Log splitters

[pacosperson]

I’m trying to decide whether I should buy or rent a log splitter. I’m concerned that I will wear out before the logs are all split. Renting a splitter for 10 days will cost me about $1700, so that number is my hope for a decent splitter. I need to have one that I can roll the logs onto. Any thoughts?

I’ve had a 30 ton for many years. Owning it, I could attach a large ‘tray’ to accumulate what I split. I park my bucket right there, even with the tray, and eliminate bending and stooping as I move the wood around, out of and back into the bucket. But, more critically in my view, as you age you can allow yourself to do less and less. I have deteriorated to the point where I tell myself I’ll do one tank of gas and then quit. That’s tough to do with a rental. And you WILL age.

 

[Fxfymn413]

Another alternative would be to use a tractor powered 3PH splitter. You could lower the splitter to load a log and raise it to split. I'm not a fan of running up tractor hours for uses like this, but it could work for you.

I'm 74 and just finished splitting 3 and 2/3 cord of hardwood by myself using a horizontal splitter. I never could have done it without the log lift as several of my logs were 12 to 18 inches in diameter and 24 inches long. I split one IBC basket per day and it takes three baskets to make a cord.

In addition to the lift I also added jacks to the splitter so I can raise it up to a comfortable working height that is much less back straining.

I have tried to use the tractor to load large logs and I just find it too slow and awkward.

 

[FERLING]

Bought a 25t County Line after moving onto the property. Paid for itself immediately. Keeps up with land maintenance splitting for heating and firewood.

Plus Spring and Summer prices should be at their lowest.

 

[FERLING]

I’m trying to decide whether I should buy or rent a log splitter. I’m concerned that I will wear out before the logs are all split. Renting a splitter for 10 days will cost me about $1700, so that number is my hope for a decent splitter. I need to have one that I can roll the logs onto. Any thoughts?

If you can buy on sale you can't go wrong with this. The few logs it won't split makes good bon-fire fuel. RuggedSplit 322-24-REX Log Splitter: 22-Ton, Raven 301cc, Log Lift, 24" Stroke

 

[qualsite]

We only heat with wood, so my splitter gets a lot of use, and I've had it for years. I've used many splitters over the years, but ended up buying a Yardmax 25 ton, which is easy to use and has been great. Yeah, I know, it's a made in China and a big box marketed unit, but I bought it online from Log Splitters Direct, and they had a great price and service. It's worked very well and split cords of logs for years the way it's supposed to, and for $1000 delivered, I didn't care if lacked the appeal of bigger and better units. It gets the job done the same way with no problems. It sits in the log yard, and when I feel like an hour of exercise, it and I get a workout... so it's so nice just to have it sitting there available to use when I have the time. I've used the tilt-up mode for some of those bigger heavy logs, and it works great. I have logs dropped off from a number of tree services, who are glad to be rid of them, so there has been a variety of trees, from redwood, to sweet gum that only shreds, not splits. The only caveat is that it came with a Briggs engine, and I would have much preferred a Honda engine, but the Chinese-built Briggs engines appear to be close clones of the Honda. But, it starts up when I want it to, and pushes that ram through the log just fine.

 

[bcarlson]

45+ years ago I bought a 3 point hitch type log splitter similar to the pic (not mine tho, but very similar).
Allows you to lower it to the ground for heavy logs, raise up for operation.
I run it off a Prince PTO 11 gal/minute pump.
Still working today as well as the first day I had it!
Still spliting 10-15 cords every summer.
It's one of my best buys ever!

 

[Hoho223]

I've been considering the Champion 27 ton. Any reason to talk me out of it?

I have one and it works just fine. Vertical and horizontal positions. Easy to handle. Outside storage? Remember to cover the engine

 

[FriendwithTractor]

If you can buy on sale you can't go wrong with this. The few logs it won't split makes good bon-fire fuel. RuggedSplit 322-24-REX Log Splitter: 22-Ton, Raven 301cc, Log Lift, 24" Stroke

I have the bigger brother of that, the 37 ton 30" stroke splitter.

