You will all see video's and pictures of me splitting some narly stuff with it soon enough. promise! lemme just graduate real quick here.
Super Splitter party 4/28 in Springfield MA
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BeGreen said:
That is EXTREMELY proprietary - and isn't anything that even vaguely resembles a standard! It is a MICROSOFT only format, defective by design, intended to eliminate your rights!
Proprietary = owned by ONE company, Only implemented by a single vendor, not properly documented, not officially supported by any other entity, not recognized by any independent standards body. See Micro$oft.
Open standard = a documented file spec, with implementations by multiple vendors, recognized by independent standards body (ISO, W3C, etc.), SOURCE CODE AVAILABLE! - See Open Document Format, PDF, etc.
Gooserider
mplayer is an open-source player that will play most wmv files. It uses ffmpeg (also open source) for a lot of its decoding; they reverse-engineered a whole lot of formats. Some may still require some windows codecs, admittedly. But the lever-axe videos played fine on my linux box.
Judging from said videos, those Finns must really like small splits. Also, all their trees grow perfectly straight with no branches! Unlikely that thing works well on tough splits; it seems built for speed in easy splits.
Judging from said videos, those Finns must really like small splits. Also, all their trees grow perfectly straight with no branches! Unlikely that thing works well on tough splits; it seems built for speed in easy splits.
That's what I was thinking, I thought the guy was making kindling based on the split size. I wonder how well it would do on the "branch point" of a 2 ft diameter sugar maple. I suspect that knots render that axe "suspect". For reference, it took me a few hours to "crack" a 20 ft section of 24 in freshly cut sugar on Tuesday using 2 mauls and 2 wedges. I estimate 400-500 swings of the mauls. Casualties: 1 broken maul handle (repairable) 1 wedge flying 5 ft into the lake (never to be seen again?) and a whole bunch of muscles I haven't used iin years.
MB
MB
MA is pretty far to the right of me. I can't make it. Wish I could. I'd love to see that lever-axe in action. Take some videos Corie.
MustBurn said:
You must have a huge stove, to take 20' splits! %-P I have this image in my head of splitting from the roof...
DiscoInferno said:
uhhhh....
20 ft trunk, cut into 10-12 rounds. My point being that I wonder how that axe would do with a 300 lb chunk of heavily knotted sugar maple. I know it kicked my @$$.
:-S
MB
I would like to thank Hard Woods for opening up his home to the group and Harley for bringing his Supersplit mechanical splitter. Both of these guys are very helpful and are true gentlemen.
The Supersplit (Photo links below) started and ran flawlessly for the hour or so that I was there. The 4 HP Honda motor is very quiet. The design is clean and efficient. This splitter is very quick with about a 3 second total cycle. This speed is one of the best features of the machine. While the speed makes it highly productive, extra care must be taken as there is no room for errors. Those who tend to be "accident prone" may not want to use this splitter.
Ninety percent of the pieces split in the first shot. Another 5% would have split in the first shot if we had chosen a better line on the wood instead of trying to go right down the middle of a large piece with a crotch or ugly knots running thru it. Even for the 5% that need to be hit more than once, the speed of the machine allowed this to happen very quickly. I would say that a few more pieces did not split on the first shot with this machine than with other types of machines however the speed more than compensated for this minor short fall as a piece could be hit twice or three times in the same time other machines would take one hit.
Probably the one splittng flaw in the machine was the tendency for “kick outs” caused by a round that was cut at a small angle instead of at 90 degrees to the centerline. There were an extraordinary number of these “kick outs” compared to any other type of splitter I have run. The solution to this issue is not obvious due to the design of the unit but the problem should be able to be solved somehow. The manufacturer should address this issue as it is a relatively unsafe condition.
The one non-splitting flaw in the unit (and granted this was not the latest model unit) is that it is relatively unsafe from a mechanical standpoint. The flywheels are exposed on the lower part of the housing by 1-2 inches. It would be easy to get a finger or clothing caught between the flywheel and the cover. There were several other areas where one could get caught in the mechanical parts of the machine (clutch, belt, etc.). This could very easily be resolved by making a better cover for the unit. I would think the reduced liability exposure involved would far outweigh the cost of the new cover. I’m not sure OSHA would like this part of the machine at all.
Overall I would give this machine a very good rating because it is totally mechanical (very low maintenance) and very fast. Its shortcomings are few and the likely resolvable.
I would like to embarrass Harley and Hard Woods here in hopes of making them safer. Neither used any appropriate PPE during this run. I’m not doing this because I don’t like you guys. On the contrary, I’m doing it because I do like you guys very much and want you to be safe.
