I am splitting red oak on a 25 ton, the piece I piece I was splitting was about 250 lbs. it had an angle cut and I put it at the base of the log splitter, it also had a y in it, it was a branch off, well I kept pulling the hydro lever and the ram went to a crawl almost stopped, and than the whole 250 pounds of wood exploded out of the splitter and went 5 feet into the air and fell next to me, I do not know if it would have killed me if it hit me in the face but I have learned one more thing, put only flat cut wood at the but of the splitter, let the wedge go into an angle.
Yep, I've had some non flat pieces slip on me before. Always remember there's a lot of tonnage involved in splitting a piece of wood, and it can go bad fast if that gets directed at you Not related to pieces flying, but I got my finger crushed by a splitter not too long ago, between a split and the backing plate behind the wedge. Tore my finger nail right off. I didn't realize the nail was gone until I shook my gloves out later that night
+1 Those with new splitters have all learned that one, just not with one so big & under that kind of pressure. WOW, good day to be lucky ! Good safety reminder !
Got knocked on my can a month back by explosive split - still dealing with latent issues from same- Couple grand and counting at this point- expensive bandaids. I detest our health care system pricing, mega dollar cost and no value.
A young man in high school 'round here cut his thumb clean off in a splitter a couple weeks ago, I know, cuz I saw the pics reattachment surgery fixed him up, so far it's a good prognosis for him, 'cept that thumb knuckle might not bend so good.
Splitting my BIL's wood with a ton of angled cuts on just about every piece was more annoying than a challenge. The pieces weren't huge was the only advantage-probably no large than 20" but split down to no smaller than 6"-8". I did have one piece at the cottage this summer that although it was cut straight, when it split, the split part actually popped out and flew a bit. Made a large pop sound and launched itself. Lucky for us, I was there to stop and re-direct it's path of travel (ouch)....no telling how far I would have had to walk to pick it up!
Yep... lots of energy built up. I try to remember not to put my hand in a position where it is in the way of those forces blowing off the splitter if it goes. Good idea DOND to always have the flat end against the plate...
I've never had that problem wit my sledge, wedges and X- 27. Although, I did have a chip from the wedge hit me in the leg, made a nasty hole but didn't stick. This wood stuff is just packed with danger and excitement.
I'd also throw in there do not put 2 shorts end to end to split. Lots of folks learn the hard way that is not a good idea.
Bummer for sure glad they could sew it back on, its easy to get complacent when splitting wood especially when its going good, they you get into a hard piece and you have a wood grenade on your hands.
DOND - If that happened to me, I think it might be a little while before I used the splitter again....Very scary. Lethal, actually.
Those angled ones can be really tricky to split by hand too. The axe likes to glance off if you don't hit it right. Think we all do a bit of learning "the hard way" - glad you weren't injured. Me and a friend were pushing over a large branch that was hung up on a tree at a steep angle. I just watched it fall over instead of moving away and almost took the butt end in the jaw. I like having a rope up top now.
Chain saw, felling trees, splitting & even stacking can be dangerous. I want a pay raise for hazardous duty ! I don't even make minimum wage now. No 401, No cost of living raises No bonuses Pay my own medical STRIKE ! >>> >> > Boss just laughed at me Gonna go add wood to the stove
And to think that I play around when making kindling. Sometimes I can make a piece fly about 15' or so...
also. some times when I am splitting large chuncks that do not crack clean and I turn it to split it again I have had the first split close and with enough power to crush a hand and I have pinched my belly. It must be this load I am working with because I do not remember this happening before.
The way you are sitting in front of the wood splitter it would knock you way off that chair if it happened but you do not have angels on the ground I bet.
