Oddmott
04-15-2013, 12:08 PM
Hey All,
Looked through the various wood cutting/splitting threads and didn't see much information shared about all the different types of wood splitting options out there, or the whys & hows some may be better for the modern homesteader than others.
Considering most folks interested in homesteading are quite set on saving money, being physically active and harnessing nature's assets, it stands to reason that most are planning to heat, cook, cure, scald, evaporate, purify, etc with wood. And, if lucky enough, will have access to cutting and splitting that wood.
We cut and split both for home heating 1x 6400 sq ft - basement included - bungalo with a high efficiency furnace, 1x 1400sq ft 2 story townhouse with a fireplace, and an inefficient maple syrup evaporator. We mostly just clean up fresh deadfall and standing dead timber. Spruce, pine, cedar, tamarack, balsam are generally cut to 26" lengths for our syrup evaporator. Elm, oak, maple, poplar, birch and ash are cut to 14"-16" lengths for our homes' furnace and fireplace.
We cut about 35 cords of wood each year, using 15-19 for the houses and 8-10 for the syrup. The rest we usually sell to neighbours, cheap. Obviously we may need a splitter with different features than someone who only splits a few cord for a fireplace or box stove.
Please share your experiences & pros/cons with various splitters, to hopefully help others make easy & smart plans and purchases.
I'll start:
Currently we have my dad running a 15 ton gas splitter from Princess Auto, and my brother and I (both early 30s) swinging splitting mauls. We typically get all 35 cords split & piled in 3 weekends from late April to early May.
Pros:
- small gas splitter is strong enough to split any wood we've fed it
- more fuel efficient than PTO powered splitters, vehicle axle powered splitters, etc
- faster than most pto powered splitters
- allows for a LOT of work to be done without draining/hurting your body
- 26" splitting ability allows for numerous wood sizes, everything from small stoves to large outdoor furnaces
- Not dependent on electricity, great during power outages or remote splitting sites.
Cons:
- usually going to suffer some sort of mechanical failure every 3 yrs or so
- said repairs can be expensive in both $$ costs and work time lost
- 200cc engine & smaller hydraulics are maxed out by our demands
- Can overheat in warmer weather, hence why we get our wood all split in the cooler Spring.
Suggested Mods:
- Weld some "wings" on either side of the splitter to catch your chunks of wood to keep you from having to stoop to pick them all up. Significantly speeds up your work pace while at the same time saving your energy and back.
Looked through the various wood cutting/splitting threads and didn't see much information shared about all the different types of wood splitting options out there, or the whys & hows some may be better for the modern homesteader than others.
Considering most folks interested in homesteading are quite set on saving money, being physically active and harnessing nature's assets, it stands to reason that most are planning to heat, cook, cure, scald, evaporate, purify, etc with wood. And, if lucky enough, will have access to cutting and splitting that wood.
We cut and split both for home heating 1x 6400 sq ft - basement included - bungalo with a high efficiency furnace, 1x 1400sq ft 2 story townhouse with a fireplace, and an inefficient maple syrup evaporator. We mostly just clean up fresh deadfall and standing dead timber. Spruce, pine, cedar, tamarack, balsam are generally cut to 26" lengths for our syrup evaporator. Elm, oak, maple, poplar, birch and ash are cut to 14"-16" lengths for our homes' furnace and fireplace.
We cut about 35 cords of wood each year, using 15-19 for the houses and 8-10 for the syrup. The rest we usually sell to neighbours, cheap. Obviously we may need a splitter with different features than someone who only splits a few cord for a fireplace or box stove.
Please share your experiences & pros/cons with various splitters, to hopefully help others make easy & smart plans and purchases.
I'll start:
Currently we have my dad running a 15 ton gas splitter from Princess Auto, and my brother and I (both early 30s) swinging splitting mauls. We typically get all 35 cords split & piled in 3 weekends from late April to early May.
Pros:
- small gas splitter is strong enough to split any wood we've fed it
- more fuel efficient than PTO powered splitters, vehicle axle powered splitters, etc
- faster than most pto powered splitters
- allows for a LOT of work to be done without draining/hurting your body
- 26" splitting ability allows for numerous wood sizes, everything from small stoves to large outdoor furnaces
- Not dependent on electricity, great during power outages or remote splitting sites.
Cons:
- usually going to suffer some sort of mechanical failure every 3 yrs or so
- said repairs can be expensive in both $$ costs and work time lost
- 200cc engine & smaller hydraulics are maxed out by our demands
- Can overheat in warmer weather, hence why we get our wood all split in the cooler Spring.
Suggested Mods:
- Weld some "wings" on either side of the splitter to catch your chunks of wood to keep you from having to stoop to pick them all up. Significantly speeds up your work pace while at the same time saving your energy and back.