Supersplit or rapidfire

[Rob186]

Hey need some advice on a splitter I am not a fan of hydro log splitters used them and between the slowness and maintenance time seems like my time could be spent elsewhere I know the supersplit is battle tested with Many satisfied customers if I got one of these it would be electric so their would be very little maintenance the bad thing is the price it is a little steep
The dr rapidfire is newer and only comes in a gas version but thats not a deal breaker and is cheaper I can get the larger dr for the price of the j model supersplit but I'm not sure if it is worth it and I am a little concerned about the reliably of the rapidfire any insight would be great

 

[Jags]

I don't believe that I have ever heard of a single complaint from a SS owner. I cannot say the same of the DR (albeit only a couple).

Edit: food for thought, but at the price range of the SS the Iron and Oak has a "fast" hydro version.

 

[MasterMech]

Yeah that fast I&O is the same thing I own with a smaller cylinder. 8 Seconds, down & back, plenty of power for knots,crotches, and elm. Does vertical too.

What about hydro splitter maintenance? Plenty of them run decades with zero maintenance. You should change the engine oil and the hydro filter occasionally. Not everybody does.

 

[Jags]

You should change the engine oil and the hydro filter occasionally. Not everybody does.

What is this "maintenance" you speak of?? Ain't done squat to mine since I built it. Nothing.

 

[Lakeside]

I went with the electric SS , quiet,clean & low maintenance , so far so good.

You could purchase the SS without a motor and just add one yourself to save a few bucks, then there is also the tax free days I believe at the end of summer too.


Tax-free weekend returns to Massachusetts Aug. 11-12, 2012. During the two-day period, all purchases made in the Commonwealth totaling less than $2,500 will not be subject to state tax, which could mean significant savings in some instances. However, there are some rules and exceptions.

Good luck

 

[charly]

Very happy with my SuperSplit as well... One thing I like,, I can move it around by hand..pile gets too big in front of the splitter I just lift it up and wheel it to a new spot.. I had a tow hitch made for mine , a receiver welded on the front down leg with a pin as to take the tow bar out of the way when splitting..Nice thing is the newer ones have grease fittings on the flywheel bearings. Make sure you put some grease on the rack teeth every once in a while..

 

[MasterMech]

Make sure you put some grease on the rack teeth every once in a while..​

Charly,

Do you get a lot of debris sticking to that rack? That would be my worry with that type of splitter, keeping that greasy rack (which has to be exposed by design) somewhat free of bark/debris.

 

[charly]

Charly,

Do you get a lot of debris sticking to that rack? That would be my worry with that type of splitter, keeping that greasy rack (which has to be exposed by design) somewhat free of bark/debris.

Not really a lot of debris. Once you run the rack through once it squishes out any excess grease.. Amsoil also makes a dry film spray grease,, thought of trying that as well... I had a SuperSplit for about 20 years and sold it to buy a splitter that did 30 inch long splits for a wood boiler I had... That SuperSplit never gave me any trouble and went with the original motor too, still running fine on Amsoil.. The grease on that rack never caused any problems all those years... I'd have to call Super Split and ask about the dry film lube.. Back to a regular wood stove after moving and I went back to another SuperSplit... To me,, splitting wood with the SuperSplit makes me feel like I'm making time splitting wood.. When my wife is handing me rounds we can split out a lot of wood in a short period of time...I like too that I can run the motor at about half throttle and it has plenty of splitting power,, bigger stuff or crotches I just throttle it up for that split..

 

[charly]

Interesting!

 

[Como]

I have the DR and have split maybe 40 cords.

Due to altitude I am down about 40% on power compared to sea level. I do need to re jet it for high altitude.

 

[Clarkbug]

I have one of the old SS that I bought off of Craigslist the year before last. It was one of the models that you can see on YouTube that had the knob you pull up vertically to actuate it, and I think it said it was made by CSX or something along those lines.

Regardless, its been around a while, and has been customized by a former owner. It has a set of log "wings" that hold rounds on the beam, and has a trailer hitch on it. Its not the prettiest, but still running its original 3 HP briggs engine and I can split for all Im worth for the day and not go through even a gallon of fuel. Just before I bought it a new set of bearings and a new pinion had been installed. I really like that all of the parts are relatively simple if they ever needed to be fabricated, and the owner is really good about providing info and parts when needed.

Certainly not saying anything bad about the DR, but for an old scarred work horse, I like the SuperSplit, and hope to keep flogging it for years to come.

 

[charly]

I have one of the old SS that I bought off of Craigslist the year before last. It was one of the models that you can see on YouTube that had the knob you pull up vertically to actuate it, and I think it said it was made by CSX or something along those lines.

Regardless, its been around a while, and has been customized by a former owner. It has a set of log "wings" that hold rounds on the beam, and has a trailer hitch on it. Its not the prettiest, but still running its original 3 HP briggs engine and I can split for all Im worth for the day and not go through even a gallon of fuel. Just before I bought it a new set of bearings and a new pinion had been installed. I really like that all of the parts are relatively simple if they ever needed to be fabricated, and the owner is really good about providing info and parts when needed.

Certainly not saying anything bad about the DR, but for an old scarred work horse, I like the SuperSplit, and hope to keep flogging it for years to come.

That's the same one I originally had for 20 years,, knob you pull straight up... Before I sold it to a friend I had just updated it ot the handle set up like the newer splitter I have now... And yes that older one still was running the original 3 hp Briggs... Funny thing is a friend bought my old one who sold firewood,,, he had it about 2 months when another guy drove by, seeing him use it who also sold fire wood and offered him good money for the splitter right on the spot,,, so away it went to it's 3 rd owner...Yes they are really good on fuel,, like you said all day long on a tank of fuel it seems. Paul at SuperSplit is a great guy and cares about the quality of his work and splitters. He said he can barely keep up with the demand at times, hiring more people and getting more machinery as well for more in house machining...

 

[ArsenalDon]

Interesting!

Very cool...and love the name "The Woodinator"