Log Splitters

With all here who heat with wood, and make their own firewood etc., I was wondering about opinions of tow behind, vertical/horizontal splitters, say 25 ton to 30 ton splitters available today, I've looked at all major brands, and its interesting how they differ, specifications and related.

I never minded hand splitting, good honest work and exercise and there is a good many who are able to do it to mid life or beyond, in my case the shoulder joint, one wrist combined with pounding a wedge into wood, or similar is becoming un-tolerable, now whether some of these problems can be fixed its hard to say, taken almost a year to get my leg right, so it's time and I've got a bunch of logs here to drag in still, a pile of same at the other place 30 miles north, which would probably heat the place there for several years.

I think we'd all love to have a firewood processor, or high production machinery but the cost is prohibitive.

I've noticed the designs vary, some with fenders, tail lights, some not, hydraulic capacity, 2 stage pump, wedge arrangements, exhaust orientation and fumes are a big concern, cycle times, and what else would be a concern for typical tow behind splitters.


I looked at Speeco, 28 ton, same as TSC sells with the Huskee label. It seems to fit my needs, will accept a 4way wedge designed and offered for it, though TSC does not list it, nor do they connect Speeco to TSC but they list the log cradle with Speeco name on it, must be the same> Speeco offers Honda and Briggs & Stratton, wondering which one is better, (exhaust orientation especially)

It seems built well enough, 6 gallon hyd. reservoir, 2 stage pump, wedge pinned on ram, and allows for their 4 way to be placed over, (that is a big plus as most of what I have is weathered and can be done by hand) bigger logs take it off or whatever works for what you are doing. Towing speeds are slow, I'd probably place it in the pick up bed to move to the other place. I see it looks like the hyd. tank has a flange for fenders to mount. I've also noticed some other splitters have their hydraulic lines protected with spring sleeves or covers. Speeco offers the log cradle too.

I guess what I am wondering what else should I be looking at or considering when looking at one of these, the price is at my limit, though I'm sure I could fabricate one, seems more cost effective to buy one.

I did miss out on a 31 ton yard machines for $850 last week just could not make up my mind, seller states it was hardly used, seemed like a decent deal, looked clean in the photos as if that was true. Been looking for low hour used, but not many come up for sale, either overpriced, or a deal that is gone quickly.

What would you be looking for in one of these ?

I split a lot of hard-wood. I heat a large farmhouse and also a large barn/workshop. Two wood furnaces going all the time.

I've got two self-powered splitters and one three-point vertical splitter. I love the three-point and rarely use anything else. Has it's only PTO pump so it's self contained - i.e. I can stick it on any tractor. When I cut a huge tree that's has blocked up wood to heavy to carry ? I drive the tractor and splitter TO the wood.
Being vertical is also a big plus. I cut a lot of huge wood I cannot lift.

I was lucky when I got mine. Three-point American splitter with a 32" long, 4" diameter cylinder and a Prince PTO pump - all for $600. Having the huge PTO pump allow the tractor engine to be running nice and slow and still cycle the splitter fast.

I also have a self-powered splitter with a 5" cylinder, 3500 PSI max- 16 GPM pump, and a Wisconsin TJD engine. That's my "big" self-powered splitter. It's horizontal. My "small" one is also horizontal with a Wisconsin S7D engine, 4" cylinder and a 11 GPM pump.

Maybe somebody will see this photo and call the child-abuse police??

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Everyone has their favorite way. What works for me is, when I bring home a trailer load of large pieces I usually pull my homemade woodsplitter to the back of the trailer and roll the pieces onto the splitter- blocked so it's at the same height. The trailer serves as a working platform, I usually toss the split pieces on the smaller blue trailer in the picture as they're split. This way I can keep splitting uninterrupted (without fetching the next piece off the ground) until the smaller trailer is full.

I think my splitter is a huskee brand with a small briggs and stratton on it. I've never had a problem or noticed the exhaust fumes from it. Often I will haul the splitter to the tree with my ATV so that I don't have to lift the heavy rounds. The hydraulic lines on mine are unprotected but I haven't ripped them off yet hauling it through the woods. Had it for many years and haven't done anything to it other than change the motor oil and filter every season.

I used to have a PTO splitter but hated having to have the tractor running all the time when a little 6hp motor can do the same job on a lot less fuel.

have heated with nuthing but wood for 30+ years
RENT a logsplitter when you need one
usually rent one once or twice a year, get it saturday, take back monday $ 50.00
no maintenance, always starts can"t own one for that !
bob

Troybuilt. 33 ton from Lowes. Best splitter for the price that I"ve ever used. Have burned wood over 40 years. No, I don"t work at Lowes.

I have a North Star from Northern Tool and Hydraulic. Works great, and has split every piece of wood I've given it. If it doesn't split it, it will shear through it. White Oak, Red Oak, Elm, it will split it all.

I have a Northern tool northstar 20 ton horizontal splitter for the last 10 years--cost me $950 and have done absolutely no repairs in this time. You do not want to tow it faster than 50 mph as it will bounce!
I rented a vertical once and it was back breaking leaning over to pick up the splits and to use it horizontal the deck was much higher than a true horizontal.

