Best splitter under $2k

mking7 said:

Going to pull the trigger on a splitter. Was thinking Huskee 22 ton at TSC but after watching some YouTube videos I'm wanting to go bigger. Most all my wood is fairly knotty oak. Leaning toward the northern tool 37 ton. Any others I should consider at my price limit. Iron and Oak seem to be out of my budget.

Click to expand...

Really enjoy threads on wood splitters. The machine pictured below is thirty years old and on it's second engine, and the hydraulics have been rebuilt once. Not a brute in splitting force, vane pump, and a 3 1/2" ram.

In most wood, as in the last two pictures, it does really well. The knotty Sitka spruce was another thing. That tree took three days to noodle, split and stack.

I think a buyer needs to ask themselves, how many cords to they plan to split and for how many years?

I think the Huskee 22 would be just fine for most recreational splitters heating 1-3 homes. Log splitters are not precision tools. I have a Harbor Freight 30 ton I got for $8XX 8 years ago. Its probably split just over 50 cords and run just under 300 hours in that time. I'll probably give up on splitting wood when the splitter reaches 1500 hours. As long as the splitter's ability to split outlasts mine that is good enough for me. If I were going into the firewood business, THEN I'd buy the beefiest fastest splitter I could find.


Another factor is if you have someone who will split with you?

My current short stroke/autostart/autoreverse device is a Kindergartener with a pair of worktunes. She is only effective ~20 out of every 30 minutes, but the rest of the time she'll smile at me when dancing or sitting in the shade under the tree and bring me a drink or a cookie when she goes inside. A short stroke device does save time, but a small fraction of the overall process of cutting, moving, splitting, moving, and stacking. I do it for the company as much as the time savings. If you're splitting 50 cords a year worry, about it. If you split 50 cords every 8 years like me, its probably not important.

I'm confident you'll be happy with the Iron and Oak!

I have the 28 ton Husky with the Honda engine. I was set on buying the 35 ton but the manager said the 28 was as strong when it came right down to the splitting, would run better, start easier and was 400 less. Very happy with the choice. Dealing with a lot of red oak and I love the big stuff. Hardest thing I have dealt with was an old maple. It split it, but every piece was an odd chunk and it took so long to get through the round that I left the rest of the pile for someone else to scrounge. I have broken through every piece that has been on that splitter.

Hiram Maxim said:

cwill said:

I use a Husky 35 ton and it will go through about anything. A20-22 ton would probably be sufficient but the heavier build of the 35 is what i liked about it.

Click to expand...

I have the 35 ton Huskee as well...My only complaint is that it has a small gas tank for the size of the machine. But it starts on the first pull, and I have yet to find anything that will stop it!

I would agree that a 20 or 22 ton would fit the bill of most people. Structurally Seems like its built to last a lifetime?

Click to expand...

I have the Huskee 35, also. Love it. I would question your inefficient procedures, though. If you are going to split vertical, why not have the splitter stationed next to your pile of wood so that you can sit, reach and pull a round over to you, and split it while remaining seated. If you are going to stand up while splitting easily handled, smaller rounds, why not just split horizontal and eliminate all bending and stooping? Even if you split horizontal, why not have your splitter stationed at the wood pile instead of constantly having to walk over to the pile and bring back one round at a time?

I have the 26ton Iron and Oak with the Robin motor, and I have found something that will stop it. I was splitting a large post oak tree. The trunk was about 32-34" diameter. It worked hard that day, as did the people splitting the wood. At the knottiest and densest part, no rot, the tree was green enough to stop it. We had to take another run at it and we broke through. I split most of that in the horizontal and it crushed knot after knot after knot. As I said, it worked hard.

In fact, I may have overworked it because the valve assembly started to leak. It had an auto return feature--or seemed to-- that would kick the lever out when the ram fully retracted. I called Iron and Oak, it was under warranty, and they sent me a new valve assembly and I will send the defective one back Monday. The new valve does not have the auto-return feature. They were good to deal with on the warranty issue. I would recommend their product. It is a heavy duty dude. Subaru Robin motor is a great motor.

Make sure it has a cradle and wood de-wedger. Indispensable in my opinion.

Hobbyheater....what's the oval on your hat in the picture above? Really just curious....a bumper?

bpirger said:

Hobbyheater....what's the oval on your hat in the picture above? Really just curious....a bumper?

Click to expand...

