Log splitter and a flying log - safety

[Code54]

Today I was splitting wood with a 25-ton log splitter as I have done a 1000x before. I had a piece of oak in, and the ram was moving forward as normal when I heard a pop, then saw a flash of a log flying. When I came to, I was lying on my back in the pile of logs, blood dripping from my face, and unable to see very well. It seems the log hit me. Long story short, after the trip to the ER I ended up with a broken orbital socket, some stitches, and a mild concussion.

My question is, what would cause a log to come off the splitter like a rocket? I realize it is under pressure, but I never saw a 20lb log become a full-blown projectile. I was lucky; I had my safety glasses on (the lens was damaged from the log), but not sure how I would have prevented it or how I could have been better prepared. The machine was in the horizontal position where you pick the log up and set it in the machine when this happened. Thinking that having it in the vertical position may be better because if it spits one out it would at least be at ground level.

 

[/pine]

A lot of energy can get get built up during the growth of a tree...especially in a species with tight, dense grain...generally most of the energy gets released when cutting into rounds etc...
...anyone that has heard a lot of trees go over in hard winds etc. has heard some loud pops and cracks...
Glad you were not injured any worse...all should heed the message...!

 

[wmfamily]

I've seen it happen splitting green wood that had a knot in it, when trying to split a fork or when one of the ends was not cut square. I've never seen it happen on straight grain square cut wood.

 

[sandman2234]

While your injuries aren't minor, I am glad it wasn't worse! No answer as to why it happened.
David from jax

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Wow...hope you heal ok, I'm sure you will. I have lots of accidents because that happens when you work, no matter how careful.
Yes I'm thinking vertical would be safer unless you fabricate a protective shield which would be a hassle working with.

 

[4570Man]

I’ve had rounds lay under my wood canopy until the next year and they’ll dry out and launch when you split them. I’ve never had much problems with green wood launching.

 

[John_Mc]

You likely have some air in your hydraulic system. (It's very rare to launch a log if your hydraulics are free of air.) Air is compressible. It acts almost like a spring.

 

[dodge man]

I’ve had some knotty or twisted wood where I was concerned that would happen but never had one launch hard enough to do that kind of damage. Hope you’re ok.

 

[ericm979]

Today I was splitting wood with a 25-ton log splitter as I have done a 1000x before. I had a piece of oak in, and the ram was moving forward as normal when I heard a pop, then saw a flash of a log flying. When I came to, I was lying on my back in the pile of logs, blood dripping from my face, and unable to see very well. It seems the log hit me. Long story short, after the trip to the ER I ended up with a broken orbital socket, some stitches, and a mild concussion.

My question is, what would cause a log to come off the splitter like a rocket? I realize it is under pressure, but I never saw a 20lb log become a full-blown projectile. I was lucky; I had my safety glasses on (the lens was damaged from the log), but not sure how I would have prevented it or how I could have been better prepared. The machine was in the horizontal position where you pick the log up and set it in the machine when this happened. Thinking that having it in the vertical position may be better because if it spits one out it would at least be at ground level.

Wow, glad you're ok.

I have had splits pop and come flying out of the splitter. Some of the wood species I have don't do it and some do. After getting hit a few times (though not in the face!) I now move a step away and turn away when splitting wood that tends to do that.

 

[MF243RedTop]

Cut rounds square, careful with knotted or forked pieces.. I tend to back up a bit when splitting those. To beside or behind where my valve is..
I never stand directly over the wood being split and offset from it just a bit on all pieces until it's mostly split.

Splitting vertically is taking some danger out of it. But it's way rougher on the back.
I usually only split all the very large rounds vertically into quarters, then swap back to horizontal..

 

[fatjay]

I have done the same thing a thousand times, and never had a log come flying at me. I've had some pop's and it jump to the side, but never with any force. Good to know it can happen though. Hope you have a speedy recovery.

 

[The Deerslayer]

Sorry this happened to you and hope you have a short recovery. Definitely appreciate you sharing this here.
Like you, I always wear safety goggles when splitting but now wonder if I should start wearing my logging helmet with face shield.

