I’m new and have been working my way through some large oak rounds. About 2-4ft across. First is my setup. My current setup is a TW-P1 with a catch table. I stand on one side with left hand operating the handle. The wedge is fixed and the splits are pushed to the catch table. A roller conveyor is directly across from me feeding the splitter. I have loaded rounds with the tractor grapple and then fought them as they split. I’ve split them first by maul and wedge and then loaded. It seems like I’m working my butt off. I usually use the tractor, load the conveyor, and then pull toward me with a logrite pickaroon and try to catch one side with my body and fight the the other split back on the conveyor. Or watch it fall to the ground and pick it up again. I could go get a vertical splitter, a unicorn splitter, or even something else but not sure what. Thinking of using tongs from the grapple to hold part of the split or evolve that into a hoist/cherry picker type setup but looking for input from those of you that have been doing this awhile. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Lenny - I also have a TW-P1 with the catch table, and also fight with some huge rounds. Since I'm not getting younger and the ol' back refuses to cooperate, I generally halve or quarter large rounds with my larger chainsaw or a sledge and wedges, and then lift the quarters. You should be able to put quarters on your roller conveyor and handle them. The really big stuff, just noodle it down until you have pieces you can pick up. It takes a little more time but honestly, it takes just as much time to fight with the large stuff on the splitter. I try not to lift much over 12" - 14" in diameter/width without using my tractor bucket. I bought tongs to do exactly what you are describing, but found out that they did not work as well as expected, actually they just got in the way. The other thing I do that helps me out is to place a large round (16-18" dia.) on end to my left hand side, right next to the table (I split from the side opposite the engine) and take the larger pieces and set them temporarily on top of that makeshift "table". That way they're still sitting right there at the proper height and you can just horse them back over onto the beam when you're ready. By the way we're pretty much neighbors, I'm up the road in Shaftsbury.
Hey Lenny I always used a horizontal splitter and the big ones I just ripped with a big saw but I use a tm skid splitter now its a upside down splitter it fits on my skid loader and it can split anything I have come across I am not familiar with your make of tractor to know what you have for aux hyd power but they make several models that fit on skid loader type quick attach I run a S-650 bobcat loader so I have plenty of hyd power but ripping them sure beats wedges
Good to know. I’ll try the tip on the table and maybe change my roller conveyor to the opposite side. I’m still learning. Turning 55 this month seems to let me know that maul and wedges (and rounds) seem to be heavier than I remember! I’ve only a MS250 with muffler mod and 16” bar but am watching for a good “next size” saw. Noodling may be my answer. Glad to hear a close neighbor. I’m out across from the airport in Bennington. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I’m running a Kubota L3301 with grapple using a diverted valve on the up/down function to open close the grapple. I like having the grapple on as I load it from the catch table to carry over to the shed about 200 ft away. With the bucket on the back as a carryall, it makes for a quick load for an hour or so of quality time splitting and stacking. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Welcome aboard Lennyzx11 Seems like you have a great setup, just needs a bit of tweaking to optimize it. I know at least one member made a winch lift system with tongs, but for the life of me I can't remember who. I'm sure you'll get some good advice from some of the other modifiers here.
Lennyzx11 , I have also fought with big rounds. The easiest way I have is a screw gun and put a metal clip into the big round. Lift it with a FEL and chain and split it piece at a time until I get to the next big one. Welcome to the FHC!
Hi Lenny. 56 with more disability’s than I care to list. I feel your pain. I recently put this contraption on my splitter. Powered by the winch on my trailer. It will not be set up this way when splitting. The trailer will be backed into the table side. This was just a last minute photo op right after completion. Just so happens the trailer was there so I strung it up. Haven’t had a chance to use it yet. Still stuck between gathering and storing for the winter mode. The arm will need to be locked into a semi fixed position for use. I made two positions for now but am confident 45 degrees towards user will be the one that works. As Jon E suggested above I do get the feeling the tongs will be annoying. They do work well for lifting logs onto the trailer but for splitting Im not so sure. Time will tell. The other option I discovered from another user on this site is a log dog or rafting dog as they’re called here. Obviously much smaller than tongs LOL. Just hammer it in and hoist up the round. I bought a couple. Same as tongs haven’t tried them yet. Gut feeling is that’s what I’ll end up using. The key is to hammer them in enough to pick but not get crazy so you can get them out. Keep them in the round as long as you want an extra hand then pinch the round in the splitter and use the winch to pull it out. Or attempt to split it out but if you fail I could foresee trouble. May have trouble pinching the wood if you’ve already split that close to the dog. 5/8" Hammerhead Rafting Dog
That’s one of the ideas I was mulling over. The side pull or angle doesn’t appear like it will tip the splitter with a big round? I was wondering if a stabilizer foot/brace may be needed. Thanks for the pix! And the tip on the log dogs. I never even thought of something like that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
As I said that angle is not where it will be when in use. And I still haven’t tried it yet. I do not foresee any problems though. For every pound pulling on the side there’s an equal weight pulling down. Actually probably much more. While the winch may be pulling the full weight the angle of the rope will transfer a larger percentage of the weight straight up and down. Splitter has a relatively wide stance and weighs 800 lbs if I remember correctly. The pull will be from the opposite side of the angle. Time will tell if my logic is off.
Hi Lennyzx11 ... maybe you could do a variation of this? The boom is 10' and swivels where ever I move the tongs. I keep the head of the boom set right up above the splitter so rounds dragged/picked up 10'-20' away, swing right to it. The 3000 lb winch is too slow for picking up each round, so I did a 3 to 1 block/pulley setup that speeds the lift line to a good work speed. The boom can handle about 200 lbs. I hold the winch controller in one hand and the handle on the tongs with the other. Be sure the tongs have nice sharp points (I sharpened mine after this pic, when the tongs let go and tried to launch into orbit). Works well...
I built this a couple of years ago, when skidding I have a shive that hooks low, so instead of tipping it is a straight pull. I then unhook it and lift and swing it over the bed.
Finally got around to set up and use the log lift today. The rounds I was picking aren’t the biggest. Wouldn’t really need it but it was the first pile I wanted to get out of the way. As expected the log dog wins the day. Not a fan of sharp tongs swinging around in front of my beautiful face. The dogs small size makes it unnoticeable when not in use. Split away from the dog and it will also hold the big chunk of round for you while you whittle away at the rest. I’d rather split mine out. There’s enough flex in a side pull set up that by the time the dog releases it has a lot of kinetic energy. My quick arm adjustment fixture didn’t last very long. Tore that up on the second round. As the round comes up you need to pull it away from the splitter a touch. I let mine snag so I could put a lot of pressure on the setup and see what might happen with a heavier load. I don’t think I’ll tip over the splitter but my first attempt at an adjustable angle stop went bye bye. Not surprised. First round with tongs. The arm is at the proper angle. Not for long though Then the log dog. And angle is gone. Honestly I’ll probably just weld that arm to the pipe now that I know the angle needed. My homemade hatcharoon will still be getting a workout. And the real huge stuff will probably still get noodles in half. This will work good for the ones too heavy to lift but smaller than a small planet.
I'm really glad I went for a splitter with a good log lift and catch table. Splits get pushed into the skid steer bucket. The log lift can act as an additional catch table as well. Not to mean a large split can never fall off, they do sometimes but it's not much of an issue. My old splitter paid for itself many times over but to add a lift just wasn't going to be worth it to me and the work height was too low as well.
