I have read a lot of people's posts on this site about the super split. I watched the vids on the super split website. Just wondering why people rave about this machine. I think a fast hydraulic splitter with a 4 way would be faster., and a lot easier on the operator.
what's the deal with super split
- Thread starter natems361
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
super split looks darn impressive to me. Comparing it to a 4 way isnt apples to apples, any more than comparing it to a 6 way splitter. Do they even make a hydro splitter with that kind of speed?
Last edited:
avalancher
Arboristsite Raconteur
Well, I will tell you about my one experience with a super split compared to a hydraulic splitter.
I was hired to clear some land for some folks behind their home a few years ago, and when it came to pricing the job I asked them if they wanted the wood hauled away or what, they stated that they wanted the logs skidded up to the barn for firewood. I told them that was going to be a lot of firewood, hope they had a good splitter on hand. The guy then took me to the barn to look at his super split.
Never seen one before in person, but I will tell you that when it came to splitting time there is no comparison. I have a Speeco 35ton with a four way head, and while its certainly not the fastest splitter on the market, it serves well for me. But it was no match for the super split in speed.
Sure, the super split had some trouble pounding its way through the tough crotches, but there is little doubt in my mind that even though I have 20 years of experience behind a splitter, the homeowner with a super split probably would have left me behind by the end of the day up against my hydraulic splitter
I was hired to clear some land for some folks behind their home a few years ago, and when it came to pricing the job I asked them if they wanted the wood hauled away or what, they stated that they wanted the logs skidded up to the barn for firewood. I told them that was going to be a lot of firewood, hope they had a good splitter on hand. The guy then took me to the barn to look at his super split.
Never seen one before in person, but I will tell you that when it came to splitting time there is no comparison. I have a Speeco 35ton with a four way head, and while its certainly not the fastest splitter on the market, it serves well for me. But it was no match for the super split in speed.
Sure, the super split had some trouble pounding its way through the tough crotches, but there is little doubt in my mind that even though I have 20 years of experience behind a splitter, the homeowner with a super split probably would have left me behind by the end of the day up against my hydraulic splitter
I know its different machines, but the claim for productivity against hydraulic splitters isn't true. If you could put a four way on the super split it would be untouchable, but you would probably lose your hands. Those guys in the vids a moving super fast. I know I couldn't keep that pace.just saying a fast four way would be more productive. I would go head to head with one.
I hear ya Nate, i wouldnt want to even try to keep that pace for long, i cant think that fast.
I put a little color under your name!
I put a little color under your name!
Marc
Addicted to ArboristSite
I imagine you could get in a rhythm pretty quick. I had a number of factory jobs working through college (couldn't do retail anything, hate customers) and I was amazed at the speed of some of the workers on the bottling lines, solid fill lines, shipping areas, etc at the places I worked. I was a treated like a temp, more or less, and rotated around where ever they needed help and after spending a week or two doing a specific job I could begin to keep pace with what I originally thought would be impossible.
Muscle memory works faster than you think, although I'm sure- I know it varies person to person.
Dalmatian90
Addicted to ArboristSite
Feeding and Stacking from any production splitter is not an easy thing -- whether it's a Super Split or a high-end hydraulic unit like a TimberWolf TW-5. Both of those require a conveyor or three/four man crew to take full advantage of their speed.
For Joe Homeowner, you'd just stop to stack more often...which breaks up the pace of feeding wood to one.
nice, what dose that mean under the names anyway?
sunfish
Fish Head
A person needs to spend a few hours with a Super Split to fully appreciate the machine. Videos just don't cut it.
I helped load a cord for delivery at a large firewood operation 12 years ago. Two guys on a SS and 3 of us loading, didn't take very long, 30 minutes, maybe less. I said to myself right then, I would own one of these splitters. Got mine 10 years later.
I helped load a cord for delivery at a large firewood operation 12 years ago. Two guys on a SS and 3 of us loading, didn't take very long, 30 minutes, maybe less. I said to myself right then, I would own one of these splitters. Got mine 10 years later.