I've only seen it refuse two pieces: A green gnarly maple log (About 20") and a nasty burl from an oak. Everything else it's cracked like an egg.

The log lift is a godsend, once the hydro oil is warm it can certainly produce. Especially with the 6 way slip-on wedge, it will split as fast as you can feed.
Only drawback is from storing outside mine is starting to develop surface rust, plan on grinding some of the paint/rust away and repainting with some tougher paint.

One thing to note about these: They come in a crate and you'll have to put it together yourself. Not a problem, but I wished I had my tractor for assembly as the main beam was very heavy even with three people.

Happy shopping!

 

[arrow]

Do the math. Purchase for $2000. Sell after splitting for half of that ($1000) :
$2000 minus $1000 = $1000 paid to split.
$1700 rent vs. $1000 to split = $700 saved.
Better off renting.

Or…$1300 to purchase. Sell after use for $1000.
$1300- $1000 =$300.00 paid to split.
$1700 vs $300=$1400 saved.
Better off buying. Plus they’ll deliver it to your place.

Champion Power Equipment 27 Ton 224 cc Gas Powered Hydraulic Wood Log Splitter w/Vertical/Horizontal Operation and Auto Return-with Hydraulic Oil 100424 - The Home Depot

CHAMPION POWER EQUIPMENT Log Splitter fully surrounds your valued machinery and protects it from harsh elements. Comes in charcoal gray color with CHAMPION POWER EQUIPMENT logo.

www.homedepot.com

 

[arrow]

45+ years ago I bought a 3 point hitch type log splitter similar to the pic (not mine tho, but very similar).
Allows you to lower it to the ground for heavy logs, raise up for operation.
I run it off a Prince PTO 11 gal/minute pump.
Still working today as well as the first day I had it!
Still spliting 10-15 cords every summer.
It's one of my best buys ever!

View attachment 3169186

The op seems that this may be a one off splitting experience.
He is way better off with a self powered splitter for resale purposes.
His market will be larger.

 

[Hodado]

You’d be further ahead to buy one and resell it afterwards

 

[Syaladnam]

I’m trying to decide whether I should buy or rent a log splitter. I’m concerned that I will wear out before the logs are all split. Renting a splitter for 10 days will cost me about $1700, so that number is my hope for a decent splitter. I need to have one that I can roll the logs onto. Any thoughts?

While I’m in NZ, (& prices may vary) every 2 years at New Year (our summer) we’ve felled eucalypts, acacias and pines, cut them into rounds, rented a vertical splitter, (with log lift) for 4 days (usually), and split furiously, dawn until dusk, producing a few piles of (usually 14” length) firewood for our Rayburn woodburner. However, after too many years of this, discovering “Outdoors with the Morgans” on YT, & Mike’s unceasing expanding operations, wanting to “branch out” with a new venture, we researched widely to see what was available & recently purchased a new Split-Fire 1165V from the NZ importer (1165V Vertical Log Splitter - Split-Fire). A word of caution though; as the main column is the hydraulic oil reservoir, raising the centre of gravity, after collecting it from the local freight yard on a tipping trailer, I can advise that it does fall easily. Also, the drawbar is rather short if you don’t have a fixed height towball (I use a MF TEA with TPL), so it can seem unstable when being moved, unless held level.
I’ve yet to cut some rounds again to test it, so may report when I have. If you can get something that you can use easily and whenever you have time/energy, go for it!

I’m trying to decide whether I should buy or rent a log splitter. I’m concerned that I will wear out before the logs are all split. Renting a splitter for 10 days will cost me about $1700, so that number is my hope for a decent splitter. I need to have one that I can roll the logs onto. Any thoughts?

 

[John_Mc]

Do the math. Purchase for $2000. Sell after splitting for half of that ($1000) :
$2000 minus $1000 = $1000 paid to split.
$1700 rent vs. $1000 to split = $700 saved.
Better off renting.

Until you consider next year, and the year after.

