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[Scott7m]

Does anyone have any experience with mechanical wood splitters similar to that of the Dr model.  They spin 2 large flywheels and use a clutch to slam the wood.  Some models say they are equivalent to a 34 ton splitter but many times faster.  The wood falls onto s nice table surrounding the ram and you split fast.  There are videos of the dr model on YouTube and tsc also sells them.  I want one but haven't got around to buying one. 

[Bull]

Had to use my googlefue and watched a youtube of it, very impressed .........

[Scott7m]

Had to use my googlefue and watched a youtube of it, very impressed .........

Yep, they sure look cool!  There is several videos of it on there

[Bull]

I saw one that was home made with a 2.5 hp engine and the DR one that really impressed me. Wish I would have waited to buy my 22 ton forest king

[Scott7m]

The tractor supply speed pro has a couple videos there under speed pro wood splitter, it's identical to the dr as far as I can tell but 800 bucks cheaper

[BoilerHouse]

I have no first hand information, but from watching the videos, the action was very fast but the blocks were also ideal for splitting- not overly long, straight grain and no knots.  I wondered how it would perform under "real world" conditions.

[Scott7m]

I have no first hand information, but from watching the videos, the action was very fast but the blocks were also ideal for splitting- not overly long, straight grain and no knots.  I wondered how it would perform under "real world" conditions.

I've read reviews and talked to one guy that has one, haven't seen anything they won't split yet.  Had some reviews saying they tried to stop them and simply couldnt.  One guy stated he was splitting knotty hickory over 20" diameter. 

Only bad things I've read is when you buy one you either need to buy it in the crate and assemble it yourself, or bring it home and re-check and tighten all the bolts, check belt alignment and such as the whipper snappers at TSC do not know what the heck there doing as far as assembly

[MattyNH]

Very Interesting..Can you stop it?.. like the hydraulic splitter? I know the old ones similar to that..Once you hit the trigger thats its.. no stopping..

[Scott7m]

I don't think you have time to actually stop it.  Lots of huge presses use the same flywheel principal for punching steel and such

[willieG]

I don't think you have time to actually stop it.  Lots of huge presses use the same flywheel principal for punching steel and such

they are not very forgiving, i don't believe the "average joe" should have one of these in the tool shed. most places that have a tool such as this usually have precautions in place such as wristlets or other means of resriction that prevent you from having any appendages in harms way when the "cycle" is started.

a machine such as this may look good and actually work like a charm but they are very dangerous

[jrider]

I sell about 70 cords of wood a year so I spend a lot of time splitting - have an Iron and Oak with a 4 way wedge.  I split some big stuff - 30 inches in diameter.  Would like to see or hear how they do with that and what the wear and tear is on that kind of machine.

[rhugg]

Looks like TSC quit selling it.  Patent issue?  Other issue?

I need some cycle time to rest, lifting and carrying is where all my work is.

They don't seem to have a two hand safety requirement.

[willieG]

Looks like TSC quit selling it.  Patent issue?  Other issue?

I need some cycle time to rest, lifting and carrying is where all my work is.

They don't seem to have a two hand safety requirement.

they likely dont have to have that requirement as osha or any other safety firm has no control over the average home owner (and i am glad of that)  but experience in the manufacturing world tells me that over time and enough repititions (cycles) of a machine such as this would result in a major accident without some sort of restricting apparatus that would prevent anyone from starting the cycle (that can not be stopped).

look at things such as car doors..we all open and close them a million times and we all have or know someone that has shut the car door on their finger. use it enough it will happen. the more we use something the more routine it becomes and then BAM rude awakening..if we are lucky it is just a minoe thing but with this type of machine it could be a major accident instead of a warning.

most folks that use a hydraulic wood splitter that can be stopped in an instant can likley relate a close call or two if they have used one for a few years.

i know it can be said that everything we do for our OWB can cause damage..cutting down the tree to stacking the wood to feeding the thing but a machiine that works on a mechanincal flywheel that can not be controlled after the 'GO' button has been pushed is not going to be in my shed

[Scott7m]

My tsc stores still have them and several of them

[artbaldoni]

Search AS, all kinds of inertia splitter info over there.