Cosmiccrofter

I've bought a few tattie boxes to store the sticks, should I remove any of the boards to improve airflow? I'm going to stack them 3 or 4 high with a plastic cover on the top box.

Steve, fit one of these to the tractor's PTO and get the splitter plumbed into an independent system, the flow rate is not far off the JD. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hydraulic-PTO-Gearbox-with-Group-3-Pump-83-75-l-min-ZZ000486-Free-UK-EU-Delivery-/310530003175

Will you guys please stop bigging up softwoods as firewood, pretty soon everyone will want it. Stop it!

Would you NOT buy a Ford Mondeo on the recommendation of someone who has never owned one? I hear Stihl saws are lethal. Mind you, I have only ever owned Huskys.

I am quite use your daffodil rafters. Can you turbo shaft price the best for my dog' s bottom feeder? Unusually forklift, Semolinas

Ok, I always like a challenge, so here goes. Now I think you are being silly because you have decided that you can't operate a Hycrack without hurting yourself. My advice is to never go near them, they are only safe in the hands of experienced operators. If you have any experience of using a tractor on a farm, which I have, and the place tractors were designed for, you will know that the PTO lever can easily be disengaged when under load, mechanical, hydraulic or electrical engagement. It's not advisable on a regular basis though. I have never needed to stop the PTO in many, many years of use so I don't bother with the rope. Guess I just live life on the edge. Ok, Hycrack operating instructions: 1. Lift block with hands onto splitter table. 2. Use hands to push block onto cone. 3. Hands normally succumb to gravity by falling by your side, or on occasions used to wipe dust from eyes, pick nose, scratch nether regions. 4. When block split, use hands to a) chuck stick into, crate, bag etc or b) if still too large use hands to repeat operations 1 to 4. At no point are hands "in there", your words. Time to hear from more Hycrack users methinks.

No I haven't been lucky, I'm just experienced with the Hycrack and know how to operate it safely. Every piece of machinery attached to a tractor has the potential to harm you, it's all about knowing them and avoiding them.

No you don't need your hands in there, and there is an emergency stop.

Look, I don't want to cause an argument, but someone who has broken his thumbs 10 times is not experienced, he is very inexperienced. The Hycrack is a fantastic piece of very simple engineering. All it needs is regular greasing and a new tip every few years. And I've been cutting firewood for almost as long as your friend, sad to say.

Strange how the Hycrack owners love them and the hydraulic users don't? If I wanted advice about hydraulic splitters, I would ask an actual owner, not some guy down the pub, or a bloke that broke his thumb once, let alone ten times. Why on earth did he break it ten times? Surely someone with an ounce of sense would have given up after a couple of times? Take it from a user of around 40 years, they are safe if used properly. I don't know of ANYONE injured by a Hycrack, but I am aware of someone close to me who almost severed his hand with an hydraulic splitter. So who's advice would you value? Me or the man with perpetually broken thumbs?

That's the PTO shaft speed, the engine revs are much higher, depending on the make of the tractor.

I have a Hycrack and love it, but you must NEVER, EVER, have a diesel engine idling for long periods of time, you will glaze the bores, believe me I have done it to one of my tractors. I always run the tractor at around 540 PTO. Much quicker to split the firewood and no glazed bores.

The axe would be quicker for the first few hours, but after that? I'm sure which method I would rather use for an 8 hour day, and which would be more tiring:001_smile:

I have never been a fan of horizontal splitters, but I do like this. Sorry if it has been on before. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzXnRFPKI58]HOME MADE 2 WAY LOG SPLITTER - YouTube[/ame]

I've just reread my reply and it comes across as rather arrogant, sorry Stephen. What I meant was that tax advice is important when making an investment decision, so if it is given it should be 100% accurate. 100% annual investment allowance is available on all plant, whether new or used.

Stephen I am sure you are an excellent arborist, put please leave tax advice to the experts.

Just curious, but in what way? AIA is available in both cases.

I gave up on the vented bags after fieldmice decided to have a good munch. Absolutely ruined. There was a bit of mould in the centre as well. If the bags had vented panels along the lines of a string vest, then maybe they might work. So, back to the wooden crates for me.

Brilliant firewood. One of the best.

What problems have you had?

I'm looking for a new hydraulic logsplitter, and these look to be well made at a reasonable price. Has anyone bought one? Multec Engineering || Omagh, Co. Tyrone, N Ireland || Steel Fabrication and Welding

Jon, what make of loader have you fitted to the 165? I have an old 40 loader fitted to the 575, it's only rated to lift 975Kgs, but I'm sure it will lift the boxes.

I can get slightly broken but still useable boxes from a tattie grower. I am just going to get a strap around the front of the box and around the back of the pallet forks, most of the wood should drop out. If I was feeling really flush, I suppose I could try and get a box tippler. Oh, and thanks for the info, so all in should be about a tonne.

I am thinking of using one tonne tattie boxes to store and dry my firewood, but I need to know what a box full of unseasoned split firewood would weigh, very roughly would do. I need to know if my tractor and loader would lift it easily. The boxes are 6' x 4' x 32" (inside).

What are my processor options with a budget of around £5,000? Obviously second hand, which makes to avoid, etc?