Log Splitter Advice

xring100 · Aug 5, 2014

David P said:
I just purchased a log splitter and my decision came down to primarily the split-fire or the super split. I wound up with the super split but if I didn't need as much speed I think I would have bought the split-fire. Where are you from in MI? I'm fairly close to Clarkston; if you would like to check ours out and/or operate it, you would be more than welcome to come by sometime. Flint New Holland had a split-fire on their showroom floor not too long ago.

Log Splitter, Wood Splitter - Super Split(R)

The super split is an excellent spliter also.

I ordered my splitfire from joe Curtis at flint new holland. I considered ordering a supersplit since I had a speeco kinectic for 6 months before returning it to TSC.

The kinetic was fast but with the small push block you could only half the logs then it took two more splits to 1/4 the log. it took 3 cycles to equal 1 stroke of my 4 way split fire. Each stroke takes between 4.5 and 5.5 seconds for my split fire. Needless to say the split fire works out to be somewhere between 1.75 and 2.5 times faster depending on the wood being split. As long as a I cut to 16" length I can fit two pieces on the spliter so I never have to use a return stroke and split in each direction. If i wanted longer lenght I would get a 28 or 32" model I dont remember all the sizes they build

The other con of the kinetic was that knotty wood had a tendency to ride up the wedge and fly back at me. I wound up with a seriously brushed hand protecting the family jewels. I wore a cup after that day.

Big wood was also pain in the butt. No lift and no option for horizontal spliting made spliting stuff like this a royal pain.

Pilot · Aug 6, 2014

I wrote up a piece about splitters here a year or so ago. Just my opinions.

The Ariens is a nice splitter and I recommend it--again just my opinion. Most of the others suggested here are not sold in this area so I haven't seen them.

Make sure the rail is at a good height for you. Mine is a little low which means more bending.

Honda engines are known for being quiet, which is nice. I use hearing protection all the time with my Briggs.

You want one that you can operate from either side. Most splitters have the handle on a side they expect you will want but you may work differently, so you want a choice. So the handle should be on top, not on the side. Some are almost on top, angled, that is probably OK if you can reach across.

Vertical & horizontal operation is mandatory in my book.

A structure that will catch the split pieces is also important.

Good luck on your purchase.

schmism · Aug 6, 2014

I much prefer the wedge stationary and push the log. That way when the log "pops" open it doesnt smack you in the kneecaps repeadly as you stand next to the splitter. It also pushes the split wood off the end into a pile that you dont have to constantly keep moving out of your way unlike the version that splits it on the beam. forceing you to move every piece again and or have it drop on your toes. (if it didnt smack you in the shins already)

QueBota · Aug 6, 2014

I'll second that, picked one up at Lowes a few years ago, can't complain. Don't let the 27 ton rating fool you, I haven't found anything I can't split. Only drawback, cycle time is a bit slow. Best thing about it, the Honda engine. Starts first or second pull everytime, even if left out in the weather longer than I would care to admit. Honda doesn't burn much gas and the carb is rock solid, never require fussing with. I would buy another one. I split up to 10 coords per year and loan it to a few neighbors on ocassion who split a coord or three.

Q

The Deerslayer said:
I bought a Troy-Bilt 27 ton with the Honda engine about 5 years ago and have been very pleased with it. I split about 4 cords a year of hard wood as well as some pine for the fire pit. It can be used horizontally or vertically and has split pretty much everything I have thrown at it with the exception of a few nasty pieces that ended up in the bonfire anyway. Good luck

xring100 · Aug 6, 2014

schmism said:
I much prefer the wedge stationary and push the log. That way when the log "pops" open it doesnt smack you in the kneecaps repeadly as you stand next to the splitter. It also pushes the split wood off the end into a pile that you dont have to constantly keep moving out of your way unlike the version that splits it on the beam. forceing you to move every piece again and or have it drop on your toes. (if it didnt smack you in the shins already)

The split-fire with its unique wedge ends does not have a problem with even dry ash flying off when it pops. If it does pop really severely its caught by the craddle side supports. I also like that the wood stays in place instead of being pushed off for two reasons:
1- I dont have to play go fetch for second or third split. This might be okay if you split small stuff that only needs to he split but I found it very annoying with my speeco speed pro.

2- I dont have to play go fetch to move it from the slitter to my stack. The wood goes directly from the splitter to bags.

Deere Dude · Aug 6, 2014

TravisD said:
The convertible type - that can be used either horizontal or vertical - are nice if you think you might ever have pieces that are too big to safely lift. I easily split pieces 24+" in diameter with my Huskee set vertically. Otherwise, I operate horizontally which puts the work at a decent height and is much easier on my back. Get (or make) a side shelf to hold the "other half" of a piece as you split. The goal is to pick up the same piece of wood as few times as possible. Power wise, just about all of the gas-hydraulic units have more than enough to split hardwood with a single wedge, while running the motor at a moderate speed. Upping the motor speed decreases cycle times, but burns more fuel.

I have a 22 ton Duerr with a Briggs motor on it. I used it for wood splitting since 1988 about 3-5 cord a year. I always run it wide open and can run a few hours on a tank. It had a large oil reservoir which helps dissipate heat. I never did anything but add gas and oil once in a while and use a good grade of gas.

I never had a log, oak or otherwise I couldn't split, although 36+" it had to be in the vertical configuration to handle them and had to plan the cuts. Make sure whatever you get has a verticalo function if you might need it in time. Once I had the thing quartered I left them for later.

I built a table like Travis D did, for the overflow and while I worked on a piece. That changed that a year ago for something I like a whole lot better.

For anything larger than 6-8" I just pick up and split sometimes, but larger than that and less than 24-28" dia. and also the big quarters I roll them on a pallet.. Sometimes even the smaller ones I will throw on.

I roll them up on a 4'x4' pallet and pick them up with the forks on the tractor and put it real close to the splitter so I can use the pallet as a table and also so I can just roll them onto the splitter from the pallet. Then I don't have much if any lifting to the splitter, just rolling onto the pallet and rolling onto the splitter. The loads get very heavy so I cut off a saw horse so I can let the pallet down on that for support because the forks settle down after a while.

EddieWalker · Aug 6, 2014

I went with the Troy Bilt sold at Lowes because of the Honda engine. I've never had any problems with Honda and consider them to be the top of the line that all other small engines are compared to. I've used other brands and when running, they all seem to work about the same. The big difference is in getting them running. Honda has it figured out. They start easy year after year.

The older I get, the more this has proven to be true. I'm at that point where I wont buy anything else. The cost savings of buying anything with a cheaper engine just means more time wasted trying to get it started, or getting rid of it and buying the one with the Honda engine.

Eddie

dodge man · Aug 6, 2014

I'll jump in with a cheap one that I own, its a Speeco. Probably China made with a copycat of a Honda engine on it. I think it was only about $700 on sale. It always runs well and will split about anything but it won't go vertical. Most of the time that isn't a problem but when you get a big one, its a pain to lift it up there. A budget of $2000 will get you a really nice one.

The Deerslayer · Aug 6, 2014

Could not agree more........

EddieWalker said:
I went with the Troy Bilt sold at Lowes because of the Honda engine. I've never had any problems with Honda and consider them to be the top of the line that all other small engines are compared to. I've used other brands and when running, they all seem to work about the same. The big difference is in getting them running. Honda has it figured out. They start easy year after year.

The older I get, the more this has proven to be true. I'm at that point where I wont buy anything else. The cost savings of buying anything with a cheaper engine just means more time wasted trying to get it started, or getting rid of it and buying the one with the Honda engine.

Eddie