This Full Boar splitter looks interesting. "Only" $3,750 but it has a log lift and also an adjustable wedge. Price seems pretty good for having those two features. Reviews are pretty good. But... the cycle time is 17 seconds? I would prefer faster than that. Yes, you could shorten the cycle length with a mod so that it doesn't travel 24" or whatever if you are splitting everything to 16". But... could you replace this cylinder with a larger cylinder and speed it up? What else, if anything, would you need to mod? Bigger motor? Bigger pump? Of course, you could buy a more robust splitter, like Easton-made or Wolf Ridge or whatever, but you might need to spend more money. Just curious. If I were to sell my Countyline and buy a new splitter, I'm super interested in a kinetic, like a Super Split. I think I could get one shipped to me for about $4k, so, this Full Boar splitter is close to same price. Kinetic has no hydraulics to worry with. And fast. My Countyline 25-ton hydraulic splitter has been pretty good over its ten year life except for hydraulic line failing and just last week, I had to replace seals in the cylinder. And hydraulic oil and filter. And the dang filter was, like, $65, alone. Plus the oil. And the seals. Those seals were stupid expensive. Anyway, back to this bad boy... do you know how it could be sped up?... https://www.lowes.com/pd/FULL-BOAR-H6135FB-35-Ton-306-cc-Horizontal-Gas-Log-Splitter-Engine/5015780527?store=&cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-pwe-_-ggl-_-CRP_SHP_PLA_PWE_Online_High_Priority(A-D+Priority+Items+CL3)_Omni-_-5015780527-_-online-_-22862735220-_-&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22862735220&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyr3OBhD0ARIsALlo-OnlWZ0Rm-RjIn02xyjhku1AsHED1U2jaJAVwIIXHRbyIqNloUVmonUaArOBEALw_wcB
Their math don't add up...by the specs listed they say 15 second cycle time, it should be more like 13, if everything else is listed correctly. Switching to a 4" cylinder would cut that almost in half. (7.5 sec) Ever look at Rugged Made? 22-Ton Log Splitter, 24" Stroke, Honda 270cc | RuggedMade Similar machine (faster though) Honda engine, live support if needed... I'd consider RM to be a light commercial duty splitter...better than box store for sure!
Ever consider Splitfire? Log Splitters - Split-Fire USA They have nice horizontal and vertical machines, with lots of nice upgrades options available...and don't let the looks fool you, these are not light duty machines!
Say, did you see the cylinder size on the Full Boar splitter, I didn't. So, how do you know that a 4" cylinder would cut cycle time in half? Wow, that would be fast. Why wouldn't they set it up like that from the getgo? BTW, you are right, they did tout 15-sec cycle time somewhere in there but in the Overview section is where I saw 17-sec time... "Oversized hydraulic components provide the shortest cycle time in its class, 2 inches cylinder rod, 3/4 inches hoses help to reduce cycle time to 17.7 seconds, no more wasted time between rounds" Yes, I have seen Splitfire vertical model. I will look again. And look at Rugged Made.
I have a Full Boar and although I haven't timed it, the cycle is definitely slow. When I purchased the splitter, I pretty much knew what I was getting and only planned to upgrade a couple things (hubs/wheels/tires for added height, engine guard, better push plate grip) however I have seen quite a few people buy them and then dump another couple grand or more into them. Not worth it in my book. If you plan on running it a LOT (especially in hot weather as the hydraulics tend to run on the hot side) then I would say don't purchase one. The cycle time doesn't bother me and I don't split for long periods anymore due to heath. I also don't split as a business. The Full Boar is basically a budget splitter that has the bonus of a hydraulic lift (which is pretty much the only reason I got it). (The pic is of mine.) There is a guy over on the FB Full Boar page that has done a bunch of modifications to his (changed motor, added a cooler, upgraded other components) and this is a recent post: Engine guard, 3/4 push plate, predator 420, vevor 22gpm pump, hydraulic filter, cooler powered by Milwaukee battery, weld on jack. Bolted sorting table support to the table so I could change jack. I believe the valve and hoses for the wedge and lift is too restrictive and limits unloaded cycle speed but under load it seems to push faster than a stock unit I may eventually change to a bigger valve when I do an auto cycle upgrade. But for now it’s been a simple budget build. Machine $3600. Wife’s military discount at HD Predator 420. Already owned ($380) Vevor 22gpm Already owned ($212) One hydraulic hose from cooler to filter. $78 Cooler. $160 Milwaukee18v- 12v adapter with low voltage shutdown $25 All return line fittings were sourced from my work at no charge Steel also sourced from scrap bin at work.
It's under "specs". 5", 2"ram, 23.5" stroke, 18gpm pump... everything you need to calculate cycle time. Weird that they can't even agree with themselves on the cycle time
Cycle time calculator, among other things. Log Splitter Hydraulic Cylinder Cycle Time and Speed Calculator
Because everybody thinks they need "more power", but realistically with a well designed wedge (or even better, knife) even 20 tons (and less!) will split/cut anything. But "more tonnage" is a way that they can raise the price/make more $ on them, with minimal extra expense.
If you've split by hand for years and learned to "read the wood", I'd bet one of those 6 ton electric things would get most the work done. When in doubt, more power!
Exactly. I have an old 5 ton electric that I keep in the garage where my wood rack is during burn season...use it to customize big chunks occasionally, and you are correct, only the gnarliest stuff will stop it. My sister had one with a much wider/blunt wedge on it than mine, that one is much easier to stall. No idea why some people think they need a 35 ton machine to split 3-4 cords/year for personal use...unless it was bought used and cheap maybe. Although I think I do recall some companies in the past promoting the need for big machines to split 25-30" rounds, so there's that bit of misinfo floating around out there too...heck I've been hand splitting 30" red oak rounds by hand here of late... really doubt that I have a "35 ton swing" anymore...maybe when I was younger
To increase cycle time: Reduce cylinder bore diameter. This will reduce the “tonnage” of the splitter. Increase the pump displacement (bigger pump). This will likely require a larger power unit unless the power unit is already oversized and also may require larger hoses and valves to prevent them from offering restriction to the increased flow. Replace the existing cylinder with a cylinder of the same bore but with a larger rod diameter. The extension force and speed of the cylinder will remain the same but the retraction speed will be increased proportional to the increase of the rod diameter at the expense of decreased retraction force. Usually retraction force required is very minimal anyway. The only time I can think where retraction force would be above near zero would be on a splitter with a rod mounted wedge. If there were a piece of wood stuck on the wedge and the splitter had guards beside the wedge home position to pull off stuck pieces it would take some retraction force to pull the wedge back. But even then I can’t see that taking a great deal of force.
