Log splitters

[ning]

I've been considering getting a log splitter.

I'm a homeowner, and primarily heat with wood (gas furnace back-up, but I prefer a hot roaring fire and it heats the house just how I like it - hot in the living room, cooler in the bedrooms), but where I live I tend to burn perhaps 2 cords per year of mostly oak. I've typically bought wood, but as I've been doing more and more on my land, I've accumulated quite a pile of rounds, which I hand-split for the most part. I can continue hand-splitting, but it takes me a long time and I've other chores I could be doing instead.

So, a couple questions.

First - do log splitters do ok splitting dry/seasoned rounds? Assume oak; live oak and black oak for the most part. The pine that's here I can sneeze and to break up so I'm not concerned.

If they do fine with dry rounds, I'll probably just rent a splitter once or twice a year; the local yard (which takes me about 1h20m round-trip including paperwork) charges $55 for 4 hours (of which I can get maybe 3 hours operating time) or $80 for a full day.

Otherwise, there's a semi-local craigslist ad that has this monster:

Apparently it's a 6" cylinder with an 18" stroke (not sure what the rod is).
My tractor has 9gpm to the implements, which means a ~28sec full cycle time if the rod is 2".
Seller on the phone states I'd probably want to add quick couplers or perhaps replace the hoses; he's asking $400 for the unit.
There's no stand, he said he just drops it to the ground fully. Apparently it's about 7' long.

Should I just get it? I've got implement sickness and wouldn't mind splitting wood an hour here an hour there instead of saving it up for a day's splitting and stacking; does this appear decent?
The paint is new - the implement is old. Things to look for?

 

[ultrarunner]

I bought a used splitter about 12 years ago...

It's plated at 22 tons and has a little Briggs and Stratton engine...

So far it has split all the oak I have but the dry stuff will sometimes let to with some force so I am always clear.

Far from and expert but I find using it vertical easier as it eliminates lifting because I just roll the rounds under.

My 83 year old mom and I split quite a bit at my brother's place... so much that they have not split any since...

 

[Deere Dude]

I bought a stand alone 22 ton splitter in 1988 about and I just change the oil once in a while, It starts after a couple pulls and runs endlessly w/o much fuel. I like to stand and split so I pick a pallet of rounds with my tractor and set it bed height so I roll it off the pallet to the splitter bed. When I get over 26-28" diameter I may stand it vertically but I would rather not use it that way unless the chunk is way to heavy.

I split up to 36" red oak but that takes some effort. 22" and smaller it cruises through especially if chunks are dry...

For 2-3 cords a year I would buy a splitter. If you plan on burning wood for at least 5 years it would be a pain to run and rent one, but that is just me... After about 3 hours I am ready to quit for the day anyway.

I never used a tractor splitter but that one is a beast, Seems like a good enough deal. For me it wouldn't work unless I had another tractor for lifting a pallet to the work table.

 

[mopardude318]

..................................LOL.........................


My Stickler Wood Splitter - YouTube

 

[Rustyiron]

That seems like a pretty good price.
A few things to consider about wood splitting with a splitter.

New "store bought" splitters (self contained with a gas motor) that will have no problems with 2-3 cord a year can be had for $1000 and with a little care, should last for ever.

It's awful handy to have your tractor available to "nurse" the splitter duties, ie; hauling rounds to it and split wood away to your stacks.
A vertical/horizontal splitter if my favorite and has little to do with being able to go vertical. That is a nice feature with huge rounds, but the best feature is the wedge is on the ram and when splitting rounds with multiple passes, your not continuously "chasing" your log back for another split

The vertical splitters are usually at a decent working height, working hunched over for hours may not bother your now, but there will be a time.....
consider a comfortable working height.

Good luck with your search, the 3 point splitter you've shown is a pretty "cheap date" and should always be worth that price. The working height is adjustable and there is very little to go wrong with them.

 

[Glocker]

I considered a 3 point type but bought a tractor supply County line 25 ton. Now i can leave my son splitting so i can get another bucket load and hold it at bed height for splitting. Not for everyone , but it works for me.

 

[jeff9366]

You are over-thinking, leading to over-reaching.

For two cords per year buy a 110 volt or 220 volt electric log splitter.

Split in your driveway, enjoying a cold beverage.

Electric log splitters are the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) solution.

VENDER LINK: electric log splitters - Google Search

VIDEO: ELECTRIC LOG SPLITTERS - YouTube

 

[bcp]

An electric splitter will work far beyond its listed capabilities with easy wood, like this Douglas fir. It is from a log that had been on the ground for several years. The center was still solid. No photos of same sized good wood, but it splits them just as easily. Homelite 5-ton splitter.



Bruce

 

[MossRoad]

I've been considering getting a log splitter.

