Log Splitters

[GrumpyJoe]

I've narrowed it down to these two.

http://https://www.lowes.com/pd/Dirty-Hand-Tools-27-Ton-Hydraulic-Gas-Log-Splitter/1000096980
or
http://https://www.lowes.com/pd/Champion-Power-Equipment-25-Ton-Gas-Log-Splitter/1000126583

I see good in both and also some bad. The Dirty Hand some say runs really hot. Not too many reviews on the Champion. Reviews are mostly good on both. I burn roughly 6 cord a winter and will split year round. I'll end up getting it within the next couple weeks. Just thought I would ask you guys if you had experence with either. Thanks.

 

[GrumpyJoe]

Well that didn't work out the way I wanted it to.

It's the Dirty Hands 27 ton Log splitter and the Champion 25 ton splitter.

 

[bcp]

Extra http:// in your links.

Bruce

 

[Code54]

Seems the links are not working correctly due to the HTTP: at the start - here are a corrected set for you.
Shop Dirty Hand Tools 27-Ton Hydraulic Gas Log Splitter at Lowes.com
Shop Champion Power Equipment 25-Ton Gas Log Splitter at Lowes.com
I have an older (3 years old) one from Lowes but neither of those makes - it is a standard MTD type and works pretty darn well. Only 27 ton but never had a problem with it splitting anything. Good luck

 

[GrumpyJoe]

Fixed it. Thx Bruce.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

No idea on the quality of either unit. The Dirty Hands unit looks like a poor copy of the Speeco, sold by Tractor Supply under the Huskee label. (Now they are calling them County Line, and I don't know if they are still Speeco. It matters!)

As far as the configuration, I think the Dirty Hands unit is much better. The engine on the Champion is going to get in your way a lot. A lot. Also, take a close look at the wedge on both units. The DH looks much stronger, to me. OTOH, the log stripper (the guards that knock a stuck log off the wedge) look a lot stronger on the Champion. The DH's look pretty wimpy, really, and yes, it does matter!

I suggest you take a good look at the Tractor Supply units. Their 28 ton unit is a bit more, but it's a much better unit, and the 25 ton is also a much better unit.

And don't take those tonnage ratings too seriously. Most manufacturers run their splitters at 2500 psi, but rate them at system maximum of 3500. In other words, if it says 27 tons, you are getting a lot less.

The Speeco (Tractor Supply) units are rated and run at 3500, so you are getting a true tonnage rating. Make sure to ask the TSC folks about that, though. It's possible they have a different supplier now. Can't hurt to ask.

I have had the 35 ton Huskee/Speeco for about 11 years now, and I once bent the toe plate on it on a very nasty old oak crotch. Turns out they had a run where they slimmed down the toe plate, and had a lot of problems. They beefed it up again and have been fine since. The customer service with Speeco was terrific. I am a big fan. The bent toe plate happened under warranty, and it didn't cost me a dime. They replaced the whole beam.

Speaking of the beam, take a good look at it. The Speeco/Huskee/County Line has a built in log cradle, and it's really nice. No trying to balance a round of oak on a flat beam! The DH follows this design and I can't really tell with the Champion.

Those side mounted log cradles are really a nice feature. You'll want that on any unit you buy.


I think it would be worth your time to make the trip to TSC and Lowes, and make an up-front-and-personal comparison.

 

[s219]

I bought the DHT 22-ton model last year, and it's been outstanding so far. Very solid build and quality.

I spent a long time shopping, and the DHT models and TSC/Countyline models were about the same and the best mid-line values I found. Below these two were a whole bunch of MTD/TroyBilt/Etc machines that are much lighter duty and all clones of some common design. Above them were the Northern Tool Northstar splitters, which are very nice but real expensive.

I was going to get either a DHT or TSC model depending on which came up for sale first, and the DHT ended up the one. It was on sale for $100 off, and I had a 10% Lowes coupon on top of that.

 

[rmk700]

I got this one simply because of the Honda engine. It's been great.

Shop Troy-Bilt 27-Ton Gas Log Splitter at Lowes.com

 

[oldpilgrim]

Tractor supply units are excellent and the best bang for your buck. I have the 22 ton version and it gas never failed to split anything I've fed it

 

[turnkey4099]

I got this one simply because of the Honda engine. It's been great.

Shop Troy-Bilt 27-Ton Gas Log Splitter at Lowes.com

I have the same one. Only problem is with the rewind starter, Idt doesn't pull the cord back if the weather is at all cool. Could stand another wrap of cord on the rewind spool but I am leery of trying that. My experience with rewinds usually winds up with the spring coming off.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Tractor supply units are excellent and the best bang for your buck. I have the 22 ton version and it gas never failed to split anything I've fed it

I see that statement made all over various forums, about various brands of splitters, and it leaves me scratching my head. From Troy-Bilt 22s (which isn't a true 22, AFAIK) to the Speeco 22s and 28s, and everything else.

I have the 35 ton Speeco, which is a true 35 ton, unlike most other brands. I stop it regularly. I have heard the same from other people, again, about various size and various brand splitters.

So why are some people stopping their splitters and others have never stopped theirs? So much so, that some of these owners of smaller units scoff at those of us who have bigger units, and say it's a waste and it's pure macho and never needed?

The only explanation I can think of is that it depends on what you are splitting. Some people just aren't getting really tough wood. They think they are because they see their splitter straining at some crotch piece or something with twisted grain, and then getting through it, and they think it's their tough splitter winning out over some tough wood.

All that to say, pay attention to the kind of wood you will be splitting. I hear that eucalyptus and California oak you have out there is some tough stuff. Make sure you are getting enough splitter. You will not regret getting a bigger one.

 

[Timm250]

I bought the 27 ton Dirty Hand Tools at Lowe's 2 years ago & it is a good machine. No problems with it so far & I probably split 4-5 cords a year.

