Rock Machinery 37 ton box wedge splitter

[Johnsond]

2 hours ago, polish pete said:

That's Plan B. But it would save extra fuel if I could tow one thing.

 Eastonmade would be the choice. But the price...

Pete I’d try ticking the IVA box or just get a really decent trailer lighting board fitted that looks the part and crack on 🤷‍♂️. The machine is under 750kg so no brake issues,  wheels and axles look ok, hitch is a hitch, tyres, wheel bearings( if any doubts)  and indeed the hitch can be replaced at not big costs. I’ve ran a normal 37t rock splitter for years now with no hassle, tyres rotted out and I replaced a knackered spool valve after about 5 years and went to proper single handed operation as opposed to a cobbled up set up. That machine looks ok to me, Honda 800! Is a great unit ( had one on my first Trakmet sawmill, zero hassle and quite frugal) and that flow rate/cycle time is good. No doubt a few weld and hose repairs will be required over the years but as you say you’d probably need at least another £10k to go eastonmade or equivalent. 

[Oldfeller]

I have the VENOM 22-ton splitter, which can be towed up to 45mph. on UK roads legally, it doesn't have the log loader function, but it can be operated both vertical and horizontally, so bigger stuff can be rolled onto it in the vertical position. 

[polish pete]

13 hours ago, Johnsond said:

Pete I’d try ticking the IVA box or just get a really decent trailer lighting board fitted that looks the part and crack on 🤷‍♂️. The machine is under 750kg so no brake issues,  wheels and axles look ok, hitch is a hitch, tyres, wheel bearings( if any doubts)  and indeed the hitch can be replaced at not big costs. I’ve ran a normal 37t rock splitter for years now with no hassle, tyres rotted out and I replaced a knackered spool valve after about 5 years and went to proper single handed operation as opposed to a cobbled up set up. That machine looks ok to me, Honda 800! Is a great unit ( had one on my first Trakmet sawmill, zero hassle and quite frugal) and that flow rate/cycle time is good. No doubt a few weld and hose repairs will be required over the years but as you say you’d probably need at least another £10k to go eastonmade or equivalent. 

 Yeah,  I've seen worse road legal trailers on roads🙃 

 I have Timbery m100 sawmill on a road legal trailer and it looks fragile.

 Was your Trakmet mobile? We have a large, stationary, electric one on our estate. Well built.  I looked at the mobile version  it looks chunky, over 2 tonnes in weight.

 Rock Machinery stuff seems to be reasonable well made, I just thought it's not the fastest the vertical-horizontal ones.

[polish pete]

11 hours ago, Oldfeller said:

I have the VENOM 22-ton splitter, which can be towed up to 45mph. on UK roads legally, it doesn't have the log loader function, but it can be operated both vertical and horizontally, so bigger stuff can be rolled onto it in the vertical position. 

My mate has one of these, nice idea with vertical-horizontal system. Good for the oversized arb waste rings in vertical but the horizontal seems to be slow. 

 I use vertical one (forgot the name) with waist high table to operate. Pretty good if you don't have to lift big rings. I was thinking about second machine just to deal with big stuff on the floor. I have a 16hp Iseki tractor that could power something.  But it just adds to the whole system. This box wedge looks very handy.

[Oldfeller]

25 minutes ago, polish pete said:

My mate has one of these, nice idea with vertical-horizontal system. Good for the oversized arb waste rings in vertical but the horizontal seems to be slow. 

 I use vertical one (forgot the name) with waist high table to operate. Pretty good if you don't have to lift big rings. I was thinking about second machine just to deal with big stuff on the floor. I have a 16hp Iseki tractor that could power something.  But it just adds to the whole system. This box wedge looks very handy.

I got the venom 22 ton as it suited my current needs, I agree it isn't the fastest splitter out there, but at 72 I probably would soon tire of trying to keep up with the fastest   even the wife can use it too, I used an axe for much of my younger days, cheap, didn't require any trailer, and  if you got busy just buy another one and get a buddy to double the output 

I think if I was starting again I would seriously look at a full processor type machine. but I suppose it depends on the level of production you need, I only split for my own personal use these days, not sure the outlet is as good as it once was, I expect location plays a part, as does burning regulations.

[Johnsond]

4 hours ago, polish pete said:

 Yeah,  I've seen worse road legal trailers on roads🙃 

 I have Timbery m100 sawmill on a road legal trailer and it looks fragile.

 Was your Trakmet mobile? We have a large, stationary, electric one on our estate. Well built.  I looked at the mobile version  it looks chunky, over 2 tonnes in weight.

 Rock Machinery stuff seems to be reasonable well made, I just thought it's not the fastest the vertical-horizontal ones.

Yeah both Trakmets I have had have been mobile models, definitely not light built for sure. 
If you go for it with the Rock box wedge, let us know how you get on with it 👍👍I’ve been looking at eastonmade and wolferidge models myself. 

Edited Thursday at 15:57 by Johnsond

[Donnie]

I have the 22 ton road legal one. 
Not very good on the road

[Oldfeller]

12 minutes ago, Donnie said:

I have the 22 ton road legal one. 
Not very good on the road

just out of interest what are you towing it behind?

and at what speeds.

Edited Thursday at 18:44 by Oldfeller

[polish pete]

8 hours ago, Oldfeller said:

I got the venom 22 ton as it suited my current needs, I agree it isn't the fastest splitter out there, but at 72 I probably would soon tire of trying to keep up with the fastest   even the wife can use it too, I used an axe for much of my younger days, cheap, didn't require any trailer, and  if you got busy just buy another one and get a buddy to double the output 

I think if I was starting again I would seriously look at a full processor type machine. but I suppose it depends on the level of production you need, I only split for my own personal use these days, not sure the outlet is as good as it once was, I expect location plays a part, as does burning regulations.

Wow, you're my inspiration!

 I do loke to swing my axe on some nice straight logs as a very relaxing activity. 

 Agreed here on processor, I seem to be bringing more wood from jobs and it's becoming a part of my income (plenty of woodburners in Cumbria). I want to make it as efficient as possible.  

 Typical processors are limited on width of logs and that's where this box wedge seems to be a cool idea with top of the log coming back with the return of the piston.

 

[polish pete]

5 hours ago, Johnsond said:

Yeah both Trakmets I have had have been mobile models, definitely not light built for sure. 
If you go for it with the Rock box wedge, let us know how you get on with it 👍👍I’ve been looking at eastonmade and wolferidge models myself. 

Out of interest how do mobileTrakmets compare to Woodmizer? Are they very expensive?