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

[KiwiBro]

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

David

might be anecdotal but gx=great, GC=not as great

 

[Piston]

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, I've been "on the fence" for a couple of years now regarding a new splitter, and have done extensive research (read: spent way too many hours at work reading Internet reviews) on Timberwolf, American, Split-Fire, and Supersplit.

Many many many of the people who have the Supersplit (and others of that style) comment on the safety aspect of it. Not necessarily that it isn't safe, but the fact that a "mistake" could lead to a lost digit a lot quicker and easier on the Kinetic style splitters. I assure you that many people agree that chances are better getting hurt (or hurting someone else) with that style splitter.

you can take my extensive research as fact, because I read this on the Internet so it must be true....

 

[Teachu2]

might be anecdotal but gx=great, GC=not as great

Agreed - but all the GC models I own sit a lot and fire right up. The one on my pressure washer only gets used once or twice a year, but runs all day when it gets used. I'm OK with Kohler, have two Command 23s in equipment - but strongly prefer Honda for single cylinder pull start. I really wanted to dislike the B&S engine that came on my chipper, but needed a chipper in a hurry and it was all that was available. Darn thing starts right up and runs strong until it's out of fuel.
My Honda walk-behind lawnmower is the most expensive that HD sells and has a consumer engine, but even the 120lb wife can get it fired up every time (and it's a GREAT mower!). The GX Hondas are considered "commercial" use - and I don't run my equipment every day. It's not worth the added expense to me. I doubt I'll wear out any of the engines in my equipment in the next three decades, and after that I probably won't care.

The Troy Bilt 27-ton splitter I bought off Craigslist was run semi-commercially for about two years. The young man had a mobile splitting business, and he split dozens of cords of almond for customers. It handles seasoned oak, almond, orange, and fresh-cut pine. I have yet to find a piece of wood I can't split with it, but I don't have monster trees. Everything I have is 18" diameter or less.

 

[mikefromnh]

With cheap Chonda replacement engines available I wouldn't choose a splitter by what engine it comes with. IF something happens 10 years down the road it's not hard to swap an engine.

Other factors are more important. And user specific... Kinetic vs hydraulic, horizontal vs h/v, wedge on beam etc.

 

[Teachu2]

There's one type of ssplitter that hasn't come up. There are a number of relatively inexpensive electric units that have a screw drive. They start at less than $300 for a five ton at Harbor Freight.

That one is actually hydraulic. I had one, gave it to a friend to carry in his 5th wheel RV for splitting wood he finds/buys while camping. It's OK for small stuff.

 

[dmccarty]

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

No. But when running a chainsaw, I don't put a hand near the chain.... When using the splitter, my hand is often on the wood to be split, holding it so it splits a certain way.

Later,
Dan

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Keep in mind guys...those Kohlers on those splitters are cheapo made in china motors, they aren't your "daddys" OLD Kohlers...

SR

 

[caver]

Of all my small engines I have the most trouble with the Hondas.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Lowe's is having a 10% off sale yesterday and today if you have a Lowe's card.

I picked up a Fiskar axe and hatchet, and a sharpener, and a DH 22-ton splitter.

Actually the splitter is still there in a huge crate. Either they will assemble it or I will go pick it up in the crate with my trailer and put it together myself (I think I'd rather build it, so I know how it goes together...).

Thank you all for the excellent information.

Be well,
David

 

[ruffdog]

It doesn't matter how fast your splitter is if it sits idle most of the time. I know a few people that talk about their fast splitters but can't seem to run it longer that 10min at a time between breaks. They have their tea, coffee, piss, smoke, crap, rest, nap, walk around, sit, talk, breakfast, lunch, and snack breaks.