Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss Splitting logs

TJ:

There's 2 ways to tackle it, one way is to try taking the "edges" off of the log and it'll work just fine. With an underpowered splitter like you have (trust me, for what you're wanting to do, it is) you have to look at the piece of wood to be split, noting where the branches were (if any). Try and keep the end of the log that is closest to where the branch was towards the ram end, and not the splitter end. Also, the wood should be partially dried. Look at the end of the log, and you'll see it starting to crack. Use that crack as a starting point on splitting that piece, fitting the splitters' wedge in the crack.

Also, if you take the "edges" off of the log, try to square it up, then split rectangles off of the log if possible. It'll stack easier than if they are the "pizza pie" wedge shape.

Doing it manually, you'll probably need a couple of wedges, a sledge hammer and the maul. Again, look to see where it started to split when drying. For the larger pieces, forget the maul, go right to the wedges and the sledge. Start with one wedge right on that split. If you get close to burying that wedge and it still isn't split, start another wedge right next to that first one, effectively doubling up on it's width.

The easiest way? Rent an upright hydraulic 2-stage splitter for the $50/day. Get 2 friends to help, one feeding you the logs to be split, you splitting them, and the other friend moving the split pieces out of your way. If you have enough logs cut to length and piled next to the splitter, I'll bet you could split 3-4 cords in a day easily.

I paid a guy $700 for 5 mixed cords of oak/maple/cherry/hickory this summer including delivery and him stacking it in the woodshed.