Wood splitters?

[BLACKJACK]

Looking at upgrading to a bigger splitter, looked online at the Timberwolf, Brave, and Iron & Oak, also locally at the Swisher and Yard Machines, some questions for you guys:

1) What kind do you have, HP and tonnage, what do you like/dislike about it?

2) Some splitters are just horizontal and some swap to horizontal and vertical, I've never used a vertical splitter, is vertical really that handy?? Seems like you'd do a lot of bending over...

3) My small splitter is only 12 ton and splits everything I throw at it, is a 26-32 ton necessary? Was thinking of going with a 20-22 ton?

4) Any accessories like a 4 way splitter or cradle that you really like?

[Steve Foss]

Well, I've only used a vertical splitter once, and didn't care for all that bending and stooping. There's enough of that with a horizontal splitter already.

Otherwise, these days I only use a big ole splitter that was put together 30 years ago in a neighbor's back yard shop, so I can't help you on differing brands/features. He loans it for free to me and a couple other neighbors, and I split 8-10 cords of maple and birch a year with it. Don't know its tonnage, but it's a 10 hp motor and does the job just fine on gnarly maple rounds up to 20 inches.

Question I have for you is why you want to upgrade if your current 12-ton splitter does a fine job on all the wood you put through it? Are you planning on cutting bigger/harder wood? For me, the answer on whether or not to upgrade is a cost/benefit one. I heat largely with wood in order to save money, and the less it costs me to put up that wood each year, the more I save over just using propane. That means I would not upgrade over a splitter that's been doing the job.

But that's just my situation.

It would be different if I had the budget, if my current splitter wasn't performing well or if I handled firewood for a living. And I know sometimes a guy just wants to upgrade to something bigger or better.

[BLACKJACK]

Steve,

I want to upgrade because my splitter its small, the splitting beam is only about 12 inches off the ground, a lot of bending over, I even have to bend over to work the lever. Plus it only has a 20 inch stroke, would be nice to get longer logs into it.

[Steve Foss]

Yes, that makes good sense. The one I use is mounted on a tall frame and doesn't require any bending to handle the logs and lever, but one as low as yours would have me cussing a lot!

My woodstove won't take a log over 22 inches long, so I have to make sure I keep my cuts to about 20 inches. I've bought a bit of wood already cut for fireplaces, and a significant number of the pieces have been too long for the woodburner. What diameter and type of wood are you splitting most?

Good luck with the search. I'd check to see if the dealers in your area have demo models on site so you can spend a little time with each one.

[WaveWacker]

We have a SpeeCo splitter. Had it for about 4 years now. Works wonderful. I forget exactly what tonage it is, but I believe it's a 22. Usually end up splitting mostly vertical as our wood ends up in the outdoor wood burner which means all smaller diameter pieces end up getting cut so that you can handle them and the pieces that need to get split are relatively all large ones. Lifting them up to the horizontal position all day is out of the question and then you don't have to try to steady a piece once split while running the lever. Vertical splitting is nice except that you are crouched over a lot.

[titelines]

My dad picked up a splitter at Northern Tool a couple years ago, but stores it up at our cabin, so I'm the one using it 90% of the time. It's a NorthStar brand, and is a 30-ton. This was probably overkill for what we use it for (see below), but he got a screamin' deal on it, so he grabbed it.

I love it!! You can split vertically or horizontally with it, although I've only done horz. The log cradle is great, really reduces the amount of bending over etc. I've been looking at adding a cross-member to it so I could do a 4-way split, but I like the ability to split some smaller pieces with it for kindling; and it seems like that piece would get in the way.

Starts and runs like a top (love the Honda engine) and really sips the gas. It's heavy, but surprisingly easy to move around by hand on solid surfaces. Has a hitch, so hooking it up to the ATV is a snap. The only problem I've had is with the hydraulic fluid lines. This one has the older (clear hard rubber) type of lines. They have cracked a couple times which gave me a leak, but were easy to fix. I believe all the new ones have the braided black rubber lines, which seem to work much better. Still not a huge deal though.

