Hello. I was just browsing the internet for kinetic splitters and found this company website. Log Splitter, Kinetic Log Splitter Tested in USA | Forestwest They have decent reviews and I found a couple of good things on YouTube. I was just curious if anyone has had experience with any of their products. They are significantly cheaper than the competition (Supersplit & DK). I do sell firewood and I'm planning to do 30 to 50 cord this coming year. I might be interested in trying the 12 ton to start with. I currently use a 25 ton Yardmax hydraulic and it's great, but it doesn't have a 2 second cycle time. I know most will probably say go with SuperSplit but its hard to justify (to the wife) spending $4500 on a splitter when I already have one lol. My main concern would be the longevity of this brand when I can't seem to find anywhere online of a firewood business using one for multiple years, replacement parts, customer service, etc.
What are the advantages of kinetic splitters? I’ve never used one. No gas? From a casual search they seem to be roughly the same cost as a hydro if not slightly more expensive. They do seem easier to lose a finger with if you aren’t careful. And if you are going to have a business doing this a million times it might be something else to consider. A slower moving hydro does provide a larger safety margin. How do they do with wood that isn’t already dry? All the videos I’ve seen show them with already seasoned wood being split. How do they do with tough woods like elm, sycamore or green pine?
I'll be one of the ones to say just get a Supersplitter. You're going to most likely regret getting a cheaper knockoff. Show your wife the hundreds of posts online about people you say they wish they had just bought a SS. The cheaper brands often have poor rack engagement systems, poor quality racks (teeth break off), are too low to the ground, require two hands to operate with a safety switch/lever, and are of generally questionable foreign build quality. Getting parts I'm sure will be a nightmare in a few years after they've gone out of business. I remember way, way back when everyone said "Save your money, get a Wood Wolf!", he went out fairly quickly, then it was Speeco and DR, recalls and out of business, then Splitsecond, etc, etc now it seems there are 20 kinetic brands that come and go. Supersplitter has been around since the 1970's and are made in the US. No other kinetic brand can say that combo. I can't think of any other brands that can make one of the two claims. I did a two part factory tour/owner interview at Supersplitter.
if you really are looking to up grade get a processor. that alone can cut 50% of labor time. Ya I know they start about $8000- buy once cry once. stay away from the import stuff. It will nickle and dime ya to death.
The main advantages of a kinetic are: I'm talking Supersplitter with my prices. The best kinetic available. The speed...which means production numbers/cords per hour. The only hydraulic units that will match a SS are 3-4 times the price. 4k vs 12-15k. Box store hydraulics can't compete. The price...to get a similar production hydraulic you'll spend about 8-10 grand more. The amount of fuel. Most SS'ers have around a 5.5-6hp engine, some are electric. So much less fuel over 8 hours than a big hydraulic unit. Easier to move around/more nimble. Can be moved easily by hand. Only weighs 300-400 lbs. Not so with large commercial grade hydraulic units unless your Paul Bunyan himself. Simpler. Less moving parts to have to replace/repair. No hydraulic fluid, no hydraulic tank, no pump, no hoses, etc. Cheaper to maintain. I've owned my J model around 12 years or so. I process to 20" in length and have done Shagbark Hickory, Pignut Hickory, Red Oak, White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, White Pine, Poplar, Cherry, Black Locust, Elm, Ash, Mulberry, Apple, White Birch, Yellow Birch, Black Birch, etc, etc. Both seasoned and unseasoned. I have videos showing the splitting. Most people who say they can't split X type or size of wood have never touched a kinetic. Just being honest, its hearsay being parroted. The wood I have split is all typically 20" long and up to 36" diameter. Lifted it on with forks. Also had forked pieces, multiple knot pieces, gnarly junk, etc. I talk about the advantages in detail in this video with my daughter. I show it splitting in this video A good friend of mine owns a tree service business. Does approx. 2,000 full cords a year in the side to keep his guys busy. He had Timberwolfs and Supersplitters. Sold the TW's. Now has a processor and a couple Supersplitters.
The Supersplitters look nice. I need to go to a show somewhere and operate one. Not a expert at all, but from what I've seen, the closest Hydraulic splitter equivalent to a Kinetic would be the Eastonmade Ultra. I believe the Ultra has a 4 second cycle time. I think it's around $5k plus shipping.
Also think about resale value. Keep it maintained and nice looking and you can always sell it with little loss.
I have a lil DR electric kinetic...yup, rack teeth junk, part obsolete. But I bought it cheap knowing it was broke and would likely need some creative DIY to make work again...its on the back burner right now. (it works just enough that I have been able to play with it a lil though) If I were to buy a real kinetic, it'd be a SS...actually just missed getting a smoking deal on a couple different ones on FBMP now!
I'm more than a little biased, but I'd say go with the real deal if you want kinetic. All depends on your own situation and budget though. I only sell 5-10 cords per year, just enough to pay for equipment and costs. Building up my wood yard for the day when I "retire" and I can do firewood full time. But even for the relatively small amounts of processing I do, the super split is a huge time saver. I was lucky enough to inherit one from my grandpa. He bought it in 1990, and it sat for a while prior to me getting my mitts on it. When I got it home I had some questions so I took a shot and called a number I found on the website. Was so surprised when someone picked up the phone, and turns out it's the sane guy who built it for my grandpa! The guys at SS were so helpful, sent me handle upgrade parts, and talked me through some maintenance and upgrade procedures. Simply the best customer service ever, they made me a customer for life.
I wouldn't touch them, looks like they are made in China, and the site is a bit off (wording doesn't feel right English among other things, pricing is oddly low). They are also have all the hallmarks of a Chinese re-seller/drop shipper; with no showroom or warehouse and their address is an odd, unmarked building. Design wise a few issues: 1. One "front" wheel and no supports makes this thing rather flimsy, I'd be worried about that let bending or breaking if the welds are poor. You can see the whole unit shaking badly when used. The table is a bit cheaply built as well, if you look carefully they cheaply folded down a 1" flap at the front at 2" "up" on the sides; super split folds theirs down and has plates on the sides so it is much sturdier. 2. 55lb flywheels are a bit light, Super Split uses 75 lb at the low end and I think 90-100 for bigger models. 3. Work table is very small, I use the larger table Super Split offers and some times that feels to small when handling 20" rounds. 4. Their "curved" edges would be quite a pain. You have to lift rounds much higher up to the table to clear them, then you can't as easily "roll" big rounds/ pieces off the table to the splitting portion. A Super Split (larger work table) has more space on either side of that splitting area so I can take a tractor bucket of larger pieces and roll them off onto the table and roll them around the work table/cutting area. 5. Tires are rather small/cheap, maybe fine if this is going to live in your garage or back yard but don't expect to have a fun time hauling this into the woods or a back-woods splitting area. Will it work? Sure, is the product built well and they will support it in a few years? ehhh I don't think so. Super Split wise, I love mine. I kind of wish I got the larger model when dealing with really large and knotty rounds but this one can be scary enough with how it slices through some of the wood it hits. Safety wise I don't see any issues with it, like any tool it requires your constant focus; something I think actually makes the hydros more dangerous. I see people getting hurt messing with the wood while the ram is running or other things. Here is how I use mine, I always split into the cart then move it to my stacking area; if the rounds are very large then I'll use the bucket to lift them and then roll them out as needed to save on my back.
