Ruggedmade wood splitter. Beware, poor quality. Not so rugged.

[4570Man]

What’s the minimum price of entry for a self powered unit in the respectable ton range? I think we can agree on horizontal only with a fixed wedge at the end is the best way. I don’t have a 40 hp tractor to dedicate to splitting wood and I don’t have any wagons. That makes a log lift and self powered mandatory features. If you can get that package for a considerable amount less than 7k than I’m all ears.

 

[oosik]

I wouldn't recommend the splitter I used - mainly because I'm not too sure they are still in business. Parts - ???

It was a Didier. It was around 12 ton. It worked OK on some pretty tough old pine. I used it for the ten years we burned wood then I gave it away. This was 1982 to around 1992.

My pine can get pretty knotty, stringy and generally tough for 12 ton splitter. I've never used anything other than the Didier but I would be real hesitant about any of those kinetic splitters.

It's real hard to believe that you should have to spend $7K on any kind of splitter to get a good one.

I ended up with the hydraulic splitter because I found - right off - my pine could not be split with any kind of maul or splitting axe. You would beat a chunk to pulp and it still wasn't split.

I also found that the biggest pines - up to 38" - weren't the best for firewood. Just too much futzing around for what you ended up with.

When I think of splitting firewood I think of a chunk flying apart when you run it thru the wedge. Mine seldom did that. The wedge would go thru and the two chunks still held together - a lot of stringiness. You would have to turn the piece and run the wedge thru at 180 degrees.

Something like a 30 ton splitter and a four way wedge probably would have been the answer to my firewood situation.

 

[4570Man]

I’d hate to have any less than 20 tons of actual force. Keep in mind wood splitter ton ratings are usually way overrated. A 5” cylinder at 2000 psi is only about 20 tons. A 4” cylinder is usually the work of a “20 ton” splitter and it’ll take 3200 psi to accomplish that.

 

[Diggin It]

Can't speak to force, but I can't see how any splitter should even be able to bend the I beam. If it can, the beam is either defective of grossly undersized. I paid $600 for a used 28 Ton Speeco and it's handled some very tough rounds with no more than a few groans.

 

[edgarrian]

I purchased a Northstar from Northerntool.com. I went with them b/c the reviews were pretty good. Its a heavy duty splitter. I split more than enough to cover me through the winter every year. It has ran flawlessly for the three years I have had it. I did however let it sit to long and with crappy fuel. So i had to get that takin care of. Splits oak and anything i have fed through it. To be honest I thought nearly 2k for splitter was enough. 7k for a splitter is a whole lot of money. Put it into perspective. My 1705 was 10,300. I don't see why a TW would be nearly worth as much as a little tractor.

 

[TheMadOne]

Their little horizontal/vertical splitter is $3400 and the vertical only with a lift is $7500. I used to have a Swisher splitter that was a first class piece.

Price out a Mighty OX LS-30 sometime, with the conveyor. Sweet piece, but I could buy another tractor for what they cost.

 

[4570Man]

Price out a Mighty OX LS-30 sometime, with the conveyor. Sweet piece, but I could buy another tractor for what they cost.

$13,700 which I don’t think include the conveyor. Those start at $5,000. Even if I did intend to spend that much on a wood splitter which I don’t they don’t appear to be designed to operate from the same side as the lift and that’s a deal breaker.

 

[atsah]

American Conveyors & Log Splitters

 

[4570Man]

Easton made are another brand that I’ve seen. I like the way the wedge adjust on theirs.

 

[shooterdon]

What’s the minimum price of entry for a self powered unit in the respectable ton range? I think we can agree on horizontal only with a fixed wedge at the end is the best way. I don’t have a 40 hp tractor to dedicate to splitting wood and I don’t have any wagons. That makes a log lift and self powered mandatory features. If you can get that package for a considerable amount less than 7k than I’m all ears.

Have to agree with you 4570. My 14T works most of the time so 20T is all I need and I am willing to trade splitting power for cycle time. I want 10 seconds or less. Would like the option to add a 4-way for the easy to split stuff.

I buy most of my logs. Costs $800 for 10 loggers cords and that works out to 8 cords of split wood. I can have split firewood delivered for $180/cord. By the time I pay for fuel, oil, chains etc, I am saving maybe $70/cord. I am in my late 60's and use 4 -5 cords a year. If buy a "high end" splitter for $5000 and sell it down the road for $2500 I need to use 35 cords...or 7-8 years to break even. In my case, it does not look like a good investment. But maybe I am missing something?