So was thinking about getting a hydraulic splitter - dont need any huge thing - just one that doesnt take up alot of room and easy and safe to operate.
Splitter recomendations
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The Speeco/Huskee splitters seem to be the best bang for the buck. I looked at the TSC ad that came in the mail today, and the 22 ton was back down to $999. You can find good deals on similar sized models from Lowe's/HD/Menards etc. They're all similarly priced, and all decent quality. Pretty simple design, hard to screw up.
Welcome, by the way. This question would be more appropriate for The Gear section of this forum. If you do a search, you'll find more info than you probably want to read.
Welcome, by the way. This question would be more appropriate for The Gear section of this forum. If you do a search, you'll find more info than you probably want to read.
Got Wood
Minister of Fire
I have the Huskee 22 ton - plenty enough power.
I stumbled into a good deal. Stopped by the local TSC and found they had a couple "returned and repaired" splitters on site.... the one I got looked brand new and the "repair" was for a "sticky lever". Probably someone who used it once and returned it for no real reason. I got it for 25% off the $999 sale price.
I have found in this area that splitters hold their value, which for me was part of my self-justification for making the purchase. I can always sell it for darn close (or even more given the deal I got) that what I spent on it.
I stumbled into a good deal. Stopped by the local TSC and found they had a couple "returned and repaired" splitters on site.... the one I got looked brand new and the "repair" was for a "sticky lever". Probably someone who used it once and returned it for no real reason. I got it for 25% off the $999 sale price.
I have found in this area that splitters hold their value, which for me was part of my self-justification for making the purchase. I can always sell it for darn close (or even more given the deal I got) that what I spent on it.
I have the 17 ton Champion that I got from TSC on sale last year. Works quite well with no issues. Have split some pretty big oak and maple with it.
nocdpc
New Member
I have a Troy-Bilt 27-Ton 160cc Log Splitter it has a honda engine which is great and it cuts through anything, and t is fairly quiet considering and what it is used for and starts on first or second pull.... The hoses are protected with metal coil wires as logs go all over the place. It has a nice log catcher on the side and can split vertical(big boys) and horizontal. I Now the only bad part about this splitter is the Cycle Time which is 19 seconds(the complete split to return time) the lower the time the faster the output. It is maddening sometimes waiting for it to return when all you want to do is get through your splits... I try to stay ontop of this to the point of obsession lol.
Lowes (Dartmouth) had a bunch of 'reconditioned' lawn mowers and two 33 ton splitters in the garden dept. Saturday afternoon.
No one there knew if the lawn mowers were going to be sold or not.
Had tags from local repair place with notes of what , if anything was wrong with them. I read a few and they were mostly out of tune carbs that wouldn't start / fouled plugs.
The two 33 ton splitters had price tags of 1699 on them. Looks like too much splitter / gas hogs to me. I was hoping they has something smaller.
No one there knew if the lawn mowers were going to be sold or not.
Had tags from local repair place with notes of what , if anything was wrong with them. I read a few and they were mostly out of tune carbs that wouldn't start / fouled plugs.
The two 33 ton splitters had price tags of 1699 on them. Looks like too much splitter / gas hogs to me. I was hoping they has something smaller.
blujacket
Minister of Fire
heatwise said:
I'm very interested in getting one of these. How long have you had it, and does it split most of what you get?
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Welcome to the forum kayakkeith.
Much depends upon what you want to split. Are you just resplitting some wood you had delivered or are you splitting full rounds? What type of wood are you splitting or will be splitting? We heard from some about using a little 5 ton electric unit but those generally are for splitting some small stuff and also for wood that is easy to split.
In our case, we bought the 20 ton (now a 22 ton) MTD (now the same as Huskee) and hoped it would be enough. That was around 20 years ago. The wood we split mainly is ash, elm, cherry and soft maple. Occasionally some oak. Elm is usually the toughest to split as are any knotty wood. In all the years we've had this splitter (we've also split for many others besides our own use) we have found exactly one piece that did not split. Perhaps I could have split it if I'd taken the time to mess around with it but it just was not worth the bother for me and it went onto a brush pile.
Some will advise you to get a larger splitter and to pay close attention to the cycle time. I do not put much weight into the cycle time because we rarely let the wedge go all the way back up. That is a waste of time so we stop it as it gets high enough to sit the next block under. That speeds things up plenty and most times you can't keep up even doing that so a faster cycle time is meaningless for me at least.
Whatever you do, if you plan on splitting much wood and especially if you get some big logs, get a splitter that you can use vertically. I definitely would not do any horizontal splitting as I see no need to pick up every piece. It is hard work and my back does not appreciate either the bending or the lifting. Splitting vertically saves much labor and might even be faster; for sure easier. Here's how I do ours:
Doing the splitting this way I can sit the splitter right beside the wood that needs splitting and simply roll the log onto the splitter; no lifting involved. Then from time to time you just simply move the splitter.
Much depends upon what you want to split. Are you just resplitting some wood you had delivered or are you splitting full rounds? What type of wood are you splitting or will be splitting? We heard from some about using a little 5 ton electric unit but those generally are for splitting some small stuff and also for wood that is easy to split.
In our case, we bought the 20 ton (now a 22 ton) MTD (now the same as Huskee) and hoped it would be enough. That was around 20 years ago. The wood we split mainly is ash, elm, cherry and soft maple. Occasionally some oak. Elm is usually the toughest to split as are any knotty wood. In all the years we've had this splitter (we've also split for many others besides our own use) we have found exactly one piece that did not split. Perhaps I could have split it if I'd taken the time to mess around with it but it just was not worth the bother for me and it went onto a brush pile.
