Looking for log splitter recommendation

[alexinPA]

I got 22T Dirty Hands from local Tractor Supply. It's about 5 years old by now and no problems at all. Splits everything I feed it.

 

[CalG]

I up graded my old TW-1 for the newer model just two years ago.

I wanted the faster cycle times. I'm NOT DISAPPOINTED.

With a removable 4-way wedge and a run off table that I made from grating. It has all I need.

I'll get it out next month again. The log pile is waiting, and the dry wood that has been stacked in the work area is mostly ashes now ;-)

eta

I am also 70 yoa and not in a hurry, but waiting on the return stroke just started to bug me.

ps A 3pt mounted splitter would not suit me at all. I use the loader bucket and the carry all to move both rounds and splits all the while I'm splitting. Having a carry all full of rounds next to the splitter rail and at height is a real back saver!

 

[stumblinhorse]

Holy moly. I am amazed at what people spend on stuff. I ”only” do about 10-12 cords a year for my place. I bought a 27T Black Diamond splitter years ago at the local ranch store new on a great sale for $450 With a Kohler motor. I have a Stihl MS291 that traded in a stihl brush cutter straight across for in 2005 after I got done with scrub brush. If you are just doing 2 cords, buy the cheapest one you are comfortable with since it will only run about a tank of gas a year.

 

[IXLR8]

Holy moly. I am amazed at what people spend on stuff. ....

If you are just doing 2 cords, buy the cheapest one you are comfortable with since it will only run about a tank of gas a year.

That is the problem, the cheap ones are not ergonomic for me and I find them uncomfortable to run. I have been looking at them and standing in operating position I find something typically is in my way, most times it is the wheel/tire. I also find most of the cheaper ones to be too low for me. Renting a few of them has re-enforced my thinking on this. I am 6'1" and have a bad back and I can't be leaning over operating the thing for any length of time. I am thinking with a 3pt unit I can raise it up to the height I am comfortable with, or drop it down to roll a heavy log onto it. My wife is about 1.5' shorter than I am and it would help to be able to adjust the height to be where it was comfortable for her as well. I can throw the splits into the RTV900, take them to where I want them and then hit the hydraulic dump lever to dump the load.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

That is the problem, the cheap ones are not ergonomic for me and I find them uncomfortable to run. I have been looking at them and standing in operating position I find something typically is in my way, most times it is the wheel/tire. I also find most of the cheaper ones to be too low for me. Renting a few of them has re-enforced my thinking on this. I am 6'1" and have a bad back and I can't be leaning over operating the thing for any length of time. I am thinking with a 3pt unit I can raise it up to the height I am comfortable with, or drop it down to roll a heavy log onto it. My wife is about 1.5' shorter than I am and it would help to be able to adjust the height to be where it was comfortable for her as well. I can throw the splits into the RTV900, take them to where I want them and then hit the hydraulic dump lever to dump the load.

I hear you on the ergonomics.. I have been renting a Split-Fire this year and the table height is a good fit for my height (5'-10"). Neighbor who is 6'-2" also ran a lot of rounds and ordered one for his business.
This year my grandaughter ran the hydraulic controls while I loaded logs and took the splits off of the table.

 

[ruffdog]

If the splitter is a bit low, maybe get larger tires/wheels or have it on blocks? It is good you are taking ergonomics into consideration though.

 

[ericm979]

My tractor has a hydraulic flow of 16.9 gpm

Kioti quotes "total flow" in their specs. But in reality you will only get about 10 gpm at the remotes. The hydraulic system on most modern CUTS has two pumps. One runs the power steering and maybe a low flow item like the PTO clutch. The other one runs the loader, remotes and 3pt hitch. Usually on a machine this size the remotes get about 10 gpm and the steering circuit gets the rest. My 37hp Branson is like that.

If you had a real 16 gpm available at the remotes then you could probably do ok without a PTO pump. The system pressure will be less than the typical pressures that a stand alone splitter with two speed pump puts out in the low flow/high pressure speed. But if the cylinder is large enough it'd probably do ok for most types of wood. However at 10 gpm it's likely to be slow. Keep in mind that you'll need to run the engine at PTO RPM to get that 10 gpm.