 

[ovrszd]

I see that statement made all over various forums, about various brands of splitters, and it leaves me scratching my head. From Troy-Bilt 22s (which isn't a true 22, AFAIK) to the Speeco 22s and 28s, and everything else.

I have the 35 ton Speeco, which is a true 35 ton, unlike most other brands. I stop it regularly. I have heard the same from other people, again, about various size and various brand splitters.

So why are some people stopping their splitters and others have never stopped theirs? So much so, that some of these owners of smaller units scoff at those of us who have bigger units, and say it's a waste and it's pure macho and never needed?

The only explanation I can think of is that it depends on what you are splitting. Some people just aren't getting really tough wood. They think they are because they see their splitter straining at some crotch piece or something with twisted grain, and then getting through it, and they think it's their tough splitter winning out over some tough wood.

All that to say, pay attention to the kind of wood you will be splitting. I hear that eucalyptus and California oak you have out there is some tough stuff. Make sure you are getting enough splitter. You will not regret getting a bigger one.

Because of the points you made, I pay little attention to statements about how "my splitter will split anything thrown at it". Come to my block pile and we'll see.

For me, the goal of a splitter is to not waste any wood. If I can get it onto the table I expect it to be split. Buy large.

I don't like the wedge on the cylinder but that's hard to avoid in the smaller splitters. It must be cheaper to build them that way.

I also highly value a catch table. Saves a LOT of back work.

All of these things appear trivial when you are standing in the store looking at your potential new splitter. Halfway thru the first load they become very significant. As someone mentioned above, it matters!!!

 

[jimmyj]

They both look pretty decent, the DH sure does look like a speeco. The log catcher on the Champion looks better of the two. The lever to actuate the ram on the Champion (I have the Champion) is in a bit of a precarious spot. I have broken it off twice. It's super easy to fix, and it was my fault both times but it's just sticking up there with no protection around it.

I love my Champion, other than that one issue it has been awesome.

 

[XSFMED18D]

I bought a County Line 25 ton splitter this past Veterans Day. They had 15% off or something like that. I Like it. Pretty sure its a rebadged Speeco as they sell the Speeco accessories for it, like the 4 way wedge. I paid maybe $700? It was already assembled and came w hyd fluid too.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I see that statement made all over various forums, about various brands of splitters, and it leaves me scratching my head. From Troy-Bilt 22s (which isn't a true 22, AFAIK) to the Speeco 22s and 28s, and everything else.

I have the 35 ton Speeco, which is a true 35 ton, unlike most other brands. I stop it regularly. I have heard the same from other people, again, about various size and various brand splitters.

So why are some people stopping their splitters and others have never stopped theirs? So much so, that some of these owners of smaller units scoff at those of us who have bigger units, and say it's a waste and it's pure macho and never needed?

The only explanation I can think of is that it depends on what you are splitting. Some people just aren't getting really tough wood. They think they are because they see their splitter straining at some crotch piece or something with twisted grain, and then getting through it, and they think it's their tough splitter winning out over some tough wood.

All that to say, pay attention to the kind of wood you will be splitting. I hear that eucalyptus and California oak you have out there is some tough stuff. Make sure you are getting enough splitter. You will not regret getting a bigger one.

I split mostly red oak, maple, birch with a few other hardwoods thrown in. I have put logs over 36" on it and split them fine. Maybe not as fast as a larger machine, but the machine does the job. I don't do it for a living, just 4-5 cord a year for my personal use.

The wedge is on the ram is because the machine tips up to vertical position. If the wedge were not on the ram, you couldn't tip it up. I do all my splitting, sitting down. If I can roll it under the wedge, I don't have to lift it and with a surgically fused spine, I don't lift anymore than I have to.

 

[BKBoiss]

While I didn't read the whole thread I will give you my opinion on the champion. I bought it two years ago because it was the cheapest option I could find and beat the splitting maul I had been using. Ideally I would love a split fire set up the way we had it as a kid with taller axe and end stops as well as removable dual action four way splitting wedge, a built in table and dropping split pieces right into the conveyor etc etc. but back to the champion the splitter valve let go when it was a month or two old (they sent me a new one I replaced it) I learned the first time I used it you have to shut the fuel off every time or else it fills the crank case full of fuel, the tire and fender will chafe your leg from tripping over the stupid thing, and the way the axe sits down inside the beam lets pieces get wedged or spit out at you. Over all I would say it is the difference between a Cadillac and a smart car for comfort but in either case they both beat walking. I could not buy the parts to build my own splitter for the price I paid for the champion and I can split ten times the wood as I can by hand. It all comes down to what you can afford and how much your gonna do.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Best bang for the buck is the Harbor Freight 20 ton dual splitter. I've split 15 cords with it so far, and I've been extremely pleased with it. It is faster than a normal splitter because it splits both ways, forward and reverse. So there is no time wasted to retract the cylinder. Splits oak, maple, cherry, ash without issue. I would recommend this splitter to everyone. You won't find a better deal.

 

[ovrszd]

Best bang for the buck is the Harbor Freight 20 ton dual splitter. I've split 15 cords with it so far, and I've been extremely pleased with it. It is faster than a normal splitter because it splits both ways, forward and reverse. So there is no time wasted to retract the cylinder. Splits oak, maple, cherry, ash without issue. I would recommend this splitter to everyone. You won't find a better deal.

Do you have a helper feed wood to the splitter? If not, how do you keep up with loading the splitter and stacking the splits plus running the splitter?

 

[dadster4]

I bought the DHT 22 ton a couple years ago and had a leak on the return line, quick fix and back in business. Split everything I threw at it 12" to 36" without a hitch. I bought because of the fast cycle time and it looked beefier than most other splitters in the price range.