Piston
Elite Member
This is exactly what I want. Do you have the 4 way? I'd like a new 3465 with log lifter, but having a hard time (for years now) taking the financial plunge.
I may just start selling fire wood on the side to
Justify it!
wood splitter
- Thread starter totouchantler
- Start date
- Views: 4120
This is exactly what I want. Do you have the 4 way? I'd like a new 3465 with log lifter, but having a hard time (for years now) taking the financial plunge.
I may just start selling fire wood on the side to
Justify it!
TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark
Veteran Member
I've been heating solely with wood for 12 years now, about 5 cords a year. Most of my wood comes from a local log processor; I get the butt ends and crotches for free. Most of it is high side of 20", and the big ones go upwards of 40". It's all hardwood, mostly oak. He doesn't bother with pine and neither do I. The biggest I've split was from another source, a 54" round of the hardest ancient oak I have ever seen.
It's all been done with a Tractor Supply (Speeco) 35 ton. I bent the toe plate on a crotch from the same tree that gave me the 54" round. That stuff was HARRRRD. Speeco replaced it under warranty, no questions asked. Other than that, it's been trouble free. Speeco had a run where they skinnied up the toe plate, and replaced a lot of bent ones. They learned their lesson and beefed it up again. Newer owners tell me they have no problem.
I run Rotella T6 in it, and one of these days I'll probably swap out the hydraulic fluid for DexIII/Merc for better flow in winter.
I like the vertical/horizontal option, and I plan to build a log lifter for it this winter.
That said, what you need depends on you. What will you be splitting? How much? How big? What species? A 22 ton will do you just fine if you are splitting pine and the lighter hardwoods,, or small stuff of just about any species. I've had people tell me they split big oak with their 22 ton and never a problem, but my 35 ton (and the Speeco IS a true 35 ton, unlike most) has been stopped more than once by a big oak crotch.
If you are splitting big stuff, go big. Pay once and cry once. Get a log lift if you work big stuff, unless you have a grapple for your tractor to handle lifting it.
By the way, most manufacturers lie about their tonnage ratings. They claim xx tons, but that's if you run it at the system's max pressure, and they don't. Max is typically 3500 psi, and they run 2250 or 2500. Speeco gives accurate ratings, they run at 3500 so you get a true tonnage.
I've heard nothing but good about the Iron and Oak, too. FWIW, I bought a few wedges and a maul from them early on in my spitting career, and the maul broke after one season. The wedges were pretty soft and mushroomed badly pretty quickly. That was before I got the splitter and I was doing those big oak rounds by hand.
It's all been done with a Tractor Supply (Speeco) 35 ton. I bent the toe plate on a crotch from the same tree that gave me the 54" round. That stuff was HARRRRD. Speeco replaced it under warranty, no questions asked. Other than that, it's been trouble free. Speeco had a run where they skinnied up the toe plate, and replaced a lot of bent ones. They learned their lesson and beefed it up again. Newer owners tell me they have no problem.
I run Rotella T6 in it, and one of these days I'll probably swap out the hydraulic fluid for DexIII/Merc for better flow in winter.
I like the vertical/horizontal option, and I plan to build a log lifter for it this winter.
That said, what you need depends on you. What will you be splitting? How much? How big? What species? A 22 ton will do you just fine if you are splitting pine and the lighter hardwoods,, or small stuff of just about any species. I've had people tell me they split big oak with their 22 ton and never a problem, but my 35 ton (and the Speeco IS a true 35 ton, unlike most) has been stopped more than once by a big oak crotch.
If you are splitting big stuff, go big. Pay once and cry once. Get a log lift if you work big stuff, unless you have a grapple for your tractor to handle lifting it.
By the way, most manufacturers lie about their tonnage ratings. They claim xx tons, but that's if you run it at the system's max pressure, and they don't. Max is typically 3500 psi, and they run 2250 or 2500. Speeco gives accurate ratings, they run at 3500 so you get a true tonnage.
I've heard nothing but good about the Iron and Oak, too. FWIW, I bought a few wedges and a maul from them early on in my spitting career, and the maul broke after one season. The wedges were pretty soft and mushroomed badly pretty quickly. That was before I got the splitter and I was doing those big oak rounds by hand.
dadster4
Gold Member
I bought a 20 ton Dirty Hand Tools stand alone splitter from Lowe's a couple years ago. I've split 30" rounds- 24" long vertically to avoid lifting into sixths, the shifted to horizontal to finish them off. It slowed down some on the nasty ones near the stump and crotches on ash, hickory, and oak, but always got the job done.
dodge man
Super Star Member
I've got a Speeco. Its ok but its horizontal only, so if you get bigger pieces, its kind of sucks. I've lifted up some larger pieces on it with my tractor and it splits them, but its akward and slow. Anything 18 inches and smaller its great as long as I keep the mice out of the wiring. The big thing is, how much wood do your burn. I burn a cord maybe every other year so mine works great for the low volume I use and it cost maybe $700.
oosik
Epic Contributor
Dave,
I had the same circumstances with my Didier horizontal splitter. The big 32" to 36" ends of my pines were a real PITA to get up onto the splitter. Once the tree reduced to around 24" - all was good. I dug a shallow trench with my FEL bucket and rolled the splitter into the trench so the horizontal I-beam was level with the ground. Made rolling those monster pieces onto the splitter a lot easier.
I had the same circumstances with my Didier horizontal splitter. The big 32" to 36" ends of my pines were a real PITA to get up onto the splitter. Once the tree reduced to around 24" - all was good. I dug a shallow trench with my FEL bucket and rolled the splitter into the trench so the horizontal I-beam was level with the ground. Made rolling those monster pieces onto the splitter a lot easier.
CADplans
Elite Member
I always wanted a wood splitter,, and have built a few in the past.
Each time, I would sell it,,, because I could not dedicate that much room in the shed.
Finally,,,, I figured out how to build a machine that would do a half dozen tasks,,,
and did not take up much shed space,,,
This machine is a keeper!!
Each time, I would sell it,,, because I could not dedicate that much room in the shed.
Finally,,,, I figured out how to build a machine that would do a half dozen tasks,,,
and did not take up much shed space,,,
This machine is a keeper!!
civilian
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2015
- Messages
- 1,824
- Location
- Vanderbilt, MI
- Tractor
- Gravely Pro 16 walk behind, Kubota BX2230, Kubota B26TLB
I always wanted a wood splitter,, and have built a few in the past.
Each time, I would sell it,,, because I could not dedicate that much room in the shed.
Finally,,,, I figured out how to build a machine that would do a half dozen tasks,,,
and did not take up much shed space,,,
This machine is a keeper!!
I like the cross running cylinder idea. What is the length of the cylinder stroke? Ours has a 24' stroke, but it would be nice to split a 26" piece. If the splitter head would be 26" from closed cylinder position this would work. Not that I need another splitter, but are you marketing this unit. I think it has lots of potential for sales. Good Luck with it. Jon
CADplans
Elite Member
That particular cylinder is a 20" stroke, but, because of the multiple mounting holes, the splitter can do logs up to 30"
I am not marketing it,,, it was just fun to build.
You gotta do something when you have a CNC torch!!:laughing: