I agree, that or watch for a great deal on a lightly used one, they're out there! I see probably an average of 1-2 per month that are a screamin deal...usually sell very quick! I just sold my 12 YO Champion 23ton that was a black Friday special from Rural King...used it for 12 years and just sold it for what I paid for it, and he got a great deal because they are twice that for a new one now. So you have a 16 GPM rated pump then...you add the low pressure (high flow) side to the high pressure (low flow) together when in low pressure/high flow mode...
I can hand split with the best of them. But I prefer to get my workouts in the gym. I like to use my 28 ton hydro because splitting is a nice little break for me. Between kids, work, the gym, overtime, plowing snow, raking pine cones, working on the house, helping neighbors with fire mitigation etc. I have very little time to chill. So I put on my Work Tunes headset, crank up some jams - and go have a nice leisurely split. I might even enjoy a beer or two. I always tell my wife that is when I solve all the world’s problems. You won’t regret it!
What is your budget and how much do you need to process? I grew up hand splitting with regular axe, finally upgraded to a 8lb maul. Late '90's my dad finally bought a 25 ton Yard Machine splitter , ran it until 2018 when we got a County Line 30 ton. It's 3x faster. Built some ramps for it... Sept '22 got a good deal on a 28HO Wolfe Ridge...
Never see used splitters here that are worth buying over new. I'm sure they're out there someplace and there are those who are very lucky.
After decades of hand splitting, then borrowing a friend's 25 ton splitter, I bought a 30 ton unit in 2020. Never had any issues and it powers through everything. I recall it was on sale at a local Tractor Supply store for $899.00. It's been a great investment.
Thank you all for your photos and wonderful advice! Last nite i was at a family member’s wedding and I think i may of scored myself an awesome deal from a great long time friend of my father in-laws…he said its 2 years old it was 2800 new and we discussed some very fair prices…going to give him a call later this week and ask when a good time to come look at it and work out a price, very excited right now updates coming soon
$2800 new...that must be a semi-commercial grade machine! Either that or he got hosed on a big box store machine!
Same all the ones i seen were very undesirable or in great condition for basically a couple bucks less than new
Got the deal of a life time…turns out this guy was very pleased with the way i been supplying his best friend ( my father in-law) with firewood for the past 3 seasons so he told me i can have his splitter under a couple conditions… Keep supplying the inlaws Keep the splitter covered and out of the weather take care of it And last cut up that pile of logs and split it for him. …doesnt want any money i told him id glady split him a moutain of firewood but he said no! Super generous man, Cant image a better scenario for me to be getting a splitter!!!
The good lord will provide. Congratulations on the new splitter. Hard to tell from the picture what model/size it is, but I'm sure it will serve you well.