Cycle time is only one part of the equation when splitting wood. We also need to feed the splitter, decide if the split pieces needs to be split again, picking up the pieces that fell down that need further splitting, etc. Most strait grained wood wont need a full cycle of the splitter to crack in half, and some wood will always need a full stroke. With all of the variables to consider, splitting wood involves time and muscle, regardless of which machine is used. If anyone wants to race to the end of the pile, so be it. But others find splitting more of a relaxing atmosphere where time isn't knocking at our door. At the end of the day it wont matter if you use a SS or a hydro unit. Just be thankful for the splitter you have.
ss~zoso~ss
ArboristSite Operative
Rockland Farm
ArboristSite Operative
I have never used one . But they look like they would be great on the smaller stuff that you can easily grab to keep up with the machine . If I could find a used one at a decent price I would probably buy it . But the hydraulic splitter would not be for sale . When it is a one man show you have to stop to do other things so the extra speed might not be a big deal . Two or three guys splitting is another story . I usually split alone and as the years go buy I seem to be getting slower and my old hydraulic seems to be getting faster all by it self . And come to think of it the oak of today is definitely heavier than it was 20 years ago .
brian660
ArboristSite Operative
a hydraulic splitter could never be built to have the cycle time of a super split, though if a guy had 40 grand or so to spend he could build a pneumatic splitter that would make a super split look slow 
blackdogon57
Addicted to ArboristSite
Don't understand your logic here. Both machines split wood - why can't you compare the two ? For splitting bigger rounds in commercial
volume I would take a hydraulic with a six way wedge all day. It's not all about speed when doing big volume with one operator. It's also about saving work. The less you touch the wood the less you ache at the end of the day.
EXCALIBER
ArboristSite Guru
I have seen this debate before and have raised my doubts of the ss being any faster than a good 6-8 way hydraulic splitter. It just depends on the wood I guess. If you were only splitting 10 inch diameter rounds of wood the ss would be faster, however, most every piece of wood I split minus the limbs are in the 2ft on up to 6 ft diameter range. I would say average around 3ft diameter for most all the wood. How many times would you have to cycle the splitter to split a 3ft dia round on a ss? 10? 15? or more right. So take 3 second cycle time time at 10 splits and you have 30 seconds spend splitting. Now keep in mind this does not allow ANY time to reposition the wood for a resplit. Now thinking it will take at least 3-5 more seconds to reposition the split so you don't take your hand off, and add another 30 seconds to the split time for a total time to split a 3 ft diameter round at over a minute. Now considering cycle time on a good 6-8 way splitter at about 20 seconds or less that means the ss is 40 seconds slower to split the same round. I am sure it could be faster in some cases but is totally useless to most people I know as it is right now. Why would I want to noodle up every piece of wood into smaller chunks in order to split it? Everybody has different needs but I know here in the western side of the world our wood is not all 6-16 diameter wood. Further some of the wood these guys are splitting with the ss does not need to be split to start with just put it in the stove already.
Now for making kindling if you needed some the ss might be good. Perhaps put the ss into a "honey I blew up the splitter" machine and super size the ss to about 5 times its current size and it would be useful. Put 1000lb flywheels on it with a 8 way splitter head and you would have something.
Now for making kindling if you needed some the ss might be good. Perhaps put the ss into a "honey I blew up the splitter" machine and super size the ss to about 5 times its current size and it would be useful. Put 1000lb flywheels on it with a 8 way splitter head and you would have something.
sunfish
Fish Head
If a person has not actually used a Super Split, then what they type here is just speculation.
A SS can not compete with a big hydro with 6-8 way wedge. But it cost a whole lot less, is much easier to move around and much cheaper to operate.
A big splitter with 4-6-8 way wedge would not work at all for me. Like many other people, I have a small air tight wood stove. Large splits and rounds over 3" dia do not work in my stove. My parents have a smaller stove than mine and need wood like what a cook stove would use.
Not sayin the SS can't handle big stuff, just that most of my wood is oak and under 20". I also like smallish splits of a uniform size. This is where the SS really shines and will work circles around larger hydro s'.
Different strokes for different folks...
A SS can not compete with a big hydro with 6-8 way wedge. But it cost a whole lot less, is much easier to move around and much cheaper to operate.
A big splitter with 4-6-8 way wedge would not work at all for me. Like many other people, I have a small air tight wood stove. Large splits and rounds over 3" dia do not work in my stove. My parents have a smaller stove than mine and need wood like what a cook stove would use.
Not sayin the SS can't handle big stuff, just that most of my wood is oak and under 20". I also like smallish splits of a uniform size. This is where the SS really shines and will work circles around larger hydro s'.
Different strokes for different folks...
If a person has not actually used a Super Split, then what they type here is just speculation.
A SS can not compete with a big hydro with 6-8 way wedge. But it cost a whole lot less, is much easier to move around and much cheaper to operate.
A big splitter with 4-6-8 way wedge would not work at all for me. Like many other people, I have a small air tight wood stove. Large splits and rounds over 3" dia do not work in my stove. My parents have a smaller stove than mine and need wood like what a cook stove would use.
Not sayin the SS can't handle big stuff, just that most of my wood is oak and under 20". I also like smallish splits of a uniform size. This is where the SS really shines and will work circles around larger hydro s'.
