DR Rapid Fire Rack & Pinion

[COraghorn]

Still deciding

Nice pics Como,

Looks like the San Luis Valley, I grew up in Manassa (South of Alamosa) and am now just North of Bayfield so it looks like the types of wood we get into are very similar.
Other than all the scrub/gambel (not real sure) oak I have on a 40 acre piece I bought about a year ago, biggest the oak gets is 8-10" and I cut everything to 16" lengths so I think this should be fairly light duty.

 

[Como]

Nice pics Como,

Looks like the San Luis Valley, I grew up in Manassa (South of Alamosa) and am now just North of Bayfield so it looks like the types of wood we get into are very similar.
Other than all the scrub/gambel (not real sure) oak I have on a 40 acre piece I bought about a year ago, biggest the oak gets is 8-10" and I cut everything to 16" lengths so I think this should be fairly light duty.

South Park, San Luis I think is much lower.

I know Bayfield well and the area you live in is I assume on the back road to Durango.

Shame the Steamworks brewpub closed. I assume it has not reopened.

 

[COraghorn]

Ya, a bit lower, Manassa sits at 7700'. Yes I am on the back road to Durango.
Steamworks in Durango is still open, in fact a couple weeks ago I restored power to one of the Owner's homes and he gave me coupons for 3 free pints, a tree in his back yard fell and ripped the service off his house.

 

[Hddnis]

...
[*]One firewood retailer tried to screw me down on price of the wood I was wholesaling to him when he found out what I'm knocking out per day.
[*]
[/LIST]

You got to be kidding!?!?!?!

I'd have told him what position he could assume in regards to that!

Sure, you have to be competative, but you got yourself a little padding in the splitting area of the business by your own hard work and hard earned coin, no reason that he should reap the rewards just because he found out about it.

I guess I can't fault him too much for asking, but at the same time it just seems cheap to assume he gets a cut because of what you've worked to achive. In the end prices are determined by the whole market, not by what you can afford to sell at.


Mr. HE

 

[COraghorn]

View attachment 271831

I think I have split 30 ish cords this year.

I did a trial and that little pile took 6 minutes, most of my wood is c24 inch length, I do cut some smaller which obviously increases time. And I am probably older than most on this board and at 10,000ft we have little oxygen.

I do have one larger pile left but it is at the back and my truck is in the Garage so I am going to wait until I can drive it around, dragging that puppy uphill hurts. As I mentioned in another thread I prefer bigger rounds, one lift. The main issue is picking them up.

Now the morning comment was in response to 2 people doing it, 3 hours seems long enough for 2 not rushing. 16 inch and maybe 4.

View attachment 271837


285 in the background.

I am in..

Wait for it....

Como.

Had no idea there was a Como Colorado.... looks pretty sweet

 

[Locust Cutter]

Had no idea there was a Como Colorado.... looks pretty sweet

How far is that from the Buena Vista/Salida area?

 

[Como]

How far is that from the Buena Vista/Salida area?

About half way from Denver.

In the Truck it is about an hour to C470, less in the car.....

Steamworks had a Brewery in Bayfield with a Brewpub as well, next to the Library. My wife worked at the Library.

 

[Locust Cutter]

Nice. The family has a postage stamp sized piece of land up-canyon from the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs, on the way to Elmo. I grew up splashing in Chalk Creek, feebly attempting to be a fly fisherman, chasing Brookies, Browns, Speckled and Rainbows... Up towards Elmo, you'll tend to find Cut-Throats... I need to get back and spend awhile in the canyon again. I also have family in Buena Vista and Aurora.

 

[COraghorn]

Wanted to give everybody an update on my search for the "best woodsplitter". Based on what I've learned here and other online searches I plan on ordering a super split J model! I'd order it today but everything is covered in snow and it's snowing as I type this so I'm thinkin probably the 1st of March.
I appreciate the response to my original post! What I'm looking for in the meantime is the dimensions of super split's production table, I wish I had the $ to just add it to my order but I'm going to build my own. Not that they're unfairly priced, I've just maxed out my budget:msp_sad:. If anyone is willing to give me the dimensions that would be great, I know that's a challenge as the production table is not exactly square, round or any other shape????

 

[Como]

Wanted to give everybody an update on my search for the "best woodsplitter". Based on what I've learned here and other online searches I plan on ordering a super split J model! I'd order it today but everything is covered in snow and it's snowing as I type this so I'm thinkin probably the 1st of March.
I appreciate the response to my original post! What I'm looking for in the meantime is the dimensions of super split's production table, I wish I had the $ to just add it to my order but I'm going to build my own. Not that they're unfairly priced, I've just maxed out my budget:msp_sad:. If anyone is willing to give me the dimensions that would be great, I know that's a challenge as the production table is not exactly square, round or any other shape????

