How big can it split?

[hbaird]

I need a bigger log splitter. I have a DR 4 ton rated electric powered splitter that is barely better than useless. It has an up to 8 inch log rating but will fail on some dry 5 inch diameter limbs. I want a machine that will split any 16 inch diameter, 18 inch long, log I can man handle into the cradle. Most of what I am looking at have a 4inch diameter cylinder. My tractor is good for 2000psi. This net about 12 tons of force. Can anyone make a call on this working for me.
Thanks
Haorld

 

[Youare]

First off how much do you want to spend on a wood splitter and how much wood do you split each heating season?

Secondly, a stand alone splitter is generally a better deal than a 3PH tractor powered unit. Most stand alone splitters have wheels on them making them easier to move. The 3PH splitters when off the tractor are a little less friendly to move. A stand alone splitter is easier to use in locations where it is not practical or possible to move the tractor to.

There are many good hydraulic powered wood splitters in a fairly wide price range available. For a little over $1,000.00 you can find splitters at some of the big box hardware stores and in dicsount catalogs.

One of the favored hydraulic splitters around New England is made by Timber Wolf. The least expensive model will run around $1,800.00 cycle times are in the 15 second range. I know two people who have this model, one is over 10 years old and the other is 1 year old. The 10 year old one has had no major issues. There is another person who just purchased a Timber Wolf splitter that is basically commerical grade, it cost him $3,000.00 it has a cycle time of around 9 seconds. You have to split a lot of wood to justify that expense.

I have a SuperSplit wood splitter. It runs around $2,400. The advantage of this splitter is the cycle time, which is around 4 seconds. This splitter does not use hydraulics. There was recently a competition between the SuperSplit and the Timber Wolf at the Sawlex Expo. Both teams were given 1 1/2 full cords of 16" long pieces of oak and hickory some pieces were 16" in diameter. The Timber Wolf crew took a little over 1 hour to split their pile and the SuperSplit crew finished in just a little over 1/2 hour.

Both splitters are very good at what they do and are quality built machines that will last for a long tiime. I cut and split close to 15 full cords of wood so far this year so I wanted a splitter that would last and get the job done quickly. Your wallet and wood consumption will determine what splitter is best for you.

Randy

 

[Tororider]

Hey,
Youare sounds like he knows what he is talking about, but that would be too rich for me. I have seen these on ebay, and have thought about getting one so I figured I would give you the link and let anyone who has experience with them let you know.

Best of luck and let us know what you get and how it works.

Log Splitter, 3 Point Hitch Attachment 16 Ton - (eBay item 280168788865 end time Nov-05-07 19:00:00 PST)

I think this one is a Jinma brand
XL-S-002 LOG SPLITTER - 3 Point Hitch Tractor - (eBay item 110128798963 end time Nov-14-07 13:08:45 PST)

This is a wallenstein, we have their three point chipper and it is a very nice piece of equipment. I would feel comfortable recommending them as a company having never seen their splitter.
Wallenstein 20T 3 Point Logsplitter Log Splitter WX310 - (eBay item 7560986571 end time Nov-26-07 18:52:13 PST)

 

[greg_g]

If you're anywhere near a TSC, their Huskee brand three point hitch splitter will work just fine for you. It will accommodate up to 24" length, and I've split diamters larger than 18" with mine. My take-home price at that time was under $600, not including hoses.

//greg//

 

[AndyMA]

I bought a 3pt hitch splitter from Northern years ago for less than $400. It will split anything I can put in it. Not the fastest, but it just keeps on going.

Andy

 

[hbaird]

First thanks for all the replies. I am looking at the TSC 3pt. mount. It is $670 plus hoses. I prefer not to have gasoline engine noise while I work and it is easier for me to store a smaller 3pt. mount. I can build a stand so I just wheel it to the tractor and hook it up.Plus the tractor is electric start. I don't expect most years to split more than one cord. I will pay what it takes to split a 16 inch diameter, 18 inch long log but less is better. Greg is your splitter a 4 inch cylinder? Is your hydraulic pressure 2000psi?
Thanks again
Harold

 

[Ford850]

hbaird,
Check out the attached thread link. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/107536-log-splitter.html?highlight=log+splitter
I was also looking for a 3 pt splitter, but settled on the Huskee stand alone model. There is some good feedback on both styles in that thread. As far as brand goes, I am happy with the Huskee. It is built by SpeeCo, and seems like a well built unit. I've split about 4 cords now with nothing but good things to say about it.
Good luck.
Mark

 

[ToadHill]

I bought a Brave splitter several years ago, but found the hyd on the tractor were too slow for my taste. I mounted it on wheels with a 5.5 hp engine, bought a 11 gpm pump, a 11 gal Hyd fluid tank and have been using it now for 8 years.
The Brave came with a 20 ton cylinder, total cost was more than if I had bought a ready made unit but, not much more. Tractor unit was about $495, Motor $179, Pump $90, Tank $69. Total of about $820, at the time I could have bought a ready made for around $795.

 

[greg_g]

Greg is your splitter a 4 inch cylinder? Is your hydraulic pressure 2000psi?

Yup, it's a four inch. Hydraulic pressure though is a function of the pump - not the cylinder. If I'm not mistaken, the rear pump on my KM454 might be rated up to 2500 psi, the hoses at 3000.

You should be more concerned about how many gpm the pump can give the splitter cylinder. It directly affects cycle time.

//greg//

 

[BigE_]

Got mine at Lowe's. It is a stand alone version, with a 5.5HP Honda engine and 27 ton ram. It will split *anything* I have thrown at it. I put it in vertical mode for the large pieces (40"+ in diameter).

It slows down some, but it doesn't stop.

Here's a picture of it:
Amazon.com: Troy-Bilt 160cc Honda OHC Logsplitter #24BF572B766: Home Improvement

I paid somewhere around $1100 for mine, but it came assembled with the hydraulic oil. I had a 20% coupon from Lowe's that I used.

If you get a stand alone unit, do yourself a favor and get one with a Honda engine. I never have a problem starting it, and can start it with my left hand, which means the wife can start it easily.

Between my wife and I, we have split about 13 cords with it this last summer.

 

[ovrszd]

First thanks for all the replies. I am looking at the TSC 3pt. mount. It is $670 plus hoses. I prefer not to have gasoline engine noise while I work and it is easier for me to store a smaller 3pt. mount. I can build a stand so I just wheel it to the tractor and hook it up.Plus the tractor is electric start. I don't expect most years to split more than one cord. I will pay what it takes to split a 16 inch diameter, 18 inch long log but less is better. Greg is your splitter a 4 inch cylinder? Is your hydraulic pressure 2000psi?
Thanks again
Harold

I built my 3PH, PTO pump, 4.5" cyl, 24" stroke splitter. It has a 4-5 second cycle time and splits everything but the gnarliest knot. I can't remember exactly but think I have around $1500 in it. I split 12-15 cords a year to heat my shop and my Son's shop. I plan to retire from splitting wood the winter I turn 80, which is 24 years away. So let's see here,,,,, 24 years times 13 cords a year comes to 312 cords of wood. $1500 divided by 312 comes to $4.81 per cord. Then of course my splitter will get inherited by my Sons and Grandsons but that's another story. So although I agree that I wanted to minimize my costs, I also looked long into the future. Some modernistic civilization will find my splitter rusting in a fencerow in the late 21st Century and it will still work. The beam will still be straight and the wedge will still be sharp That's what I was after.

 

[scott_vt]

I plan to retire from splitting wood the winter I turn 80, which is 24 years away.

Mornin Ovrszd,
Oh my gosh, Ive only got 24 more years to 80 too ! Guess I better get splittin !

 

[ovrszd]

Mornin Ovrszd,
Oh my gosh, Ive only got 24 more years to 80 too ! Guess I better get splittin !

Good Mornin Scotty,
How's things up North my friend??? Hope this day finds you healthy and happy!!!

 

[Wayne County Hose]

I've got a 21 ton splitter and it splits anything I put in it. I was going to get a 37 ton from TSC (it was damaged, would have been 1/2 price) but the local guy told me that a his 21 ton would split anything I can put in it or my money back. I still have the splitter.

 

[Tororider]

If you are at all interested in looking at the Wallenstein, call and find a local dealer. My JD dealer was able to get us a really nice price on our chipper and like I said, it is built like a tank.

I agree with you though, I just like the three point hitch stuff, remove engine problems, although most engines these days are pretty good if you follow a maintenance schedule.

Let us know what you decide. And if you go with a TSC, ask the manager to cut 10% for you, I think they are allowed to give a 10% managers discount.

 

[ovrszd]

I've got a 21 ton splitter and it splits anything I put in it. I was going to get a 37 ton from TSC (it was damaged, would have been 1/2 price) but the local guy told me that a his 21 ton would split anything I can put in it or my money back. I still have the splitter.

I have no idea how many Ton mine is. Is there a formula to figure that??

 

[xlr82v2]

To figure "tons of splitting force"...

Remember the formula for the area of a circle, "pi*radius squared=area"

Take this answer, multiply it by your hydraulic pressure, which will give you your force in pounds.

Take your force in pounds, divide it by 2000 (pounds in a ton), which will give tons of force.

So, for example... your 4.5" cylinder, with 2700psi of pressure from the pump:

4.5/2= 2.25

2.25 squared= 5.0625

5.0625*3.1415927= 15.90431281

15.90431281*2700psi = 42941.64458 pounds of force /2000 = 21.47 Tons of Force.

 

[Ductape]

I've got the same splitter BigE has, also witht the 5.5 Honda. Sounds like your mind is made up on getting a 3 point splitter, but i'm gonna put in another vote for a stand alone. My Yard Machines splitter has about six seasons worth of wood across it..... 6-7 cord per season here. It goes through anythig..... and i mean ANYTHING ! Sometimes there are two thing that just plain go together, like tractors and air conditioning..... or maybe pizza and beer. Well splitters and two stage pumps go together too !! Something you'll never get with a three point splitter. Splitting a knotty piece of elm..... that second stage will kick in and just split that summbich ! One mod i've made to my splitter.... a "shelf" on the far side to catch the chunks that need to be re-split and re-split. Mine will split vertically, or horizontally too. They say to split the really big rounders vertically, but i just use a couple a twobafours as a ramp to roll the big suckers onto the splitter. Or.... if i'm lucky my FIL will set'm on it with his Bobcat. Here is a pic of me splitting a big.... tough .... stringy piece of elm. Would never wanna try splitting this by hand with a maul.... i'm just plain not man enough. By the way... i got mine at the Depot during a ten % off sale. Paid around $1,100 several years ago. No matter how long it sits, it never takes more than two pulls.

 

[WayneB]

I only do about ten cord a year, but it has never let me down. I purchased the the AH-24HH model because I wanted the larger tires to make it easier to pull in the woods.

Bought it from the local Kubota dealer and he mentioned if I could lift it onto the spitter it would split it and it has split everything I could put on it! It is only a Horizontal splitter but works fine for what I am doing. They also manufacture 3pt hitch spitters.

Wayne

You can check out their website at:

Log splitter, wood conveyor and firewood processor by American CLS

 

[Reg]

I have a Home Despot vertical/horizontal one with a 5 inch diameter cylinder.
In a simple contest of stupidity it is POSSIBLE to stall it, e.g. by trying to split DOWN into a knotty crotch piece. For any "normal" splitting it is fine for 2ft diameter logs and SOME crotch pieces. I normally take slices off the larger logs rather than halving and then quartering them, it makes for less handling of large chunks.
The lazy way is to put it into vertical mode, stand the first log on end and use it as a seat.