I split primarily softer wood (aspen, balsam, birch, cedar), but have split logs up to 24" in diam. without a problem. goes right through stumps, gnarly knots and everything else. Between our neighbors and us, I'd say we've split a couple dozen cords with it in the last 2 years and love it.

Hope this helps.

[BLACKJACK]

My woodstove won't take a log over 22 inches long, so I have to make sure I keep my cuts to about 20 inches. I've bought a bit of wood already cut for fireplaces, and a significant number of the pieces have been too long for the woodburner. What diameter and type of wood are you splitting most?

Thats a good point about the length of the stove!!! It doesn't do any good to get a 26 inch stroke splitter if my stove is only 22 inches!!!

Most of the wood that I split is either ash or box elder, with some oak mixed in. Nothing too big or knarly, if it is tough, I toss it to the side for recreational fires.

[LwnmwnMan2]

Blackjack -

Get ready for some reading....

I commercially split firewood, we did 100 full cords last winter.

I've been doing it for 12 years.

We've had every piece of equipment from an axe, to hydraulic splitter off of the 3 point on a tractor, to a $54,000 firewood processor to the best piece for what we do, a now 10 year old Iron and Oak splitter.

Ours is the Commercial model from Iron and Oak, with the 11 hp Kohler.

We've split about 300 full cord with this splitter and have put a new valve on it, as well as last winter we finally had to put a new cylinder on it, as we'd welded as many pin hole leaks that we could over the years.

This splitter has enough power to sheer a 5" oak limb in 1/2.

Not split, SHEER.

We've demoed the Timberwolf, but for the extra money, you're getting a "prettier" splitter, but really nothing added mechanically.

The 4 way splitter is okay, as long as you're dealing with most of the stuff the same size. If you're going from big piece, to small piece, you're moving the 4 way head too much. With a little planning, you can cut your time in 1/2, no pun intended.

A log lift (Iron and Oak model) is very nice, as you can not only just roll the bigger pieces over to the lift, but you can also use the lift as a cradle, and stack many many smaller pieces on it at one time. This way you're not bending over after EVERY single piece. Or if you have a son or other person working with you, they can keep stacking the pieces on the log lift while you split, or vice versa.

Some of the higher end models will offer an automatic return. Ours goes down and back automatically in 6 seconds. This allows you to reach for the next piece of wood, instead of standing there, holding the lever to just return the cylinder.

Get one with electric start if you're getting a larger splitter, or at least make sure it's not a direct drive for the hydraulic pump. Ours is old enough now where it's a direct drive off of the engine for the pump, and if it's 15 degrees or colder, it's almost impossible to start the splitter, as the hydraulic oil is too stiff. We bring our splitter into the heated garage the night before we're going to split.

I believe the new version of the Iron and Oak that I have is about $8,600. It's a bit comparable to the high end Northern Tool one that's about $9,000 and when I priced a new Timberwolf last year thinking about replacing the splitter I have now, they priced at about $13,000 for the same options as I have.

We only do Oak wood, from 3" to 48" in diameter.

Our splitter is a 22 ton splitter, but it has a high GPM pump and a very large reserve tank for fluid.

The firewood processor we had ran with a 100 hp John Deere diesel, and could cut, split and stack all at the same time with the movement of 2 levers. Now THAT was wood cutting, but it got to be hard to justify the $54,000 price tag with only doing 50-60 full cord at the time. We could cut, split and pile 50 cord in 3 weeks. Easy weeks at that.

[LwnmwnMan2]

Yes, that makes good sense. The one I use is mounted on a tall frame and doesn't require any bending to handle the logs and lever, but one as low as yours would have me cussing a lot!

My woodstove won't take a log over 22 inches long, so I have to make sure I keep my cuts to about 20 inches. I've bought a bit of wood already cut for fireplaces, and a significant number of the pieces have been too long for the woodburner. What diameter and type of wood are you splitting most?

Good luck with the search. I'd check to see if the dealers in your area have demo models on site so you can spend a little time with each one.

Steve - you need a different vendor it sounds like. Give me a reason to get to Ely, and I'll get you some "good, hard wood".

