Last week, the neighbor said he was having a couple of Ash trees taken down, in 4-5 weeks. Unusually, I was working from home today. Mid-morning I heard a chipper wind-up; Oscar Sierra! was the first thought when I saw it in his driveway. I still had a cord +/- in the driveway & half of a face cord in the trailer. This all needed to be split and stacked. So far my roommate hasn't questioned the amount of firewood needed and she even encouraged the purchase of the new CS620P. I was able to take the rest of the afternoon off & when she got home at 6 didn't notice the extra cord in the driveway! Now the dilemma is X27 & sledge/wedge or do I rent a splitter - $100 worth of frenzy or many good hours of good work?!?
A good problem to have! Rent a splitter, invite a few helping hands over, an have at it. A good reason to fire up the grill!
I reckon it depends on how much of a rush you are to get it all cleaned up. and if you have a couple folks to help, the money for the rental and gas . . . With three of us a couple years back, we could split a cord in 1.5 hours on the machine. Two of us split 16 cord or so by hand last year b/c I couldn't get the splitter to the rounds. With two Isocore mauls running, we could split and load the trailer with a little over half a cord in about two hours. I liked the peace and relative quiet of splitting by hand, and the work out is good for the aging midline. Sirchopsalot Jr. & buZZsaw BRAD have killed isocores (some of us more than once), but I'd recomend one of those to pair with your x27. Working with a group processing wood has always been something I look forward to. Usually involving food, good fellowship and relationship. All the best in which ever tools you choose. May your chains never dull, your eyes be always sharp, your mauls keen, and your gas cans full. May your stacks multiply of their own accord, the winds be fair and dry, and your splits well seasoned. Let safety and dilligence be yours, as you find BTU laden scores. (wood hoarders blessing v.1)
If not in a rush, I would hand split. Take your time, get a workout and enjoy the process. Ash isn't too bad to split by hand. Of course all I do is use the isocore and X27, so I may be bias
Ash splits nicely and it is great getting some workouts splitting. It also does not hurt the pocketbook. It depends upon your priorities. As we age it gets a lot harder to split by hand and sometimes injury can stop you. I say split while you can as there are also benefits to the body and no gas to buy.
When it rains it pours. Some nice looking firewood there. If you cant hand split them right away try storing the rounds on end rather than edge. Split from the damp end. Rounds will crack much easier. With a hydro it doesnt matter of course. Good luck!
I agree w/ everyone. If you're in a rush, rent the splitter. If not, chip away at it a little each day.
I have an X27, sledge and wedge, and a hydro splitter, as well as a pile of wood in the driveway. I actually quite like hand splitting, and I've been doing the "chip away a little each day" for a few days now. It's nice getting some exercise after work. If I was in the situation above, I would use the X27 and sledge and wedge instead of renting a splitter. I'd rather do the slow and steady then blow the $100 or whatever on the rental. I am my father's son, and thus I am cheap.
Ash splits so easy… Do some by hand figuring out your time, including healing time … your 57 I bet a splitter is in your future
Just a heads up. Those Baretto splitters Home Depot rents out are slower than molasses. At least the video I saw of one running was. Cycle times are measured with a sun dial Make sure you watch it run before laying down any cash.
Yes I looked up the specs on those a while back and they seem to use small engine and pumps...only thing I can think is they seem to cater to the rental market, and therefore slow is less liability?
RichE23ACR Yep, agreed. And you’ll be splitting it in the same direction as it grows. Said to be the best reason to split in same orientation.
can’t remember where I saw the video but it was painful to watch. Must be liability. You could have a room full of lawyers come to an agreement before that ram touches a round
See if they might rent you a splitter with the option to buy and apply the rental fees toward the price of the splitter. Never know they might do it! All they can say is “no”. Just a thought.
I rented a Split-Fire with a log lift for the weekend. I can pick it up after 3 on Friday & don't have to return it until Monday morning. Meanwhile, I'll pick up a a couple more trailer loads from my usual source. I hope my roomie feels like stacking!
The Split Fire was great! They had two available, a straight wedge, and one with a four way that was fixed. I took the one with the straight (2-way) wedge to bust up some nasty chunks. The log lift is a thing of wonder!!! I am done with horizontal/vertical log splitters. If anyone is near Randolph NJ, Gray Supply is a fantastic rental house! I have rented various equipment from them for work and they have phenomenal customer service!
