Texas Fall/Winter thread!

[txdon]

What is the cycle time for the ram to close and then reopen?
Does it reopen automatically when you take your foot off the pedal ?

Sometimes the log would split after a short 3 seconds (about 8" moving of the ram), sometimes more. If it took the entire length of the ram to split the log it would take 15 seconds. Yes, when you release the handle (or take my foot off the pedal) it comes back to the up positions which automatically reverses the ram.

I only timed the ram pushing the entire length. by the time I removed the split wood and grabbed another log the ram was all the way back. It seems like it does go back faster than it pushes.

 

[pacerron]

Sometimes the log would split after a short 3 seconds (about 8" moving of the ram), sometimes more. If it took the entire length of the ram to split the log it would take 15 seconds. Yes, when you release the handle (or take my foot off the pedal) it comes back to the up positions which automatically reverses the ram.

I only timed the ram pushing the entire length. by the time I removed the split wood and grabbed another log the ram was all the way back. It seems like it does go back faster than it pushes.

Sounds pretty nifty :thumbsup:

Looks like the side plates will catch most of the splits so you don't have to pick them up off the ground. too.

I would like the quietness of an electric motor, particularly inside the barn.

My splitter is a big old hydraulic unit on wheels. Has a trailer hitch tongue and I keep it mounted to an old lawn tractor.
Pivots vertically for large round logs but at my age I prefer 6-12" that only take a couple splits or less.
I usually haul an entire trimmed tree up next to the barn and chunk it up. Then I can split inside the barn door on a rainy day.
I've got a corner section of a barn full and haven't even started the thing for a couple years.
We only use wood for emergency heat in a wood furnace if the power is out in the winter.
It's so much easier to write a check to the co-op power company and just watch that meter spin.
Usually $500-600 a month for a cold Jan-Feb for total electric with 2 heat pumps, but in the summer
only $120 total with total cooling. So it all averages out.

 

[jinman]

Don, I'm glad your splitter finally arrived with all of it's pieces. Now, if I can just get the new TV I ordered for our bedroom, I'll be a happy man. It was supposed to be delivered on the 11th, but we both know why that didn't happen.

 

[jinman]

Sub-topic: Christmas Yummies

I like to make Christmas baked goods and take to my neighbors and friends. However, this year I'm gonna have to scale that back to a few fruit baskets because I just can't do all the cooking/baking required. That didn't stop a new neighbor from bringing over a whole pan of homemade cinnamon rolls, though. Wow! These are better than the one's at Cinnabon. The dough was made from scratch and the rolls just melt in your mouth. Last summer we took them big bags of garden veggies every week, but never expected this. It sure is fun giving and getting things from good neighbors.

BTW: Our Wise Electric Coop always does smoked briskets and hams for Christmas. They donate the money to charities. The briskets are $50 each and the hams $40. They have a few hours on one day to come pick them up. They are hot off the smoker when you get there. They are ready to take home, slice, and serve/eat. I bought two briskets and a ham. My neighbor who brought me the cinnamon rolls is gonna be surprised when I show up with brisket. My daughter is gonna get the ham and we will keep one brisket.

Did I mention how much fun it is to exchange gifts during the holidays and share our joy?

 

[Lou66]

Lou, Thank you, thank you, thank you. I followed you lead on a little electric 5 ton wood splitter and I am very happy with it. I split all my wood in an hour with no pain. I do like how low to the ground it is but did not like staying in the stooped over position while holding down the lever so I made a quick foot pedal with a board, wire and duct tape - then it was perfect! No problem splitting dry Post Oak.
I reviewed it here - Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck - Page 388

Don you are welcome, welcome, welcome,, I got it because I live in the city and have all my equipment at the land,, about 8 miles away.. I have a 35 ton that works behind the tractor but unless you are going to do a lot of work it not worth hooking it up..
I also put a foot peddle on the drive plus I work off the back on the tailgate of my truck.. which does make it a little easier for me.. the only thing is lifting it up on the tailgate.. I swear that splitter weights hundred plus pounds.. I usually cut me a few logs about 15 inches long and throw in the back on the truck while am at the land and come home go to splitting.. plus I can do it in the heated garage:laughing: and it is a little work horse bare none.. Lou

 

[two_bit_score]

It will be interesting to see how this situation is finally resolved for Brandi.

