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

[dmccarty]

David
...
2) the speed of the kinetic machine while amazing is also dangerous IMHO. Imagine a long day first felling a tree, then limbing and cutting it up. Fatigue sets in. But wait, you need to split the wood before it's dark! You rush and get a little careless, you forget to move your hand from the splitter path. In a second, your hand or fingers are crushed or mangled. Enough said.

With the hydraulic splitter, you have 15 sec or so to move your hand out of the way, or you can stop the split by simply releasing the lever of the control valve.

...

I have only noticed one other post bringing up the safety issue with the faster splitters. I would not own a kinetic for just this reason. I have pinched my fingers with the hydraulic splitter. I felt the pinch and moved my hand or stopped the splitter. If I had done this with a kinetic splitter I would have a nickname like Nine Finger Dan or One Thumb Dan. :shocked: I often hold the wood to be split so that it is split just so which is not really dangerous with a "slow" splitter.

Later,
Dan

 

[MossflowerWoods]

If that is a factor, seriously, go get a DHT 22-ton splitter for $899 from Lowes then -- it's by far the heaviest duty splitter brand they sell, and you can't beat the price. I gave links and coupon information in my post way up above. Construction quality is on par with the Northstar units from Northern and the TSC splitters, which means a step above the generic Troy-bilt spinoffs.

s219,

I'm leaning HARD in this direction right now. I like the Honda engine stuff I've heard here and elsewhere. I also like the idea of a coupon! LOL!

Your opinion is the 22ton DH is a better bet than the 27 Ton Troy Built?

Just checking...

Thanks & Be well,
David

 

[MossflowerWoods]

I have only noticed one other post bringing up the safety issue with the faster splitters. I would not own a kinetic for just this reason. I have pinched my fingers with the hydraulic splitter. I felt the pinch and moved my hand or stopped the splitter. If I had done this with a kinetic splitter I would have a nickname like Nine Finger Dan or One Thumb Dan. :shocked: I often hold the wood to be split so that it is split just so which is not really dangerous with a "slow" splitter.

Later,
Dan

Dan,

The n00b in me shares that same concern... I have baby's butt soft hands from over 33 years in the high-tech/Computer field... Plus I'm not clumsy, but I often move and think too fast, and that CAN lead to trouble... LOL...

As a side note, I'm not far away, I've been basking on the OBX beaches of Atlantic Beach on vacation with my kids this week... Nice place with lots of nothing to do...

Be well,
David

 

[kidr]

There are 2 honda engines. One is garbage, no parts. one is good . Beware, all that glitters is not gold.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

This is an awesome thread and I thank all the posters as once again the University of TBN has schooled me with amazing amounts of knowledge in a very short time.

I will post some pics of my "firewood" piles and updates on my shopping once I return and get back into the swing of things.

Be well all!
David

 

[MossflowerWoods]

There are 2 honda engines. One is garbage, no parts. one is good . Beware, all that glitters is not gold.

Please do dish. Whats the difference? How can I tell?

David

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I haven't seen where either Honda motor is "junk", (or garbage) but there is no doubt the OHV model is a better motor than the OHC model...

SR

 

[MossflowerWoods]

I haven't seen where either Honda motor is "junk", (or garbage) but there is no doubt the OHV model is a better motor than the OHC model...

SR

Hmmm... It may not matter... It seems I misread the online info. The DH 22 ton, and the TSC 22 ton are both have Kohler motors... I must not have had enough coffee yet...

I have a Kohler on one of my older mowers, and the carb is a PITA and very expensive to replace. My generator is B&S, not sure what the LX266 mower has (I can't recall, must be coffee...).

I'm still leaning towards the lower cost end of the spectrum...

Be well,
David

 

[s219]

s219,

I'm leaning HARD in this direction right now. I like the Honda engine stuff I've heard here and elsewhere. I also like the idea of a coupon! LOL!

Your opinion is the 22ton DH is a better bet than the 27 Ton Troy Built?

Just checking...

Thanks & Be well,
David

No question the DHT (or the TSC, or the Northern Northstar) splitters are heavier duty than the Troy-Built and their spinoffs (many brands are the same basic splitter as the Troy-Built, just varying in color, options, engines). You can see it in the beams and the structure, and even some of the trailer parts. Almost a night and day difference.

All in all, I'd prefer a Honda engine, but I have had good experiences with any Kohler engines I have owned, so I wasn't worried about Kohler. And as noted, Honda makes two classes of these small engines, and to get the better one you'd be looking more into the $1700 range for starting price (that is what is on the Northern Northstar splitters). Most of the lower end box store splitters would be using the lesser Honda engine.

To me, either the TSC or DHT 22-ton models are a very good value for the money, and I'd pick based on the best price. I was glad to be able to get the DHT at $899, with hydraulic fluid included, shipped in the crate. If you get a TSC splitter in the crate or on special order, you need to provide the fluid, about $100, so factor that in. If you buy a pre-assembled TSC unit, it will have free fluid included.

In design I'd give a slight edge to DHT because it includes sizable slots in the ram guide, so that debris can get pushed out. The TSC splitters don't have that, so I imagine you'd need to clean out the guide every so often. The hoses on the DHT are better protected. Very minor details though. Both splitters would benefit from a table or log catcher, but those are easy enough to fabricate or purchase separately.

 

[KiwiBro]

I have only noticed one other post bringing up the safety issue with the faster splitters. I would not own a kinetic for just this reason. I have pinched my fingers with the hydraulic splitter. I felt the pinch and moved my hand or stopped the splitter. If I had done this with a kinetic splitter I would have a nickname like Nine Finger Dan or One Thumb Dan. :shocked: I often hold the wood to be split so that it is split just so which is not really dangerous with a "slow" splitter.

Later,
Dan

is someone else cutting the trunk into rounds for you? Lord knows a chainsaw chain moves faster than many of us idiots can think.