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

[mikefromnh]

Unless everything is less than 12" diameter a log lift is hard to beat.

 

[KiwiBro]

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

SR

I wanted one that made me money, was bullet-proof, and I got it - Supersplit kinetic.
Big and/or Uglies: have chainsaw, can noodle (a compromise that suits my budget and methods)
Fuglies of any sizes: they go in the slash pile.

Big hydraulic for one-pass handling/splitting of the big and/or ugly stuff would be nice though. Or even a TW for breaking the bigger stuff down instead of noodling. I've done the numbers of a bigdon'targue hydraulic with box wedge that can split a 3 1/2' round in one hit. Nothing much stands in its way. The numbers stack up if there's much of that wood around the regular processors can't handle.

Otherwise, a smaller 2 or 4-way hydraulic feeding a kinetic is a darn nice set-up.

 

[jack707]

I have a arieans 22 ton splitter and its works great.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I wanted one that made me money, was bullet-proof, and I got it - Supersplit kinetic.
Big and/or Uglies: have chainsaw, can noodle (a compromise that suits my budget and methods)
Fuglies of any sizes: they go in the slash pile.

Big hydraulic for one-pass handling/splitting of the big and/or ugly stuff would be nice though. Or even a TW for breaking the bigger stuff down instead of noodling. I've done the numbers of a bigdon'targue hydraulic with box wedge that can split a 3 1/2' round in one hit. Nothing much stands in it's way. The numbers stack up if there's much of that wood around the regular processors can't handle.

Otherwise, a smaller 2 or 4-way hydraulic feeding a kinetic is a darn nice set-up.

I agree, they are a nice splitter, but I wanted something that will do it ALL...

Easy to split wood comes from nicer logs, I put those on my BSM, I refuse to cut/split logs that SHOULD be sawn into lumber...

SR

 

[CalG]

I'm very pleased with my Timber Wolf . It's the light duty -1 with a Honda engine.
Starts right up every time, two speed hydraulic ram, four way splitter, Not "too high" off the ground, but I would really like a log lift. This year I had some very large rounds of maple and needed the loader and log tongs to lift and set the rounds on the splitter beam.

I work up about 6-8 chords a year of 24-28 inch length, and a third of that in 18 inch.
I'm very satisfied. I don't think I could lift pieces into the splitter any faster ;-) Anything that makes it to the splitting beam get's split.

 

[DennisArrow]

For me, I leave the poplars, and gums laying on the ground to make germs out of; but the oaks and hickory start out at the 25" to 36". I seldom use the vertical capability of my Speedo/TSC 35 ton splitter; but it is nice when the rounds are so huge that they cause the splitter to become off balance when working them. 35 ton is nice for the forks and twists that often happen and are pretty impossible to work if you don't have the power to do it...........
I use my tractor bucket to lift and hold up the rounds to process......... In addition Speeco has a shelf to help hold up the rounds while one works on it. In addition, they also have a "4 way" splitting wedge that really is worth the money when working on 8" or larger.............
Get what you think you can use.....I found a long time ago to buy the best tool I could afford, the most horse power, and the strongest engine makes all the difference in the world to help you work; but also so it lasts longer from not being overworked.............. God bless.........Dennis

 

[MossflowerWoods]

I know I have a TSC, Northern, Lowes, Home Depot, Harbor freight, and I think a Southern States nearby.

Who carries Speedco and TimberWolf?

What's the approximate $$$ of the kinetic?

What about Used via Craigslist or etc? Too much risk?

I supplement with my big ugly homebuilt wood stove in the basement during the winter and it really works well...

Thanks again guys!

David

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Have you thought about this model?

View attachment 426971

LOL!

I think I can get my girlfriend to wear that outfit and assist me though!

David

 

[dave1949]

A TSC Huskee is a SpeeCo.

 

[KiwiBro]

I agree, they are a nice splitter, but I wanted something that will do it ALL...

Easy to split wood comes from nicer logs, I put those on my BSM, I refuse to cut/split logs that SHOULD be sawn into lumber...

SR

Do you wood turn? Once my disastrous new swing-blade mill purchase is functional and I can mill again, the last in the higher-purpose tools is a lathe. Straight or suitable wood gets milled, small and/or bent or unstable wood becomes firewood, and the ugly wood become some stunning turned items like bowls etc. Far better than mashing them through a splitter.

10 mins ago I finally held in my hands again wood from a short and ugly trunk from a fenceline tree I felled about three years ago. Much of that trunk was too ugly for firewood but those same qualities made it perfect for a big bowl, turned by a friend. Sure glad I neither tried to mess with it splitting, nor chucked it in the rubbish pile.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I do have a complete wood working shop, but I haven't used my wood lathe in a long time...

