Dirty Hand Tools 4-Way Wedge

The wedge works great for splitting wood, though I did need to make a modification. The wedge comes with an interchangeable single wedge, but the pin to hold both wedges in is weak.

The slip in pin seemed to wobble quite a bit and after the first use failed. So to solve the issue I placed a large 1" bolt through it with a lock nut. So far it has been perfect for splitting wood.

I purchased this wedge to speed up my completion of my log pile. Spent more time straightening the wedge. It rattles around with a flimsy pin. It broke a wing and I discovered that the weld hardly penetrated the main wedge. I cut a 1 inch solid bar stock and inserted it Into the stock pin location and welded it all solid. Works great now. Still not a bad wedge if you're not splitting anything with some knots or anything bigger than 14" rounds.

This is a follow up from my last review. After contacting Dirty Hand Tools with my wedge issue they were great.
Had a new wedge at my door in four days! No charge!!! ........... Thank you for the great service!

It turns out that when the wedge is set in the upper most position (for large logs), it can ride up on the log being split to the extent that the back of the wings actually impact the stripper plates as the ram retracts.

In my case, the log split wide apart at the back by the wedge, but the other end held together fairly well. My 16 year old was operating the splitter for the first time (we had just finished assembling it a few hours earlier). He had the detent valve in the detent/retract position. The split log followed the wedge back, and the wide split at the rear of the log missed the stripper plate entirely (at least on that side). Still held up by the distal portion of the split log, the back edge of the wedge �wing� on the detent valve side came to a dead stop as it came into solid contact with the top of the cut out in the center of the stripper plate.

The ram however kept retracting, pulling the rest of the wedge back while that �wing� was still hung up on the stripper plate, opening up the gap on the 4-way wedge that fits over the fixed portion of the wedge, and breaking the vertical weld that holds the vertical portion of the wedge to the sharpened portion.

If the wings are wedged upward more or less symmetrically, there is about 1/8� of overlap on each side, where the wings both strike the top of the stripper plate cutout. Typically the stripper plates would prevented the log from holding up the wings, but at least on my 5th log, an odd split allowed the distant portion to stay wedged under the �wing� of the wedge

In my cases, the log split so as to force the wing on the detent valve side only upward, which results in about �� or even a bit more of overlap (see photo),

Once that contact occurred, the wedge just began to bend and break. There really wasn�t time to reverse the ram before the damage was done.

In the attached photos, I've just used a piece of wood to hold the wedge up in the problematic position, freeing my hands for the camera. I wasn't actually splitting the log sideways. (Because if I don't say it, someone will think it!)

I was able to use the flat portion of the 4-way wedge base (with neither actual wedge attached) on the hydraulic cylinder to squash the spread vertical wedge back to the appropriate gap for the detent pin. (I know, not exactly in the manual.) However, the weld is still broken, so I�ll need to grind off the old weld and reweld it. And I suppose I'll take a grinder to the stripper plates to enlarge the opening by a 1/4" or so.

I've sent this report to the manufacturer, along with photos, so hopefully this design issue will be corrected. In the meantime, In the meantime, I'd advise either enlarging the gap in the stripper plates, or keeping the wedge in one of the two lower positions.

It turns out that when the wedge is set in the upper most position (for large logs), it can ride up on the log being split to the extent that the back of the wings actually impact the stripper plates as the ram retracts.

In my case, the log split wide apart at the back by the wedge, but the other end held together fairly well. My 16 year old was operating the splitter for the first time (we had just finished assembling it a few hours earlier). He had the detent valve in the detent/retract... more

Although it didn't fit as easily as I thought, I more than halved my splitting time. Just don't retract it all the way and you'll love it. Well made and great product. Pin does fall out. Needs rethinking.

Splitter head will move around on you, I had this welded together solid where I wanted it as far as adjustment. Since I already had a single splitter head, now all I need to do is swap them from one to another, it works good although.

I have been splitting two year old White Oak and Maple none of which is bigger then 24" and the tabs bent on the four way and one has already snapped off. I have split less then ten cords of wood and it broke already! Stop using cheap Chinese steel! I would liked to know what I am suppose to do with this attachment ghost cost so much money?

Awesome sharp edge and easy to mount. Worked perfect until the weld failed and wing broke.

We had no problems contacting the manufacturing company with the problem I had on my wedge.

They shipped out a new one for me promptly.

Pricey but upon opening package I was pleasantly surprised. Very good quality & everything needed to install & switch back & forth from single wedge to 4 way wedge. I'm very satisfied.

We love our Dirty Hands Log Spliter. It has performed flawlessly and when we allowed a log to break the handle for the movement of the head, their customer service took excellent care of us under warranty. Highly recommend this product and their customer service!

Me and a buddy sell firewood. So it works great for us and saves us time and money.