Hey guys, after nearly 15 years of burning I'm buying my first log splitter and I was hoping for some advice from the pros around here. I am partial to DR, I have some equipment that I've had for years and they make a great product! Plus they're having a special right now, 0% interest for 3 years on anything over $800. Would a 22 ton be a little too weak with a 6.5 HP engine? I'm really considering the 34 ton but I don't know if that would be over kill for home use? They have a 28 ton available too but it specs out just slightly higher than the 22 ton. I would like to be splitting as much as I can every year but I would say realistically about 5 cords a year will go through it. My neighbor is going to start bringing me log length wood, and he is always clearing properties so he said I can have as much as I need and for a great price too. I'm tired of relying on other people for "seasoned" firewood so it's time I take things into my own hands. I've got 4 cords of burnable wood for this year and a cord of red oak that needs another 10 years of drying! The moisture content right now on a fresh split is 35 so that's going to need a lot more time to dry. I would like to get a splitter within the next couple weeks, I'm getting some hickory and some maple soon so I'd like to get that split this fall. I will link to the two splitters I'm considering, if you could make some suggestions and tell me your experiences it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! http://www.drpower.com/power-equipm...ers/wh1-28-ton-horz-vert-log-splitter-new.axd http://www.drpower.com/power-equipm...ers/wh1-34-ton-vert-horz-log-splitter-new.axd
Wow, now that was fast! That's why I love this place, instant replies from very helpful people! Thanks for the reply, I could save some pretty good money if I went with a 22 ton but I don't mind spending the extra money if it's worth it.
22 tons will split most things... 34 tons will split most things with a four way wedge. Splitters mostly come down to time/money. The more you spend the faster you'll be able to split. But on some of the larger tonnage homeowner models they use slow pumps for the size of the cylinder so they don't have to use a larger engine. To me a 4.5" cylinder with a 16gpm pump is a good compromise for speed/cost/force.
I got a 22 ton Husky like new off CL for $700. I see them around that price fairly often. I probably run the splitter 20 hours a year, I wouldn't want much more money in it for the little I use it. It has split everything that I have put into it. It will probably be worth what I paid for it for as long as I own it.
Im not bashing here at all! Dr has very nice stuff but when it comes to splittrers they have a very similar product line to lower priced units. Personally if I where to buy a splitter ( built mine ) I would most likely be looking at Iron and Oak or TSC. You save a lot and get a lot for the buck... Dr is nice but with splitters not really worth the cost in my opinion. I built mine but borrowed and rented for years and those two brands are the best bang for the buck.
I'm not sure on DR, but a 22 ton should take care of anything you throw at it. Our local Stihl dealer has added that splitter to its line up.
Bought my Troybilt 27 ton splitter from a gal who'd only had it for a year. She'd bought it new and had had enough after a couple cords... hardly had a scratch on it. Got it for $800... half what she paid. Saw it in Uncle Henry's. Jack's right, used machines are out there at around these prices.
I have a DR rapid fire with a subaru engine and it's great. I did the finance it comes out to like $6 a month u can't beat that. The only thing I'm gonna do to mine is get a slip on wedge so it could be 4 way. The fastest splitter on the market...
I had a Husky 22T for about a year. No complaints and surprised me with what it can split. I would recommend it to anybody. However, if I were to buy a new 22T splitter I would put this at the top of my list: http://dirtyhandtools.com/22-Ton Web Page.html it has a Kohler engine and log cradle. It has a taller base plate and wedge and their 4-way attachment looks way better than the Speeco/Husky strap on. I bought a 4-way for my Husky one day, broke it, and returned it the next. These have been on sale at Lowe's for under $1000 before, can't remember the exact price.
There is not much different other than cylinder size from the 22 to 28 ton models from what I see. Both look like solid machines, a tad pricier than equivalent machines from other mfgs but that's most likely due to "free" shipping. Got a Tractor Supply near you? The Huskee 22 ton sells for right around $1000 and is functionally identical to the DR. Same engine, same size cylinder. Also, something is wacky with DR's specs. 16 second cycles with a sub-7 GPM pump? Say what? 3400psi operating pressure? I highly doubt that one. Splitters that cost six times what theirs does do not run pressures that high. And since when has 16 seconds been considered "fast" for a 6.5hp unit with a 4" cylinder? I'm willing to bet that the machine is a 6.5hp 11gpm 4" cylinder like 99% of the competition's machines at this price point and it will perform similarly. And DR should fire the marketing intern that wrote up their spec sheets.
Both of my local Tractor Supply Stores only have the 28 and 35 Ton, and you're right; they're a couple hundred dollars more than the competition and I'm sure that's because of the "free" shipping.
