Log Splitters

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

I grew up with a sledge in my hand from the time I was around 8 as did every one I went to school with. No, I do not remember ANYONE splitting with a sledge in such a stupid fashion. One uses a sledge with a full length handle and really swings, notd just tap, tap, tap. The stuff he is splitting would just fall apart with a fiskars.

Agreed! I'd split that with one swing of my Monster Maul!

Actually, my 8 pound regular maul would probably do the trick with one swing.

 

[dickfoster]

I grew up with a sledge in my hand from the time I was around 8 as did every one I went to school with. No, I do not remember ANYONE splitting with a sledge in such a stupid fashion. One uses a sledge with a full length handle and really swings, notd just tap, tap, tap. The stuff he is splitting would just fall apart with a fiskars.

I do around 12-14 cord a year (use 6, sell the rest) and still do 90% of the splitting by hand, wedge/sledge/fiskars/maul. I have the Troybilt splitter but it only sees the knots/crotches/twisties.

It's amazing what a Fiskars splitting axe will do with so little weight. It's a whole lot less work swinging a Fiskers as opposed to a sledge or a maul but I leave most of it up to my splitter. Cutting and splitting wood still adds up to work no matter what you have. Even using a chainsaw and splitter requires some work on your part.
One cheapie tool that took some of the backbreaking bending and stooping out of it for me was a simple pickaroon (hookaroon) so don't forget that some hand tools can still make a big difference, even with a splitter.

 

[Dftodd]

I bought a dirty hand 27 ton. The 6 horse Kohler that came on it struggled on some of the really knotty stuff. Would almost die when the pump kicked down a stage.

Cured the Kohler struggling issue though. Had a 4 hp yanmar diesel sitting in the garage and it bolted right into place of the kohler. With the diesel, it just grunts and goes. And doesn't know the meaning of knot any more either

 

[turnkey4099]

It's amazing what a Fiskars splitting axe will do with so little weight. It's a whole lot less work swinging a Fiskers as opposed to a sledge or a maul but I leave most of it up to my splitter. Cutting and splitting wood still adds up to work no matter what you have. Even using a chainsaw and splitter requires some work on your part.
One cheapie tool that took some of the backbreaking bending and stooping out of it for me was a simple pickaroon (hookaroon) so don't forget that some hand tools can still make a big difference, even with a splitter. View attachment 493040

Amen to to the hookeroon. I resisted buying one for years thinking $60 was too much for a simple "nail on a stick". I finally succumbed and my rear is still sore from kicking it because I waited so long. Anyone working around firewood and doesn't have one is handicapping themselves.

I went one better and built an 8' one out of a closet pole, a plumbing compression fitting and a piece of !/2" all thread. Haven't climbed into the bed of the pu since to unload.

 

[rmk700]

I grew up with a sledge in my hand from the time I was around 8 as did every one I went to school with. No, I do not remember ANYONE splitting with a sledge in such a stupid fashion. One uses a sledge with a full length handle and really swings, notd just tap, tap, tap. The stuff he is splitting would just fall apart with a fiskars.

I do around 12-14 cord a year (use 6, sell the rest) and still do 90% of the splitting by hand, wedge/sledge/fiskars/maul. I have the Troybilt splitter but it only sees the knots/crotches/twisties.

Yeah, I posted that video just for the general principle. I've split lots of cottonwood logs with a wedge and sledge and they were much tougher than the video shows. I did learn that splitting those logs frozen was much easier. The Troy built splitter I have now is like a dream machine.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

I bought a dirty hand 27 ton. The 6 horse Kohler that came on it

Six horse?

Six?

Hardly worth bothering with! My 35 ton has a 12, and I can still stop it from time to time.

 

[Bigfoot62]

I've narrowed it down to these two.

http://https://www.lowes.com/pd/Dirty-Hand-Tools-27-Ton-Hydraulic-Gas-Log-Splitter/1000096980
or
http://https://www.lowes.com/pd/Champion-Power-Equipment-25-Ton-Gas-Log-Splitter/1000126583

I see good in both and also some bad. The Dirty Hand some say runs really hot. Not too many reviews on the Champion. Reviews are mostly good on both. I burn roughly 6 cord a winter and will split year round. I'll end up getting it within the next couple weeks. Just thought I would ask you guys if you had experence with either. Thanks.

Here's another vote for the Dirty Hand Tools. I have had the DHT 22 ton for two years now. Wouldn't trade it for anything else. It has a really fast cycle time. (amount of time it takes to extend the ram and bring it all the way back) Much faster than many other splitters, even those with larger engines. And, I have yet to find a piece of wood that it won't split. I burn mostly red oak.
The only minor problems were a couple very small hydraulic leaks. I removed the fittings, applied pipe dope, and screwed them back in. That's it.
I've never seen the Champion, but I can vouch for the Dirty Hand Tools.

BTW, I saw an earlier comment in this thread that suggested the DHT was another brand with a different paint job. DHT is a manufacturer and is located in Colorado.

 

[sdef]

Last year after much investigation (1 year) I had decided on the Northern Tool Northstar 30 ton and was waiting for a good sale- which never happened. At the end of the season it still had not gone on sale yet and I stumbled across a seasonal closeout sale at Lowes for the DHT 22 ton. DHT was my second choice, albeit a 27 ton model, and the price was good enough for me to give it a try, even though it was not as sophisticated as the Northstar and was only 22 ton.

Having split a lot of wood since the fall and it has turned out to be a decent splitter, with the optional log cradle a must have. But with my red oak and white oaks, 22 ton is a bit small and struggles more often than I like. In hindsight I should have gone with the NT 30 ton and a 4 way splitter head.

Champion is a no-go for me.

 

[Woodeye]

Did you buy it on line or through a dealer?

I bought it from the local hardware store, it was a rental. They told me it had been rented 5 half days. It was like new and I wore the paint off of the beam. I trust the guy.

 

[ovrszd]

Last year after much investigation (1 year) I had decided on the Northern Tool Northstar 30 ton and was waiting for a good sale- which never happened. At the end of the season it still had not gone on sale yet and I stumbled across a seasonal closeout sale at Lowes for the DHT 22 ton. DHT was my second choice, albeit a 27 ton model, and the price was good enough for me to give it a try, even though it was not as sophisticated as the Northstar and was only 22 ton.

Having split a lot of wood since the fall and it has turned out to be a decent splitter, with the optional log cradle a must have. But with my red oak and white oaks, 22 ton is a bit small and struggles more often than I like. In hindsight I should have gone with the NT 30 ton and a 4 way splitter head.

Champion is a no-go for me.

I have a 42T Northstar. Great splitter. I added a catch table and have split many, many cords of wood over the past 7 years with no issues. They are a very good quality product.

 

[The Deerslayer]

I got this one simply because of the Honda engine. It's been great.

Shop Troy-Bilt 27-Ton Gas Log Splitter at Lowes.com

Same here. Bought it on sale and with a 10% coupon....couldn't beat it at the time. Had mine for about 7 years now with no issues and the Honda engine is great.

 

[Dftodd]

Six horse?

Six?

Hardly worth bothering with! My 35 ton has a 12, and I can still stop it from time to time.

Agreed, wasn't happy with the 6 horse at all. Motors been in the garage for the past year after doing the diesel swap. Had it listed on Craigslist a couple times for almost nothing and no takers so far :confused2:

I had plans to build a splitter using the diesel motor. But once I priced all the parts, ect.., it was gonna cost more then to buy one. Then got a last year's model of the 27 ton for the same price as the 22 ton. So it was about $400 cheaper then buying all the parts to build

Nice thing with the diesel, is I can run it for 8 hrs on 1 gallon of diesel Took me about an hour to swap the motor, and the diesel is electric and pull start. Just had to buy a battery, and build a battery box.

Gonna have to figure out some fun project to use the motor for :thumbsup:

 

[s219]

After my research, I ended up with a 35T Dirty Hands. I would have gotten the 27, but the 35 was on sale for the same price.
I put about 3 cords thru it so far. I have not had issues, except the log catcher bent so the splits roll off. I could bend it back up. I haven't had a chance to really address this yet. Seems others may have had the problem. I emailed dht and they seem surprised, but did offer 10% off on the table, which I was looking at anyway. (They thought maybe the bolts were loose.) It covers the motor. I would recommend that.

This is my first splitter, and not much of a trial yet, but I was very happy with it. Everything I split was newly cut oak.

Many opinions on horizontal vs vertical. At least half of what I split was way too big to lift so we used the vertical mode. With the kind of trees I have, I have to use the vertical.

If you get it from Lowes, it will be assembled. Other places will ship in a crate, for the same price.

I ended up welding my own log catcher for my DHT splitter, since they wanted way too much for theirs (which was not included on the 22-ton unit I bought).

When I got my DHT from Lowes, it was in the crate, unassembled. I was actually glad about that, as I had seen a few reviews about sloppy assembly at some stores.

 

[yankeerider]

What is it about wedge-on-the-beam that you guys think make them superior to wedge-on-cylinder? Mine is horizontal/vertical with wedge-on-cylinder and I like the fact that when splitting a large round in the horizontal position I don't have to drag it back the length of the round for subsequent splits.

 

[oldpilgrim]

What is it about wedge-on-the-beam that you guys think make them superior to wedge-on-cylinder?

It's what they have. Just like brand X tractor is better than brand Z or F150 is better than the Tundra.

I like the fact that when splitting a large round in the horizontal position I don't have to drag it back the length of the round for subsequent splits.

Absolutely. And I've had both versions.

 

[GrumpyJoe]

I've read all the reviews a few times and the only thing that worries me about the Dirty Hands is they say it runs HOT. When I split wood I'm usually splitting all day. If it runs hot like some say? I'm not so sure I would like that. I did notice that Tractor Supply has the Champion on sale right now for $999. Thats something else to think about.

 

[ovrszd]

It's what they have. Just like brand X tractor is better than brand Z or F150 is better than the Tundra.



Absolutely. And I've had both versions.

So you simply like what you currently have.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

What is it about wedge-on-the-beam that you guys think make them superior to wedge-on-cylinder? Mine is horizontal/vertical with wedge-on-cylinder and I like the fact that when splitting a large round in the horizontal position I don't have to drag it back the length of the round for subsequent splits.

It's what they have. Just like brand X tractor is better than brand Z or F150 is better than the Tundra.

Nope. I have wedge on cylinder.

What's better about wedge on beam is that it drops the splits off the end, where you can have a log catcher so that you don't have to pick the splits up off the ground to load them. It makes for a more efficient work flow. If you have a hydraulically actuated wedge with side wings, it's even better


The downside is, you can't do vertical splitting. For me, that's a show stopper because much of the wood I get is so big that vertical splitting is a must. Until I fab a log lifter that can handle a 42 oak round, I'll be staying with my wedge on cylinder.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

I've read all the reviews a few times and the only thing that worries me about the Dirty Hands is they say it runs HOT. When I split wood I'm usually splitting all day. If it runs hot like some say? I'm not so sure I would like that.

I guess that depends on what "hot" means. My 35 ton Huskee gets the cylinder & pipes hot enough to burn you, but I still split all day with it in summer weather. Not a problem.

 

[s219]

Never noticed my 22-ton DHT running hot.