Very well put. And I think you are right about notching the limbs. Dealing with the load-bearing limbs is where things can get really interesting. Super easy to get the bar pinched, have a limb under pressure let go and whack you, or have the tree shift in a way you didn't anticipate.

Hi there! Welcome! To be quite honest, I thought Helene had petered out in Tennessee, that said, it figures that she went on to be a problem somewhere else. I'm not sure that corporate media gave complete coverage to the damage Helene did in North Carolina. It seems that the best information has been on Facebook. NC is still reeling from the damage and freezing temperatures are set to take hold tonight, probably along with some snow in the hardest hit areas.

@@appoutfeed Yes we got the guiest,but then we always watching weather its part of living offgrid, need to plan

Yup, working blowdowns can get pretty technical and dicey, yet storm clean-up is arguably when those with the least experience on a saw fire them up. I made the video in hopes of helping those folks out in some small way. Thanks for the sub!

Yes. I think it is a good piece of gear that has a good feature set at a good price point. The front end experience could have been better, but I got through it. Once I got it to the house, things got better. Rugged Made did a good job in selecting the components, the splitter seems to be well-engineered, and the QC and fit and finish are good.. I think Rugged Made has perhaps lost sight of the fact that most people aren't taking receipt of such a chunky piece a gear on a regular basis and we certainly aren't assembling stuff at this level very often. Note: I've been turning wrenches since I was 16 and I'm closing in on 60. I've got a pretty well-equipped shop and feel pretty confident about my mechanical abilities. You don't have to be a master mechanic to navigate all this, but it's going to help to be somewhat handy.

I have the 37 ton one and would definitely do it again.

@@appoutfeed Rugged made has lost sight of things? Really? Perhaps they are going after a particular niche customer. Every other spitter comes assembled. I thought it was nice to assemble it myself and save a bunch of money doing so.

I don't think there is any getting around that figuring out how to get the multi-hundred pound crate to a place where the splitter is to to be assembled and then the assembly process itself, sans any written instructions, are barriers to entry with this splitter. And these things could so easily be corrected by Rugged Made. In my opinion, these are friction points in the process that don't need to exist. Ultimately, they are manageable and I don't think these things should dissuade anyone from these splitters, but they shouldn't even be a thing. So, in that sense, I do think Rugged Made has a blind spot.

What did you end up getting?

I haven't pulled the trigger. I'm looking at the Split-Fire 3265 with a log lift, but it's a stretch. $5600 + freight is really more than I should spend. I've rented Split-Fire's and really want one. I am pondering their vertical splitter, the 1165V. Fully tricked out, it's $3800. Cool concept, but is 7 1/2 tons enough power? Next on the list is the Ramsplitter Heavy Duty Fast Cycle. At $4100 it fits the budget and has a log lift. They seem to have a poor customer service record and some videos mention the build quality is lacking. Finally, I kinda like the Dyna Products LS24-18 for $4500. It's log lift is manual, though.

My experience with rugged made has been phenomenal. I have had to contact them numerous times about small things and they always call or email back usually the same day. I have run the dog snot out of my 22 ton rugged made for three years now. Dollar for dollar it’s the best splitter out there. Saving up for a Wolfe ridge right now but there’s not way I could run my firewood side hustle with a box store splitter. Four campgrounds and all of my regular customers keep me busy.

Having to get hydraulic oil is an issue? You’re going to have to change it at some point down the road. Just drain and fill. As far as written assembly instructions the video was so thorough I can’t imagine wanting written instructions. The video is step by step by step. I would give rugged made another look. I think the 22 ton is dollar for dollar the best splitter out there. I would go so far as to say it’s semi commercial in output. Good cycle time, catcher tray, log lift, ergonomic controls. I’d buy it all over again.

Ruggedmades customer service has been absolutely stellar in my book. They always call me back and have walked me through log jams with getting my detent set right and issues with a valve. They sent me a new valve no questions asked with expedited shipping. The video walkthrough for assembly is 10/10.

I hope you Apalachian folks survived hurricane Helene without any difficulties. Peace and Grace from Utah.

What mods are you putting on your 170?

Yeah, I think the strategy of alternating between the 2 in 1 and regular file is solid. I have eyeballed grinders at Harbor Freight, but the files are working just fine - plus you can easily file in the field if needed. I don't do enough cutting to justify the cost of a (good) grinder. I would really love to learn to hand file square ground chain - but that is a whole 'nuther ball game with a steep learning curve.

Ha! You have a good point. Hardwoods are all I am working with. The Peavey does pretty well on straight-grained wood like oak, but when the grain starts getting twisty, it's like shooting a BB gun at a battleship.

Indeed it was!

Nope,... having just the right amount! :)

It was pretty fast. Way faster than the little sleds we have. And it felt a lot faster in the seat compared to what the video shows. It was a ton of fun!

My (limited) understanding is that the 391 superseded the 390 - so a lot of parts may interchange. I would think that a 391 muffler would be likely to fit a 390. That being said, neither of these are pro saws so aftermarket performance parts are probably going to be scarce. It's been quite some time so my memory is fuzzy, but I took a drill to the baffles inside the 390 muffler to open up the exhaust a bit. I guess it helped. It sure made it louder.

@@appoutfeed thanks for the info I appreciate it i’m really partial to the 390 mostly for sentimental reasons, but it is a really good saw nowhere near the 500 in performance, but it was a gift from my brother right before he passed so it has a special place anyways now I’m rambling. Thanks again happy holidays. Stay safe.

So, I was out finally finishing up this year's wood pile today and trying to buck up the last of some wood that had dirt and rocks embedded in the bark from where they had been skidded out of the woods. After wrecking the 500i chain on all that multiple times, I decided to break out the 390 with its 20" bar because it was less to sharpen. Was cutting on a gnarly oak piece and had the bar buried. The powerhead was barely pulling the chain. I remembered your comment and stopped and went and got a screwdriver. About 3/4 of a turn later, the powerhead was running much stronger and pulled the chain with no problem. You've got a good ear! Thanks!

I think I got mine in 1996

Good times! 👍

It did, several days back. It does not get a lot of sun. It will start to freeze over after a couple consecutive days with highs in the mid-30's.

?Thanks I will keep that in mind. Interestingly, I have something approximating a potato rake that is a companion to the long handled hoe. Haven't had a chance to give it a go, but will likely do so this week. As it is, I *just* ordered a Titan Hoe from A.M. Leonard for getting bigger scoops of sediment out at a time. Progress...

@@appoutfeed good deal 👍