Wood splitters

Cascade Failure · #1 08/14/07, 12:06 AM

Who uses one that they would reccomend? Who has one that they would reccomend to their enemy? What should I look for/stay away from?

**Cabin Fever** · #2 08/14/07, 07:18 AM

My wood splitter is a 6HP (Honda), 20 or 22 ton model from Northern Tool. I would highly recommend this splitter. The main thing I would look for in a wood splitter is where the engine is mounted. The location of the engine is especially important when you’re using the splitter in the horizontal mode. Some brands mount the engine low to the ground. Stay away from these....it’s too easy to drop a log on the engine when you’re working. And if the engine is mounted low, it could hit a rock or stump while its being towed. Also, make sure the engine is not mounted directly in the working area. I’ve seen some splitters where the engine is placed right where you want to stand while splitting wood.

Beeman · #3 08/14/07, 07:50 AM

To add to what Cabin said, I've used some with very noisey engines that required hearing protection as you'll be there for hours. Also used one where the exhaust blew right on your leg while splitting or in your direction so the fumes bother you. Used another one that the beam was very low which is a back breaker to work over for hours. Some have too small of a tank and the fluid gets extremely hot during prolonged use.
My next splitter will not have an engine of it's own, it will be powered by my PTO on my tractor. This will allow me to have less engines to maintain. It will also mount on the 3 pt. hitch so it will drop to the ground to allow large logs to roll on. By using my tractor it will move the exhaust far away from me and since I run it on veg. oil the fumes will not bother me at all. Another reason for this setup is it won't be easy for anyone to borrow!

backwoods · #4 08/14/07, 08:54 AM

I have a 5hp 20 ton splitter from TSC.Had it for 14+ years and have had zero trouble with it.It is noisey though.Remember most people only use a splitter a fraction of a year,so they should last a long time.Mine still works great.

Jack_IA · #5 08/14/07, 01:16 PM

I have a 34 ton and would not trade it for the world.
If you plan on doing it enough to have to buy a log splitter I would find the largest one you can find.price wise there was not much difference berween the 34 ton and the 20 ton.but I have done some very large stumps and have yet to find something it could not split quickly
and anyone who splits with me is amazed at how great that machine is.

bill not in oh · #6 08/14/07, 01:34 PM

While we're on the subject of splitters... and not to cause thread drift...

Does anyone know how to determine the splitting power of one? What's the formula to come up with "X" tons?

Ramblin Wreck · #7 08/14/07, 02:05 PM

I got the same splitter from the same source that CF has. It's been a very dependable machine so far, about 4-5 winter's worth. Sometimes you can catch them on sale and add a discount coupon to further reduce the price.

Cascade Failure · #8 08/15/07, 02:37 AM

Thank you for the responses.

Especially CF - I had not thought about dropping a log on an engine.

indypartridge · #9 08/15/07, 04:54 AM

You might want to consider renting one. Our local hardware rents them for about $50 a day. For the amount of wood I need to split, I can't justify buying one, and it's one less thing I have to store and maintain. But even if you definitely plan to buy, renting one for a day will give you a good "feel" for the features you like and don't like.

artificer · #10 08/15/07, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill in oh

While we're on the subject of splitters... and not to cause thread drift...

Does anyone know how to determine the splitting power of one? What's the formula to come up with "X" tons?

Take a look at this Northern Tools splitter. Its rated at 37 tons. The specs show it has a 5 inch diameter cylinder, and a max pressure of 3500psi.

So... formula for area is diameter squared, divided by 4, times pi... (D^2)/4 * 3.14, or 5*5/4*3.14= 19.63 square inches.

pressure times area gives you the maximum force.
19.63in^2 x 3500psi= 68,722 or 34.3 tons. Norther tools calls this "continuous force", which is less than the rated 37 tons. I think they're using a fudge factor to get the higher rating, since the engine flywheel can cause a pressure spike of higher than max rated pressure.

Michael

bill not in oh · #11 08/15/07, 03:57 PM

Thanks, Michael. Now I have to figure out how much pressure the pump is putting out...

artificer · #12 08/15/07, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill in oh

Thanks, Michael. Now I have to figure out how much pressure the pump is putting out...

Which pump? Are you running this on a tractor, or a separate hydraulic system, or is it an existing log splitter? Typical older tractor pressure is about 2500. It varies, but its a good starting guess.