[erik-the-great]

i purchased a husky from tractor supply for 899 plus mn tax it has 22 ton 6.5 b and s horz and vert i just love the vert feature you just roll the log up to the splitter and sit on chair and pull the lever and you dont have bend down and pick up the log a fairly desent price i split ash and oak for the shopp and the house i have had no problem splitting anything i can throw at it

[BLACKJACK]

Thanks Lawnmowerman!!! I'm thinking very seriously about an Iron and Oak, the 20 ton model, it seems like a very solid machine and a cut above the MTD's, Troybuilts, etc.

Engines: I can get it with either a Briggs and Stratton 6 HP Vanguard, a B&S 8 HP Intec, or a Honda 5 HP GX. The Honda is $200 more, is the Honda that much better?? What do you think? My research also says the Vanguard is more of a commercial grade, I'm leaning that way vrs the Intek - what do you guys think??

Also looking at a Timberwolf next week, spendy but want to be able to at least look at one.

[jltimm]

I know you didn't ask me, but I'd purchase a Honda motor over a Briggs & stratton without any thought at all!

[LwnmwnMan2]

I know you didn't ask me, but I'd purchase a Honda motor over a Briggs & stratton without any thought at all!

I'm with jltimmn, I'd go with the Honda as well, but I also look at everything as a commercial purchase.

As a homeowner, I'd go with the Vangard over the Intek, but the Honda would be first.

Also, you need to look at where you're getting it. I know first hand the people at Iron and Oak are always right there to help with ANY question. They're a wood splitting company that know what's wrong with a wood splitter.

Nothing against Tractor Supply, Northern Tool or other "broad based supplier", but if you have any issues with your purchase, hopefully you can find someone that understands the ins and outs of the product.

[BLACKJACK]

I know you didn't ask me, but I'd purchase a Honda motor over a Briggs & stratton without any thought at all!

But the quesion in my mind is the Honda worth an extra $200??? I've heard its quieter but does it run and start better? Reliability? Longer life?

[LwnmwnMan2]

If it's the commercial grade of Honda motors, yes, it's worth the extra $200.

There's a lighter version of Honda motors, or there used to be anyways, with a blue label.

[jltimm]

Quieter, runs better, starts better, less vibration, more reliable, not as cold blooded, better resale, probably even uses less gas!

[BLACKJACK]

Thanks for the advice guys. I ended up buying the Timberwolf TWP1 20 ton - with the Honda 5.5 HP GX engine. Can't wait to get out and use it!!!

[jltimm]

Congrats, let us know how you like it!

[titelines]

Congrats - You'll have a blast!

[BLACKJACK]

Finally got out this weekend and split for about three hours with the new splitter. Been dying to try it out but then we got 16 inches of snow and I couldn't get to my wood pile, then after I scooped and blew my way to the wood, it turned cold, but Sunday afternoon at 5 degrees I tried it out.

The Honda started nice, warmed it up a little, and started splitting. The cradle is nice, once you have the chunk up there its easy to balance. After splitting a few I put on the four way, its a nice addition, speeds up the process. I did find a couple of chunks that stopped the splitter, which was disapointing, but then I took the four way off and they split right up. Was disapointed when it started getting dark and I had to stop.

I was able to split for three hours without filling the tank.

One thing I noticed is that it 'rattled' a lot, traced that back to the ball hitch, next time will be taking a bungee with to tighten that down or wrenches to take it off.

The only other disapointment that I have with the splitter is that the manual says not to take it down the road over 30 mph. Guess I didn't realize that, I thought if a splitter had a ball hitch and wheels you could just go. That will be ok around home but if I want to take it to my brothers place whos an hour away.... Luckily I do have a trailer I can load it onto.

Will be adding the output rack soon, everytime that I bent over I was thinking about the rack that I passed on.

Overall a nice unit!!!

[jltimm]

I think the tires they put on them are speed rated tires. I wouldn't tow it up and down the hwy all the time, but I wouldn't worry about it to much.

[LwnmwnMan2]

A thought on your output rack, if you didn't already buy one.

All you need is a "table" built out of plywood, something for the wood to fall onto.