Central-Machinery is a trademark of Central-Machinery.
Central-Machinery is a trademark of Central-Machinery.
I’ve split a variety of wood types with this splitter and have had no problems so far. Because, as other reviewers have stated, it all comes down to how well you use it. Make use of both levers (moving them back and forth) to raise the ram to the end of the log, and then use the RIGHT lever to split it in half. As soon as the log begins to crack and split, you can use the left and right arrows together to bring it to a close. When you’re finished, simply open up the valve at one end of the splitter and the springs will automatically return the ram to its starting position. The valve should now be closed, and you are ready to split your next log. Never, ever should you be required to apply sufficient pressure to the handles in order for them to bend.
If you are splitting short logs, using a 4×4 to place between the ram and the log will help to speed up the process.
In addition, I discovered that when the ram is fully retracted before beginning to split a log, the splitting power is increased; in other words, the better the log fits the ram, the easier it appears to be to split. As a result, it is beneficial to have a few 4x4s of varying lengths on hand in case you need to use them as spacers.
I’ve also split rounds as large as 20 inches in diameter. The trick with these is to try to position the round on the splitter in such a way that it does not become entangled with the metal guides, which will be sitting on top of the round. A spacer is also placed between the ram and the log, if there is enough room, to give the ram a larger area to push against when pushing against the log. Just make sure that the spacer does not become entangled in the metal guides while the splitting is taking place.
If a log does not split even after applying a significant amount of force with the right side handle, release the ram and check to see that the log is not caught between the guides, or reposition the log and begin the process over from the beginning.
This splitter is not intended to be extremely fast, but it is entertaining once you get the hang of it and provides a mild cardiovascular workout as well.
Last but not least, the instructions that come with this item are not written very well at all in terms of how to use it. THEY ARE AWFUL!.
It’s as simple as this.
Check to see that the pressure valve is properly closed.
Insert log here.
Bring the ram up to the log by pulling on the left and right handles at the same time.
Then, only the RIGHT HANDLE should be used to apply the splitting force.
It is possible to use both handles again to finish splitting the log once the log has begun to split and the left handle is usable (without exerting excessive force on it).
Once you have opened the pressure valve, allow the springs to pull the ram back to its starting position or wherever you require it to be for your next log.
Keep in mind that the maximum length for a log is approximately 17 inches, and that the ends should be cut fairly squarely for the best results.
Be careful not to have anyone standing in front of or off to the sides of this device while you are using it because depending on the type of wood you are splitting, some pieces may fly!
