Does building log splitter make $ sense

[Scooby074]

Speeco is a good splitter. Regardless of any "import" claims. Why pay 5x's more for a timberwolf? Unless you want all the fancy log-lift and hydraulic adjustable wedge, etc.

1. Import matters to me. My splitter is sourced from as much US/Canadian parts as possible. Prince valves, Canadian steel, Canadian hydraulic cylinders, Canadian hyd tank, barnes pumps. Whether or not its imported should matter to all. Our readiness to buy cheap imports that employ the chinese is the reason our manufacturing base is decimated.

2. I wouldnt trade my "fancy log lift" nor my "hydraulic adjustable wedge" for anything now that ive used them on my splitter. An adjustable 4 way and log lift not only save much time but save the back as well.

 

[J_J]

Actually, the steel in Chinese products is probably from the U.S.A, or where ever, so your intent is good to only buy homeland, however impractical at times. A lot of stuff that says made in so and so, is actually made somewhere else and assembled in so and so.

Since our labor is so high, you will pay a high price .

Those auto hyd cyl for the 3pt, I found out that they started making them in the US, and after a year, they shifting the manufacturing over seas, but still kept the data on their website as Made in USA. They just recently pulled the USA statement, after I called them on it. One guy thought he was buying USA, but when he got the box, it said maid in China..

 

[YesDeere]

I run the speeco off the power beyond for a backhoe. Works great plenty of power. A little slow but not that slow. It's all one man at a time wants speed wise. I think I paid $650 couple years ago at tsc.

 

[LD1]

1. Import matters to me. My splitter is sourced from as much US/Canadian parts as possible. Prince valves, Canadian steel, Canadian hydraulic cylinders, Canadian hyd tank, barnes pumps. Whether or not its imported should matter to all. Our readiness to buy cheap imports that employ the chinese is the reason our manufacturing base is decimated.

2. I wouldnt trade my "fancy log lift" nor my "hydraulic adjustable wedge" for anything now that ive used them on my splitter. An adjustable 4 way and log lift not only save much time but save the back as well.

The problem with purchasing stuff in todays economy is you actually have no Idea where the stuff is made.

I consider the speeco as much "made in USA" as anything else. But even with ones like timberwolf, how do you know where the I-beam was made?? Or the Sheet metal used to make the tank? Or the cylinders? Hydraulic hoses and fittings? Filter assembly? Tires?

How far does one want to go?

The timberwolf and the like have the leg up when all the bells and whistles are wanted. But when comparing a BASIC horizontal/vertical splitter, What makes a timberwolf better than a speeco to the tune of 2x's or more the cost??

We have a huskee (TSC speeco) that has split 20+ cord for the last 10 years with NO problems whatsoever. Briggs motor (Made in usa), Prince valve (made in USA), Barns pump (made in USA). Cant speak on behalf of their newer products, cause I dont know.

 

[nwngunner]

i am looking at building my own splitter, i have alot of parts laying around as it is. The thing i am running into is getting a big enough cylinder to produce the pressure i want. Figure i want at least 30 ton of pressure being i want to go to a four way wedge. Also i want one that is going to be the length of stroke that i want it to be. My wood burner will take i think 30inch logs, most splitters wont accept that length of stuff. Also i will end up spending as much as say as a specco or mabey a little more but i will have the options i want in the splitter. I was looking at getting one of those truck cranes and a logging tongs for lifting and swinging big logs into the splitter.

 

[Scooby074]

The problem with purchasing stuff in todays economy is you actually have no Idea where the stuff is made.

I consider the speeco as much "made in USA" as anything else. But even with ones like timberwolf, how do you know where the I-beam was made?? Or the Sheet metal used to make the tank? Or the cylinders? Hydraulic hoses and fittings? Filter assembly? Tires?

How far does one want to go?

The timberwolf and the like have the leg up when all the bells and whistles are wanted. But when comparing a BASIC horizontal/vertical splitter, What makes a timberwolf better than a speeco to the tune of 2x's or more the cost??

We have a huskee (TSC speeco) that has split 20+ cord for the last 10 years with NO problems whatsoever. Briggs motor (Made in usa), Prince valve (made in USA), Barns pump (made in USA). Cant speak on behalf of their newer products, cause I dont know.

To a certain extent thats true. We dont know the COO of some of the raw products that are made into a finished product, like the steel to make a tank for example.However the tank met the necessary requirements, 51% or whatever content to be canadian. That makes a difference. I know my tank and cylinder were welded in Winnipeg, by canadian welders that pay canadian taxes.

As to the components in my machine.. I know my steel was Canadian, it was stamped as such... Well all except the pipe for the outfeed, it was Vietnamese.

On the labour for the rest of the build, it was welded by canadian hands... mine:thumbsup:

Older Speecos may very well be made with USA components, however the current units ive seen are made with chinese parts. Briggs arent completely made here anymore and there is some discussion to where they are actually made (briggs claims 90% made here some say its much less). Prince has a chinese line (timberwolf). Barnes has had their pumps cloned by Hyspec (china). Simple fact is you cant get a $800 splinter made here with parts made here. Lots of companies are selling $800-1500 spliters with clone components.

You can get a made in Canada Wallenstein with canadian and american parts, but they are $1700+. Thats a fact of life. But its also a fair price for paying canadian wages and abiding to our environmental and labour laws. The famous $800 splitter is $800 because chinese companies DONT abide by those same restrictions.

Would i buy a $7000 timberwolf? No, but i wanted the bells and whistles, and have the necessary skills. Thats why i built mine, for about $3500. And im very happy with its speed and function.

 

[toxicjeeper]

No, you cannot build one for the price of a new one. Period.
That is if all parts are bought new. No scrounging.
I have figured it plenty of times and no it can't be done.
I still built my own, some pieces were scrounged and it still cost $1200 or so.
I was not really impressed with the big box store splitters, plastic parts thin steel and just not very well built IMHO. So i did get a better, tougher machine and a few upgrades for the same price. I got a faster pump and a Honda GX 200 pro engine. So there is some benefit to building your own.

I agree..definitly not cheaper..But i wanted something faster and better build than the stores offered..I looked at a lot of them and didnt like any of them. The only one i have ever run and liked was my father inlaws home built splitter that is probably 30 years old..awesome machine and is the inspiration for mine..

 

[LD1]

I agree..definitly not cheaper..But i wanted something faster and better build than the stores offered..I looked at a lot of them and didnt like any of them. The only one i have ever run and liked was my father inlaws home built splitter that is probably 30 years old..awesome machine and is the inspiration for mine..

If you are willing to pony up the money to get EXACTALLY what you whant, then that is a different story. Plus the sense of satisfaction.

Personally though, if you want speed, with the $$$ you would have in making a hydraulic unit, I'd probabally look heavilly into the inertia type splitters. If you dont want to pony up the money to buy one of those like the SS or DR, you can always make one of them as well.

But if hydraulics is your preference, and speed is your goal, I'd suggest a 4"x24" cylinder (those will split near anything and going bigger will just slow things down.)

I'd combine that with a 22GPM 2-stage pump:thumbsup: Motor of your choice. That should make for a pretty quick combo. And there was another thread on here(I am sure you seen it) about a Tee wedge. I'd look into something like that as well if this is going to be a horizontal only unit.

Things get a little more complicated when a vertical/horizontal unit comes into play. Because the wedge has to be on the cylinder then.

But the above example of a 4x24 w/22gpm would give you the following

extend...........3.6 seconds
retract...........2.9 seconds
Total cycle of 6.5 seconds.

And if that is a little fast for you, a 16gpm pump will still give a total cycle of 8.8 seconds

Typical splitters you see are
4" cylinder....11gpm
4.5".............16gpm
5"...............22gpm

 

[weesa20]

If you are interested in a 3pt splitter, check out the ones at TSC.

Is your tractor set up for rear hydraulics?

I see that you only have about 4.1 GPM's on the tractor, so if you are going to get a 3pt log splitter, I would suggest the Prince fast extend valve LSR 3060. It will take your 4.1 GPM's and make it seem like about 26 GPM's in the extend mode.

I'm looking for a splitter that is 3pth but that has its own engine so I don't have to run my tractor engine and because I don't have very good hydraulics on my little GC.

 

[toxicjeeper]

If you are willing to pony up the money to get EXACTALLY what you whant, then that is a different story. Plus the sense of satisfaction.

Personally though, if you want speed, with the $$$ you would have in making a hydraulic unit, I'd probabally look heavilly into the inertia type splitters. If you dont want to pony up the money to buy one of those like the SS or DR, you can always make one of them as well.

But if hydraulics is your preference, and speed is your goal, I'd suggest a 4"x24" cylinder (those will split near anything and going bigger will just slow things down.)

I'd combine that with a 22GPM 2-stage pump:thumbsup: Motor of your choice. That should make for a pretty quick combo. And there was another thread on here(I am sure you seen it) about a Tee wedge. I'd look into something like that as well if this is going to be a horizontal only unit.

Things get a little more complicated when a vertical/horizontal unit comes into play. Because the wedge has to be on the cylinder then.

But the above example of a 4x24 w/22gpm would give you the following

extend...........3.6 seconds
retract...........2.9 seconds
Total cycle of 6.5 seconds.

And if that is a little fast for you, a 16gpm pump will still give a total cycle of 8.8 seconds

Typical splitters you see are
4" cylinder....11gpm
4.5".............16gpm
5"...............22gpm

Good info there..i am actually torn between the 16 gpm pump and the 22gpm pump..the 16 is only 200 dollars where as the 22 is 500 dollars..But speed( and strenght) is what i am after and i already settled on a 15 hp motor.. I agree with you that the 4 inch ram is the ideal size and anything bigger is slower.The ram i had picked out is actually 3.5 inch x 24 i just hope it wont be too weak..

I watched a couple videos on those inertia splitter and yes they are definitly fast but for that kind of money they should come mounted on a wood hauling trailer instead of that flismy 1/8 inch angle iron legs..