A bumper would be a really good idea; I'll explain a little farther down. The oval is the coiled cord for the hand held control for the winch.

A bumper would be a good idea :exclaim: Another hobby I have other than firewood, boilers, chainsaws and wood splitters, is sailing. While out on the boat, as my wife puts it, she has never seen a person with such a knack for getting their feet wound up in a coil of rope like me. Anyway, about 20 years, while on top of the trunk cabin, I got a foot caught in one off these coils and ended up in the galley on my head. I was wearing a Tilley hat and one of the grommets in the hat has left has a nice little round brand-like mark on the top of my bald head. When you asked about the oval, I had to go back and look at the picture thinking a picture had been posted where I was wearing no hat and that brand was visible.:lol:

Hi Allan:

Ah ha! I hope you had as much fun with this reply as I did! I really thought you had something stuck on your hat..... I thought perhaps with the vertical splitting, one might bang there head enough on something you took matters into your own hands....or on the brim!

bpirger said:

Hi Allan:

Ah ha! I hope you had as much fun with this reply as I did! I really thought you had something stuck on your hat..... I thought perhaps with the vertical splitting, one might bang there head enough on something you took matters into your own hands....or on the brim!

Click to expand...

If you have posted pictures of your "Garn", could you send me the link to see them. Since joining "Hearth .com" a short while ago, it's like I've been living in a time warp since the early 80s. There are all the newer boilers and so many different types. It is all very interesting as well as the wood splitters too.

weatherguy said:

Ive been eyeing this one, havent done enough research yet to know if this is the best price.

http://www.logsplittersdirect.com/Great-Northern-Equipment-11571-Log-Splitter/p7373.html

Click to expand...

I glanced the manual of this splitter. When it comes to splitting big rounds, you will find out its limitations and a sore back to boot. Seems like you will have to lift the wood on the splitter to split it. Meaning, I think this is a horizontal splitter only. Look at the pics and videos in this thread and you will see that other splitters are splitting big rounds in a vertical position.

I owned the Northern Tool 37 ton and I had a lot of problems with it. Hydraulic filters exploding twice. Hydraulic tank cracked at axle welds. splitter wedge cross bolt sheered numorous times. Tilt hinge broke and beam fell off ( new hinge design from Northern is supposed to fix this). the 4 way wings are not what their cracked up to be and using them is no good for big rounds and it puts to much stress on the ram.

My co worker owns the 37 ton also and the piston in his hydraulic cylinder separated from its shaft. Welding at a machine shop fixed this but he was warned it probably will not last forever.

I liked the Honda engine very much and I thought the 4 way wedge was a good idea but after i used it for a year and 10 cords I felt it was poorly engineered/built and I was happy to get rid of it.

I use my brothers Iron Oak 22 ton and I like it much better. Its built a little heavier .I wont be going back to a high tonnage machine.

20 tons is plenty for me after having owned a 37. I might get an Iron and Oak too.

glenng said:

I owned the Northern Tool 37 ton and I had a lot of problems with it. Hydraulic filters exploding twice. Hydraulic tank cracked at axle welds. splitter wedge cross bolt sheered numorous times. Tilt hinge broke and beam fell off ( new hinge design from Northern is supposed to fix this). the 4 way wings are not what their cracked up to be and using them is no good for big rounds and it puts to much stress on the ram.

My co worker owns the 37 ton also and the piston in his hydraulic cylinder separated from its shaft. Welding at a machine shop fixed this but he was warned it probably will not last forever.

I liked the Honda engine very much and I thought the 4 way wedge was a good idea but after i used it for a year and 10 cords I felt it was poorly engineered/built and I was happy to get rid of it.

I use my brothers Iron Oak 22 ton and I like it much better. Its built a little heavier .I wont be going back to a high tonnage machine.

20 tons is plenty for me after having owned a 37. I might get an Iron and Oak too.

Click to expand...

I & O makes a 20 ton Fast Cycle unit for ya. 8 second cycle time. Sounds like you might have fun with that!

MasterMech said:

glenng said:

I owned the Northern Tool 37 ton and I had a lot of problems with it. Hydraulic filters exploding twice. Hydraulic tank cracked at axle welds. splitter wedge cross bolt sheered numorous times. Tilt hinge broke and beam fell off ( new hinge design from Northern is supposed to fix this). the 4 way wings are not what their cracked up to be and using them is no good for big rounds and it puts to much stress on the ram.