I'm a homeowner, and primarily heat with wood (gas furnace back-up, but I prefer a hot roaring fire and it heats the house just how I like it - hot in the living room, cooler in the bedrooms), but where I live I tend to burn perhaps 2 cords per year of mostly oak. I've typically bought wood, but as I've been doing more and more on my land, I've accumulated quite a pile of rounds, which I hand-split for the most part. I can continue hand-splitting, but it takes me a long time and I've other chores I could be doing instead.

So, a couple questions.

First - do log splitters do ok splitting dry/seasoned rounds? Assume oak; live oak and black oak for the most part. The pine that's here I can sneeze and to break up so I'm not concerned.

If they do fine with dry rounds, I'll probably just rent a splitter once or twice a year; the local yard (which takes me about 1h20m round-trip including paperwork) charges $55 for 4 hours (of which I can get maybe 3 hours operating time) or $80 for a full day.

Otherwise, there's a semi-local craigslist ad that has this monster:
View attachment 508411
Apparently it's a 6" cylinder with an 18" stroke (not sure what the rod is).
My tractor has 9gpm to the implements, which means a ~28sec full cycle time if the rod is 2".
Seller on the phone states I'd probably want to add quick couplers or perhaps replace the hoses; he's asking $400 for the unit.
There's no stand, he said he just drops it to the ground fully. Apparently it's about 7' long.

Should I just get it? I've got implement sickness and wouldn't mind splitting wood an hour here an hour there instead of saving it up for a day's splitting and stacking; does this appear decent?
The paint is new - the implement is old. Things to look for?

What's the cost effectiveness of renting a splitter VS buying?
How long do you plan to heat with wood?
I'd buy a self powered 20 ton gas splitter, and sell it when you decide not to heat with wood anymore.
As others have mentioned, if its on the tractor 3pt hitch, you can't use the bucket to do lifting/moving while splitting, which can come in handy.

As for your rental situation and long drive to rental company, I don't think you'll be splitting 2 cords in 5.5 hours with one day rental splitter, even if you have lots of help. You're looking at a 2 day rental. So $160 per year. In 10 years, that's $1600 and you can get a darn good new splitter for $1600 that will last well over 10 years with the amount of wood you're talking about.

Case in point...
My in-laws bought a 20 ton splitter back around 1981-2. 5HP Briggs engine. They heated their house with wood until 2 years ago (Pops was 87 at the time, and got tired.... of sweeping ashes, not splitting wood! :laughing. They did about 4-5 cords per year with it. So, we'll call it 32 years @ 4.5 cord for 144 cords. Their son used it for about 10 years, too, same amount, so another 45 cords, that makes 189 cords. I've heated with wood for about 7 years @ 6 cords per year, so another 40+ cords.... so 230 cords. And a bunch of family have borrowed it over that time as well, so I'm guessing 300 cords over 30 years.... the motor blew an oil seal once (less than $5). The pull starter blew apart last fall, and I could have repaired it for about $40, but Harbor Freight had a new engine for $99 that bolted right in, so I just treated it to a re-power. And, we now have a log splitter that's still worth at least $500 if we ever decide to sell it.

So there you have it... 5hp 20 ton splitter doing 10 cords per year for 32 years with $5 in repairs before it failed. As far as I know, its still got most of the original 32 year old hydraulic oil and the filter has only been changed twice. Really, its been dirt cheap to maintain.

One of the things I like most about having a splitter of my own at home is that it's sitting next to my woodpile waiting to go. Anytime I feel like splitting some wood, I split. Sometimes I only split for 30 minutes. Sometimes I split for several hours. But if I have free time and wood, I use it and don't have to work in a trip to borrow it or rent it.

:thumbsup:

 

[bspeedy]

That long cycle time will drive you crazy. Stand and look at a log for 30 seconds. Then do it again. Then again... You'll be frustrated beyond belief.

Buy a stand alone unit for all the reasons above. If you do buy a tractor mounted splitter, buy a different one than that. I have a 22 ton unit that will split anything I've thrown at it, including 30" red oak. I rented once and the hassle made it not even close to worth it.

 

[jeff9366]

If the OP has access to a 220 volt circuit the larger electric log splitters are fast.

OP only plans to split two cords per year.

Most electric splitters can be stored vertically in a garage corner.

 

[vsteel]

I HATE having another motor to maintain but when I looked at my tractor and the hydraulic flow and took a realistic view, I got a stand alone unit. I bought a 35 ton and I love it. I only split about 2 cords a year but the ability to have it at the house and do a little at a time and not have to have a marathon session with a rented machine and having issues with the rented machine more than make up for the cost. I figure my time is worth something as well and the convenience is worth it as well. I got it because while I can split the pine and fir easily by hand, I get a lot of my wood from helping people remove trees. The worst (I think anyway) is the elm where it is so fibrous and fights the entire way. I can really load the engine down while splitting. It is banging and popping the entire length of the stroke (the wood is making the noise not the splitter) and you can tell it is really working the splitter.

