NEED FEEDBACK ON WOOD SPLITTERS!

Hello everyone,

I work for a metal fab shop that is interested in making a wood splitter. So I am coming to the forum for recommendations!

If you all could answer the following 3 questions, it will be great for the designing process!

1) What are the things that you really like about a wood splitter? Good handle placment? Lift Gate? hydraulic vs kinetic? etc... This can be from something you've seen, or experienced yourself.

2) What are things you HATE about a wood splitter? Literally anything you can think of that is inefficient or unsafe.

3) What is the biggest determining factor on buying a wood splitter? Price, speed, manufacturing lead times, etc... ?


I know that this forum is the most knowledgeable place to obtain this information. So, if you've ever thought about wanting that dream splitter, and the current market not having exactly what you want, now is your chance to let it be known!

All feedback is greatly appreciated!

Thanks for reading everyone, and I am very eager to hear what everyone comes up with!!

 

I bought one from Northern tool.

Capacity, cycle time (not too important, I guess), size ram piston, engine (I went with a Honda....very good reputation and has always started easily) extended warranty (never used it anyway but added to the deal for no fee) and parts availability (another thing I've never used) automatic return of ram, engine idles down when it returns feature

 

1) What are the things that you really like about a wood splitter? She cooks and cleans also.

 

Seriously, I need a splitter that is at bar height with wide tables on both sides so I don't have to bend over as much. The lower back is not what it used to be.
Splitting in both directions would be a huge plus along with a tall, tapered wedge that will push apart the stringy stuff faster.
It also needs to work vertical and horizontal. I realize vertical would be a down only split.
Good luck with your project.

 

I would love to have a vertical splitter at workbench height, with a swappable 2-way / 4-way wedge. Log lift for the big stuff.

 

I have an older Speeco and I like the engine on the same side as the operator. Horizontal and vertical operation is nice.

 

I'd probably steer away from the kinetics. Most of the copycat kinetics I've seen ended up getting recalled for safety reasons, and/or had bad racks.

I think there could be a market for a rugged, yet simple hydraulic with a fairly fast cycle time of say 6-8 seconds that doesn't cost 8+ grand. Maybe a slip on wedge and a simple log lift. If you could keep the price between 3 and 4 grand, I think it would sell well.

 

I like push plate or push through horizontal splitters. I've got a newer style horizontal/ vertical mtd, but IMHO, that entire style H/V has flaws. I also have an old horizontal only push plate splitter. It's low and slow. So faster cycle time would be great, as well as a log lift and a better waist height working height would be perfect. A table area to set pieces on would be great, as well as a grated table/ ramp to have it self load into a trailer would be great. Another thing to pay attention to is the layout/ ergonomics so that it's easy to use.

Also, welcome to FHC! I think you'll love it here.

 

This.

 

Things I consider inefficient or unsafe. H/V splitters are inexpensive and rather compact but the engine and tires are often in the way.
Horizontal only splitters need extra attachments, infeed and outfeed tables, for efficiency.
Horizontal with log lift require multiple people to be efficient because a single operator generally has walk around the splitter to load the log lift.
Although it doesn't happen often when splitting horizontally a round will explode sideways into the operator.

Working in a fab shop provides salvageable material that greatly reduces cost. Take a look at Power Split, TimberDevil, Eastonmade Axis, and SuperAxe for operator friendly splitters.

 

My response is same as Horkn height of beam or a table so you can use hookeroon to slide rounds from pick up bed to splitter!

 

A good reliable (read starts 1st or second pull in temps down to 0) engine. Nothing more frustrating than a splitter that won't start when you want to split. I had 2 different Honda's on my previous splitter and they were a bear to start in the cold. The kohler on my current splitter is never more than 2 pulls. Electric start would be great but that does add cost. Top notch welds too.

 

My splitter is miserable to start when it is cold...not because of the engine though. Since the engine is permanently coupled to the pump when I pull the recoil starter I have to also turn the pump and all the viscous hydraulic fluid too. I can't get enough steam behind the pull when temps are in the 10's or below to get it to fire. I know I could get around this by changing to ATF, but having a PTO would be nice a few times a year.

 

I like the axis style splitter. I like to have control over split geometry, so the easy slide table to maneuver bigger rounds is important and the speed. If I could get that design with a built in stool and a mini fridge for around 5k.

 

I just looked that up. The Easton made axis is my ideal type of splitter, I don't know what that runs $ wise, but I'm sure it's a lot more than a push plate with a log lift

 

The Axis with the lift and mini conveyor is around 11k, and there is a long multi month wait time to get one made.

 

lol... might add a back scratcher and 50" tv as well!

 

Also a fan, large umbrella, and nighttime work lighting...

 

For 5k I didn’t want to set the bar too high and a TV might be distracting with 5 sec cycle time.

 

IF you are going to make a splitter for the average home owner who wants to split his own firewood then I would keep the price below 15 hundred. Hydraulics not kinetic.

I would also make it horizontal or vertical split. A reasonable recycle time would be good. Around 25 ton would be good. Gas powered. Some side tables would be good so that when you split a round in the horizontal position it does not fall off and you are constantly having to pick up a half round to split it again.

Something you can tow behind a car or truck. So that means a trailer hitch with 2" ball and wheels that can handle doing more than 40 miles an hour.