Plus, If I had used a splitter for only one season, there is no way I'd sell it for half price.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I think the economy of renting vs buying varies with need, circumstance and location.

Around here, "like new" barely used splitters are going for 75 to 80% of the purchase price on Facebook Marketplace. This varies with the time of year, as do rental costs. Right now, if I rented a splitter for 10 days, I would break even if I bought new.

Buying new also allows me to split when I feel like it over an extended period of time. No letting the rental sit unused or hauling it back and forth to the rental yard. The splitter would also be available if needed while it's listed for sale. Tough to put a $$ figure on that.

YMMV.

 

[gsganzer]

I ended up buying the Champion 27T. I've usually rented a splitter each year, but my last two rentals were a mess. I ended up having (7) 75- 80' pines come down on my back property, so I'll put it to use there first. The bark beetles killed them last year, so they've been standing-dry. When I head to deer camp for turkey season during the next month, I'll cut dead, dry-standing oak and haul back some loads.

I agree with Eddie Walker, that I usually search out equipment with Honda engines. The reviews of the Champion all mentioned how easy staring it is. I also noticed Champion uses the exact same engine on almost all their equipment, including tiller, pressure washer and chipper. I assume that they have a mature product and parts readily available. I guess time will tell.

Even though we're in TX, we still burn a fair amount of wood in the patio fireplace and the living room. I expect we'll put a wood stove in our retirement home. I've always enjoyed a wood fire throughout my years.

 

[bearthebruce]

Right now, if I rented a splitter for 10 days, I would break even if I bought new.

I ended up buying the Champion 27T.

I ended up in the same place... I now have a Champion 27T wood splitter. I have 2 trees to split... but rental fees would have been $900 for 2 weeks... may as well buy it, use it for 2 weeks, and then sell it. (Some assembly required! ) I'm impressed with the build - not so much with the delivery and the packaging... They sent unit on a lift gate truck with no pallet jack. The driver crew had a fun time getting that into my garage. The 69 year old bear helped!

 

[gsganzer]

I ended up in the same place... I now have a Champion 27T wood splitter. I have 2 trees to split... but rental fees would have been $900 for 2 weeks... may as well buy it, use it for 2 weeks, and then sell it. (Some assembly required! ) I'm impressed with the build - not so much with the delivery and the packaging... They sent unit on a lift gate truck with no pallet jack. The driver crew had a fun time getting that into my garage. The 69 year old bear helped!

We'll have to compare notes on the Champion. I bought mine at Home Depot and it was already assembled. Although, I'll probably go through it myself. I'm a stickler when it comes to assembling things using locktite for parts that need to stay together and never-sieze on parts that need to come apart.

The first thing I'll do is add some lifting eyes, so I can easily lift it with a chain to put it in/out of my truck bed/trailer.

 

[JeepHead]

I have been using my champion 27 ton for about 17 months now having split a couple hundred cords. It still functions perfectly, still starts the first or second pull, and has never once not split something I put on it no matter how big the rounds are. And I split mostly Hickory, Oak, Ash, and Cherry. Would buy it again in a heartbeat.

 

[gsganzer]

Some of our standing-dry Texas oak should be a good test. TX oak is pretty dense with tight rings (less growth per year). It burns great though with great coals.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I ended up in the same place... I now have a Champion 27T wood splitter. I have 2 trees to split... but rental fees would have been $900 for 2 weeks... may as well buy it, use it for 2 weeks, and then sell it. (Some assembly required! ) I'm impressed with the build - not so much with the delivery and the packaging... They sent unit on a lift gate truck with no pallet jack. The driver crew had a fun time getting that into my garage. The 69 year old bear helped!

I'll likely go for the Champion 34 or 37 ton splitter. Don't really need the extra splitting force and the 27 ton would be fine but they seem to be in bigger demand on Facebook Marketplace around here. Both are in stock locally and just $300 more. Might be money well spent for a quicker resale.

Right now, I'm still cutting rounds and moving them to a staging area. I plan to buy and split at my leisure over the summer and resell the splitter in the fall.