4-Way Log Splitter Wedge - Should you get One?

We recently bought the Boss® 16 Ton Electric Log Splitter and the 4-way wedge accessory. With a single stroke, 2 larger and 2 smaller pieces of wood are produced. How well does it work and should you get one? It depends!
#logsplitting #logsplitter #splittingfirewood
We’ve decided to take the production of firewood around here to the next level. We’ve got a great arborist friend who not only drops by wood chips but a plentiful supply of sizable trunk sections from various urban canopy trees.
The logs are large enough that we have had some milled and after a couple years of curing, we are using some right now for shop projects, including a Moxon vise. The wood is beautiful and we are considering getting a chainsaw mill as well. But, that’s for another time!
Right now, we have a plentiful supply of hardwood shorts that we are cutting into 16” lengths (called “bucks”), ready for splitting, using the Boss® 16 Ton Electric Splitter we’ve bought.
Because we heat our woodshop/filming studio with a woodstove, having a plentiful supply of cured firewood on hand makes it easier to maintain a comfortable temperature over an extended time. We're going to sell the excess at a self-serve firewood bundle stand along our roadside.
Because you need both sizable and smaller splits of wood to start and maintain a fire, we decided to add the optional 4-way bi-directional slip-over wedge that Boss® offers. A cool feature of this model is that it splits both on the forward and reverse stroke, really speeding up the rate in which you can produce firewood. The theory is that with each stroke, we could yield 2 large and 2 small splits of wood, creating kindling along the way.
How did it work? Well, but not as well as we’d like. Let me explain.
Because the amount of wood being split at the same time is doubled, there is quite a bit more pressure required to do the job. So, only moderate-sized logs should be split this way. Also, any piece of wood that has a lot of branches or forks is a no-go. The 4-way wedge excels in straight-grained sections of relatively easy-to-split wood species.
We have a lot of elm sections brought our way, and the grain is quite interlaced. It’s a very tough wood and is difficult to split cleanly. The wood tends to tear and string apart, rather than cleanly splitting. So, the 4-way wedge works, but it is a bit slower and takes a judgment call with each piece. Even so, it’s sure easier than splitting by hand!
Finally, if the wedge gets, well, wedged, and the stroke stalls out, STOP! Reverse it out. Continuing to force the wedge through will lead to damage to other components of your splitter.
Would I repurchase this accessory? Yes, but I’m under no illusions that it’s magical. It takes a lot of force to split certain types of logs, so a 4-way wedge adds the power requirement. Even so, it takes a short time to know what logs are good candidates for a 4-way split.
If you are interested in the Boss® 16 Ton 110v 20 amp bi-direction splitter and want to see how well it works, as well as the setup, check out our episode and then you can decide for yourself:
COMING SOON!
We are pleased that we’ve added this setup to our setting, and if you have a moderate firewood production requirement, we think you should consider the Boss® 16 Ton Log Splitter and the optional 4-way wedge. The equipment is well-made and easy to maneuver.
JUST DO IT YOURSELF!
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[@slimwantedman6694]

Good afternoon from Southeast South Dakota

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Good afternoon!

[@DKWalser]

In addition to considering the type and condition of the wood being split, potential buyers of this type of attachment should consider the size and capacity of their log splitter. Our host's 16-ton splitter is a nice splitter for home use, but it's not nearly as robust as, say, a 30-ton splitter (which many also use for their home log-splitting needs). And, of course, our host's 16-ton splitter is more robust than a 5 or 7 ton splitter. A larger splitter more easily can deal with the additional stresses from using a 4-way wedge. A 16-ton splitter may be about the minimum size you'd need for a 4-way wedge (a lot depends on how beefy the splitter is made).

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Well said, DKWalser! Thanks for watching and weighing in. Best, DFJ