Anyone own one/use one on a regular basis? Are they noisy? After helping split wood with a hydro last weekend in toying with the idea of getting an electric one. I have no where to store a gas powered one and dont want it sitting with a tarp over it either. I would still scrounge mostly straight grained rounds so it would probably handle 90% of the wood id get. Thoughts, opinions, input FHC?
The main reason people go electric is for noise and so they can run it in an enclosed space. Super split makes an excellent electric splitter, but they are about $2,500-$2,600. This would be my choice, especially if you plan on doing many cords with it. Many brands also make the small tabletop electric splitters that sell in the few hundred dollar range. This would probably work for small amounts of wood. These are usually rated to 10" DBH or so, and around 20" in length, so you're limited to what you can split.
I think the name is Ram splitter out of Rockford Il, they have a 15 ton Electric. problem with the table top units all are from chi-com territory all look basically the same and I see ratings from 4 -8ton buyer beware. I had one many years back it simplly could not split blue beech at all and struggled with any type of a bit twisted grain. Perhaps they have gotten better? but be sure of a parts source or repair center. Most are hydro out -spring return quite slow. You also need a heavy duty extension cord _12-10 ga. and a 110v outlet at a min. of 20 amps. The ram splitter is their smallest model with electric motor instead of the 5hp gas. Last time I looked them up they were still around - that's apx 20 years worth from the first time I saw them.
Has an electric cigarette lighter on it Hang it On the back of the truck and split on site. Could rig it to load the truck too. Don’t worry my commission is very small,,,,,plus visiting rights of course.
We had a 5 ton elec splitter at our last house. Kept it inside the basement walk-in door. Worked pretty well and was quiet. My son has it now, out in his shop. He loves it.
I have a small 5 ton that I keep in the garage next to my wood racks in the winter to cut down "too large" splits since a lot of the wood I am burning currently was cut for my old Yukon furnace...the Kuuma doesn't perform as well with those huge chunks. Somewhere here recently I seen a video of a guy that built a whole processor off a little electric unit...it was quite impressive! I need to see if I can find that again...
It wouldn't be hard to take a regular old gas splitter with a clapped out motor (read: cheap) and switch it over to electric...very easy actually. Nice and quiet...and cheap to run! As long as you are near power...
You gonna build one? Most of the videos from Europe seem to have smaller diameter wood. Id lke to see it handle some 20" diameter elm
I just gave a electric log splitter some thought myself . Yes they have some good points but it looks like a good one cost as much as the champion 7 ton.
Nah...the splitter(s) I have are good enough...if I did anything I would build a log splitter based processor mounted on a trailer...probably never happen though if I'm being honest with myself...so many ideas, so little time. As far as a 20" elm...I think my little 5 ton would slice right through it...they have a short, thin and sharp wedge...part of why 5 tons can do so much! Same thing applies to the inertia splitters too
I have a 5 ton Earthquake W1200. I paid $212 for it on sale. Earthquake Portable Electric 5-Ton Log Splitter, W1200 at Tractor Supply Co. I put it up on a bench or the truck tailgate when using it, because it is pretty low to the ground. It splits most of what I give it, anything it can't split sees the chainsaw again. It is a bit on the slow side, but it is stronger and faster than I am using the x27 or Isocore. Would I buy it again? Well, I am glad I bought it, it owes me nothing. If I can ever mange to break it (doubtful, but I'm trying), I will probably try to buy a 15-20 ton faster-cycling gas powered splitter. Until then, it keeps me in firewood for the winter. That plus the Fiskars. I burn about 4 cord, and would guess that 3 of them lately have been done on the splitter. In previous years, the Fiskars did more of the work, but frankly the splitter is easier and faster. Considering the amount of wood you split (making assumptions here), you may be happier with some real hp and a faster cycle time. But it certainly works. To answer your other question, yes, it is quiet. When I am outside working with it, sometimes my wife cannot hear it inside.
Storing a splitter outdoors is not a big problem. Although we now have a barn to keep our splitter inside, we stored it outside for many, many years. Look at the picture below. It is between some wood stacks and covered with a tarp. There are boards under the tires. The tarps would last maybe 5 years at most, but the splitter kept very well.
I have a Champion tiller that works really well. They are slightly more expensive than other brands but I think their quality is generally very good.
