If I were to ever build my own splitter, this is the way it would be set up. Vertical cylinder with a work table and log lift. I've seen a few of them, but this one is done very nicely. I agree, Warped5, for those big rounds he would be better off with a 4-way setup.
Looks like a great splitter. For me the work table is a little high. ( the auto extend is dangerous imo)
I think the handle for the splitter is in a not so great place as well. But, it's a cool design. Not gargantuan, has the nice work table and a lift. I like it a lot.
I was thinking the same thing. I have my table saw switch set up to where I just bump it with my thigh to shut it off...I'm thinking the same thing for the return stroke. Something mounted right at your waist that you pull out to start the stroke...then bump it with your hip or whatever to make it return.
I thought I was gonna have issues with mine at shoulder height too, so I figgered a way to lower it 6" and extend the length too so it pulled down easier. Both helped and it works fine. It would be easy to rig a foot pedal, but I'm a "one hand rule" guy and I know it might be too easy to get a finger or hand between the wedge and the round if I was tap dancing on a foot pedal with my sasquatch feets...
Have anyone else seen the Power Split vertical splitters? Ever since I saw one of their videos years ago, I was on board with the vertical ram worktable type. Theirs are self propelled and have conveyors, but I don't need that. They have a foot pedal to operate the ram. The table is lower than the home built in the original post. I think if you added a log lift for the bigguns, it would be hard to beat. http://www.powersplit.com/Video-Gallery-US-Canada.html
I'm with you Stinny. This is the main reason I bought a Speeco splitter. I didn't buy it because it was a vert/horz, I wanted the height of the beam. I see so many splitters that have the beam as low as the knees, it would kill my back. I don't know how people do it.
