The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: weeJim on July 10, 2012, 05:07:12 pm

Title: Swedish Smart Log Splitter
Post by: weeJim on July 10, 2012, 05:07:12 pm

Hi.
Has anyone any experience of these?  I have a six trees worth of logs to split, some logs are more than 50cm in diameter.  I have damaged my shoulder so the axe and maul have had to be put away for a while.
Thanks

Title: Re: Swedish Smart Log Splitter
Post by: FiB on July 10, 2012, 05:35:08 pm

Mmmmm. Just watched the youtube demo and not impressed - he's splitting tiny slices of kindling off thin rounds of un knotted wood.  Thats not what I've got!  I'm in the same boat as you and looking at various options - favouring electric splitter at mo.  There was a thread on here re manual log splitters a little while back http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=23601.0 (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=23601.0)   so I'm sure there will be some experiences to update us....

Title: Re: Swedish Smart Log Splitter
Post by: FiB on July 10, 2012, 05:36:28 pm

Ah - here's a comment on the you tube clip..
"Having used these? , In terms of practicality, its a fine implement for chopping kindling. Too slow and laborious for splitting bigger firewood especially if its anything other than dry and straight grained."

Title: Re: Swedish Smart Log Splitter
Post by: Womble on July 10, 2012, 08:15:12 pm

Hi Folks,

I have one of these, and wrote about it on this thread (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=14811).

It's brilliant for kindling. No more holding small bits of wood with another bit, then trying to hit it as it wobbles around, and no more lost fingertips in the process  ;D .

HOWEVER, for me, it doesn't replace a splitting maul for doing actual firewood. I personally found that if I couldn't split it with a maul, I had no chance with the smart splitter, and the maul was decidedly quicker if used with a half decent technique.

We have now settled on splitting easy stuff like pine by hand whilst letting the other stuff stack up over the year. We then hire a professional quality petrol driven hydraulic splitter for one weekend a year, which works out pretty cost effective given the huge amount we can process in a couple of long days. For example, the pile below will have taken about an hour to do:

(http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j216/Blutack/TAS2011/splitter.jpg)

Hope that helps!

Title: Re: Swedish Smart Log Splitter
Post by: Croftgary on July 16, 2012, 01:38:16 pm

Hi
Wondered where you hired from and how much it cost?

Title: Re: Swedish Smart Log Splitter
Post by: Womble on July 16, 2012, 04:07:26 pm

Hiya, It came from Burnside Garden Machinery in Queenzieburn, near Kilsyth. IIRC it was £80 for the weekend (I think!).  Mind you, it's quite a big beastie - came on its own trailer etc!

Title: Re: Swedish Smart Log Splitter
Post by: Croftgary on July 16, 2012, 10:27:44 pm

Thanks, sounds like a good option..