BANG. Split in two. Would never ever have split that with a maul. It would just bounce off. So yes its very slow but quite effortless. All the logs need to be cut the same length so I'll make a simple marking gauge.
-
Mmmm, sounding tempting again (except that our current seasones stack is all sizes, but from the stuff I fell and cut onwards, like you, I can make an even legth) - so did you go for the one you were first looking at (wolf?), how much and what how did you get discount vouchers? ;D
-
The Wolf and the Machine Mart units are one and the same with different colour handles FiB. Just spoke to a friend in Albi, South France. Firstly its only the same temperature as here but the humidity is just 65% so it isn't sweltering. Secondly the locals around him have manual hydraulic wood splitters. He's never seen anyone with a petrol or electric one. Described them as "look a bit like a big car jack".
I got a VAT free internet offer from Machine Mart. That bought the price down to £109.98. I'm going to get some spare oil next time I'm in. Or if theirs is a ripoff I'll drain the unit and get some from somewhere else.
-
it could be a low viscosity hydraulic oil the same as eclectic fork lift trucks more like water than oil :farmer:
-
Well I have to say Robert, if their oil is anything like their circular saw blades for quality you will be right. I bought a saw bench for speeding up coop building. Said if you use any blade other than theirs the warranty was invald. It was so bad I only used it for kindling and after a few weeks use it was too bad for even that -splinters everywhere. Bought a Bosch blade -super smooth cut every time two years on.
Their oil is £7 per litre. So I'll use it for the warranty period and replace the lot.
-
To follow up on my purchase. Have used this splitting wood for the last two weeks. Used on some really nasty stuff that an axe wouldn't have touched. The ten ton capacity is regularly used to the limit so a machine with lesser capacity would be useless on the hardwood here (oak and hornbeam). My wife uses the machine, keeping pace with me barrowing and stacking. There is a bit of a knack to reading the wood and it is limited to about 10" diameter and 440mm long. Best if the wood is cut carefully to all about the same length as it saves a lot of time closing the ram onto the wood. As expected Clarke use the minimum amount of oil and I've had to top it up with about 200mL. You can split bigger diameters but have to be careful not to overload the jaw so read the wood carefully. My intention was to use a 'grenade' to split the bigger stuff but have not actually needed it.
To conclude it is an excellent investment which has helped us to harvest, split and store 6 cubic metres in about 8 days. Little to wear out and no fuel costs -should last me out!
-
Sounds like a great investment :thumbsup:
-
excellent result chris. i bet your back is grateful too :thumbsup:
-
Yes, no back problems. The neighbour is still splitting his with a selection of axes and a lump hammer. In the meantime I have done all manner of other jobs in the time and with the energy saved. And, most importantly, no injuries either.
Problem with petrol power tools for this kind of work, certainly over here, is does the extra costs for fuel and maintenance justify any time saving? Would the money be better spent buying wood in? I've stopped using the petrol chainsaw for cutting smaller stuff up. Much cheaper to bring it to the house in 2 metre lengths and cut it up with an electric chainsaw.[size=78%] [/size]
-
thats interesting i havent really analysed the difference in cost between petrol and electric.
-
Power tools Chris ? What is wrong with a hand saw? :thumbsup: Oh and welcome to France.
Last year I used nothng else to saw poles, collect broken branches etc then cut to length. Thing is I lost half a stone and we still burnt 1000 Euros worth of wood.
This year I bought a chain saw and split trunks into 6 by hand. I have gathered about 1000 Euros worth of wood again and even dug up dead tree roots ( they burn hot and slow). I just hope we don't have another "Grand Froid" for 3 weeks ( -24 was a bit grim).
-
Hi MAK. At great expense we, our chickens, coops, sheds, runs and house contents have arrived.
Bought a Silky 6 metre extending saw for branches, which we have used to great effect.
Cubic metre of wood at local Brico is €89, so that's the target price. Costs about €3 for fuel to cut that with the chainsaw. Then there is the gazole for the van. So a mains electric chainsaw could save €2 but costs £220 (stihl 1400W 300mm bar). Then a day's labour of course- hard work but fun and I've lost half a stone as well clambering up hills and dragging logs around. Splitting is easy so that's the bit my wife does.
We have 6 cubic metres. Not sure it will be enough, even for this tiny place as the fire is inefficient.
Priority is the leaking roof. See what the landlord says tomorrow. Cheap dehumidifiers in Brico at €89 so we have one and are trying to dry the bathroom out. Have a tarpaulin we can throw over it before the forecast thunder storms later. The other problem is frequent power cuts combined with hatching chicks -16 in the storeroom cheeping happily as I type.
-
Hi Chris - you made it! the weight loss sounds familiar but what a great life you will have despite the snags and ups and downs. Are you near Sarlat?
Don't forget to make lots of noise when collecting the wood and keep safe. La Chasse starts early but they eat and drink from about noon. Walking in the woods at 16:00 hrs is not a god idea. Our hunt got 2 mushroom pickers in a day - kelled both !!
hope that the chickens do well and that you sell a few.
-
Hi MAK. This mushroom picker has a chainsaw, an axe, a Silky hand saw on my belt and a hatchet to hand so they won't get me easily! I don't work on a Sunday which is when the hunt is on and they do not have permission to hunt on this land anyway. The dogs do stray occasionally, but make a lot of noise so you would have time to prepare.
We live 30 kms Northwest of Sarlat near a lovely little town called Le Bugue.
Chicks are doing fine and the generator is now in place. Spare is 15 minutes from firing up and we have plenty of fuel.
Roof was fixed today. Made a good job of it as well. Dehumidifier is working well and we are down to 75% after extracting two litres from the room.
Will have to meet up with you sometime. Limoge is two hours away.
-
Sounds as if you are well protected against hunters. Our locals hunt Thursday, Saturday and Sunday but I am still risking chestnut harvesting on a Thursday and Sunday lunchtimes ( I don't work on the Saturday ::) )
We are an hour north of Limoges off the A20 the N145 towards Montlucon.
Have a look at the monthly market at Les Herolles - it is the place to go for chickens - so many different types its amazing. We could meet you there if ever you fancy a day out.
http://www.foire-des-herolles.fr/la-foire-aujourd-hui-%282%29.html (http://www.foire-des-herolles.fr/la-foire-aujourd-hui-%282%29.html)
Cheers Martin