I have had logs pop, but nothing as significant as what happened to you. Usually they pop to the side, and the target tends to be my "family jewels" as they say. As a result, I have gotten into the habit of placing my hand over the log but not touching it (away from the wedge) whenever the splitter starts to strain on a log. Figure that if it pops, my hand may absorb the force and reduce the chance of a more "sensitive" e.g. face, jewels, getting the brunt.

 

[fruitcakesa]

My splitter has a removable 4 way wedge that under the right circumstances has popped of the main wedge.
Usually due to an angled cut on on end of the log the allows the piece to slide up.
Have not had just the log pop free though.
I pay close attention to this and stand well clear when operating the splitter.

 

[oosik]

When I split wood I had the log "pop" many, many times. NEVER came flying off the splitter. In my case it was a knot in the log that caused pressure build up and a "pop" when the wedge finally split the knot.

 

[Cycledude]

I have lots of experience splitting wood using horizontal position but about a month ago had a piece get stuck because my splitter couldn’t force it all the way through, well I used my hand to lift one end of the block to work it loose, it popped loose and flew back about 6 inches to the push plate and smashed my fingers ! Hurt so bad at first I thought broken fingers but no nothing broke thankfully just hurt a lot for a couple weeks . There ain’t nothing cheap about burning firewood !

 

[Code54]

Thanks to all! I appreciate the well wishes and thoughts!
I will be more careful in the future. I looked at the green oak log last night, and the split appeared rather "normal" with straight grain and no knots. The end did have a little angle but nothing too major. I had a bunch pop and sort of bounce over the years but never launched upwards and out with force. When it happened, I was beside the splitter to the side of the log, maybe a 1' -1 1/2', working the valve and getting ready to grab the split section and place it on the stack. I don't recall anything straining or hearing the splitter "working" to get through the small log (the log was only about 15-16" and maybe 10" across)

 

[ponytug]

Thanks to all! I appreciate the well wishes and thoughts!
I will be more careful in the future. I looked at the green oak log last night, and the split appeared rather "normal" with straight grain and no knots. The end did have a little angle but nothing too major. I had a bunch pop and sort of bounce over the years but never launched upwards and out with force. When it happened, I was beside the splitter to the side of the log, maybe a 1' -1 1/2', working the valve and getting ready to grab the split section and place it on the stack. I don't recall anything straining or hearing the splitter "working" to get through the small log (the log was only about 15-16" and maybe 10" across)

Wow. What a story. I hope that you have a speedy and full recovery! An acquaintance had a similar injury due to a different cause, and it was a long road back to normal, so give yourself time not to be 100%. Even without bone injuries, concussions are big deal.

Thanks for the heads up to the rest of us. In the future, I will certainly be wearing my logging helmet when I'm splitting.

All the best,

Peter

 

[dodge man]

I wear glasses and like a lot of people falsely assume it’s some sort of eye protection. My new to me log splitter is pretty loud so I wear ear protection. It just seems to make sense for me to wear my loggers helmet with the built in ear muffs and lower the face shield.

 

[cqaigy2]

I've never used a log splitter before this summer. Neighbor has one on tractor and brought it up and we split a pile of wood. One thing i noticed was a piece that doesn't have a square end, you want to put it on the wedge end and orient it so that it wants to push it down into the rail and not pop up and out.

 

[ruffdog]

Thanks to all! I appreciate the well wishes and thoughts!
I will be more careful in the future. I looked at the green oak log last night, and the split appeared rather "normal" with straight grain and no knots. The end did have a little angle but nothing too major. I had a bunch pop and sort of bounce over the years but never launched upwards and out with force. When it happened, I was beside the splitter to the side of the log, maybe a 1' -1 1/2', working the valve and getting ready to grab the split section and place it on the stack. I don't recall anything straining or hearing the splitter "working" to get through the small log (the log was only about 15-16" and maybe 10" across)

In your first post..."I heard a pop, then saw a flash of a log flying"...Could have the "pop" been something like a broken weld on the splitter? I think you should at least give it a good once over looking at welds and bolts.