I'm looking at the Timberwolf Alpha splitters and the Eastonmade 12-22, both with a box wedge. Does anyone have either of these splitters ans can you give me some thing you like or dislike about either? I run a small tree service and use the wood for personal heating and want to improve my efficiency at making firewood. It takes me too damm long with a single wedge. I also have been thinking about getting into premium firewood sales. Hence the desire for a box wedge. I also have a wide variety of wood sizes and most if cut to chunk already or 7ft length. Either splitter is a lot of money and want to make sure I'm mot overlooking something. Emasonmade looks to have a better work position and maybe a better wedge. Timberwolf is within driving distance and has a low hour used machine available. Given the price and availability, the Alpha is in the lead. Thoughts?
I have a 12-22 with a 5 way box wedge and a tall 4 way. It’s a great splitter and incredibly well made. The cycle time and auto cycle are awesome. I use the tall 4 way more then the box wedge because of the size of the wood I bring home. A large portion of my stacks are giant Silver Maple which don’t work well on the box wedge. When I do use the box I enjoy it although I wish I had gone with the 7 way instead of the 5. The auto cycle is great but shouldn’t be used on the box wedge. I wish it had suspension of some sort because it pulls rough, even going slow. I’ve tried towing with ram extended and retracted and noticed little difference. So we’ll put it on trailer to go very far. The log cradle makes precise splits difficult, if you’re particular in shape and size of splits. It also can make large odd shaped rounds difficult to position properly. I love the log lift and wouldn’t want to go back to not having that feature. It can pick up any thing that fits on it. I tried to buy a Tw-5 HD from Timberwolf before I purchased the 12-22. I sent emails, made phone call, and left messages. They were getting ready for a show at the time and were to busy to make a sale. They said they’d get a hold of me after the show was done, I never heard from them again. I figured if I couldn’t get a hold of them for a sale. I’d have an even harder time if I was having problems. If I remember correctly they got bought out by someone and were having some issues at the time. Not sure if that’s fixed now or even correct in the first place. I’d buy it again, but I might see if they could make the cradle flat or at least smaller and the the 7 way instead of the 5 way.
I fear the beam on my current splitter couldn't handle a 4-way. It does fine with a single wedge but it's actually built with a light gauge I beam (has a tapered flange unlike H-beams). It has a crack in the flange and has been there for a few seasons or more now but it was only $300 and doesn't owe me anything so I keep running the wheels off it. It's a 3-pt home made jobber with a pto pump. It's starting to cost me to operate as it leaks fluid from the pump and the cylinder cap. I've thought about fixing it up but to what length? I'd need to rebuild pump, the cylinder, and replace the beam so it could handle a 4-way. Also, the valve doesn't have a detent or the detent is broken so it need to be replaced also. I wouldn't rese these hoses so they'll have to be replaced also. I'd be better off building one from scratch at this rate.
Dang , that's some big but primo wood. I don't mind the bigger stuff but that is a whole different ball-game right there. Great looking machine.
Mine will be stationary but I don't think poor towing is unique to just Eastonmade. None of the manufacture adviclse speeds move over 40-45mph. I'd actually prefer if I can get it without an axle as I have a smallish front end loader than can lift 4000 lbs. Fork pockets and adjustable legs would by my preference but I'm afraid it would probably be an added expense. Both Eastonmade and Timberwolf look like they put the trailer tire in an inconvenient location (out of necessity). Easton made looks slightly better than Timberwolf though. Timberwolf went through an acquisition like you were describing. My understanding is they were purchased by Automated Biomass Systems. Their manufactured about 75 miles from me so being local 'ish might be a good thing. You certainly have some large material. I tend to keep material that large for live edge slabs so I might not run into all the same struggles. I still have plenty of material up to and including 36" that might get processed. My plan was to run all of the straighter material through the box wedge then pitch off any knotty stuff and use a 4-way. I believe the 7-way box wedge has 3.5" spacing but after watching all the videos the splits still look like they come out closer to 4" width. When I got home later today I'll measure my splits. I typically want 3.5" max across the longest side. It's had to tell exactly how large their splits are. I know Timberwolf makes a 2.5" box wedge but I can't find any videos. I kind of want to see the splits in person before I opt for either but I won't be able to for Easonmade.
Marshy there is a show in central NY that Easton made goes to in the fall. If you needed to see it in action
Which one? They were at Boonville and I didn't stop unfortunately. I think they went to a small show south of Rochester area in the fall...
If I remember correctly Wolf Ridge has couple models without an axle. Not sure if a box wedge is available or not. Eastonmade has a pizza box wedge. I don’t know the dimensions of the split, but it’s supposed smaller than the 7 way. Strait and normal size wood works great on the box edge. I need to do a better job pre sorting my rounds for the different wedges. As it is I mainly use the 4 way because switching wedges is a pain by myself.
