Harbor freight log splitter $679

Just FYI, never used one but price seems good!

 

That does seem like a decent price, but I am curious if anyone here has had any experiences with this product. I am hit and miss with Harbor Freight.

 

A couple FHC allstars run them and they seem like a pretty good machine:

I finally got a Wood splitter | Firewood Hoarders Club

 

One feature I like is that the wedge splits on both strokes.

 

the only think that i dont want generally in splitters is that are very slow until they move ................ the night is here

 

This one is faster than most traditional hydraulic units because the knife splits on both the forward and reverse stroke of the ram.

The only non human powered splitter I can see being faster is the super split style kinetic splitters.

 

This is faster and more friendly for the enviroment ....................... i think

 

Yup and perfectly suited for straight grained 12" long rounds.

However, here in my neck o the woods the rounds are sometimes 24" plus diameter and typically at least 16" long. Usually with gnarly twisted grain. A machine like that would take ages to get through the stuff.

 

Don't get me wrong I have a fascination for human powered machines. Doubly in this case because it looks like cool a home brewed tool, but I don't see being able to use it on hardwood.

 

Mine is on the second season, and still going strong. The only issue I've had was a shorted out kill switch when it sat in the rain.

 

Only downside I see on those at all is no hydraulic oil filter

 

I was wondering about this as well. I was thinking of using it for my upside-down Wallenstein woodsplitter build but was afraid it was too good to be true. I say that for several reasons.

The Positive
(1) Its condensed in size and would balanced, perfect for an upside down woodsplitter.
(2) The engine exactly matches my Wallenstein Powerpack so I would just use the engine as a spare for that.
(3) It is such a minimal machine that there would be less stuff to cut off that I do not need

The Negative
(1) It does not look powerful enough to operate a 4 way splitting wedge and that is what would make an upside down woodsplitter efficient

Am I missing anything? I would just buy a big 35 ton woodsplitter and put a 4 way on that, but it seems rather silly when I would cut most of it off because it would not be needed.

 

The two way wedge for an upside down woodsplitter would be good in some respects as you would not need to return the cylinder back to zero before starting on the next round; just grab, lift over your trailer, split and then repeat. But the time loss from an upside down woodsplitter is maneuvering the woodsplitter into place. It is not an issue on smaller rounds you just need halved, but on the bigger ones you need to quarter, it would be. That is because you would have to split the round into two; reposition your woodsplitter over a half-round split, split it again, then maneuver over the other half-round split, and split that again in order to get quartered pieces. That is positioning three times to get quarters instead of once with a four way.

But gosh darn it; its $679 dollars for a woodsplitter already made and the engine could be used as a back up, a $109 item unto its own, so it is tempting. I am really glad you guys spoke up and said these things are worth the money. It really has got me thinking.

 

Well that is just it; do you spend all kinds of money fabricating the "perfect" upside down woodsplitter, or do you take a cheap one and modify it? What I like is for $679 bucks and just a few modifications you got a working upside down woodsplitter!

Its great to know its testimonials are great! As I said, it REALLY has got me to consider one. I mean if you are going to be so lazy as to sit on your rump running levers all day, what is the issue with it taking a wee bit longer to do it???