Hi All,
Many thanks again to everyone for the advice and info that I have gained from AS over the last 4 years that I have been on here burning full time. I really do enjoy hand splitting from an exercise and satisfaction standpoint, but my job and travel schedule has kicked my butt over the last 6 months and shows no signs of letting up next year (read this as: I am way behind and standing dead ash are my "get out of jail free" card)
SO, I finally bit and got my first splitter Thanksgiving week - a TSC Countyline/Speeco 22T unit with the Kohler. Not wild about the Kohler, but I am thinking it will be a good compromise & just right for me after quickly feeding a couple of cords of standing 24" dead ash for now & 30" red oak that were sitting around (yea, yea, I know this is not a real test!).
I ended up using it vertically to not lift the rounds and got pretty efficient very quickly after a couple of tanks. I had NO close calls and common sense says keep your hands off the top & out of the path (I know - duh! as my kids would say). However, as I got towards the end of each session I had this nagging feeling that I was getting a bit too comfortable with it, if that makes sense??
I don't remember seeing anything on splitter safety like I have on felling, chainsaws etc. so I did a search and did not come up with much. I read about some experienced folks occasionally squashing a finger, mod's to make tables, all sort about engines, 4 way wedges and the pros/con of different brands, pro level equipment etc.
I wanted to throw the question out there:
Any specific tips and tricks from your experience running a this size/style splitter from the group?
Thanks again.
Many thanks again to everyone for the advice and info that I have gained from AS over the last 4 years that I have been on here burning full time. I really do enjoy hand splitting from an exercise and satisfaction standpoint, but my job and travel schedule has kicked my butt over the last 6 months and shows no signs of letting up next year (read this as: I am way behind and standing dead ash are my "get out of jail free" card)
SO, I finally bit and got my first splitter Thanksgiving week - a TSC Countyline/Speeco 22T unit with the Kohler. Not wild about the Kohler, but I am thinking it will be a good compromise & just right for me after quickly feeding a couple of cords of standing 24" dead ash for now & 30" red oak that were sitting around (yea, yea, I know this is not a real test!).
I ended up using it vertically to not lift the rounds and got pretty efficient very quickly after a couple of tanks. I had NO close calls and common sense says keep your hands off the top & out of the path (I know - duh! as my kids would say). However, as I got towards the end of each session I had this nagging feeling that I was getting a bit too comfortable with it, if that makes sense??
I don't remember seeing anything on splitter safety like I have on felling, chainsaws etc. so I did a search and did not come up with much. I read about some experienced folks occasionally squashing a finger, mod's to make tables, all sort about engines, 4 way wedges and the pros/con of different brands, pro level equipment etc.
I wanted to throw the question out there:
Any specific tips and tricks from your experience running a this size/style splitter from the group?
Thanks again.