Recommended brand of logsplitter?

[jtheise4]

I'm in the market for a stand alone, gas/diesel powered logsplitter. I split 5 cords or less a year. I really like the Timberwolf or Wallenstein splitters, but they maybe overkill for my purpose. Whatever I get, I want it to last 15 years minimum. I take great care of my equipment, so I expect it to last. I'm not opposed to paying extra for quality. I'm looking for specific brands and models along with personal experience with the equipment. Thanks in advance for the input.

 

[Ford850]

I went through similar research a few years ago. I decided to save money and go with a TSC branded splitter, and in a much smaller than originally planned size. I bought the 22 ton unit with curled (rolled) rail and a briggs engine. I'm on my third year with it I think, and it is like new. Seriously it looks like it did after the first day I used it. I run the engin dry after each use, and it still starts on the first pull even after months of no use. I split between 5 to 10 cords a year with it. I doubt I will ever need a replacement. Oh, and by getting the smaller cylinder model it has a faster cycle time than most. I have yet to have a chunk of knarled crotch wood that if couldn't split. The main beam is higher than many splitters out there, and it REALLY helps when splitting for hours... no sore back at all. I'd say the work height of it is it's best feature for me. The rest of it works flawlessly and better than any other splitter I have used. I think I bought mine for $899 when using a 10% discount card from TSC.
Having said all that, there are fancier and heavier built splitters out there. I looked at some of them and they are slick. But as fast as you can split 5 cords of wood, I decided it wasn't worth the couple thousand dollars more for the one or two days of use per year. In the end mine will split just as fast, and have the same pile of wood done at the end of the day. I used my extra money for another implement.

 

[LD1]

Another vote for the TSC branded Huskee's. They are atually made by speeco which makes good splitters, allthough not quite in the range of timberwolfs.

We have had out 27 ton unit for about 10-11 years now and to the tune of about 20-25 cord per year, we have had no trouble out of it at all.

For only 5 cord, I'd look at either their 22 or 27 ton units.

I think you can even get them with the honda engines as well allthough out B&S has held up just fine.

Yep, just checked, TSC has a huskee with a honda motor and 28 ton for $1500. SPEECO also uses barns pumps.

Considering a comparabe timberwolf unit would run you upwards of 3500 for just a basic vertical/horizontal unit with a honda motor and barns pump as well, I dont see what makes them worth 2k more

 

[Brad_Blazer]

If I was in the market I would have to go with the dual split style.
Powerhorse Dual Split Log Splitter — 20-Ton, 3000 PSI, Model# 11571 | Log Splitters | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[LD1]

If I was in the market I would have to go with the dual split style.
Powerhorse Dual Split Log Splitter 20-Ton, 3000 PSI, Model# 11571 | Log Splitters | Northern Tool + Equipment

I thought those splitters were a great Idea when I first saw them, but the more and more I split with our conventional style, the less I think that style would actually be practical.

First, we cut a lot of large diameter stuff, and a splitter capable of vertical is a MUST for me.

Second, a lot of the easier splitting stuff like red oak, ash, cherry, etc, the wedge only needs to go 6" into a 20 " peice of wood to split it. Thus with one of those you would be either reversing it like a conventional splitter, or waiting on it to complete the other 14" of its stroke before splitting again.

I have also not seen or know of a good way to put a 4 or 6 way wedge on one of these. So that would also reduce productivity vs having a slip in 4 way you could drop on in 2 seconds when you get a peice the right size.

Lastly, if you are splitting by yourself with a conventional splitter, 99.99% of the time the splitter will have already completed its return stroke before you are even ready with your next peice.

The only time I could see one of these being advantagous in MY situation would be when splitting tough stuff like american elm. Where you have to run the wedge all the way through most of the time anyway and is just too tough to use a 4 way with good results.

But to each his own. This is just my:2cents:

 

[EddieWalker]

I can't speak for anything other then the Troy Bilt sold at Lowes. My brother bought the 27 ton model last year and has split a few cords with it. It has the Honda engine, which I like better then the B&S engines.

For $1,400 it seems like a heck of a deal. I did some searches online and it was well reviewed. I'm going to borrow his this year, but plan on buying one of my own next year.

Eddie

 

[955er]

The Huskee ones are the best stand alones for the price. I have a 3 pt, but IMO I would buy the 28 ton Huskee. It comes standard with the Honda motor. The 35 ton I used the last 3 years has the briggs, and it was getting quirky with the amount of choke needed to start.

 

[Ford850]

I forgot one other thing. When I first started shopping, I went to my Stihl chainsaw dealer to see shat kind he sold. He gave me several choices of splitters he could get but didn't stock any like he used to. He told me to go to TSC and buy a Huskee, and then bring the money I saved back there and buy a couple new chain saws and a new lawn mower. Once I checked out the splitters at TSC it made sense.

 

[groundcover]

Check out supersplit logsplitters on utube. I love mine, did 45 pallets full last year, wouldn't want to go back to a ram unit .

 

[crazyal]

I have the Troy Built (MTD) 27 ton with the Honda 5.5 hp. It does between 8 to 10 cords a year now for 6 or 7 years now and still runs like the day I bought it. I didn't know a lot when i bouth it and I really lucked out. For me I want a splitter that moves the wedge over the kind that pushes the log into the wedge. Picking up logs is the hardest part of the job so why would you want to have the splitter pushing them onto the ground after it's split them. Either you'll have to pick them up again to do a second slit or you'll need to pick them up to move them away from the splitter.

Secondly having a splitter that can split in both positions (horz and vert) is also nice (would be a must if I didn't have a tractor with an FEL). This all goes back to lifting logs, the big ones are just heavy and awkward.

I got mine for about $1000. I bought one of those 20% Home Depot coupon off of eBay and went to Lowes and they took it. It's currently $1299. The differnces between the it and the TSC one is the way the motor is mounted, ergonomics between the two (looking at the picture of the TSC one it looks like the lever is on the same side as the engine vs on the opposite side for the TB), I know the Lowes one has a Halex 2 stage pump, don't know about the TSC.

Mine has a 3/4" think or more plate on the bottom of the i-beam. Looking at the pic of it that end plate doesn't look as stout. I would go down to each store and pretend to put logs on each and pull the lever to see which feels more natural to you. If nothing else you can easily sign up for Lowes moving program and get a 10% off coupon in your e-mail in a couple of days. How can you go wrong for $1170?