Built my own splitter about 30 years ago. I built it as a three point hitch type. I use it on an 820 three cylinder John Deere tractor. will bust about anything I put through it or will cut it into.Mine is a horizontal type where I can pull a trailer to the woods. IIRCC spent about $400 at that time to build this. Will work an old mans a__ off. Rodney

I have a Speeco 20 ton 5hp from TSC. I"ve had it now for eleven years.It has never given me any problems normal oil changes two spark plugs in eleven years new hydraulic filter every two years
operates great.Like any piece of machinery maintenance is the key to longevity.I normally split seven cords per year.

My father and brother both have the huskee from tsc, the 6.5 hp ones, can't remember the tons. I have an old monkey wards horizontal splitter, and a older speeco 3pt splitter works up or down. Those huskee splitters are a good splitter, no problems for my dad and brother, they both split about 7 cords each year. I worked for a dealer who sold American tow behind splitters, they were nice but 2xs the money of a huskee.

I see them in the catalog they send me, they look good too, I wonder about those ones, power horse that split on the in and out stroke? You see those in there.

Built my own 32 years ago. Cost was about $120 for a 4" cylinder and hoses. It's mounted on my JD A and runs off the tractor low pressure hydraulics. The tractors 10GPM pump makes it pretty fast, but 1000psi hydraulics limit the force. I split about 12-15 face cords every year and usually end up with 2-3 pieces I can't split. I give them to my neighbor, his $1200 splitter goes right thru 'em. I'll live with that for the cost difference.

LDJ,

I'll call the police, the instant the youngster complains of a good upbringing, and a warm home.


D.

Jde. Looked at the pics and want to know what the corogated 4" tube thats atached to the 3 point arm is for? Can see why your so thin from cutting all the wood you need to heat all the buildings. regards LOU.

Son in law has a 27 ton MTD. I borrow it once or twice a year to bust up the 15 or so face cord of wood I use for heat.

It works great! It easily splits the gnarliest wood I put on it. It can be set to work both horizontally and vertically (vertical is nice for reducing big rounds).

5-1/2 HP Honda engine has more than enough power (never bogs down) and is relatively quiet. It also starts on a single pull in even the coldest weather.

The splitter tows well at low speeds (under 45 mph). However for towing faster or for towing more than a few miles it's easier to ramp it into the back of my truck (it tends to bounce at speeds over 50 or so).

Only problem has been a failed weld holding the end plate to the main beam. But a welder buddy rewelded/reinforced the endplate; it now stronger than new.

I wondered about the hose too, then noticed it's not in the other pictures so I guessed it happened to be hung there temporarily.

See nothing wrong with what you are doing, ear muffs on and teaching him how to run the splitter.

Now in the next picture, if you have him move that giant wood pile he might complain a bit.

Rick

All good and everything but...............................one other thought keeps coming to mind.
It's a good thing the boy got his looks from his Mother's side of the family.

You may want to check out the new unit put out by DR, the brush mower people. Their's use flywheels for energy and are extremely fast but are a little pricey. Me, I been using a 25 ton Harbor Freight for the last 7 years. Run like a champ with no troubles at all.

I ran the log splitter as a young kid and I still have all 9 of my fingers!

Seriously, though, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the commercial splitters from the box stores like TSC, HD, or Lowes. They all seem to be made by the same company, probably MTD.

The "ton" rating is meaningless. Supposedly that's the amount of force the splitter can create, but only under really specific conditions.

2-stage pump means fast return cycles, and less waiting for the ram to reach the wood. It goes fast until it hits resistance, then the high pressure kicks in.

GPMs, more is better. Means faster cycles, more wood split in less time.

I found it took too much planning and a couple of really long days when I rented one. I did that a couple of times at my Dad's place, when I knew I'd be in town to run it on a certain weekend. For my place, I prefer being be able to split for a couple of hours after work and spread it out over the season.

Definitely get the kind that gives you the option of standing it up. I can get 3-4' diameter logs in there and split them "like a pizza", just working my way around before they're small enough to really lift. It's probably harder on my knees doing the regular sized logs on the ground, but easier on my back. Sometimes I'll switch off to spread the joy.

I think mine is a Speeco, from Runnings Farm and Fleet, probably 22-25 ton. Seems well made and works OK. I've only had it for a few years, but I use it quite a bit and loan it out to several others. No complaints.

You did good with that 3 pt set up, and relying on wood for most if not all your heat, I'd imagine you spend some time getting it done.

There is not much you can do when the log is to big to handle, buck and split where it lays.

I'm usually fortunate to be able to bring logs to my house, towing or loading 6'to 8' logs on my F600, which eliminates some handling, as I cut and split near the house, can load a shed or put 1 1/2 cords inside near the stove. Most are not large diameter, but a few years ago I hauled in several truck loads from field clean up of that ice storm in Dec '08, some 24"-36" oak, those are harder to handle.

Nothing for the safety police to haul you in for there,(he must be much bigger now, I remember you posting shots years ago doing wood and similar) If I am seeing clearly, that is a nice black cherry log, and even a crotch in that wood is probably easy for that splitter, something special about black cherry, splits easy, makes a nice aroma, burns even and clean, and as dry as you get it, does not seem to ever really take off, burning rapidly, and it will burn well with some moisture just the same, was always the wood I sought when I was short, can dry by the stove in a week if need be.

Thanks for all the replies, one of those things everyone has a different method or means to get done.