You'll probably be happier with a PTO pump to run the splitter, except when you're putting the splitter on or taking it off the tractor.

I sometimes split some difficult to split species like Eucalyptus so I got a splitter with a 4.5" cylinder and high pressure. Most splitter ton ratings are optimistic (and some are flat out lies) but my splitter's 28 ton claim is pretty close to the calculated value.

 

[Straightgrain3016]

Holy moly. I am amazed at what people spend on stuff. I ”only” do about 10-12 cords a year for my place. I bought a 27T Black Diamond splitter years ago at the local ranch store new on a great sale for $450 With a Kohler motor. I have a Stihl MS291 that traded in a stihl brush cutter straight across for in 2005 after I got done with scrub brush. If you are just doing 2 cords, buy the cheapest one you are comfortable with since it will only run about a tank of gas a year.

My delima too; I've been here since 2001 and have-had my mostly replaced grey market splitter since 2003; I want a new splitter so badly, but I just don't want to dump the money into it...the splittlers I look-at are >$3K....

So, I extended the tounge (tailgate clearance), I park the splitter on 4x4s (to level and increase the height), I prevent the ram from withdrawing past 17" (to speed up cycle times). I run an over-sized filter...

 

[ruffdog]

I'm fortunate to have a wife that likes to help splitting wood. I handle the wood while she runs the lever on the valve.

 

[IXLR8]

Pricing is my dilemma as well. I don't have a powered log splitter at the moment. If price was no object I would get a Timberwolf or American CLS and be done with it. I do have a 16lb splitting maul that works very well, but I don't have to swing it too many times nowadays before my back says that maybe the Timberwolf is looking cheap.

 

[CalG]

Pricing is my dilemma as well. I don't have a powered log splitter at the moment. If price was no object I would get a Timberwolf or American CLS and be done with it. I do have a 16lb splitting maul that works very well, but I don't have to swing it too many times nowadays before my back says that maybe the Timberwolf is looking cheap.

My wife has been good about reminding me how much less costly the proper machine or tool is than a trip to the hospital followed by rehab.

It's WORKING! ;-)

 

[Molalla1]

My wife has been good about reminding me how much less costly the proper machine or tool is than a trip to the hospital followed by rehab.

It's WORKING! ;-)

Great wife CalG . . .

 

[Farmer495]

I run a Splitfire 3pt.

Tractor I put it on has a 15.4 GPM pump and it splits anything I've put on it. If do it right the wedge never stops moving forward or backward. You can keep a few hands busy with it.

3pt model can drop to the ground and you can roll big stuff up on it, then lift 3pt hitch.

I don't have the 4 way wedge, but that would be nice.

 

[IXLR8]

I have been doing more research, the American CLS splitter has priced themselves out of reach for me. I think it is down to the Timberwolf or the Spitfire, unless somebody comes up with another option. I have 2 more months before decision time, so lots more reading to do.

I'm lucky in that the wifely unit thinks the same way I do, buy once cry once and then have a quality unit that will last the rest of our lives. She also gets a vote in which unit we get as she will be running it as well. So I might have to get the log lift for her.

Presently leaning 80% to a 3pt unit, but self contained has not been ruled out. Between my cars, lawn equipment and toys, I presently have 16 engines to maintain, I really don't want another one.

I rented a splitter with a 4 way wedge, first impressions was it was more trouble than it was worth with splits getting jammed under it. But I think what ever I will get I will get the 4 way wedge and see how it works out. Nice to have the option available rather than buy one that can't be upgraded.

 

[dlctcg]

After having the slip-on 4-way wedge on our Timberwolf, all I can say is I would not want to be without it. It works flawlessly & we never have splits getting jammed... if they do it is a push though design so you send the next piece through & it clears... We do not have anything as fancy as you might be looking at: TW-1 with log grate, slip on 4-way wedge, & manual log lift; but if I had to buy again I wouldn't hesitate buying another Timberwolf. We lucked out & bought our unit used, but like new & their customer service (even as the second owner) has been great. For reference we split 4 - 6 cords a year (of whatever is on our property) & this little machine splits it all.