First time processing with equipment!

After 11 years running 100% wood heat, and only a chainsaw, ax and maul I finally convinced the Domestic CEO that a splitter made sense (4-6 cords a year). We also got a tractor this summer and I've fallen in love with pallets for handling everything we have/do here on the farm.

We knocked together two firewood totes (about 1/2 cord each) so we can now brag about how much we can split in an hour and know exactly how much is in the shed/hoard. I have seen some other pallet tote designs that are better thought out, so I'm sure I'll be tinkering with mine.

So far the only modification to the splitter was to install a small induction hour meter, so I can know if I need to change the oil (which I do now that I hit 5 hours). The side tray/table was not in stock, so I ordered it and FedEx says it is on my doorstep right now, come on quitting time!




Thanks to my dad for coming over to help break it in!!

 

I'm hoping to break mine in this weekend. My induction meter should be arriving today, and I need to go get a few more items..

 

Lots of people really like hand splitting. I too enjoy it on occasions, but to me it's all about efficiency. Time is valuable and I can get way more done with the aid of my splitter.

Enjoy your new tools.

 

Congrats on your new processing equipment. I grew up getting firewood with my Dad, chainsaw only and we walked out all the wood we could to a snowmobile trailer attached to the back of the family station wagon. Had to wear hip boots to get the wood out sometimes, never had a good spot to get firewood. Everything was split with a monster maul. Fast forward 40 years, I buy a place when I get divorced and install a woodstove to heat it. Bought a new chainsaw and still had my monster maul. Did that for a few years and then got my first splitter 5 seasons ago. Started selling firewood when I got the splitter to pay back the $500 I borrowed to buy the splitter, I didn't even have a truck back then. Now I'm moving 100+ full cords a year doing it part time. Sold that old splitter a month ago and bought a commercial splitter. A splitter can make a big difference sometimes. I split a few here and there by hand now but I'm good with the equipment. I learned a lot on this forum and a couple others over the last 5 years as well.

 

speaking for myself, I do like hand splitting, when it isn't notched/knotty. My back and shoulders are not getting any younger so I'm over the sledge.

 

Exactly what I told my better half. I'm not getting rid of the maul & ax. "Dirt strong".

 

Where did you procure your induction meter?

 

Glad to see your pallets for wood, congrats on the splitter too
I've been using pallets for wood for many years. They are the best.
Think about putting a sacrificial pallet under the one loaded with wood to keep it off of the ground.

When I split now I put wood directly onto the pallet. Move splitter and fill another etc. Then use tractor to move pallets to storage area. No big pile of splits to stack later!!

These pics are how I'm making my pallet racks
All wood is from pallets taken apart
The empty ones are on their side so I can move them with a hand truck
You have to look close but there are two strands of wire across each of the uprights.
Wire is unwoven from black chain link fence. It holds up well and keeps sides from spreading when I'm moving with tractor.

 

Very nice! Looks like your havin fu' **cough** workin' hard there.

 

Congratulations on the new splitter. Great to have your dad around to help you. Sure miss my dad.

 

great idea on the hour meter. And you just reminded me that I am definitely due to dump the break in oil and put in some Mobil 1

 

I just put one I my splitter last week too. I ran it for 1 1/2 years without one and figured it made sense to get one. It’s amazing how quick the hours add up!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

That’s the way I see it too. I don’t have enough time to hand split everything. I did enough hand splitting the past two weeks to meet my years quota! I had some pretty large sugar maple rounds to process and I needed the pieces small enough to get in the trailer. It was probably about 2 cords.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I got one from amazon. They were were very affordable. Maybe $10-12. And they come in all sorts of colors. I was feeling adventurous when I ordered mine so I went out on a limb and ordered black!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Whoa! I think you need to settle down a bit there fella!

 

They are handy...i have them on my small garden tractors, power washer, splitter. The ones i have have total run hours, hours after reset, engine rpm...etc.

 

What ones are you running? RPM and a resettable hour meter would be great!

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk