Log Splitters

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Tractor supply units are excellent and the best bang for your buck. I have the 22 ton version and it gas never failed to split anything I've fed it

I see that statement made all over various forums, about various brands of splitters, and it leaves me scratching my head. From Troy-Bilt 22s (which isn't a true 22, AFAIK) to the Speeco 22s and 28s, and everything else.

I have the 35 ton Speeco, which is a true 35 ton, unlike most other brands. I stop it regularly. I have heard the same from other people, again, about various size and various brand splitters.

So why are some people stopping their splitters and others have never stopped theirs? So much so, that some of these owners of smaller units scoff at those of us who have bigger units, and say it's a waste and it's pure macho and never needed?

The only explanation I can think of is that it depends on what you are splitting. Some people just aren't getting really tough wood. They think they are because they see their splitter straining at some crotch piece or something with twisted grain, and then getting through it, and they think it's their tough splitter winning out over some tough wood.

All that to say, pay attention to the kind of wood you will be splitting. I hear that eucalyptus and California oak you have out there is some tough stuff. Make sure you are getting enough splitter. You will not regret getting a bigger one.

 

[Timm250]

I bought the 27 ton Dirty Hand Tools at Lowe's 2 years ago & it is a good machine. No problems with it so far & I probably split 4-5 cords a year.

 

[ovrszd]

I see that statement made all over various forums, about various brands of splitters, and it leaves me scratching my head. From Troy-Bilt 22s (which isn't a true 22, AFAIK) to the Speeco 22s and 28s, and everything else.

I have the 35 ton Speeco, which is a true 35 ton, unlike most other brands. I stop it regularly. I have heard the same from other people, again, about various size and various brand splitters.

So why are some people stopping their splitters and others have never stopped theirs? So much so, that some of these owners of smaller units scoff at those of us who have bigger units, and say it's a waste and it's pure macho and never needed?

The only explanation I can think of is that it depends on what you are splitting. Some people just aren't getting really tough wood. They think they are because they see their splitter straining at some crotch piece or something with twisted grain, and then getting through it, and they think it's their tough splitter winning out over some tough wood.

All that to say, pay attention to the kind of wood you will be splitting. I hear that eucalyptus and California oak you have out there is some tough stuff. Make sure you are getting enough splitter. You will not regret getting a bigger one.

Because of the points you made, I pay little attention to statements about how "my splitter will split anything thrown at it". Come to my block pile and we'll see.

For me, the goal of a splitter is to not waste any wood. If I can get it onto the table I expect it to be split. Buy large.

I don't like the wedge on the cylinder but that's hard to avoid in the smaller splitters. It must be cheaper to build them that way.

I also highly value a catch table. Saves a LOT of back work.

All of these things appear trivial when you are standing in the store looking at your potential new splitter. Halfway thru the first load they become very significant. As someone mentioned above, it matters!!!

 

[jimmyj]

They both look pretty decent, the DH sure does look like a speeco. The log catcher on the Champion looks better of the two. The lever to actuate the ram on the Champion (I have the Champion) is in a bit of a precarious spot. I have broken it off twice. It's super easy to fix, and it was my fault both times but it's just sticking up there with no protection around it.

I love my Champion, other than that one issue it has been awesome.

 

[XSFMED18D]

I bought a County Line 25 ton splitter this past Veterans Day. They had 15% off or something like that. I Like it. Pretty sure its a rebadged Speeco as they sell the Speeco accessories for it, like the 4 way wedge. I paid maybe $700? It was already assembled and came w hyd fluid too.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I see that statement made all over various forums, about various brands of splitters, and it leaves me scratching my head. From Troy-Bilt 22s (which isn't a true 22, AFAIK) to the Speeco 22s and 28s, and everything else.

I have the 35 ton Speeco, which is a true 35 ton, unlike most other brands. I stop it regularly. I have heard the same from other people, again, about various size and various brand splitters.

So why are some people stopping their splitters and others have never stopped theirs? So much so, that some of these owners of smaller units scoff at those of us who have bigger units, and say it's a waste and it's pure macho and never needed?

The only explanation I can think of is that it depends on what you are splitting. Some people just aren't getting really tough wood. They think they are because they see their splitter straining at some crotch piece or something with twisted grain, and then getting through it, and they think it's their tough splitter winning out over some tough wood.

All that to say, pay attention to the kind of wood you will be splitting. I hear that eucalyptus and California oak you have out there is some tough stuff. Make sure you are getting enough splitter. You will not regret getting a bigger one.

I split mostly red oak, maple, birch with a few other hardwoods thrown in. I have put logs over 36" on it and split them fine. Maybe not as fast as a larger machine, but the machine does the job. I don't do it for a living, just 4-5 cord a year for my personal use.

The wedge is on the ram is because the machine tips up to vertical position. If the wedge were not on the ram, you couldn't tip it up. I do all my splitting, sitting down. If I can roll it under the wedge, I don't have to lift it and with a surgically fused spine, I don't lift anymore than I have to.

 

[BKBoiss]

While I didn't read the whole thread I will give you my opinion on the champion. I bought it two years ago because it was the cheapest option I could find and beat the splitting maul I had been using. Ideally I would love a split fire set up the way we had it as a kid with taller axe and end stops as well as removable dual action four way splitting wedge, a built in table and dropping split pieces right into the conveyor etc etc. but back to the champion the splitter valve let go when it was a month or two old (they sent me a new one I replaced it) I learned the first time I used it you have to shut the fuel off every time or else it fills the crank case full of fuel, the tire and fender will chafe your leg from tripping over the stupid thing, and the way the axe sits down inside the beam lets pieces get wedged or spit out at you. Over all I would say it is the difference between a Cadillac and a smart car for comfort but in either case they both beat walking. I could not buy the parts to build my own splitter for the price I paid for the champion and I can split ten times the wood as I can by hand. It all comes down to what you can afford and how much your gonna do.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Best bang for the buck is the Harbor Freight 20 ton dual splitter. I've split 15 cords with it so far, and I've been extremely pleased with it. It is faster than a normal splitter because it splits both ways, forward and reverse. So there is no time wasted to retract the cylinder. Splits oak, maple, cherry, ash without issue. I would recommend this splitter to everyone. You won't find a better deal.

 

[ovrszd]

Best bang for the buck is the Harbor Freight 20 ton dual splitter. I've split 15 cords with it so far, and I've been extremely pleased with it. It is faster than a normal splitter because it splits both ways, forward and reverse. So there is no time wasted to retract the cylinder. Splits oak, maple, cherry, ash without issue. I would recommend this splitter to everyone. You won't find a better deal.

Do you have a helper feed wood to the splitter? If not, how do you keep up with loading the splitter and stacking the splits plus running the splitter?

 

[dadster4]

I bought the DHT 22 ton a couple years ago and had a leak on the return line, quick fix and back in business. Split everything I threw at it 12" to 36" without a hitch. I bought because of the fast cycle time and it looked beefier than most other splitters in the price range.