Everybody please use the appropriate PPE when using any machinery. You don’t need it 999 times out of 1000 but the one time you do need it could leave you blind, maimed or missing an appendage if you don’t have it.
Again thank you Hard Woods and Harley for your hospitality and time in showing off the Supersplit splitter. I just wish more of the group could have participated in the demo.
(broken link removed to http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/kelsmi/IMG_0901.jpg)
(broken link removed to http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/kelsmi/IMG_0900.jpg)
(broken link removed to http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/kelsmi/IMG_0899.jpg)
(broken link removed to http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/kelsmi/IMG_0895.jpg)
The Supersplit (Photo links below) started and ran flawlessly for the hour or so that I was there. The 4 HP Honda motor is very quiet. The design is clean and efficient. This splitter is very quick with about a 3 second total cycle. This speed is one of the best features of the machine. While the speed makes it highly productive, extra care must be taken as there is no room for errors. Those who tend to be "accident prone" may not want to use this splitter.
Ninety percent of the pieces split in the first shot. Another 5% would have split in the first shot if we had chosen a better line on the wood instead of trying to go right down the middle of a large piece with a crotch or ugly knots running thru it. Even for the 5% that need to be hit more than once, the speed of the machine allowed this to happen very quickly. I would say that a few more pieces did not split on the first shot with this machine than with other types of machines however the speed more than compensated for this minor short fall as a piece could be hit twice or three times in the same time other machines would take one hit.
Probably the one splittng flaw in the machine was the tendency for “kick outs” caused by a round that was cut at a small angle instead of at 90 degrees to the centerline. There were an extraordinary number of these “kick outs” compared to any other type of splitter I have run. The solution to this issue is not obvious due to the design of the unit but the problem should be able to be solved somehow. The manufacturer should address this issue as it is a relatively unsafe condition.
The one non-splitting flaw in the unit (and granted this was not the latest model unit) is that it is relatively unsafe from a mechanical standpoint. The flywheels are exposed on the lower part of the housing by 1-2 inches. It would be easy to get a finger or clothing caught between the flywheel and the cover. There were several other areas where one could get caught in the mechanical parts of the machine (clutch, belt, etc.). This could very easily be resolved by making a better cover for the unit. I would think the reduced liability exposure involved would far outweigh the cost of the new cover. I’m not sure OSHA would like this part of the machine at all.
Overall I would give this machine a very good rating because it is totally mechanical (very low maintenance) and very fast. Its shortcomings are few and the likely resolvable.
I would like to embarrass Harley and Hard Woods here in hopes of making them safer. Neither used any appropriate PPE during this run. I’m not doing this because I don’t like you guys. On the contrary, I’m doing it because I do like you guys very much and want you to be safe.
Everybody please use the appropriate PPE when using any machinery. You don’t need it 999 times out of 1000 but the one time you do need it could leave you blind, maimed or missing an appendage if you don’t have it.
Again thank you Hard Woods and Harley for your hospitality and time in showing off the Supersplit splitter. I just wish more of the group could have participated in the demo.
(broken link removed to http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/kelsmi/IMG_0901.jpg)
(broken link removed to http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/kelsmi/IMG_0900.jpg)
(broken link removed to http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/kelsmi/IMG_0899.jpg)
(broken link removed to http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/kelsmi/IMG_0895.jpg)
Nice summary Kellog. I put a duplicate copy in the Gear section so that it's easy to locate in the future.
Begreen,
I am not the best at the organizational part of the forum. Thank you for taking on the unenviable task of keep everything organized and available to everybody. I would fail miserably at that job.
I am not the best at the organizational part of the forum. Thank you for taking on the unenviable task of keep everything organized and available to everybody. I would fail miserably at that job.
Harley said:Now if we had some real techies in the group, we could set up some web-cams, and hold an on-line competition... the MA vs. PA group to see who could split the most in a few hours! :coolgrin:
LOL... "Anyone got a 100' (USB) extension cord?"
NAAGHH!...Just need GVA to be there with his digital camera.. I was looking forward to the "splitter party" but OOPS...nobody e-mailed me the location info (and I also forgot to ask...got sidetracked this week) DOOHH!
Next time...
How did you guys finally make out? Get all the wood split? Or will there be another "beer drinking"...I mean "wood splitting session" in the future???
Thanks, Kellog:
It was nice to meet and put a face to the name. If you can, you should put up some of the pictures you showed us of the mechanical splitter you built. That's quite a design, and I'd love to see that in action.