I have a table for the DR, but that is not going to help.

I consider it essential, I also have the tow bar as it is OK on the flat but a SOB up hill, maybe I am just getting weak.

I am also making a wheel to fit on the front stand to help moveability. Not sure how that will work. We will see.

It is top heavy for towing but I have a small HF trailer that should do the job.

If anything the DR table could be an inch or two wider, for me, I have long arms. There is a metal V on each side of beam on the table that helps stop ready wood moving to the center. It is handy to grab two pieces to split, put one in the split location, and the other to one side The V stops it sliding into the middle. Split the first piece and then push the second piece over and split. Anything larger well it does not really matter so work on the basis of what you can pick up.

 

[Cathousemouse]

New guy needs advice

Hello everyone, Im the new guy here just looking for advice from the guys that are using the Rapid Fire splitter. I am looking into the purchase of a new splitter and really like the Rapid Fire. My question is , Do you guys feel that this splitter has enough energy to split wood thru a grid type wedge instead of the single wedge that comes with it? I really like the splitter except for the process of splitting a single piece at a time. Thanks for any advice and this seems to be a great forum, alot of very good info here. Thanks again.

 

[Como]

Hello everyone, Im the new guy here just looking for advice from the guys that are using the Rapid Fire splitter. I am looking into the purchase of a new splitter and really like the Rapid Fire. My question is , Do you guys feel that this splitter has enough energy to split wood thru a grid type wedge instead of the single wedge that comes with it? I really like the splitter except for the process of splitting a single piece at a time. Thanks for any advice and this seems to be a great forum, alot of very good info here. Thanks again.

No, not a good idea, maybe a 4 way with the right wood.

 

[KiwiBro]

No, not a good idea, maybe a 4 way with the right wood.

And an extra flywheel

 

[D&B Mack]

My question is , Do you guys feel that this splitter has enough energy to split wood thru a grid type wedge instead of the single wedge that comes with it?

No.

 

[scotte303]

DR Rapid Fire updates

Been reading through this thread, was hoping to get an update on the DR Rapid fire now thats its been around awhile. I have read that it takes anything you can throw at it as long as you can lift it up there which is one downfall in itself. But I s'pose you can just cut the larger rounds in half or quarters for that matter.
Otherwise have heard nothing but positive remarks.

 

[Steve NW WI]

scotte - keep reading through this thread. There are guys who've had problems with this machine, and some of the posts in this thread tell all about it.

Sorry I don't have time to dig the posts up for you, grab a cold beverage and wade on in.

 

[COraghorn]

DR question

Hello Scotte,
I came to this forum several weeks ago asking about the rapid fire, at that time I was fairly convinced that the DR was the splitter to buy, until I did my research.
I spent at least 12 hours researching the splitter and to make a long story short, I now plan on ordering the Super Split from Paul here in the next couple months. I would have ordered it already but I have no reason to spend the money while I've still got 4 feet of snow in my yard.
Anyway, just wanted to share a little about where I had gotten with the DR splitter, good luck in your search.
By the way, not only did I find the Super Split to be a far superior product but when I called, Paul, the owner actually picked up the phone, when I called DR... just another salesman....

 

[CampHamp]

scotte303 - I've been using the DR for over a year now (Pro-XL). It's built solid and works great. I would recommend it to anyone chopping more than a few cord a year. Wishing you good choppin'!

 

[KiwiBro]

Hello Scotte,
I came to this forum several weeks ago asking about the rapid fire, at that time I was fairly convinced that the DR was the splitter to buy, until I did my research.
I spent at least 12 hours researching the splitter and to make a long story short, I now plan on ordering the Super Split from Paul here in the next couple months. I would have ordered it already but I have no reason to spend the money while I've still got 4 feet of snow in my yard.
Anyway, just wanted to share a little about where I had gotten with the DR splitter, good luck in your search.
By the way, not only did I find the Super Split to be a far superior product but when I called, Paul, the owner actually picked up the phone, when I called DR... just another salesman....

You're doing exactly what I thought you'd do. That is ignore my advice and go kinetic right off the bat . It's not without it's merits and I can't help but smile as it's probably exactly what I would have done too.

 

[Pcoz88]

You should buy that mech. splitter built in Ohio.Its awesome!! built buy an Amish man.Howard,ohio!!!