log splitter choices?

[xlr82v2]

I went to both the Timberwolf and the SuperSplit websites to check them out...

Wow, I think I'm in love with the Timberwolf splitter with the "Box Wedge". That thing is sweet. Heck, all of them are sweet. I think I'm going to have dreams about one of those firewood processors when I go to bed tonight!!! But, I think I'll have to stick with my trusty Brave Products machine and my little Husqvarna 55 for the next few years...

Did you guys watch the youtube videos on the SuperSplit website? That sure is an impressive machine, but I don't think they needed to speed up the video like they did. At least to me it looks a little "fast". Not the machine, but the entire video... the dude running the machine, everything just looks a little "fast"...

I also wonder if the dude in those videos still has all the fingers on his left hand ??? Wow...

 

[xlr82v2]

I own a SuperSplit wood splitter which I have had for the past 2 years. It costs around $2,400 and has a cycle time of 4 seconds. I have run about 15 cord of wood through it so far. I really like being able to process a cord of wood by myself in around 45 minutes. Granted the splitter with a 4-way wedge splits as fast as the SuperSplit when you figure I have to use three cycles to get four pieces.

Youare,

How does the SuperSplit perform on tough, stringy wood like elm and sycamore, etc? All of the wood on the videos on the website was splitting pretty clean... how does it do when the going gets TOUGH? Have you used it on any tough, stringy wood? On the videos, the operator had to hit a few of the bigger pieces a few times to get them split... I'm not so sure it would be quite the stellar performer that you see in the video with the tough stuff.

Also, being an entirely mechanical machine, what are the "wear out" items on it, if there are any?

Just curious about the SuperSplit... it is an interesting machine!

 

[Ductape]

I won't try to answer for youare, but i have spent some time with an older supersplit and i'll share some opinions.

I feel the supersplit is the best splitter for knotty wood. The wedge on it (or at least the one i operated) is more like an axe head than a traditional wedge. I was able to actually slice right through knots. There were times i had to flip the piece of wood over, or flip it end for end..... but more often you would end up with a piece of wood that would stack nice because the supersplit would slice through the knot instead of breaking it.

I have never operated a faster splitter. I can see where this would be the tool if you are production oriented. I can see it being twice as fast (or faster!) as a hydraulic unit...... but i personally would not trade MY hydraulic splitter for one.

They use a centrifugal clutch, so you may eventually see a little wear there. The flywheels ride on bearings, so perhaps replacing them eventually. There were a few shims under the "ram" on the one i ran..... due to a little wear on the piece that slides back and forth under the "ram". There is probably a name for this piece, but i have no idea what it is. Honestly... they are very well made, and i would expect you to have very little wear anywhere on them. The one i ran was old..... very old. I believe it was on its third or fouth motor. It used hardly any gas.... i'd guess you could split most of the day without refueling, since the flywheels do all the work.

I feel the supersplit has two drawbacks. I didn't have as good a'luck with larger wood. I had to quarter alot of the larger stuff then, finish it on the supersplit. I'm talking stuff 18 inches.... maybe two feet across or larger. And..... coming from a guy with 9 & 1/2 fingers, i do NOT recommend a Supersplit for your teenager to use !!! It took me quite a while to get comfortable operating it. Once engaged..... the "ram" was going, and its FAST. I suppose theoretically, you can disengage it if you see a problem, but its so fast i feel it would make its full stroke before your brain told your hand to disengage the "ram". I like the security of the ram stopping on my hydraulic splitter just by letteing go of the handle.

Those two things aside, the Supersplit is a very fast, efficient, splitting machine that is very well built and should easily last decades of splitting.

 

[WayneB]

I have the American CLS splitter and have been very pleased with it.

I only do about ten cord a year, but it has never let me down. I purchased the the AH-24HH model because I wanted the larger tires to make it easier to pull in the woods.

Bought it from the local Kubota dealer and he mentioned if I could lift it onto the spitter it would split it and it has split everything I could put on it! It is only a Horizontal splitter but works fine for what I am doing. They also manufacture 3pt hitch spitters.

Wayne

You can check out their website at:

Log splitter, wood conveyor and firewood processor by American CLS

 

[Luke_theDrifter]

Is anyone using a 4 way, or more, splitting wedge on the PTO driven 3-point hitch splitters?

