Firewood - Wood Splitter - Not Tractor Attached - Whats best?

[s219]

I looked at splitters for a few months, and realized that most of them were all made in the same factory and were the same light duty construction. The exceptions I saw with unique and heavier construction were the Tractor Supply splitters, the NorthStar splitters from Northern Tool, and the Dirty Hand Tools (DHT) splitters. These are all noticeably heavier duty than the Troy Builts, Ariens, Cub Cadets, etc... which all seem to come from the same factory but with different paint and different engine options.

So for the money, I'd say get one from Tractor Supply, Northern, or find a DHT. I kept an eye out for sales. Missed several good sales at TSC because the local store didn't have splitters in stock, and ordering one would have made me ineligible for the free hydraulic fluid, which is $100 worth right there. Finally I saw a DHT 22-ton model on sale from $1199 to $999 at Lowes, and used a 10% coupon (which you can google to find) to get the price down to $899. For that price, it's hard to beat. I wrote up some details about the splitter here:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/336925-new-dht-22-ton-log.html?highlight=

It's still on sale at Lowes, so if you can order one for pickup from a local store, consider it. Mine came in a crate and took about 45 minutes to assemble. Included hydraulic fluid.

 

[grnmtnboys]

Have had a 22 ton from TSC for the past three years.... has split probably 6 cords a year on average if not more, between myself and my brother and has never had a problem. So much so, that my brother ended up buying one for himself.. thankfully...

Rolled a lot of miles down the road behind my truck to deer camp, etc and did just fine

I will say the nice thing about his is that the engine actually has a choke now, vs mine which did not. Always struck me as odd that someone who burns enough wood to necessitate owning a splitter likely lives in a spot where a choke would come in handy soooo... but the primer bulb works too, after a while.

Good luck!

 

[Garandman]

I have some large beech, oak, poplar, and maple rounds. All green fresh cut. Is 22 ton enough?

Here's a big difference between KE splitters and hydraulics. Hydraulics drive a wedge through the wood: steady, but slow. Imagine trying to push your splitting maul through the piece.

KE splitters use the energy stored by the flywheel. You're already familiar with this phenomenon: it's how splitting mauls work.

I asked DR (who sells both) "Why doesn't everyone buy KE splitters?" There answer was "We dunno. Maybe because they are more familiar with hydraulics."

 

[grnmtnboys]

Here's a big difference between KE splitters and hydraulics. Hydraulics drive a wedge through the wood: steady, but slow. Imagine trying to push your splitting maul through the piece.

KE splitters use the energy stored by the flywheel. You're already familiar with this phenomenon: it's how splitting mauls work.

I asked DR (who sells both) "Why doesn't everyone buy KE splitters?" There answer was "We dunno. Maybe because they are more familiar with hydraulics."

Have been wondering about those myself, and with the factory store just down the road a bit will have to take a look at some point.

 

[s219]

Here's a big difference between KE splitters and hydraulics. Hydraulics drive a wedge through the wood: steady, but slow. Imagine trying to push your splitting maul through the piece.

KE splitters use the energy stored by the flywheel. You're already familiar with this phenomenon: it's how splitting mauls work.

I asked DR (who sells both) "Why doesn't everyone buy KE splitters?" There answer was "We dunno. Maybe because they are more familiar with hydraulics."

I am sure a lot of the reason is that only a handful of companies make them, and all (to my knowledge) only sell online or through catalogs.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

The kinetic splitters usually show up as being 3-6 times faster than hydraulic units measured by cord output. But I learned after using one that this is really deceptive: the difference is even more.

If you have small diameter rounds you are basically making three splits per piece to quarter it. But if you had larger rounds - and most of mine was 15-25" - you make many more splits per piece. So the much faster cycle time of the Kinetics makes them even more productive.

They are ONLY faster if you compare them to a cheapo splitter that won't allow a 4-way wedge, AND you have fairly easy to split wood.

Put on some bigger knotty crotch wood, and my Timber Wolf splitter will easily win the speed race against a kinetic splitter every time!

I wanted a splitter that would easily split EVERYTHING and I got it...

SR

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Here's a big difference between KE splitters and hydraulics. Hydraulics drive a wedge through the wood: steady, but slow. Imagine trying to push your splitting maul through the piece.

That is also not true...

My Timber Wolf pushes the wood through the wedge, and I wouldn't call is slow, as it has a 10 second or LESS cycle time, and I get FOUR splits EVERY time!

That includes really tough to split knotty crotch wood too!

SR

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Have you thought about this model?

 

[dave1949]

I think Speeco made a KE splitter but I don't see them on their web site now.

 

[Marveltone]

I like my 22 ton Speeco. Mine has the Honda engine, which starts very easily. It's also convertible, so it can split vertical or horizontal.

Just muddying the water a bit more.

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