Am curious to find out... those of you who say you do not like to split vertical orientation with a log splitter, why? What is the negative? I do split vertical. I find it easier to handle big rounds. Not having to lift is a plus at my age. If I had a fancier splitter, I suppose standing up might be easier on the back? I sit on an oak round. I actually have moderate chronic back pain and I really don't have any problem splitting sitting down. I have my rounds on my right and I reach to roll them to the splitter or use the pickaroon. I like to have my truck (or trailer) pulled up close so I can throw each split onto it so I can save a step from just throwing the wood into a pile. Now that I bought the Fiskars Isocore maul on closeout (already own an x27 splitting axe), I might split some more by hand, lol. The Isocore sure works. But I'll probably poop out pretty fast swinging that thing. I don't know how in the world BuzzsawBrad splits all his wood by hand; sheesh, that is amazing. It certainly is a workout!
A: You have to bend over more, which can irritate lower backs. Sitting on a round is ok, but when you go to grab the next round to split you're wasting a lot of time getting up and down constantly. B: You have to handle the wood more. Instead of having the wedge at the end of the beam and being able to push the wood into a truck bed, wheelbarrow, trailer, cart, etc. You are forced to have the wedge on the ram and have to pick the wood up off the ground. C: Slower. Usually vertical splitters aren't terribly fast. Typical ones I've seen have 10-20 second cycle times. Most commercial grade splitters will have the wedge at the end, and often have 6-8 second cycle times. In the case of a supersplit or other kinetic splitter, 2-3 seconds. The only real advantage I can see for vertical is less picking up big rounds, no need for a log lift. Once they are quartered though, I'd personally be switching to a horizontal position.
If a round is to big to lift I just use one of the saws to make human size. Tried vertical way back when- not for me. There are some units where the table is at apx waist height that might be ok. Moving big rounds comalong, jib crane or something along those lines, as sooner or later you are going to be wrestling with one and move the wrong way ( ouch!) Got that T shirt .
I agree, I'd noodle them. Some people have small saws and may get large rounds for free. My father has a vertical/horizontal splitter and I'm not a big fan. The only vertical splitter I'd consider is a Powersplit.
I've always backed my truck to my splitter, rolled a log onto it and split. Makes it even better if you have a helper rolling the wheelbarrow to stack as you fill it
I think with two people vertical splitting can be much more efficient than 1 person splitting vertical. But, if you have two people, team up to lift larger rounds. But, but, if your helper is under the age of 10 just keep him/her on the lever and do it vertical. Maybe??
Never used a vertical splitter so I don't know if I'd like it or not. I would guess probably not, since I don't like the constant sit/stand/bend. It's bad enough with my current horizontal splitter only being at knee height, by the end of the work session my back is killing me. I would love to have something that sits at waist height to make the job a bit more ergo-friendly. Plus I have a tractor and tongs to lift rounds onto the splitter, so vertical is pretty much unnecessary. What I do like the design of, is some of those vertical splitters where there is a large work table and the splitting plate is at waist level, Powersplit is a brand that I saw online. Big $$$$ though.
It'll be good to hear the pros and cons of horizontal vs vertical splitting. I think this is the first thread I've seen regarding this topic. (today) Truth is, strong feelings about why you should and shy you shouldn't. Its easy to re-open that XL size can of worms but it all boils down to personal preference. Usually, what I prefer doesn't weigh in on your decisions. Whatever works best for whoever is doing the work, right?
I do it only when I have to. I use an ATV ramp and roll rounds up when they are too big to lift. I have a pretty trouble free back, but wallowing heaving rounds really strain it. The best reason I horizontal split, is the splits are handled at waist level, to chuck, or stack without lifting off the ground. For the holsenhaus, I split most rounds in halves, and stack, so not lifting from the ground makes a difference.
These type of threads are usually quite funny, especially reading the comments above. Mostly I find that either people have never split in vertical mode (except when swinging an axe or maul) or else they have done it wrong! Usually, they have done it wrong. The quote below is a prime example and sirbuildalot I am not trying to single you out at all. It is just they way you worded things that made me quote you. Please forgive me. A. You have to bend over more, which can irritate lower backs. I read this over and over and over. The answer to this is plain and simple. If you are doing it this way, you are really making a lot of unnecessary work for yourselves and for sure it will tear your back up. For me, I have already got that bad back. I had polio in my youth and then had a bad accident in 1984 which really did some damage to my already bad back. I've also had 3 surgeries. Needless to say, I know what a bad back is like. Let me also say that splitting vertically is much, much easier on your back...if you do it right. One more thing is that standing to work like that is something I just simply can not do because it is just too hard on my back and legs. B. I simply do not understand why one would think you have to handle the wood more. In addition, the handling of the wood is much easier, especially on your back. C. Slower? Again, I fail to understand this one. My splitter can be used in vertical or horizontal mode. The ram works at the same speed regardless of how the splitter is set up. I will agree that a kenetic is faster, but they do not work vertically (at least none I've seen) and again you have to lift each log. When I am splitting vertically, I do not have to lift each log. Gravity keeps them on the ground. For sure how one is set up for splitting can make a big difference in how he splits wood. For those who get, say, a pickup load of wood then split it when they get home, it can indeed work nicely to split right off the truck. In my case, when I split, 99% of the time I do all the splitting once per year. That is, the splitter sits in the barn until splitting time. Then I get it out to do the splitting then put it back into the barn for another year before it comes out again. This actually saves time and effort of getting the splitter out numerous times. (My wife just said that is true unless someone shows up with apple wood they can't split by hand. lol This happened recently but I did not move the splitter nor did I set it vertically! There were only a few logs so I just started the engine where it was, split the wood and was done. All in all, I really could care less if someone splits different from me. It is just that I have to choose the easiest way to get the job done and that means splitting vertically.
Here is a great idea. A set up that walt made. btw, these pictures were taken at a Firewood Hoarders Club Get-Together in Ohio. Here is Midwinter and walt. Molly was hesitant to use the splitter but we got her going. Here she was splitting some short logs that Walt needs for his hot tub setup. All Walt needs to finish the job is to mount a seat.
My splitter will go vertical or horizontal, i've used it in the vertical position when i had some big oak rounds, they were way to big to lift, and too big even if noodled. So, i just went vertical, split them in half, then quarter them, and finally made them into fire wood size. Sounds like a lot of work, it was, but, doing it by hand would have worked, and, i'd beat my brains out doing that. I just needed a bigger foot print on the end of the splitter to keep it from kicking out every now and then.
No worries Dennis, The reason I said slower is that most fast cycle commercial splitters are horizontal only. Timberwolf, Wolfe Ridge, Eastonmade, American, all kinetics, etc, being examples. It's not that the ram moves faster when horizontal, just that better/faster models are only available, once you have a fixed horizontal unit. I agree different people have different back problems. For me, after falling off a couple roofs, and from shingling for many years, I can't bend over for long periods of time. If I do when I stand back up my back is sore for days. Interestingly enough I can squat, deadlift, and do other movements fine, even with 500-600 lbs. In fact, working out makes my back feel better. The blue machine is either a Powersplit, or a homemade copycat of one. As I said previously, its the only vertical design splitter Id personally consider. Mainly due to the fast cycle time, being able to stand as its raised up, large outfeed table, log lift, etc. Its also i believe in the 15k-20k range. A Supersplit, in comparison is more like 3k. Cheers,
