i have $1,500 to spend on a splitter - which one?

[Henz]

Thats awesome! good job, run it hard

 

[Stevebass4]

Ice - i got it from Lowes in Plainville ma


30 hours on it so far - no problems at all except i broke some of the bolts that hold the side "table" my fault as i wedged a split in there - plan to upgrade to the ebay work side "table"

 

[rphurley]

But why lift those logs at all? That's a lot of bending for sure. I'm also wondering what you do when the log gets split perhaps 6 times. Do you have to drop some on the ground and then lift them up again?

For example; say I have a fair sized log and I split it down the middle. Then I just sit half to one side while I continue to split the other half. Then when that is done, I simply slide or roll that half that was set aside onto the splitter and finish it. That seems like it would be a lot of work in horizontal.

One more thing. If anyone has a bad back like mine, you don't want to do any more bending than is necessary. I was taught that when you have a tool, like a splitter, then you should not work any harder than necessary. Lifting logs is work. A lot more work than simply rolling a log onto the splitter.

I've never tried a vertical splitter. I can certainly see the benefit when dealing with rounds that are really heavy. I imagine that you'd be hunched over all of the time. Bending over and rolling heavy rounds sounds like a nightmare to me. It seems like it would be more stress on my back, but I might be wrong.
Rich

 

[LLigetfa]

But why lift those logs at all? That's a lot of bending for sure...

I've never tried a vertical splitter...

I have and I didn't like it. Now there are three regulars here that have turned vertical splitting into a religion but I still think like you do. Unless you have really strong shoulders and arms as long as an ape, I just cannot see doing it vertical whilst sitting down. I have a bad back and bad shoulders but I can still do heavy lifts if I keep a straight posture. I cannot take any reaching and twisting.

 

[DaveBP]

I’ve never tried a vertical splitter…

I have and I didn’t like it.

I've been using my splitter for twenty years and my Kubota tractor for 20 years as well. Wasn't until a couple years ago I realized that bucket loader made an excellent log lift. Now I don't have to lift heavy rounds, I have a work table for the big half-splits, and I can work in my preferred position... standing up straight. Get close to 60 years old and you start to think with your head, not your muscles.