Animal control

Yes, I am hoping she called and I'm interested in hearing how that went.

 

[txdon]

tailgate.. I swear that splitter weights hundred plus pounds.. and it is a little work horse bare none.. Lou

Lifting it up on the tailgate, wooo, that splitter is 110 pounds!

I'm just glad it has a handle and wheels.

 

[Lou66]

I'm glad I didn't know that before Don,, I wouldn't have been able to pick it up.. :laughing:,, I didn't know it was that much. went out and looked at it.. sure enough 107 pounds.. Lou

 

[NativeSon]

Sub-topic: Christmas Yummies

I like to make Christmas baked goods and take to my neighbors and friends. However, this year I'm gonna have to scale that back to a few fruit baskets because I just can't do all the cooking/baking required. That didn't stop a new neighbor from bringing over a whole pan of homemade cinnamon rolls, though. Wow! These are better than the one's at Cinnabon. The dough was made from scratch and the rolls just melt in your mouth. Last summer we took them big bags of garden veggies every week, but never expected this. It sure is fun giving and getting things from good neighbors.


Did I mention how much fun it is to exchange gifts during the holidays and share our joy?

Jim- I don't do a lot of Baking, so for Christmas gifts for neighbors and friends I give BBQ St. Louis Ribs. I just finished smoking a case and I'm letting them cool before I put them in the fridge.

Everybody seems to like the Ribs as they overdosed on Turkey after a while, and this makes for a good change of pace.

Charlie

 

[blueriver]

Jim- I don't do a lot of Baking, so for Christmas gifts for neighbors and friends I give BBQ St. Louis Ribs. I just finished smoking a case and I'm letting them cool before I put them in the fridge. Everybody seems to like the Ribs as they overdosed on Turkey after a while, and this makes for a good change of pace. Charlie

Charlie ... Fax me one of your neighbor / friends applications !!!

 

[farmgirl19]

Who wouldn't prefer ribs over turkey?!?!?!

 

[jinman]

I know Charlie considers all of us TBN friends. I'm checking my mailbox every day now for my surprise package. You're the best, Charlie.:thumbsup:

 

[two_bit_score]

Hope it continues to work out well, Brandi. Glad your pup wasn't hurt too bad.

 

[Bird]

I know those of you up north are accustomed to higher heating bills, but we’re accustomed to bigger electric bills in the summer running the HVAC for cooling, and smaller bills in the winter for heating. But I just now paid a bigger electric bill than we’ve gotten for any one month in at least the last 3 years; $269.82 (10.67 cents per kilowatt hour). Of course that was actually due to 2 things; (1) the unusually cold weather we’ve recently had, and (2) I ran the window unit (A/C with heat strip) in the shop/recreation room a lot, 24/7, when I normally only rarely turn it on at all.

 

[txdon]

Bird are you all electric? We are, and even though we heat with wood during the coldest spells the space heaters in the bathrooms and the dehumidifier use up a lot of electricity along with the auxiliary heat strip in the HVAC heat pump. We have not received our December bill but I suspect it will be close to $150 - $175.

 

[Bird]

Bird are you all electric? We are, and even though we heat with wood during the coldest spells the space heaters in the bathrooms and the dehumidifier use up a lot of electricity along with the auxiliary heat strip in the HVAC heat pump. We have not received our December bill but I suspect it will be close to $150 - $175.

Yes Don, we're total electric. We actually have a fireplace, but have never used it. We have a heat pump that very rarely uses the auxiliary heat strip. Last year, the December bill was $139.53 (11.3 cents per KWH) and the year before was $183.37 (13.3 cents per KWH). I imagine that window unit heat strip was a major cause of the increase, with the cold weather being second. In fact, the second highest bill we've had in 3 years was $265.21 in Jan. 2011.

 

[txdon]

Bird, you are so quick with all expenses, do you have them all computerized. If so which program do you use and do you scan or use the receipt bar codes?