Ive always debated about purchasing an electric splitter,because I never have enough for a $800+ Gas splitter.But I feel any electric splitter is probably garbage and junk and under powered??? Thoughts/Input/opinion???
A few of us use them, it is all I have. That and the x27. What wood do you burn, and how much? How much can you reasonably spend?
Paging HDRock I've only heard good things about electric splitters. Obviously get the highest ton rated one.
I split enough to need one lol I'm constantly looking n taking logs as often as I can. Like $200-400 I guess
I guess my answer was weak, but it does work for me. See my signature re what I burn. If I wanted to upgrade I would buy the Harbor Freight 20 ton gas splitter. It looks to be a splitting machine! And a bargain price.
I have a 6.5 ton electric. Works great but slower than gas ones. Mine was on sale for $500 Canadian if I recall correctly. I burn mostly softwoods but I dont hear about people having problems with hardwood but get the biggest one you can afford.
What species of wood? You can get an electric for that price. The Harbor Freight electric is about $250 IIRC, and is 5 ton. I think that is what Kimberly has.
I split any and all kinds of wood I can get my hands on. Maybe I will give one a try, I will read reviews.
Good idea. I would strongly suggest you stay away from the 3.5 ton units. Some will say they are good but Ive heard some people having troubles with them. Why dont you see if you can rent a 5 plus ton electric and see what you think? Maintenance is a breeze with electrics.
I brought mine used; but it was barely used; guy said one season and I think that was just recreational burning, not heating the house only with wood. Mine had a different name on it but the splitter is identical to the Harbour Freight one; the HF splitter was on offer for $248.something with coupon but it may be a better price at using a 20% off coupon; which I can give; and applying it against the sale price (non coupon price). Now, I have not have the change to test it against all woods. I did split some sweet gum (Liquidambar) with it; and had no problem. Poplar is the main wood I cut at the moment. There is some dead red oak sitting in the woods but red oak is very straight grain. I will be cutting some dead white oaks that I hope are still solid and can test on that.
Heck yeah they are worth it, better than splitting by hand in my opinion. Only reason I got a gas splitter is for the vertical function, so I didn't have to beat on the big ones to split them up. Split all my wood for three and a half years with my 7 ton. Depending on what type of wood you are splitting, they are different to work with than a bigger splitter, a 20 ton you just throw it on there and start splitting, with the small electric you don't just throw it on there and start splitting down the middle ( also depends on what you were spitting, some easy spliting wood you can do that) you do it the same way you would if you were splitting by hand you start going around the edges and such, read the grain and look for cracks to start out with. Used ones can be had on Craigslist for a hundred to a hundred and fifty bucks, 300 bucks will get you a new one, with a 20% off coupon from Harbor Freight cheaper.
Oh, mine is a 5 ton. Now yes, they are slow. When I am splitting shorter pieces, I use a hardwood block as a push block to cut down on the travel. A lot of time you don't need to push all the way through. The splitter is auto return; and it won't stop in the return like some of the more two way valve gasoline splitters. If you get one, read the instructions, there is a small valve at the end that must be open or you will blow the seals out. Mine has a safety relief valve if you try to split something it can not handle; I have to cut my splitter off and back on to reset it; so I try to make sure I don't push it; it is only a 5 ton splitter. HF has a larger electric I think. I think it pulls 12 to 15 amps but would have to check. If one wanted to use it remotely, they could power it from a generator.
Another thing that was mentioned to me was building a stand for the splitter so you don't have to bend over. I might do that but I can not lift the splitter by myself; so not sure how I would get it onto the stand.
If you get one build you some kind of stand to get it up off the ground, sitting on the ground those buggers are hard on the back, also put a back table on the stand, doesn't have to be fancy build it from 2x4s pallet wood or whatever. This is how I had mine set up This is Hickory