Different strokes for different folks...
Well said, and I will add... I have looked at processors and splitters,all kinds, for quite some time searching for the "ideal" machine. The one thing that I frown upon the most in regards to a 4,6,8 way wedges is that it may split a round fairly quickly, but unless you are selling boiler wood or splitting small rounds, a good bit of that wood is going back for re-split and this time you only get to take advantage of a single wedge. The only muti-wedge splitter / processor that has caught my eye would be the multi-box style that produce multiple uniform splits, and you better be selling some serious wood before you write the check for one of those.
I love it when someone says "yada yada, fast hydraulic, blah blah, beats a super split".
Basically it isn't true and it isn't a fair comparison for either type of machine.
Cycle time is only part of the story.
Fuel used is another part.
Cost is another part.
Type of operation is another part.
Short of commercial production machines, pushing 30+ hp to the splitter circuit, there isn't much out there that will allow one person to split as much wood per day.
Now, if I had a hydraulic splitter I would add a four way or eight way wedge to it and run it. Cost of getting a SS would not be justified unless it was a commercial operation. I'd also add a work table and probably a log lift. Another option would be to sell the hydro and buy a SS.
If I was buying my first splitter I would hold out for a SS type machine. I've yet to meet anyone who regretted buying one. (Speeco guys don't regret function, only durability and lack of service, from reading that thread.)
As to homeowner or commercial users, a huge part of your operation is in layout and procedures. How often do you touch the wood? Does the product flow smoothly through your operation? Are you ever tripping over machines or product in the way? The splitter is only one part of the picture. In the end, in all sizes and types of operations, I've seen and heard of SS and like machines increasing output and quality of product. Anybody that doesn't have time running both is really only running their mouth.
Mr. HE
Basically it isn't true and it isn't a fair comparison for either type of machine.
Cycle time is only part of the story.
Fuel used is another part.
Cost is another part.
Type of operation is another part.
Short of commercial production machines, pushing 30+ hp to the splitter circuit, there isn't much out there that will allow one person to split as much wood per day.
Now, if I had a hydraulic splitter I would add a four way or eight way wedge to it and run it. Cost of getting a SS would not be justified unless it was a commercial operation. I'd also add a work table and probably a log lift. Another option would be to sell the hydro and buy a SS.
If I was buying my first splitter I would hold out for a SS type machine. I've yet to meet anyone who regretted buying one. (Speeco guys don't regret function, only durability and lack of service, from reading that thread.)
As to homeowner or commercial users, a huge part of your operation is in layout and procedures. How often do you touch the wood? Does the product flow smoothly through your operation? Are you ever tripping over machines or product in the way? The splitter is only one part of the picture. In the end, in all sizes and types of operations, I've seen and heard of SS and like machines increasing output and quality of product. Anybody that doesn't have time running both is really only running their mouth.
Mr. HE
I love it when someone says "yada yada, fast hydraulic, blah blah, beats a super split".
Basically it isn't true and it isn't a fair comparison for either type of machine.
Cycle time is only part of the story.
Fuel used is another part.
Cost is another part.
Type of operation is another part.
Short of commercial production machines, pushing 30+ hp to the splitter circuit, there isn't much out there that will allow one person to split as much wood per day.
Now, if I had a hydraulic splitter I would add a four way or eight way wedge to it and run it. Cost of getting a SS would not be justified unless it was a commercial operation. I'd also add a work table and probably a log lift. Another option would be to sell the hydro and buy a SS.
If I was buying my first splitter I would hold out for a SS type machine. I've yet to meet anyone who regretted buying one. (Speeco guys don't regret function, only durability and lack of service, from reading that thread.)
As to homeowner or commercial users, a huge part of your operation is in layout and procedures. How often do you touch the wood? Does the product flow smoothly through your operation? Are you ever tripping over machines or product in the way? The splitter is only one part of the picture. In the end, in all sizes and types of operations, I've seen and heard of SS and like machines increasing output and quality of product. Anybody that doesn't have time running both is really only running their mouth.
Mr. HE
There is no arguing with that....:msp_thumbup:
productivity and ease of use is the debate.
to get four pieces i pick up a log put it on the splitter pull the levers and in 6 seconds ive got four pieces and i touched the log once. for the same result with the ss you need to make 3 splits and handle it 3 times thus making more time and more work. but great to blow through a pile of 4 inch rounds.
to get four pieces i pick up a log put it on the splitter pull the levers and in 6 seconds ive got four pieces and i touched the log once. for the same result with the ss you need to make 3 splits and handle it 3 times thus making more time and more work. but great to blow through a pile of 4 inch rounds.
Similar threads
