Joined the splitter club

I've rented an Iron & Oak splitter from the local tool rental. What a great splitter, had a 9 horse Honda engine. How does the Subaru engine perform?

 

Frank and Beans You wont regret it-I too took great pride in splitting by hand for the last 10 yrs, first with a maul and then the life-changing Fiskars X27---but...once you get in a groove its amazing how much you can do without the wear and tear on your body-enjoy sir and admire the fruits of your labor...

 

And, fwiw, I hate splitting vertically-I bump my head on the handle and skin my shins moving big splits around...and you get a better workout horizontal-I only flip it up for the biggest rounds-I'm 51 btw and appreciate that I can still lift most rounds bending at the knees-I think the work is faster vertically too

 

yes indeed, work smarter and save your back!

 

Sorry, I meant its faster horizontally----been a long day-I'm now officially more than 1/2 to filling the shed-tackled more of that gnarly maple today, filter didnt blow off the repaired splitter lol

 

Congratulations on the splitter bud, one thing I do like about my electric splitter is I can split anytime I want day or night,

 

I agree with you about faster splitting horizontally. The old didier splitter is very low, and only horizontal. The mtd my parents have is horizontal/ vertical, but I only use it vertical on huge heavies.

 

I have a 5-ton electric splitter, and find I use it and the x27 about equally. Depends on mood, the difficulty of the splits, etc. I enjoy both, but the x27 more.

Never have used a real powerhouse of a splitter, I'd like to try that sometime.

Greg

 

You should. Even a wimpy hydro unit is 15 tons. Most are 20+.

Bigger question... Do you Elm?

 

I use sledge n wedge more than the X25 , if I can lift it , it goes on the splitter

 

Nope, here I have pine (lodgepole and ponderosa), quaking aspen, douglas fir, and western larch - all of which split fine with what I got, except the really big rounds. I noodle them.

Greg

 

Yeah, that's easy splitting stuff. Still, when we used to burn red pine almost exclusively at the old cottage up north, we used to hand split, but when a relative brought their hydro's up we sure sped up the process.

 

Nice splitter FnB. There is a Stihl dealer about 40 minutes away from me and he carries iron and oak. Well made splitter that will last a long time!

As long as you don't start thumbing thru craigslist for a red milk crate you'll be all set for many years to come.

 

I've only ran it for about an hour, but so far, so good. I know that Honda motors run forever. If the Subaru is half as good as the Honda, I will be happy.

 

Dang! I think I am getting close to joining the hydraulic club too. I keep finding myself looking at splitters on-line, but telling myself I can do it by hand with the x27. There is some truth to that, but also, for the tough ones I end up cutting them into 6 inch slabs so that I can split them; not sure how much longer I want to play the hand-splitting game. Congrats on joining the club ... hope I can join soon too.

 

That splitter looks rock solid! I and O looks to make a nice unit!

 

It does feel pretty solid. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to own it.

 

Thanks FnB , your thread motivated me to split that trailer load of ash I got yesterday. It was hot , 80 or so, but I was in the shade and we have had a good stiff wind all day.
Just a tip, no need to run the throttle wide open on the splitter. I run mine maybe half or a little under and split most wood with no problem. Crotches or that #$&! elm then it's wide open .

 

That is a beautiful load of ash you've got there! Nothing beats ash, in my book. I'll take all I can get of that stuff.