 

[Working on Rust]

I should say I don't have a lot of experience with wood splitters but have worked with a few over the years. I would go with electric. Gas motors that only get used a few times a year are a bother to keep fresh gas in and also every gas splitter I have ever been near is uncomfortably loud without hearing protectors. Electric limits where you can split but is plug in and go and should be cheaper to run and less maintenance. We use a cobbled together electric hydraulic and it has good cycle time and good enough splitting power. Beech wood is the toughest I have ever found and have had gas splitters get stuck trying to split it. Also a 4 way wedge cuts the splitting time in half or less.

 

[jeff9366]

Bear in mind that the difference between electric and tractor hydraulic powered splitters is just the motor. The actual splitting apparatus is hydraulic in both cases.

To me, electric motors are simpler than hydraulic power and far simpler than standalone gasoline fueled motors.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

First - do log splitters do ok splitting dry/seasoned rounds? Assume oak; live oak and black oak for the most part.

I have a 35 ton Huskee. It has been splitting 30 inch and bigger dry oak rounds for about 11 years now. About 5-6 cords per year. It doesn't get fed much else.

I'm skeptical of a 20 ton unit holding up to a lot of oak, though. But 2 cords a year? Probably not a problem. Still, if you are in it for hte long haul, go bigger. At least 28 tons.

You aren't going to split much oak with one of the little weenie electric splitters. There ARE electric splitters that will do it, but not one of those table top models. You are talking about a unit just like a gas splitter with full size hydraulics and a 5 horse motor on 230 volts. If you have the electrical supply available, that's sure a nice way to go. Quiet, no exhaust, no fuel problems.+

If they do fine with dry rounds, I'll probably just rent a splitter once or twice a year; the local yard (which takes me about 1h20m round-trip including paperwork) charges $55 for 4 hours (of which I can get maybe 3 hours operating time) or $80 for a full day.

Otherwise, there's a semi-local craigslist ad that has this monster:

Apparently it's a 6" cylinder with an 18" stroke (not sure what the rod is).
My tractor has 9gpm to the implements, which means a ~28sec full cycle time if the rod is 2".

I'll echo what was said about cycle time. You will hate yourself. I don't think much of people who endlessly debate a 12 second vs. a 9 second advertised cycle time, because variations in your work style will make more difference than 3 seconds on the cycle time.

But 30 seconds? That's probably why he's selling it.

 

[ning]

OK, I'm convinced - that 6" cylinder is going to have an intolerable cycle time, I'll hate renting (already dislike it in general) and definitely would prefer having my own, and I'll get something at least 28 tons

I like the sound of an electric log splitter, but I'm not seeing anything above 10 ton other than the flywheel type splitters, and those are really pricey.

Looks like my local used market (loosely defining "local" as in my state and not over 75 miles...) is similar to the used tractor market - non-existent or just trashed old stuff, but I'm not in a hurry so I'll wait and watch.

Thanks for the input!

 

[MossRoad]

...
I'm skeptical of a 20 ton unit holding up to a lot of oak, though....

Our 20 ton is 30+ years old and the last 6 years have been primarily locust. Oak is like butter. :thumbsup:

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I'm not so sure your Branson would lift that heavy splitter, sticking waaay out the back like it will...

SR

 

[Piston]

OK, I'm convinced - that 6" cylinder is going to have an intolerable cycle time, I'll hate renting (already dislike it in general) and definitely would prefer having my own, and I'll get something at least 28 tons

I like the sound of an electric log splitter, but I'm not seeing anything above 10 ton other than the flywheel type splitters, and those are really pricey.

Looks like my local used market (loosely defining "local" as in my state and not over 75 miles...) is similar to the used tractor market - non-existent or just trashed old stuff, but I'm not in a hurry so I'll wait and watch.

Thanks for the input!

Excellent call on waiting for a standalone! That 9gpm you are calculating the cycle time with, is assuming full throttle operation which you'd never be at. Realistically, you'd be at a lot longer cycle time.

I had a 3 point mounted splitter and figured it would be the best way to go. It wasn't. I ended up selling it and buying a standalone splitter.

Some guys like their 3 point version but I personally did not.

 

[LD48750]

My 22 ton (I think) gas splitter has split everything I have thrown at it for the last 5 yrs.
Mostly oak.
Friend that borrowed it a few times bought an electric (Harbor Freight) and is really happy with it. He splits a little of everything to heat his garage.