Log splitters

Bugsinrugs · 01-31-2021, 10:37 AM

I’m so confused. I have been looking at log splitters now for a month. Comparing horse power, cycle time etc. Brand is moot as I’m looking for a splitter that has some US made parts. Seems everything is made in China. I’m looking for a 25- 30 ton splitter since most of my trees are pine with a little oak now and then . Hoping for some real world advice.

KFC911 · 01-31-2021, 10:48 AM

Do you have Northern Tool near you? I've used a few back in the day (rented) and some just flat suck. We purchased a NorthStar from NT mebbe 20 years ago. It's well designed and a beast .... I highly recommend it compared to any I have ever used.

KFC911 · 01-31-2021, 12:15 PM

Follow up... You may not be familiar with NT as they don't appear to be in CA. Regardless, mine was shipped to a local store where I picked it up.... I'm pretty sure they would ship to CA though. Do a bit of reading... they (NT) were born from hydraulics and log splitters way back when... and the real deal.

911Ghia · 01-31-2021, 01:10 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fWo0P0MdJM

Bugsinrugs · 01-31-2021, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC911

Follow up... You may not be familiar with NT as they don't appear to be in CA. Regardless, mine was shipped to a local store where I picked it up.... I'm pretty sure they would ship to CA though. Do a bit of reading... they (NT) were born from hydraulics and log splitters way back when... and the real deal.

Thanks for the reply. I have checked Northern Tool. They definitely have nice splitters. Just would need to put more $$ together as their shipping prices are way up there.

Bugsinrugs · 01-31-2021, 01:13 PM

Barefoot splitting. I love it. I’m a married man, I’m a married man😉

Seahawk · 01-31-2021, 01:30 PM

I am on my second log splitter. The first came with the place, an old Craftsman 10 ton I fixed and used it for over twenty years. Had to be patient. I lent it out all the time.

A friend of mine gave me his newer Craftsman Honda powered 20 ton splitter a few years ago when he retied to Florida. I think it is a Craftsman. It is in the barn and it is snowing so I'll look tomorrow.

What a world of difference 20 tons makes, especially in the diameter of log you can split.

The real choice is whether you like vertical or horizontal splitters. I prefer horizontal since we always split with two people and the visual is better, YMMV. They do make hybrids. Really, a splitter is a very simple machine.

SiberianDVM · SiberianDVM's Garage

Not near as big as you want, but I bought this 9 ton on Amazon and it works well for us. I can't move anything big due to bad back, so happy with this.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0199UAR2W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Seahawk · 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiberianDVM

Not near as big as you want, but I bought this 9 ton on Amazon and it works well for us. I can't move anything big due to bad back, so happy with this.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0199UAR2W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Don't sleep on the electric splitters.

A friend of mine orders a few cords of wood from the Mennonites every year and re-splits a lot of the wood with a small electric like yours: He prefers smaller logs for his wood stove.

Works like a champ.

KFC911 · 01-31-2021, 01:42 PM

Horizontal is how I roll 99% of the time. Easier on my back lifting logs than bending over for verticle splits believe it or not. I'll flip mine verticle to split 2' dia. logs in half though. I've always been the "grunt", while dad ran the lever ... we were a great team. Now I run it solo .... and from the wrong side

.

Hey.... I'm a lefty ... we adapt to tools ... or die trying

.

Evans, Marv · 01-31-2021, 01:49 PM

I happened upon a used, home made log splitter. I'd read the rails on some torque and bend over time. This one had been made with an upside down railroad rail, so I thought it would last. It's a brute. The engine was old and I replaced it with a HF 13 hp., key start that I run at about half throttle when in use. I did clean out the hydraulics and replaced a couple of hoses , fluid, & filter. You can sometimes find a well constructed, old, used one that you can replace things like the engine, ram, pump, etc. and end up with a great machine.

911Ghia · 01-31-2021, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

Barefoot splitting. I love it. I’m a married man, I’m a married man😉

Married old timer and I still check that periodically......amazing....double biT axe TOO.
Couldn’t embed it

Also watch Laura at least once a year.

Rich

Bugsinrugs · 01-31-2021, 02:44 PM

I may just get the 25 ton from Tractor Supply. I have a 10 percent off coupon, they are close by so no shipping and they have a five year warranty. Only bummer is it’s made in China. Almost a Grand extra to buy American.

wcc · 01-31-2021, 02:54 PM

I have a spilt fire splitter and love it. Mine is for the back of my tractor and it's the fasted splitter I've ever had..

https://split-fire.com/product-category/log-splitter/3-point-hitch-log-splitters/

But they have gas powered ones that are similar. Check them out..

https://split-fire.com/product-category/log-splitter/gas-powered-log-splitters/

Wetwork · Wetwork's Garage

I picked up a 25ton a few year's back and haven't ran into any logs I couldn't split. But............I damned well, for sure, gonna be swapping a Honda engine on to it. It takes more time starting that BnS engine than it does splitting the wood.

In the farming/ranching world we got's these things called wheel-lines. You know above ground giant long sprinklers with a gas-powered mover in the middle. About three hundred yards long or so. Anyway...everyone switches out to a Honda. In other words do everything under the sun to get one with a Honda engine. Don't say I didn't warn you-WW

Jolly Amaranto · 01-31-2021, 03:17 PM

I dragged out my dad's old splitter that had been covered in junk at the back of the shed for years. The ethanol/gas left in it had turned to syrup and corroded everything. I found a new gas tank and carburetor for the old Briggs & Stratton and got her running again. Here my nephew's daughter insisted on operating the ram while my son-in-law and I loaded it and stacked wood.

Bugsinrugs · 01-31-2021, 03:39 PM

The wood needing to be split is way to large and heavy to split in the horizontal position. Looks like all the PTO splitters are horizontal. All the splitters that have Honda engines would have to be shipped which adds a thousand bucks to the price. If I was selling wood then I would get the best splitter available.

wcc · 01-31-2021, 03:52 PM

The PTO that I have is horizontal. I just lower it to the ground and lean and roll on the heavy logs then split them.

There are horizontal log splitters that have log lifters. They're more expensive but at least you don't have to lift them.

I have a couple of these that help a lot too..
https://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-360070-1001-Hookaroon-28-Inch/dp/B01LYA0T9B

ckelly78z · 01-31-2021, 05:41 PM

I have a 30 ton with an 8 HP Briggs motor, It must be 30-35 years old, because I have used it multiple times a year for the last 25 years, and we got it from my wife's grandma. I really like having a wide splitting bed on it so pcs don't just fall off.

Very few twisted pcs have stalled out the movement of the beast, and when I am rolling, the ram never seems to stop for more than a few seconds. I only split horizontal, and lift the really big pcs with my front end loader to roll onto the splitting bed.

It's amazing how much I can split in one good day just working at a good pace by myself.

LWJ · 01-31-2021, 06:59 PM

Sledge and wedge here. Good clean fun.

My folks heated with wood. Didn't know any better.