how do I know? (about splitters)

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skinnykid

New Member
May 6, 2008
655
Next to a lake in NH
I was gonna rent a hydro. log splitter this weekend but a buddy insisted that I come over to see his ryobi 4 ton electric splitter.

I really didn't think it was gonna split my tough wonder wood that I cut because it was untouchable with a maul.

Well much to my suprise it did very well. I took it home and did some splitting with alot more to be done.

Anyways, My questions is, while looking on the net for electric splitter I see 4, 6 8 ton splitters from various different makers. So How do I really know what kind of power it

is gonna have? They can advertise 8 tons but maybe it is not.

The 4 ton did ok but so far cant touch some of the notty or snarly pieces, thats why I would want a little more power.

Thanks for any info!
 
skinnykid said:
I was gonna rent a hydro. log splitter this weekend but a buddy insisted that I come over to see his ryobi 4 ton electric splitter.

I really didn't think it was gonna split my tough wonder wood that I cut because it was untouchable with a maul.

Well much to my suprise it did very well. I took it home and did some splitting with alot more to be done.

Anyways, My questions is, while looking on the net for electric splitter I see 4, 6 8 ton splitters from various different makers. So How do I really know what kind of power it

is gonna have? They can advertise 8 tons but maybe it is not.

The 4 ton did ok but so far cant touch some of the notty or snarly pieces, thats why I would want a little more power.

Thanks for any info!
Click to expand...

I don't think any of the electric splitters are going to do very well with the real knotty pieces, i have the 6 ton DR and it struggles on that stuff, I just split around the knots the best I can, than hit it with the chainsaw

You need to weigh out all the pro's and con's on electric/hyd VS gas/hyd and make your decission on what suits your needs the best.
 
Elderthewelder said:
skinnykid said:
I was gonna rent a hydro. log splitter this weekend but a buddy insisted that I come over to see his ryobi 4 ton electric splitter.

I really didn't think it was gonna split my tough wonder wood that I cut because it was untouchable with a maul.

Well much to my suprise it did very well. I took it home and did some splitting with alot more to be done.

Anyways, My questions is, while looking on the net for electric splitter I see 4, 6 8 ton splitters from various different makers. So How do I really know what kind of power it

is gonna have? They can advertise 8 tons but maybe it is not.

The 4 ton did ok but so far cant touch some of the notty or snarly pieces, thats why I would want a little more power.

Thanks for any info!
Click to expand...

I don't think any of the electric splitters are going to do very well with the real knotty pieces, i have the 6 ton DR and it struggles on that stuff, I just split around the knots the best I can, than hit it with the chainsaw

You need to weigh out all the pro's and con's on electric/hyd VS gas/hyd and make your decission on what suits your needs the best.
Click to expand...

What Elderthewelder said. I seriously doubt that any of the splitters you listed will even touch a good knotty piece. If you go with one of those, you might just have to rip it down with a chain saw???
 
Read the "I'm worn out" thread a couple down from this. The overwhelming majority agreed that these little electric toys are not worth it. Spend a little more and get a gas powered hydraulic splitter that you are not compromising on. There is a strong used market for these splitters so if you decide wood burning isn't something you want to do you will be able to sell it easily.
 
yes all very good points, I was just trying to get what I can afford now. But after this weekend and maybe a little more if I get greedy and snag more wood. My splitting for this upcoming season will be complete.

Maybe I will save up all winter and by a hydro splitter for next cutting/splitting season.

Thanks guys
 
I have copied and pasted this from the " I'm worn out " thread.

"I really think you ought to look again at a gas splitter. I looked at many smaller tools, and ended up biting the bullet, and bought the bigger one. I will never regret or doubt my decision! Get the most powerful, and best built splitter you can possibly afford, and it will serve you well. I have read that, you will never know if you have too much splitter, but if you don’t have enough, you will find out in short order!@ "

You will be amazed at the wood that you never would have thought about taking, that all of a sudden will be available, if you have the right tools! :cheese:
 
Skinny- check out Ramsplitter. They have a 16 ton electric splitter for under $1k that should handle the bulk of what you want to do. I bought the 20 ton and have little problem going through knots. All can be converted back to gas engine if portability becomes an issue.

http://www.ramsplitter.com/

Chris
 
The ram splitter electrics are nice electric machines, however they are electric. Some down sides:
* limited to electric cord, outlet locations
* $125 to upgrade to road towable
* horizontal only (for 12 and 16 ton models)
* only 20" log length. 20" is long enough to fill most fire boxes however many times I am splitting a log that was cut at an angle. The angle makes the log over 20", even though once it is split the two halves will not be longer than 20". Point being it is nice to have the extra capacity for those weird shaped logs.
 
splitterless said:
Redox, lets have your reveiw of the 20 ton ramsplitter, is it 110 or 220? :coolsmile:
Click to expand...

Try here: https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/18715/

Overall, I'm very happy with mine. Electric isn't for everybody, but I probably will never need to move mine more than 50 feet from under the deck to the wood pile. I really didn't want the high speed tires; it might lead people to think I am willing to loan it out! ;-P

I used it vertically last weekend to finish off some maple. I'm not sure which method I liked better, but at least I have a choice. I found myself trying to catch the return stroke before full retraction. Most of what I have is only 18" or less in length.

Chris
 
I think that is the nicest electric splitter I have seen. The only thing that would concern me is the lack of protection for the motor from falling log splits. The capacitor, pecker head, and fan guard are all things I would want covered. I am thinking of setting mine up to run on electric, I think the sound of splitting wood is cool but with my little recip screeming away I can barely hear it.
 
Redox said:
Skinny- check out Ramsplitter. They have a 16 ton electric splitter for under $1k that should handle the bulk of what you want to do. I bought the 20 ton and have little problem going through knots. All can be converted back to gas engine if portability becomes an issue.

http://www.ramsplitter.com/

Chris
Click to expand...

What rpm is your motor turning? Should be 1750 or 3450. Also what is the GPM of your pump?

Thanks.
 
It's 3450 and strokes 24 inches in 7 seconds. That works out to 11 GPM on high speed. It's a two speed pump and I have no idea what it gears down to under load. The factory rates it at 13 seconds and also says that it will run on 120vac, but mine has a 240 vac only motor.

I haven't hit the motor with anything yet and I've done about 1-1/2 cords already. It IS amazing how much the wood screams as it is being split!

Chris
 
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