Splitter advice

[RobInNorfolk]

3 minutes ago, Peasgood said:

An Oxdale would do that easy enough. 

Thanks. What splitting force did you have?

[Peasgood]

3 minutes ago, RobInNorfolk said:

Thanks. What splitting force did you have?

Basic 10 ton model. It was one of the earlier ones with single hand operation. Much better way to work a splitter imo, I know there are safety issues if you are not careful but also think the two handed method introduces different safety issues.

I will say that you do need to know how to split logs to get the best out of them. By that I mean knowing where to put the blade into the log, in the same way that if you use an axe to split you soon learn to hit it where it will split easier. Bigger stronger machines just slice their way through anywhere but not quite the case with an Oxdale. Can't say I never found a log it couldn't split but not many it couldn't chew it's way through eventually and certainly not enough to consider it an issue.

[Gav73]

I take it the dual way is only horizontal… do you reckon that having the vertical option is that important?
 
Tbh, the 22t venom seems to be the go-to model for the serious domestic user with a proper log addiction….. Don’t want to blow my wedge on a horizontal only splitter only to be jealous of all them vertical boys.

Personally I only use the vertical if I can’t lift the round up and onto the splitter and that doesn’t happen that often to me.

That being said, it has been very useful to split some massive rounds

[FoxWoodAgri]

I do not know how much these retail for - but this looks like a well designed Splitter  - no Hanging around with this one

 

 Ryetec CV16 Heavy Duty Firewood Tractor PTO Log Splitter In Action - YouTube

[daveatdave]

13 hours ago, TuscanPhil said:

OP, no one seems to have asked you - how much are you splitting per year?  You've said it's for domestic use, so are you looking at 5m3, 10m3 or 20m3 or more?  Over the course of a year, I probably consume around 15-20m3 as I have a log boiler heating system and also a stove in my lounge.  I've 'made do' with a 'small' electric 6 ton machine and this works plenty fast enough.  You need time to move your unsplit logs to the machine, split them, then throw them into a pile.  At some stage, you need to get more logs closer and possibly move or stack your split pile.  You'll also want to stop for a coffee probably.  ha ha.

 

I use a Handy - 

6 Ton Electric Log Splitter with Safety Guard & Log Tray - The Handy Garden Machinery

THEHANDY.CO.UK

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Buy the The Handy Garden Machinery 6 Ton Electric Log Splitter with Safety Guard & Log Tray direct from the...

  Yes, I've removed all of the guards (before even firing it up!!), I've also converted it to single handed operation (I'm a retired 'safety' engineer so I fully know and appreciate the dangers etc).  Every so often, Handy sell off their showroom models - I got mine direct from their showroom in Swindon for about £200 about 2-3 years ago, prior to that I was using a chinese Longli 4 ton splitter of the same variety.  It's plenty fast enough for a single person to use, as said above, you've still got to move logs to and split logs away from your splitting area and this takes time.

 

I tend to do about 1-2m3 per month (typically split over 1 or 2 days - a morning here, an afternoon there) over the course of the year, so not all at once, plus it gives a progressive seasoning to my logs and I burn from oldest to newest.

i have something similar i use a push log so it dos not have to travel so far saves a little bit of time some of the newer ones have a clamp you can put on the arm to stop it traveling right back  

[TuscanPhil]

10 hours ago, daveatdave said:

i have something similar i use a push log so it dos not have to travel so far saves a little bit of time some of the newer ones have a clamp you can put on the arm to stop it traveling right back  

Yes, mine has a clamp which stops the wedge returning the full distance.  My logs are reasonably regular in length (I cut them myself), so I can set the stop within about 1" or so and most of my logs fit that.  The splitting wedge then only needs to go into the log a short distance - a few inches - any typically the log will split apart or I can pull it apart as I'm throwing it onto the pile, thus I don't need the ram to travel the full log distance - makes for a quick operation. 

[peatff]

I have a Black tools 18 ton petrol and it has been good, not found anything it will not split yet and it is horizontal or vertical. Woodman store has them on eBay £1358 plus £100 delivery

[RobInNorfolk]

So I got the Rock venom 22t as per the many recommendations and had my first go today. Very pleased with how well it works. Thanks for all the advice, esp@gav73 for time on the phone. Next is to make it one handed. A foot pedal would be even better.