I think about this more and more with almost everything I do. Equipment can be/ is expensive, but your body breaking down is much more costly, not in just the monetary sense either. Now I just have to convince myself to dust off the wallet.
That last part is the hard part but I don’t think anyone has ever regretted spending money to make a job easier on their body
I got into a brief argument with a guy on the *other* site about this. I basically said cycle time is pretty relative to how fast you can work anyway, as well as the fact that often times you don't need the "entire" cycle time to split wood - a lot of times the wedge can go in a few inches before the round pops open. So too many people get caught up in cycle time in my opinion. Sure I wouldn't want one with say a 30 second cycle time hypothetically but I also don't care for a 2 second cycle time - I wouldn't personally be keeping up that working speed very long.
which one is that price for? The prices on the website are already inUSD. I’m gonna save some bucks and get one with a log lift eventually.
Very true. I have a 5 ton electric with a small wedge and a 20 ton gas with a large 4 way wedge. My cycle time is way shorter on the gas one, but the biggest difference is that I barely have to go into a log using the gas splitter with the larger wedge before it splits, and then I'm also getting double the splits.
I am not a professional. I don't sell wood. But I figured spending $300 to protect my head with a Pfanner Protos helmet after enduring the absolute POS Husq $50 helmet that kept having one ear muff pop off was just asking for trouble. Thanks to this forum I've learned about all kinds of things to make it easier on the body - from hookaroons to splitters to technique and beyond. Very grateful for the knowledge.
And we are grateful to have you as a member. I, too, have learned quite a few things and shared some tricks too. Great group of folks.
Not to get off subject but how do you like the protos? Comfortable to wear for long periods of time ? Back to splitters I do most splitting by myself so when it comes to efficiency the splitter is not the problem it’s mostly my tired old back. I have an American Wood splitter I bought new way back in 1991 Its been a great machine & never let me down. A significant investment at the time but no regrets.
Thanks man appreciate the kind words. I have a large head (size 8 hat) so it *barely* fits. I can't use the locking mechanism but I don't need to. I really like the vents and keep them open all the time. Very comfortable but I do wish the pads were a little better. I have the 3m Peltor earmuffs and they work really well so I guess I'm spoiled. Also, fyi, the colors on the protos are just stickers (wtf!) so I wouldn't worry too much about picking a color.
Yeah I would put that at the top of the con list. A close second would be that they could have made it just SLIGHTLY bigger for those of us with large noggins. I had to extend the chin straps and the headband ALL the way to the max. It's a tight fit. 3rd con is the ear pads could do a better job at deadening the sound. Then again if you're up in a tree I guess you still need to hear if someone is yelling at the top of their lungs 75' below. The pros are: Extremely nice screen. Very easy to see out of and way better quality than the cheap husqvarna one. Solid construction Adjustable height and tension for the ear cups Vent holes (you can slide a piece on the back to open and close them) Nice padding When strapped in the helmet is an extension of your head instead of feeling like something foreign. Magnetic chin strap clip, easy to take off. It's a little hard for me to put on only because it's such a tight fit.
IThank you for that thorough and honest review. It will help me in my decision to purchase one of these helmet. Merry Christmas!
I've looked at Wolf Ridge and they have a fatal flaw. The 4 or 6 way wedge CANNOT be lowered all the way so it acts as a conventional splitter. I cut very large log cut offs from log landings and that is what comprises most of the wood. Trying to run that through a 4 way wedge is just not practical. Because of that I would not even consider one. I am having a new splitter constructed right now.
I’ve used a few commercial grade hydraulic splitters with multi way wedges. The ones with wedges that were not height adjustable produced a ton of sliver pieces. If I got a 4 or 6 way splitter it’d have to have a hydraulic log lift and hydraulic adjustable height wedge.
I've seen this video when it came out. The Super Split that he has is ridiculously low. I think he has one of the earlier models or it's been lowered or something. Mine is much higher not sure why it's so low. Splitting wood with the Super Split is more like a sport lol. You need the wood right next to you or my neighbors kid keeping it near me. I wouldn't say i'm working hard but you are moving the wood on the table much more than running it through a 4 or 6 way. I enjoy Andrew's videos a lot and he seems to be a genuine stand up guy, the way he is running that super splitter, and with those bulky gloves, he is not using the splitter to its capabilities. I say with no cockiness I could hang with that hydraulic splitter. Saying that there are days where the rounds get big and like The Wood Wolverine I enjoy a good noodling session with the ported saws. I sell wood on the side, if I keep growing I could possibly justify an Eastonmade to partner with the SuperSplit.
I’m amusing myself with the idea of a box splitter. Log lift too of course. I’m thinking if the outfeed chute was just right it would shove the splits up a small short incline enough to load my mason dump. Now that would be cool. Most vids I see of box wedge splitters have a little too much room in the outfeed chute IMO. I realize there must be tolerances but I’m seeing them a little too sloppy. They seem more to be used for dumping them in a pile.