Michael

bill not in oh · #13 08/15/07, 04:52 PM

It's a self-contained unit - shop built, I believe (I bought it used - not from the original owner). 10½ HP Briggs I/C with a hydraulic pump of unknown origin (maybe once I inspect it closer, I can find some specs.).

tallpaul · #14 08/15/07, 05:52 PM

My unit is a modified unit from TSC. It is one of their 3 pt units that I mounted to an adapter that lets it be used on the bobcat. I can use it upright or inverted as shown. As shown I sit in the airconditioned/heated cab and listen to the radio as I split wood in any weather

I actually built it because I get free wood from the tree guys and the big but ends were rough to deal with. I figured I'd be using it for them and the bigger stuff only but amazingly to me the smaller stuff is as easy to split with it as the other so...

I guess if it holds up to my abuse a regular user should be happy for a long while...
Wood splitters - Homesteading Questions

pic added

wdchuck · #15 08/15/07, 06:05 PM

If you have the option, I'd recommend a Honda engine, they run quieter, and use less fuel, the Briggs are thirsty and loud. I've used both and based my decision on lower purchase price, but in the not so long run, the Honda would have been the better buy, and 5-6hp is plenty to run a splitter, my Briggs engine is 10hp I/C, overkill. The hydro pump is a bigger factor than engine size.

One more thing, the location of the oil filter, some units have it mounted down so it can be damaged while towing around the bush.

The ability to split vertical or horizontal at will is wonderful, splitting a 34"er into quarters, then finishing the job horizontally is nice, I'd not own a splitter that only split one way.

scott · #16 08/15/07, 07:37 PM

we have the TSC 22 ton (i think) with a honda engine. it rocks ...it will split anything i can put on it and does split vertically. i like owning one, as a tree falls down i can cut and split on the spot. I have more wood this year than i have ever had and really feel like i have not put that effort into it.

Cascade Failure · #17 08/16/07, 02:38 AM

So how much can one reasonably expect to split in a good 8 hrs?

indypartridge - I already planned on doing the rental thing to try them out, just wanted to narrow down any potential rental choices. Thanks for the suggestion.

gilberte · #18 08/16/07, 05:46 AM

Tallpaul, that rig is ingenious! I'm getting to the age where I'm about ready to lay my splitting maul down. Now looking for a used Ingersoll splitter which splits both on the forward and return stroke.

PineRidge · #19 08/16/07, 06:31 AM

Tallpaul, that is great, the problem is if I show the pic to dh, he will insist on first, buying a skid steer, then mounting a splitter on it.

We got our splitter from Home depot. I know it has a Honda engine, but can't remember the size right now. My husband is really happy with it (beats using a maul) and while expensive outright, it really is a great time saver, and it can split the huge gnarly pieces of wood that would otherwise be wasted. According to dh, it was worth twice what we bought it for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cascade Failure

So how much can one reasonably expect to split in a good 8 hrs?

That really depends, how many people helping, how big is the wood, are you in a hurry? etc.

My family does a good p/u load in about an hour, but that is with dh cutting the logs, oldest ds running the splitter, me loading the splitter and tossing the wood aside, and if I'm lucky the younger kids rolling the pieces to me, and throwing the split pieces on the truck. Oh, and lots of goofing off

DH and I get done a little faster when it's just us. Funny how that works, lol.

tallpaul · #20 08/16/07, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilberte

Tallpaul, that rig is ingenious! I'm getting to the age where I'm about ready to lay my splitting maul down. Now looking for a used Ingersoll splitter which splits both on the forward and return stroke.

Thanks- you can see the wood boiler in the background of the one pic... My friend had his for ten years before I did. I thought early on a splitter set up like that would make it easy. He built his a few years before I did from scratch. Now they sell em premade although I believe we have the only changable ones I have seen. I thought that I could run it upright and plumb quick disconnects so I could use a normal valve and run the splitter like a normal one.

I did use a buddies Timberwolf 3 point splitter for a season or two before I broke down n put this together. I believe a skid loader is a very versatile machine to have on the homestead if ya can buy it right or use it for work as I do. They are work/back savers!

I have a chance to get a small gas unit for 200.00 and should but I can't justify it at this time- I likely will but darn I ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH JUNK TO MOVE !!!