How about a 4-way head on the Super Spilt?

Common sence tells me it would take more force to split through a 4-way wedge versus a single split, does the smaller tractor PTO provide enough ummpff? Like say a 35hp Kubota?

 

[ovrszd]

Is anyone using a 4 way, or more, splitting wedge on the PTO driven 3-point hitch splitters?

How about a 4-way head on the Super Spilt?

Common sence tells me it would take more force to split through a 4-way wedge versus a single split, does the smaller tractor PTO provide enough ummpff? Like say a 35hp Kubota?

I run my PTO pump with my B2910 which has somewhere around 22 PTO HP??? I run the engine at 1400 rpm. It never labors. Using a 4 way split would add to the force required but I don't think the PTO HP of the tractor would be the deciding factor. I'd rather say the bypass pressure of the controller would come into play first.

Edit: Forgot to mention, I'm using a 21 gpm PTO pump.

 

[sjcmba]

I have an American 3 Point hitch horizontal splitter that will handle 36" logs (for my wood boiler). I also have the 4 way wedge. It has the PTO pump (20 gpm). I run it from my JD 3320 (33hp) with no problems. I have the "pans" so the split wood does not fall to the ground. This is one heavy duty splitter. I use the 4 way wedge frequently, however if the piece of wood is too large (over 14") in diameter, the 4 way produces very uneven size split pieces. I sometimes find it easier to use the 2 way, rotate the wood 90 degrees, and just split again, when splitting the real large pieces. I have yet to find wood that I cannot split with it.

I also looked at the Timberwolf 3ph splitter and did not want to be limited to a 26" log length, particularly for the price of the Timberwolf vs. American. I just went to the Timberwolf site and see that they now have the TW-2/36, which was not available when I purchased mine about 2 years ago. I still would have purchased the American...great value for the money, and nice fit and finish.

 

[daTeacha]

I have found two tractor powered splitters locally -- the Speeco at TSC and a Swisher unit at Rural King. They both run 4 x 24 cylinders, both operate either horizontally or vertically. The Speeco is 6 feet long, the Swisher 80 inches. The only major differences seem to be in the 3 point attachment method, the stand, and the fact that the Swisher can rotate 90 degrees on the vertical axis while in the vertical position so you can stand either behind the tractor or sort of next to it. Neither one looks like it can stand alone while working, which is something I would like since I have remotes on both front and rear of the tractor and would like to use the loader to move big pieces to the splitter, then hook it up and split them right next to the bucket.

The Swisher is made in USA, I don't know about the Speeco. Swisher makes a lot of trail mowers and such. I never heard of Speeco until I started looking at splitters. The Speeco is $700 and in stock while the Swisher is $600, but I can't see one since they don't stock them but will happily order one for me -- 3 to 4 weeks wait time after order.

I don't need the thing right away, so I have plenty of time to shop around. You guys all seem to like your Speeco units, but does anyone have a Swisher to talk about?

 

[WayneB]

I have an American 3 Point hitch horizontal splitter that will handle 36" logs (for my wood boiler). I also have the 4 way wedge. It has the PTO pump (20 gpm). I run it from my JD 3320 (33hp) with no problems. I have the "pans" so the split wood does not fall to the ground. This is one heavy duty splitter. I use the 4 way wedge frequently, however if the piece of wood is too large (over 14") in diameter, the 4 way produces very uneven size split pieces. I sometimes find it easier to use the 2 way, rotate the wood 90 degrees, and just split again, when splitting the real large pieces. I have yet to find wood that I cannot split with it.

Sjcmba, just wondering if you live close to their factory? We have a camp up near South Colton on the Raquette, but I puchased mine down in New Hampshire. Like you I find the 4 way wedge good for certain size logs, but the bigger stuff it is easier for me to split in half then work on each have to get it down to size.


Wayne

 

[ovrszd]

Like you I find the 4 way wedge good for certain size logs, but the bigger stuff it is easier for me to split in half then work on each have to get it down to size.


Wayne

Yeah, that's what I thought about a 4-way. I considered building one that would slip over my wedge but I split logs anywhere from 8" to 30" diameter. I didn't think there would be enough of the perfect size to justify building the attachment.