Excellent summary. There's nothing in there about the shortcomings of the machine that I could dispute at all. The "kickouts" do happen mostly when either the piece of wood is really curved, or when there's not really a 90* cut. That's due to the size/shape of the head of the ram, I think. I am pretty used to it, and most times I do see that it will happen before it actually does, and put my hand on a different place on the log. I know there really is no room for error - it is pretty quick. It's certainly not something everybody should have, because you could get hurt, real quick. That's the main reason I would really never loan it to anyone, or let someone running it other than me.
Your point about the PPE is well taken. I admit I am a little bad in that department. I will make an effort to be more mindful of that in the future, as should everyone.
We did get most everything done. There were a lot of pretty huge rounds that needed to be split at least in 1/2 before we could get them on the splitter. HW has a little stacking to do. Hopefully he will put up a few pics of the piles, and the "one's left to go", because they are pretty big.
and now going off-topic... it must have been a longer winter than I thought - I guess I gotta get out and split some more wood and work off some of those winter pounds.
It was nice to meet and put a face to the name. If you can, you should put up some of the pictures you showed us of the mechanical splitter you built. That's quite a design, and I'd love to see that in action.
Excellent summary. There's nothing in there about the shortcomings of the machine that I could dispute at all. The "kickouts" do happen mostly when either the piece of wood is really curved, or when there's not really a 90* cut. That's due to the size/shape of the head of the ram, I think. I am pretty used to it, and most times I do see that it will happen before it actually does, and put my hand on a different place on the log. I know there really is no room for error - it is pretty quick. It's certainly not something everybody should have, because you could get hurt, real quick. That's the main reason I would really never loan it to anyone, or let someone running it other than me.
Your point about the PPE is well taken. I admit I am a little bad in that department. I will make an effort to be more mindful of that in the future, as should everyone.
We did get most everything done. There were a lot of pretty huge rounds that needed to be split at least in 1/2 before we could get them on the splitter. HW has a little stacking to do. Hopefully he will put up a few pics of the piles, and the "one's left to go", because they are pretty big.
and now going off-topic... it must have been a longer winter than I thought - I guess I gotta get out and split some more wood and work off some of those winter pounds.
And it's an old camera at that..... ;-Pkeyman512us said:Harley said:Now if we had some real techies in the group, we could set up some web-cams, and hold an on-line competition... the MA vs. PA group to see who could split the most in a few hours
LOL... "Anyone got a 100' (USB) extension cord?"
Me and the Mrs. have too many things going on right now although the thought of going to yankee candle peaked her interest.. :coolsmile:
Sounds like you all had a productive day though..
GVA, when you get a hankering to go to Yankee Candle, make sure you PM me first. We can grab some good western mass "foodie" food and also a fresh brew here and there.....
Harley,
Glad to hear you got most of the wood done. Sorry I could not stay to help more. I probably would not have been much help anyway as a weak back and a weak mind is a bad combination.
Below is a link to a thread with some pictures and talk about my splitter (post #17).
Thanks again for letting me get in the way and learn about your splitter.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/7131/
Glad to hear you got most of the wood done. Sorry I could not stay to help more. I probably would not have been much help anyway as a weak back and a weak mind is a bad combination.
Below is a link to a thread with some pictures and talk about my splitter (post #17).
Thanks again for letting me get in the way and learn about your splitter.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/7131/
Special thanks to Harley and Kellog for helping me tackle most of the monster wood pile I had ! Kellog definetly has some cool toys that I would love to see in action some time. The Super Splitter performs great and has caused a great deal of "Splitter Envy". Some day I will get me one of those! Kellog, you will be happy to know that Harley and I drank a few cold ones for you at the end of the day. I just loaded some pics of the pile to webshots, but, the sun was setting. More pics to follow. The large pile has a good 3+cord, while the 2 smaller piles total maybe 1 cord mostly pine in the smaller piles. Just for reference the round in the lower corner next to the big pile is about 30 inches across.
http://community.webshots.com/album/558862185wDNCnn
http://community.webshots.com/album/558862185wDNCnn
Hard Woods, thanks for posting the pictures. Sorry I couldn’t stay to help more.
Although I don’t normally don’t partake in such nonsense as drinking beer, I do make exceptions on odd and even days of the month. It would have been fun to chat afterwards.
Thanks for the hospitality. One day I’ll do a demo of my toys.
Although I don’t normally don’t partake in such nonsense as drinking beer, I do make exceptions on odd and even days of the month. It would have been fun to chat afterwards.
Thanks for the hospitality. One day I’ll do a demo of my toys.
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