My co worker owns the 37 ton also and the piston in his hydraulic cylinder separated from its shaft. Welding at a machine shop fixed this but he was warned it probably will not last forever.

I liked the Honda engine very much and I thought the 4 way wedge was a good idea but after i used it for a year and 10 cords I felt it was poorly engineered/built and I was happy to get rid of it.

I use my brothers Iron Oak 22 ton and I like it much better. Its built a little heavier .I wont be going back to a high tonnage machine.

20 tons is plenty for me after having owned a 37. I might get an Iron and Oak too.

Click to expand...

I & O makes a 20 ton Fast Cycle unit for ya. 8 second cycle time. Sounds like you might have fun with that!

Click to expand...

You talking about this one?

http://www.logsplittersdirect.com/Iron-&-Oak-BHVH2209FC-CAMO-Log-Splitter/p5053.html

weatherguy said:

MasterMech said:

glenng said:

I owned the Northern Tool 37 ton and I had a lot of problems with it. Hydraulic filters exploding twice. Hydraulic tank cracked at axle welds. splitter wedge cross bolt sheered numorous times. Tilt hinge broke and beam fell off ( new hinge design from Northern is supposed to fix this). the 4 way wings are not what their cracked up to be and using them is no good for big rounds and it puts to much stress on the ram.

My co worker owns the 37 ton also and the piston in his hydraulic cylinder separated from its shaft. Welding at a machine shop fixed this but he was warned it probably will not last forever.

I liked the Honda engine very much and I thought the 4 way wedge was a good idea but after i used it for a year and 10 cords I felt it was poorly engineered/built and I was happy to get rid of it.

I use my brothers Iron Oak 22 ton and I like it much better. Its built a little heavier .I wont be going back to a high tonnage machine.

20 tons is plenty for me after having owned a 37. I might get an Iron and Oak too.

Click to expand...

I & O makes a 20 ton Fast Cycle unit for ya. 8 second cycle time. Sounds like you might have fun with that!

Click to expand...

You talking about this one?

http://www.logsplittersdirect.com/Iron-&-Oak-BHVH2209FC-CAMO-Log-Splitter/p5053.html

Click to expand...

That's the one! I see they're marketing it as a 22-ton instead of a 20 ton now.

Better pricing here, linking to the Subaru engine as it's a good deal on price and and excellent engine (Have it on my 26 ton I & O and my pressure washer).

http://www.buyacehardware.com/20-ton-fast-cycle-log-splitter-robin.html

Love the camo option (seen 'em in person, looks great!) I'd actually consider it for $100, lol.

MasterMech said:

weatherguy said:

MasterMech said:

glenng said:

I owned the Northern Tool 37 ton and I had a lot of problems with it. Hydraulic filters exploding twice. Hydraulic tank cracked at axle welds. splitter wedge cross bolt sheered numorous times. Tilt hinge broke and beam fell off ( new hinge design from Northern is supposed to fix this). the 4 way wings are not what their cracked up to be and using them is no good for big rounds and it puts to much stress on the ram.

My co worker owns the 37 ton also and the piston in his hydraulic cylinder separated from its shaft. Welding at a machine shop fixed this but he was warned it probably will not last forever.

I liked the Honda engine very much and I thought the 4 way wedge was a good idea but after i used it for a year and 10 cords I felt it was poorly engineered/built and I was happy to get rid of it.

I use my brothers Iron Oak 22 ton and I like it much better. Its built a little heavier .I wont be going back to a high tonnage machine.

20 tons is plenty for me after having owned a 37. I might get an Iron and Oak too.

Click to expand...

I & O makes a 20 ton Fast Cycle unit for ya. 8 second cycle time. Sounds like you might have fun with that!

Click to expand...

You talking about this one?

http://www.logsplittersdirect.com/Iron-&-Oak-BHVH2209FC-CAMO-Log-Splitter/p5053.html

Click to expand...

That's the one! I see they're marketing it as a 22-ton instead of a 20 ton now.

Better pricing here, linking to the Subaru engine as it's a good deal on price and and excellent engine (Have it on my 26 ton I & O and my pressure washer).

http://www.buyacehardware.com/20-ton-fast-cycle-log-splitter-robin.html

Love the camo option (seen 'em in person, looks great!) I'd actually consider it for $100, lol.

Click to expand...

Wow, huge difference in price, Id rather the blue one for that price over the camo.