BUT, I turn logs when I mill them... does that count?? lol

Turning the log is the only way you can get the BEST grade of lumber out of a log, and good logs should be "grade sawn"....

SR

 

[KiwiBro]

I do have a complete wood working shop, but I haven't used my wood lathe in a long time...

BUT, I turn logs when I mill them... does that count?? lol

Turning the log is the only way you can get the BEST grade of lumber out of a log, and good logs should be "grade sawn"....

SR

Yes, I've had this conversation with another band-sawer recently. I agree for grade sawing the best recoveries of the best woods are far better on a bandsaw compared to a swingblade. Swingblades are wasteful and in some wood are a nightmare to get the best grain orientation.

That said, plenty of lumber is fine with swingers, and they can break down a big log where it lays, quickly, cheaply.

If only the framesaws/sash gangsaws were not so expensive, then would have a pretty slick set-up.

Here's that ugly hunk of potential firewood, turned into something quite lovely.

 

[KiwiBro]

What's the approximate $$$ of the kinetic?

What about Used via Craigslist or etc? Too much risk?

About $2600 for the Supersplit with production table (definitely need a table) for their J model with Subaru robin engine. SuperSplitter: Testimonials

Things may have changed since others started making these but when I was looking many years ago, nobody was selling their used supersplit. I was looking at used because Paul at supersplit wouldn't sell me one here in NZ for fear of me copying it. This was before every man and his dog in USA, including speeco, DR, second split, started jumping on the kinetic bandwagon.

In the end, I found a helpful person to buy one and I shipped it down to NZ myself, have run the byjebus out of it, not copied it, and if it failed tomorrow, I'd buy and smuggle (if I had to) another one out of USA.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

That's a beauty! Nice job on that!

SR

 

[KiwiBro]

That's a beauty! Nice job on that!

SR

Thanks. I Wish I could take the credit for it but will have to save some more pennies to buy a lathe and learn how. Meantime, I have a growing stash of super-uglies that hopefully won't tear themselves to bits before I get around to turning them. I also wish AS hadn't had so many troubles and purges. I lost the only image I had of felling that tree. Took nearly three years to get it from felled to that bowl and I'm giving it to the farmers who hired me to fell the tree.

They have become good friends and it would be nice for them to have a reminder of their farm when they get out of farming soon.

 

[Teachu2]

I know I have a TSC, Northern, Lowes, Home Depot, Harbor freight, and I think a Southern States nearby.

Who carries Speedco and TimberWolf?

What's the approximate $$$ of the kinetic?

What about Used via Craigslist or etc? Too much risk?

I supplement with my big ugly homebuilt wood stove in the basement during the winter and it really works well...

Thanks again guys!

David

I got lucky on Craigslist and picked up a 27 ton Troy Bilt for $500. The ad said $1300 (Lowes sells them new for $1399) but that's what he PAID for it. He was asking $700, and took $500. When I went to buy it, I took the worst piece of wood I had - and it split it easily. So far, so good. I've used it quite a bit.

 

[CalG]

I got lucky on Craigslist and picked up a 27 ton Troy Bilt for $500. The ad said $1300 (Lowes sells them new for $1399) but that's what he PAID for it. He was asking $700, and took $500. When I went to buy it, I took the worst piece of wood I had - and it split it easily. So far, so good. I've used it quite a bit.

Are you splitting those dry land Oaks?

 

[Teachu2]

Are you splitting those dry land Oaks?

Yes, along with almond and orange.

 

[CalG]

Yes, along with almond and orange.

Lots of crotches in fruit wood

I would stick with a hydraulic splitter

 

[fishheadbob]

50 acres of tops is a lot of work. I did an average of 22 cords a year for decades; I've never thought that a real quick cycle time was important because I'm not Superman. Most splitters can go a lot faster than the operator can. My own splitter is a 3 point, tractor powered model, but that setup won't work well for most folks.
Go shopping. Looking live at splitters can be informational, and sometimes (rarely ?) talking to a salesman can give an insight or two. Last time I needed a splitter I researched TSC's and HD's splitters, especially the user reviews. If there was a common shortfall it became apparent in the reviews. I wound up finding a beauty on Craig's List for much less than half new.
If you go used I would look at the overall quality and the width of the hydraulic cylinder. A 4" cylinder will be more forceful than a 3" with the same power source. And be sure you are comfortable with the engine running things.