Merry Christmas and good morning folks! I’m getting to the point that I need a new wood splitter. I use my father in law’s older duerr and it’s nearing it’s useful life so I’m starting to research options. Quick cycle time is an important factor in what I chose and I see these dual action splitters are designed to split both directions which in theory lowers cycle time. Anybody have any experience with this type? It’s kind of interesting but was wondering if there were any negative impressions or experiences as I get closer to a decision. For what it’s worth, right now I’m leaning towards the county line 30 ton which has an advertised 10.5 second cycle time. I think the tonnage is more than I need but the cycle time is appealing Any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated
The best design I ever saw was by Josh Larrabe of Tempest Splitters. He was towing one to North Carolina and he stopped to see me in northern Kentucky. They were expensive but very well made. He sold his design to Woodmizer I believe. Used ones are for sale on the inter web. Edit: many YouTube videos of them.
I would mount a permanent log return on one if I got it and split 2 logs at once. That way you don’t have to manually move the log back and forth.
I have a friend with a split fire 2 way log splitter & it’s a very efficient design. I do believe it would cost significantly more money than a County Line however.
Those tempests were sa-weet!!!! Yes, I thought the wood mizers were exactly like the tempests, just slightly different colored. While this box splitters are not cheap, they sure are efficient.
I found these splitters about 10 years ago and contacted them. I had more money than sense back then and almost bought one. Josh called me when he got close and I met him at the local shell station for a demo. After that I drew one up in autocad but never built it, just getting too old I guess. He said him and his dad came up with the idea sitting by a wood stove drinking whiskey. Some of the best ideas start here.
Yeah I saw the tempest splitters a number of years back, on YouTube, but the designs looked awesome. That guillotine one was sweet, but I think it was a little more of a show piece. My cutting buddy is a machinist, and they do a lot of hydraulic builds at his work. His boss is a wood burner as well, and his boss was thinking of making one like a tempest splitter. You still have those plans?
Wellllll....I thought I had lost them after leaving that sheet metal job after 28 years. However, the owner gave me an external drive 3 years later with all my personal designs and digital pics. He didn’t have to do that. Haven’t even plugged the drive into a computer. All parts are laser cut and welded. Tabbed together so no measuring. Just weld.
I have a Husky 32 or 35 ton. If I could do it over I would of bought the 22 or 28 ton. They are lighter to maneuver around and I’m not going to put a log in the cradle that it can’t split.
I was looking at the tempest/woodmizer . . Efficient machines, only thing I didn’t like was I felt that I would end up with a lot of splinters and smalls. Also the price was steep.
creek chub My cousin has one that splits up to 36 inches powered off the back of his Kubota. I find on bi directional splitters, you need to have more than one person in order to run them efficiently. If cycle time is major issue consider a super split. Moreover very little I split, less than 1%, can’t be done by 22 ton. The smaller tonnage usually means quicker times.
The old Didier splitter I use is no more than 15 ton. It's a very rare occasion that I can't split a log with it. It's always a nasty knotty crotch piece when it happens.
my 25 ton countyline is 11.5 cycle time and I don't believe I ever said I wish this thing was faster. By the time I grab another log it's ready to go, Really the only time I'm waiting on it is because I cut my logs to 16" so it has some travel time. As noted on here a few times, the channel design is kind of bad. And you need a trailer to haul it on the highway. Other than that I'm still pleased with my purchase.
