DR Rapid fire Log splitter???

[IslandTractor]

Firewood

Good website that gives BTU's of wood.

I figure we probabally average 25 million BTU with the mix that we cut.

So thats 25M/BTU for $130

Propane is 93000btu /gallon
So it would take 268 gallons of propane @ $2.15 to match the 1 cord of firewood.


Electric is 3.14 BTU per watt, so it would take about 8,000 Kwh to equal a cord.

And the funny thing is, people have the nerve to complain about wood prices.

That is interesting. Of course one also has to factor in the relative efficiencies of the heating devices. Electric, while expensive, is essentially 100% efficient at least with resistor heating. Propane I am guessing is similar to natural gas furnaces which are 80-90% efficient these days. Wood burning stoves lag behind as I recall and are maybe in the 60-70% range. That still leaves wood being quite economical but the difference isn't quite as great as when just comparing BTU/$ in the fuel itself.

 

[Scooby074]

How about a Pneumatic splitter.... I like how it throws the wood:laughing:

At least you wont get buried in your pile of splits

True air powered log splitter - YouTube



Just watched that DR comparison video... I think they picked the worlds slowest hydraulic spitter for comparison. My 120V electric splitter could split faster.

 

[DAY]

Interesting numbers!
Add in the satisfaction that you do not need an outside source (electricity) of ignition (gas/oil burner) to keep warm during a blackout.
-And there is also the knowledge that you are supporting a LOCAL small business enterprise!

 

[IslandTractor]

Interesting numbers!
Add in the satisfaction that you do not need an outside source (electricity) of ignition (gas/oil burner) to keep warm during a blackout.
-And there is also the knowledge that you are supporting a LOCAL small business enterprise!

True. On the flip side there are some quality of air considerations with wood burning. Not so much an issue in rural areas but there have been some nasty fights in suburbs when one person's wood fire creates ash or smell that affects a neighbor with health problems. I don't think this is very common though as few suburbanites really heat with wood.

 

[dwost]

Hi Guys, I purchased the Speeco unit a couple weeks back. I've modified it and bypassed the button for one handed operation (Do at your own risk, I don't take responsibility for anyone hurting themselves) and am modding the handle next to sit forward for better ergonomics. There are several others that have also provided pictures of this. I've posted up some pics and a review on Arboristsite. These are a great buy in comparison to the SS or DR. I've only split about a face cord but it powered through some knotty oak without issue. A great investment for sure and much simpler and less messy than an hydro unit! I have the same username on there as well.

http://www.arboristsite.com/firewood-heating-wood-burning-equipment/180355-6.htm

 

[DAY]

i read a few comments over at arborsite- enough to tell me that the TSC unit is not ready for prime time. Maybe version 2 will fix the glitches.

 

[dwost]

i read a few comments over at arborsite- enough to tell me that the TSC unit is not ready for prime time. Maybe version 2 will fix the glitches.

You may want to check again and take a look at page 9 and the video that BSD just posted up. This will give you an idea of the units performance.

 

[crazyal]

If we can pick the piece up and get it on the machine, there isn't a problem splitting it. We have put 24" + logs on it and it busts through like nothing is there. If we can't pick it up then we bust it in half with the hydraulic splitter standing vertically and then split the halves from there with the inertia machine.
The inertia splitter will split the curved pieces too. You just butt the piece up against the wedge end and the ram will be to the piece the moment you leave go. These peces we usually toss to the side and split them with the hydraulic machine, though, due to the safety aspect. If you don't have everything lined up nicely it can throw the log off the machine. Better to split 4 other pieces in the same amount of time that it takes to mess with one of those.

That's my problem. I don't want to have two splitters.

One thing I really like about these splitters is it would be real easy to replace the gas engine with an electric motor. You would have near quiet operation. Once the flywheels are up to speed the motor would have little load so it wouldn't use much power.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Id sure like to see a demo of it doing stuff that is actually hard to split - that has to be hammered all the way thru stalling the engine repeatedly or breaking teeth and still wont let go and has to be gotten off the wedge somehow.
larry

 

[John_Mc]

Id sure like to see a demo of it doing stuff that is actually hard to split - that has to be hammered all the way thru stalling the engine repeatedly or breaking teeth and still wont let go and has to be gotten off the wedge somehow.
larry

The links I posted earlier in this thread show a SuperSplit busting up some somewhat gnarly pieces. (in the video, the SuperSplit is built into a larger systems for handling logs and round wood, but the splitting mechanism itself is unmodified).

The pieces aren't quite as bad as what you describe, but they are something that would tale a bit of effort with my hydraulic splitter. It's nice to see a more "real-world" example. Most splitter manufacturers like to demo their units on stuff like white ash or other easy-to-split species (you know the stuff... if you look at it too hard, it just about splits itself.)

John Mc

 

[LD1]

Listening to the comments on arborist site, they are quite powerful splitters. But they do sometimes take more than one whack.

The motor wont stall even if the ram does because it is driven with a centrifigual clutch.

