The only problem with something as such is, "knots and wood like elm, gum". You will never get through sweet gum with that, "ever"!!!
I thought my stove at 500 lbs was pushing it for standard trailer delivery. I would definitely get a drop gate for that one.
I don't usually go for Elm and I don't think I have ever ran across Sweet Gum around here. I mostly go for Oak, Mulberry, Ash, Spruce, etc. I suppose there's a first for everything, but I haven't seen it yet. Heck, I keep trying to find Locust, but that eludes me too.
It may be primarily an East Coast tree, but you need a hand grenade to get through it. I have some pics "somewhere" of us splitting some, You'll understand!
Have you ever tried noodling big gnarly rounds Sinngetreu as suggested? Ill use the Isocore or sledge & wedge big rounds to save my back when needing to load/unload. Noodling makes nicer shaped "splits" than a S&W.
I have, I'm not a huge fan. I will if I need to, but I usually try not to. I guess I tend to favor slabbing the large ones before I try anything else. I have also used a wedge and sledge. Speaking of Isocore: Do you have any thoughts of that vs the X27? I am looking at getting a splitting axe, but the Isocore keeps winking at me.
When you have tried it, were you cutting the log lengthwise...on its side? Cuts much easier when going with the grain...and like was mentioned earlier...for what you can pick up a used cheapy saw for (Poulan Pro, or the like) you can go through quite a pile of them for the price of a splitter...I've bought 42cc Poulan Pros for $20 several times now (and several more of them for $50...one was 50cc) needed a little bit of nothing...
How else would you do it? The biggest thing I dislike about it is unclogging the saw from all the noodles. Its the same reason I try not to clear tall grass with a chainsaw (I do know that cutting on the top side of the bar in this case helps, but you get the idea). You make a good point about buying a cheapo saw just for that though. I might be into it more if I had a dedicated saw for doing that. Then I wouldn't mind powering through it more.
Top down when standing on end...like if you were splitting with an ax...doesn't work nearly as well. If you have a dedicated noodle saw the clutch cover can be modded slightly for better noodle discharge...or could do that on about any saw I suppose...some saws just clear better than others from the factory though too...
I guess it didn't occur to me to cut it that way since I wouldn't do it that way with a hand saw. I'm starting to come over to the dark side with a modded saw though. I was just thinking about how one could open the cover enough to discharge easily when you replied. I wouldn't dare do that to my Husqvarna unless it really needed it, but a cheap Weymar or Poulan wouldn't be a problem. Edit: unless I was doing a dovetail joint or something.
Man, I have to apologize to you. I misread your post yesterday and took it wrong. I was having one of those days yesterday. Good news is I met my deadline at work and am a bit less crabby today.
Not sure how close this is too you...but you see deals like this (and cheaper) all the time...anything that this wont split, noodle it!
