I've had similar experiences with various customer service reps from different companies. Good on you for this one. I can only hope that mine comes in tweaked too! LOL...
Well boys, the more I think about this, the more I can't do a China machine this time around. I like the Swisher electric start 34 ton commercial unit but I think I like the Iron and Oak even more. Will see if mine sells before I break the bank on a replacement though. Today I had the DHT out and finished the last of what I had bucked to length. With what's split now, I have this years in the basement and over two more seasons worth waiting to go. That's probably about 20 cords in all. I really don't need to cut and split any more... but I want to... I think I have a problem...
The Swisher is a hair faster but the best they will tell me by email is 10-12 seconds. The I&O can be about the same or even 1 second slower if I went full pig and got the 37 ton. But, since I'm happy with my current 13 second time, I don't think it's going to be life changing either way. As with deciding on anything, each brand has something to offer that the other doesn't. I like the big tank and electric start Kawasaki motor on the Swisher. I like the lighter weight, torsion axle and rental fleet inspired confidence on the I&O.
If I can get in here a bit late System , what options are you looking for specifically? If you're gonna drop $$$ can I recommend a log lift & 4 way wedge.
Just quality and American made really. I 100% split in the vertical position so no need for a log lifter. I have often pondered a 4 way wedge but I've never come across wood that is the exact right size for it.
PS: The Swisher comes with a 4 way wedge so if I go that route, maybe I'll learn something! Swisher Pros: 1) Bigger tank. 2) Electric start. 3) More powerful Vtwin engine. 4) Lower price. 5) Faster cycle time. The only thing that the I&O has over the Swisher is the torsion axle which along with a better commercial warranty is likely why so many rental facilities run them. I'll only tow mine once a year so while I'd prefer the torsion axle, it's not a deal breaker. Heck, I could probably upgrade the Swisher to a torsion axle and still be cheaper than the Iron and Oak...
Well lads, the DHT splitter went down the road today. Got $1050 for it. I see where they are listed as costing $1500 on the DHT website. I also found my receipt when digging for the owners manuals and apparently I paid $1300 for it. It did have more hours than I thought on it at 49. So, I feel the price was fair for all parties involved. Another thing I found while poking around their website is they are now out of business. I guess they are another victim of C19 in 2020. That said, it's time to shop! I wanted to like the CL 40 ton from TSC but really wanted American made. I also don't like the way the wedge rides on the beam of my DHT or the CL. Since it rides in a channel, debris is always getting caught in the channel. Not the end of the world but not my preferred design. So, I'm down to 3 American made products. The Swisher, the Iron and Oak, and a third option from American Log Splitters.
I'm partial to Honda power so if most other things are equal that would probably be the clincher for me. I've heard good things about the Kawasaki engines but two cylinders is going to use more gas I would think and has more moving parts. What's powering the American? Also, are these three roughly the same price?
Chris, the American can come with three different engine options. Briggs Intek 1450 is standard or you can option a Honda 8HP (probably a 240GX but they don't list it) or a Honda 270GX with electric start. I'm not sure on pricing there yet as they don't list it on their site. Instead they have you pick options and request a personal quote. So, I'll likely hear back on that this week. When considering the Iron and Oak vs. the Swisher, I'm having trouble justifying the I&O. Smaller, cheaper, less powerful engine with a lower GPM pump. I'm not sure how they get higher tonnage with a lot less power and less GPM unless their Barns pump is higher PSI? (34 Ton for the Swisher and 37 ton for the I&O.) They have a 14 second cycle time too. I really think that they are designed really for the rental market. Honda pull start for reliability, torsion axles because the renters will be road towing it from the facility, and a longer 2 year commercial warranty. For all that you get the highest price of the 3 units. $4600 delivered. The Swisher seems to have the most features at the best price. Biggest tank, electric start twin Kawi, decent GPM pump with a fast cycle time, and likely the lowest price. The splitter is $3200 delivered but then you need to supply the 15 gallons of hydro fluid and a battery. Got to be looking at another $2-250 there. So, figure just under $3500. Will see how that compares to the electric start Honda optioned American. Oh, and one other option to the American is you can option a longer cylinder. My furnace can take up to 25". I usually cut 24" to be safe and occasionally one runs long. My DHT was supposed to have a 25" opening but it was only 24" and sometimes I found myself recutting a round to get it in there. Nothing worse than getting it lined up and missing by 1/2". One last consideration is that the I&O is the only unit of the 3 with proper log strippers at the base of the cylinder. The Swisher initially looked like it did but looking at more pics, I don't think so. The American clearly doesn't and while I asked them about it in my quote request, I'm not sure they offer the option...
I have a system the way I split vertical for over 20 years so it's kind of an old dog / new tricks situation. Anything else would slow me down too much. My two criteria to make the cut for consideration were vertical position and made in America. Other than the three above, I don't think there are any others that make the cut. Well, there is the Baretto but that's even more expensive to the point of getting cost prohibitive. https://www.barretomfg.com/equipment/wood-care/920ls-922ls-log-splitter/
IF DHT is Dirty Hands Tools, Lowe's Home Improvement has some of those in stock. If the company is out of business; that might mean Lowe's will discount them at some point.
Gotcha. Of the three I have only seen an iron and oak. It was at a rental place I remember thinking it look like it was built like a tank.
Yes, DHT is Dirty Hand Tools which is what I just sold. It worked without issue but I am not a fan of the design... or the company after Frictionless World dropped the line along with a few others and left a message on their website stating that they will not be honoring the warranty on any of their products. They are in bankruptcy so the rules don't apply to them.
That's the tough part. Buying sight unseen. I'd love to roll one around. Tilt one to vertical. Etc. If I had been able to do this with the DHT I just sold, I wouldn't have bought it. The design is poor on a few fronts... Anyways, I'm sure any of the three I listed above would be a serious upgrade. Right now Swisher is in the lead but I'll likely vacillate between the three to the point of analysis paralysis before finally pulling the trigger...
I think rolling any of those splitters around buy hand will be difficult. I fight with the huskee on uneven ground.
Yes, that is an issue indeed Warner. Will see what American says about the option. I'm certainly not willing to keep a sledgehammer next to the splitter and have to knock off stuck splits that way. What I meant by rolling around is in the garage on a concrete floor to get it on the ball behind my ATV. My DHT was around 700# as well so no lightweight BUT it was built low. That means that the pivot point on the beam was very low making for a LOT of tongue weight. It also meant that pulling it from vertical back to horizontal turned me into an acrobat standing on the tongue, hooking a foot behind the jack foot and pulling with two hands to get it back down. It was doable once I found my system but a poor design regardless.
I bought a 34 ton Swisher about 6-8 years ago... the late winter of my first year of burning. So it’s been around for a couple of days... I like it... it’s done everything I’ve pretty much thrown at it...
