First time splitter purchase

I have never owned a splitter because I love hand splitting, and only rented one a couple times many years ago. I'm starting to accumulate a lot of semi large and large elm rounds from cutting at my 2 neighbors houses. I'm also not getting any younger so I'm looking for suggestions. I don't need a big honking commercial grade machine as I only do 2-5 cords a year. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

I purchased a 37 ton splitter from Northern tool and have been very happy with it. It came with a Honda engine. Splits both vertical and horizontally. I have a lot of oak and hickory and I too got tired (old) of hand splitting. The only drawback to this large of a splitter is moving it around. I use my lawn & garden tractor for that. A smaller splitter can be rolled around by hand. Get a good one. You won't be sorry. I split around 3-5 cords a year. It'll last my lifetime.

https://m.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200937829_200937829

I see they have switched to Kohler Commercial engines.

Mike in Okla

 

It's sickening to me how much prices have risen. I have a Countyline 25-ton, paid $699 on sale five years ago, regularly $899. It's now $1799, if it's on sale, I have seen it the same $200 off. This splitter is the minimum 'quality' I would recommend and I'm not too thrilled with this one. It's worked, yes, but it's had problems. Others report good luck.

If you are even a bit mechanically inclined such that you can do repairs, a gas splitter is ok. But I have had several 'failures' over that short five years. I have fixed them all but it wasn't without quite a bit of research because I am no expert mechanic. Actually, the last one, my put-a-new-carb-on fix didn't work and a local shade tree guy showed me a filter INSIDE the gas tank that I did not know was there and that was the culprit. Other than that, mysterious failures two or three years ago that disappeared one day and stayed good a year or two. Then the main valve went out. Also a hydraulic hose busted.

If it were me and I had electricity where I split, I'd consider an electric splitter. Simple, no gas engine troubles, cheaper. But you said elm... hmmm... regarding elm, as per this forum's recommendations, I recently split elm with my splitter and it was not much of a problem and produced a great looking stack of splits for the most part, but the secret (as per the forum guys) is to let the bark fall off before you split. Which means a year or more.

So, budget is key. I'd say you're looking at $1,200 to $2,000 minimum for a gas splitter and those prices are likely sale prices and I'm not even sure you can find anything for $1,200.

If I were to buy again and NOT buy an electric, I'd buy a Supersplit. Probably around $3,500. Super fast, quality, should last maybe a lifetime? Several months waiting list.

 

I have had a speeco 22 ton for about 10 years it has split everting I have put on it and I haven’t had any troubles. I’m not a huge fan of the Briggs that powered it but it still starts and runs every time. It gets a work out as a few friends and family use it as well. I got it from TSC not sure if they still offer it or not.

 

I'd buy my 25 ton countyline all over again if I needed to.
Any big box store splitter will be plenty for 5 cords a year.
Don't worry about superfast, by yourself splitting the cycle times will be plenty fast enough to keep you moving.
Don't let it auto return all the way when doing shorter pcs, that saves like 2 seconds.

 

I have a Champion 27 ton its been great and has a fast cycle time. Can go horizontal and vertical, Im not wild about the Briggs and Stratton engine but its been reliable.

 

The 27 ton i use handles anything i put through it. I show no mercy and will try to rip through a gnarly chunk. I think and mid 20's tonnage will suit your needs fine. Id suggest getting it with the ability to go vertical as well. I personally prefer horizontal, but with HUGE rounds its nice not to have to lift them onto the machine if i dont noodle them to size.

My suggestion: any generic brand splitter will suit your needs just fine.

 

I did a video on this topic.

When you factor price, features, speed, possible production numbers per hour, quality of components, and where it's made, there really is one stand out choice. Many of the bigger channels you see on YT running 10-15k hydraulic units run a full fledged business, or were given the machine by the manufacturer for free to showcase on their channel. For people not in that situation, price matters.

 

Log splitters have definitely jumped up in cost even harbor freight's splitters went up a ton on cost.

2-5 cord a year, no issues for a 20 ton or so residential unit.

 

It says video unavailable.




Mike in Okla

 

I'm not sure. If it is on a phone, the device could be the culprit.

Here's the link again.

 

We have a 35 ton Huskee vertical/horizontal splitter purchased in 2008 (can’t remember what I paid for it but maybe $1200?). It has been used by us, our two sons and a neighbor and has been excellent with the only problem being a seal in the hydraulic cylinder. The Briggs doesn’t seem to be a favorite engine by many but ours has been flawless and starts easy in all weather. Only maintenance has been spark plug and oil changes. It splits any and all hardwood gnarlys that we feed it. Think it was made by Speeco but not 100% on that. I would buy it again but hopefully will not ever have to purchase another. We are processing only for our own wood stoves and not for production so there’s that.

 

I have a speeco I got used 3 years ago. It has split everything I've thrown at it to heat my house for 5 years. Burned for 3 years and have 2 years of wood cut, spilt and stacked. I only cut and split hard woods like oak, hickory, and ash.

Speeco manufactures splitters for several other brands...they will have the same beam and flat plate on the end of the beam.

Used splitters sell for $700-$900 around here in southern MO. I haven't seen any listed since our artic blast last week.

 

If processing a lot of stringy wood, may want to consider a push through design. Before buying my 34T, I borrowed a 22T several times. It did ok splitting primarily apple wood with lots of crotches. After that experience, I decided to get the extra tonnage and I don't regret it. To me it's not so much through-put as it is quickly getting what you're splitting apart.
My Briggs 10 horse has been 100% reliable for many years. Just routine oil changes.

 

As has been stated already, it sounds like any readily available splitter from any box store or farm supply stores should fit your needs just fine. There’s not much in the way of proprietary secrets in this level of splitter, so about any component ( love joy coupler, valve, pump, engine, cylinder, hoses) is easily obtained from many sources. And easily replaced if you have any mechanical abilities at all.
I would recommend one that can be used vertical to deal with the big rounds,( never seen a push through that can go vertical). Also get one that has at least some sort of table or log catcher. (Again, if you’re handy, you can modify it to be more practical)
I’d be looking in the 25 ton and bigger range if I was you

 

Displaying my ignorance here but what is a push thru? I always thought the box stores were push thru?
the ram pushes out and thru the wood and retracts or pulls back when finished with stroke.
I definitely second purchasing or fabricating a catch table, makes dealing with large rounds so much easier. Same with the ability to go vertical.

 

I would definitely gone with the push through design if it was available. Don’t see it much on the box store splitters.

 

People say “push through” splitter and this is what I think. The ram “pushed the wood through” the splitting wedge.


They seem to be targeted to the pro-Sumer / small commercial operations.


And they ain’t cheap.



consumer splitters all seem to push the wedge through the wood.

 

This is likely going to be my first splitter…

why this particular one?


because it’s at the local farm and fleet supply store at both my current residence and our acreage.

as I progress, I’ll make it into a “push-through”. Be a nice start to a wood processor aimed more at 200-400 chord a year if I can find the supply. I sure don’t need a machine for 1500-3000 chord a year.

 

Just something to consider with a push through…if you process a lot of large rounds, you have to wrestle the large splits back to the cradle to be split down smaller. That is the nice thing about the splitters with the wedge on the ram….it doesn’t push the pieces out of position for the next split.