Screw Type Logsplitter

moy83 · 01-10-2012 8:31pm #1

Does anyone here use the screw type logsplitter ?
If so how does it handle knotty timber or bigger blocks of timber ?
Can the cone part be bought or would we need to get one machined ?
The father has made a three hydraulic splitters now and we are happy with how they work but he likes tinkering with this stuff and wants to try out one of these ones now because he reckons it could be more economical to run it off the 1100 PTO .
All answers and info will be greatly appreciated

O.A.P · 02-10-2012 12:06pm

I have seen them working at a few shows over the summer but have never used one myself.
They look very dangerous to me, not a machine I would have for that reason.

TomOnBoard · 03-10-2012 12:03am

moy83 wrote: »

Does anyone here use the screw type logsplitter ?
If so how does it handle knotty timber or bigger blocks of timber ?
Can the cone part be bought or would we need to get one machined ?
The father has made a three hydraulic splitters now and we are happy with how they work but he likes tinkering with this stuff and wants to try out one of these ones now because he reckons it could be more economical to run it off the 1100 PTO .
All answers and info will be greatly appreciated

2-part answer:

1) specific issues you raised:

*If so how does it handle knotty timber or bigger blocks of timber ?

Very well, depending on the maximum diameter of the splitter cone and the hydraulic power available to power it through particularly difficult pieces;

*Can the cone part be bought or would we need to get one machined ?

Yes & yes- they can be bought and you could get one machined.

2) and much more important --- Because of their inherent dangers, I wud only consider using them if they were on the end of a dipper arm, such as on a digger/excavator, loader or equivalent machine where the HUMAN is REMOVED from the wood being split. Otherwise, use a timber processor (if volumes and economics allow it) or hydraulic up/down wedge splitter. I certainly would not expect/allow my father/ an employee (from the perspective of health/safety) to use one.

washman3 · 03-10-2012 12:11am

can be seen working on youtube. check it out. driven by a grey ferguson 20.!!sorry i cant post the clip here. but it gives me the shivers looking at the way it works. extremely dangerous.
fella that used one reckons its not the best if timber is wet. just his opinion.
The spiral in the cone seems to be the key to its operation. the rest looks fairly simple.

wayoutwest · 03-10-2012 9:10am

I've not used one, but I thought that the screw type splitters are a quicker way of processing than hydraulic ram types.........but I have heard, that operating them can cause 'flat-finger syndrome', when the occasioal log decides to spin, rather than split.
Can they really be this dangerous, and yet, still be allowed to be sold? .....or are the reported accidents, a result of poor operating skills?.
Are there screw designs that are safer than others ?[differences in the deck design etc].

moy83 · 03-10-2012 9:22pm

Thanks for the replies lads . I had a look on you tube alright there are some dangerous looking operations alright but I saw a few that looked safe enough and stable .
I think the ones with a bar on the bed that should stop it spinning if it catches on the cone should stop the flat fingers .
TomOnBoard any idea where the cones can be bought ?