And there is go getting peices stuck. Because you just whack them again. If you run out of stroke and the peice is still hung up (taller peice than the wedge) you just use another peice to force it off with the next split. Same as a horizontal only hydraulic splitter.

And those rack and pinions seem to hold up pretty well. Those guys on AS that have them and have split hundreds of cords say that they show VERY little wear.

But I have not seen any of this first hand. Just going off what them guys say.

 

[davgreg]

Has anyone heard how the supersplit with an electric motor works?

 

[J_J]

Super Split With Electric Motor - YouTube

http://www.supersplit.com/principle.htm

 

[tnttreeman]

i read a few comments over at arborsite- enough to tell me that the TSC unit is not ready for prime time. Maybe version 2 will fix the glitches.

I will second that, firsthand. I bought mine from TSC on September 16th and loved it. That is, of course, til this past week when I returned it and got my money back. The rack lost 4 teeth already, 3 rounded over and 1 sheared off. The centrifugal clutch was also experiencing some difficulty, squealing as if the belts were loose when the motor got slowed down from forcing a knotty piece through. It was enough to let me know that this wasn't going to last for the long haul. I did split about 30 cord with it before the problems, but that's nothing compared to what I process in a season. Guess I'll be going the more expensive route and buying a super split or a comparable machine.
Shame, because this splitter was promising, but it needs the bugs worked out.

I am definitely sold on the mechanical splitters due to their sheer speed and lack of being stopped by wood that is difficult to split on hydraulic machines. The Speeco just isn't the one, at least not yet.

 

[MadJack]

I have read all 6 pages of comments in this topic and I have some comments...

First off, if you're splitting firewood and not using a pickeroon you are working too hard bending over. Educate yourself on the tools of the trade and save your back!

If you are in love with your hydraulic splitter, cool! Just don't argue with the guy who likes his inertia splitter because it saves him time-money-labor!
It's like the difference between dial-up and DSL, I feel like I'm holding my breath waiting for that cylinder to return for the next piece of wood!

Honestly, I don't believe DR is making their splitter. I believe they are selling the SuperSplitter with the DR name on it. Just an observation...

Don't forget about the WoodWolf, it works on the same principal and is also cheaper [less expensive]than the SS & DR.

The Speeco SpeedPRO did just what I had in mind three years ago when I borrowed a SS Splitter. Mount the engine lower for a lower center of gravity, making the machine more easily towed from one site to the next.
I will probably by this unit and modify it so it can be towed from either end. This would allow me to [with an SS style table] fill my truck directly off the table instead of picking up every piece again. It will also allow me to move the tongue/hitch to the other end for use at the wood-yard or job-site where the wood will be picked up later by a landowner or when I just want to stockpile it for later.

When I borrowed the SS for two months, I just split as fast as I could [50 cords] and let the machine pile the wood and push itself forward. It tends to make a pile 5 to 6 feet high and as long as you want or until your trip for the next round is too far.
I do believe when I buy the Speeco I will ask for an extra 'pinion' to send out for the nitrogen dip, which I understand hardens/strengthens metals.

Just some thoughts from someone who has actually used this type of machine...

 

[MadJack]

Almost forgot... If a round is too big/heavy to lift I simply kick it on its side and split it bark to bark with the saw. (search curly-fries on AS)

 

[John_Mc]

Honestly, I don't believe DR is making their splitter. I believe they are selling the SuperSplitter with the DR name on it. Just an observation...

Actually, the DR Splitter is NOT made by the SuperSplit folks. I had a few emails exchanged with SuperSplit to confirm this. DR copied their design

I also emailed DR (whose facilities are not far from where I live) and asked if they were making it or if it was a rebadged SuperSplit. They dodged the question, and just described the splitter, then said something like: Like all DR Products they are subject to hundreds of hours of testing and comparison.

When I emailed them back asking pointing out that they hadn't answered my question, they responded that they were making it.

I was astounded that they could get way with so closely copying the Supersplit design. To top it off, their marketing makes it sound as though they invented the concept

 

[John_Mc]

I do believe when I buy the Speeco I will ask for an extra 'pinion' to send out for the nitrogen dip, which I understand hardens/strengthens metals.

The problems I'm hearing with the Speeco unit - both here on TractorByNet and on other sites - are with the rack, not the pinion.

 

[Scooby074]

Actually, the DR Splitter is NOT made by the SuperSplit folks. I had a few emails exchanged with SuperSplit to confirm this. DR copied their design

I also emailed DR (whose facilities are not far from where I live) and asked if they were making it or if it was a rebadged SuperSplit. They dodged the question, and just described the splitter, then said something like: Like all DR Products they are subject to hundreds of hours of testing and comparison.

When I emailed them back asking pointing out that they hadn't answered my question, they responded that they were making it.

I was astounded that they could get way with so closely copying the Supersplit design. To top it off, their marketing makes it sound as though they invented the concept

Speeco, DR and the rest get away with it because the patent is up. Its unfortunate.

 

[J_J]

Anyone seen this log splitter driven by electric motor, powered by solar panels.

http://www.utterpower.com/jerry-bartlett-aka-crazyjerry/