Some will advise you to get a larger splitter and to pay close attention to the cycle time. I do not put much weight into the cycle time because we rarely let the wedge go all the way back up. That is a waste of time so we stop it as it gets high enough to sit the next block under. That speeds things up plenty and most times you can't keep up even doing that so a faster cycle time is meaningless for me at least.
Whatever you do, if you plan on splitting much wood and especially if you get some big logs, get a splitter that you can use vertically. I definitely would not do any horizontal splitting as I see no need to pick up every piece. It is hard work and my back does not appreciate either the bending or the lifting. Splitting vertically saves much labor and might even be faster; for sure easier. Here's how I do ours:
Doing the splitting this way I can sit the splitter right beside the wood that needs splitting and simply roll the log onto the splitter; no lifting involved. Then from time to time you just simply move the splitter.
Quick question backwoods, in all my reading about log splitters I got the impression MTD and Huskee are not the same manufactor, am I wrong?
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Not sure about today. Some of those companies change from time to time but at one time they were made by the same company (just like lawn mowers) and just built to a different spec and made to look a bit different.
I can tell you the one NOT to get if you want to be guarantied something to last you more than 6 years. Don't get Troy Bilt made by MTD 27 ton w/honda 160.
The good is it's light weight which in turn makes it pretty bad. Shouldn't be considered a 27 ton as cylinder is not designed to take that kind of pressure. Honda motor starts first pull though if you want to be like me and buy a MTD or anything MTD makes based on it having a Honda. I should've done some research as you are right now but these problems were not showing at the time I bought it since it was a very new design that included the 27 ton. MTD has a few other models that are designed the same with trunion mount with lower ton ratings.
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/57455/ Pass it on
Normally you would change seals, hoses, oil, filters, tires, small expected things, etc. So look for a splitter that has been in service for some time with the same bulletproof design. I'm sure there are some here that have had their splitters for some time and will get you the best reviews.
I'm curious also as I may be in the market for one next year if mine doesn't come together right, so if you guys could also post how long you have been running yours and if any major part failed since you bought it.
Good luck with your choice.
The good is it's light weight which in turn makes it pretty bad. Shouldn't be considered a 27 ton as cylinder is not designed to take that kind of pressure. Honda motor starts first pull though if you want to be like me and buy a MTD or anything MTD makes based on it having a Honda. I should've done some research as you are right now but these problems were not showing at the time I bought it since it was a very new design that included the 27 ton. MTD has a few other models that are designed the same with trunion mount with lower ton ratings.
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/57455/ Pass it on
Normally you would change seals, hoses, oil, filters, tires, small expected things, etc. So look for a splitter that has been in service for some time with the same bulletproof design. I'm sure there are some here that have had their splitters for some time and will get you the best reviews.
I'm curious also as I may be in the market for one next year if mine doesn't come together right, so if you guys could also post how long you have been running yours and if any major part failed since you bought it.
Good luck with your choice.
jdinspector
Feeling the Heat
I have a Ramsplitter Electric model. 16 ton. I run it on 240 volt electric from an outlet I tapped off of an air conditioner condenser. It's a pretty good splitter. There are some logs that it won't split in 1/2, but then I just take away some splits from around the edge and it splits the entire rounds down to the size I like. So far (1 year) it hasn't been completely stopped by any logs. It isn't nearly as strong as my old gas powered MTD, but it works for me.
I like that it's quiet, uses no fuel and needs almost no maintenance. Shipping costs might make it expensive- I picked mine up at the manufacturer in Rockford, IL.
Lastly, I like that nobody can borrow it. Most people don't have a 30 amp twist lock receptacle wired in at their house. It takes away all of the excuses for not wanting to lend it out!
I like that it's quiet, uses no fuel and needs almost no maintenance. Shipping costs might make it expensive- I picked mine up at the manufacturer in Rockford, IL.
Lastly, I like that nobody can borrow it. Most people don't have a 30 amp twist lock receptacle wired in at their house. It takes away all of the excuses for not wanting to lend it out!
bogydave
Minister of Fire
Much depends on the wood you will be splitting & $$ to be spent.
Electric or gasoline?
Easily portable?
Want vertical & horizontal modes?
Big tough & gnarly wood, you need a bigger splitter.
Small straight grained, smaller splitter.
Rent one some time to get an idea what features you like/don't like.
Best splitter is the one you like , with the features you like.
From what you said,
"dont need any huge thing - just one that doesnt take up alot of room and easy and safe"
a small to medium size electric may be the one for you.
Electric or gasoline?
Easily portable?
Want vertical & horizontal modes?
Big tough & gnarly wood, you need a bigger splitter.
Small straight grained, smaller splitter.
Rent one some time to get an idea what features you like/don't like.
Best splitter is the one you like , with the features you like.
From what you said,
"dont need any huge thing - just one that doesnt take up alot of room and easy and safe"
a small to medium size electric may be the one for you.
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Most folks tend to go with a 21 or 22-ton splitter gasoline-powered splitter . . . either the Speeco/Huskee model or the MTD (and their related clones). Other than a small electric one I would guess that most splitters take up around the same space and most are easy to operate and maintain if you can change an oil filter.
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