If you have that issue, get it fixed. I did that myself over 35 years ago and no problems or even hints of problems since. I hand split everything and don't even think about the impact on my body.
Welcome to the forum WriteNoob. Yes, a full sized splitter is nice to work with. Especially one that will stand up vertically rather than having to lift every piece up onto the splitter. I just sit and split the easy way. Some say sitting is hard on the back but it is because of my back that I have to sit and split! Don't even have to work up a sweat that way.
My old Troy-built was a horizontal/vertical machine. I tried it vertical once and hated it. I have since sold that machine, had another one, initially liked it, but the more I used it, the more I hated it and felt like I was taken for the good money I spent on it. Ended up selling it back and had another one built. Anyways, I won't use anything without a log lift anymore, unless someone else is doing the lifting. This weekend I was lifting 150# chunks with a pull of a lever. Had no back pain what so ever! I was ready to go back out the next day to get another load. I say log lift is a must and a very wise expense!
Wow thats a nice splitter. Im of the opinion that if your pay $ for a splitter get one with a lift, sure does make life easier.
I do about 12 cord for myself, but I do help some others split as well. I also, have been to a couple charity cuts (I haven't had the splitter there for one, I just got it in July) where it'll be useful. Yea, I got way more then 5k in it. It's all been worth it so far and I expect it to be the same for a long time. I don't have lots of time to cut and split, so a speed machine is essential for me. I just went out for the first time this past weekend, but I'm fortunate enough I had a lot left over from last year, and had some stacked outside, so I don't need a lot to get through the year.
This is what I c/s/s yesterday. I had no plans to, so it's a bonus. Not a great amount but it adds up. One free Oak log, and a Elm I cut down, recently died.
And a very hefty expense at that! My back is terrible and keeps me down a lot but there is no way I could stand and split. Sitting and splitting vertically is the easiest and there was no expense in purchasing or building a log lift. In addition, it is quicker without the log lift. But if it suits you, then that is the right one for you. Sad it took so many machines to get the right one.
Looking gooder right there, NH MM Was the elm that pile of strings on top of those shredded pieces of wood? That stuff gave me a similar fit this past summer!
That's the way to do it. I'm not currently on the prowl but a good deal of my stash came from small hits like that, keep it up.
I had good intentions to work some pines today, ended up staying home and cleaning up my neighbors leaves as well as mine. Then ran the mower. Just came in from doing that, hopefully that will be the last need for the yard to be mowed this season! Been processing a pile of monster rounds of oak, I'll get pics when I get a chance to work some of it later this week or weekend.
Yeah, I saw that stringy stuff sitting in that pile, not quite as hard to split but boy! Cottonwood is really stringy
So it's been a while since I been able to get back out in the timber. I was down looking at my winter's worth of heat and well it was lacking. So I finally got a weekend freed up and reserved it for cutting and splitting this past weekend. Was good to get out in the timber and get some saw therapy and some splitting therapy as well. It was still a lot of work, but well it's all in the basement now. Just have to move some stuff that I want to get burned first and then will stack it with the rest of the stuff. The tree I cut I'm pretty sure is red oak. It was sure heavy and there was a lot of red in the color. Here are some pics from the weekend: This weekend's victim. The log lift got a work out this weekend. That's a 28" bar on my 661c. Saturday's take home. Went back Sunday to get the rest of it. Got a good 2 tanks through my 661c. Few more and it should open up even more. Got my eyes set on a red elm to finish off my stache for winter.
