Which Splitter?

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Oh my god, call out the National Guard, a speedomenter broke at 75k miles and was covered under a recall? Oh the pain, the pain! Try this: google "Toyota Rav4 engine sludge" and see what you find. Cliff notes version: no matter who frequently owners were changing the oil, a thick sludge would develop in Rav4 engines which caused complete failure necessitating engine replacement. Toyota refused to issue a recall (sound familiar?) and claimed that the sludge was due to lack of maintenence.

the point being, American cars have improved tremendously in quality and the once-vaunted Japanese brands have slipped. Adn back to the original topic, I'm in the market for a splitter and since me and two buddies are splitting the bill, we're looking at Iron & Oak models instead of Chinese-made junk.
 
jlove1974 said:
MTD = Chevy/Ford

Huskee/Speeco = Toyota/Honda/Nissan

Brave/Iron Oak= Lexus/Acura/Cadillac

Timberwolf = Maybach/Bentley and priced like one
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If I was shopping for a splitter, I would be looking for a used International single axle dump with a dt466 and a 2 speed rear end. FWIW, my 10 year old Chevy 3/4 ton works a lot better than my 2 year old MTD snowblower.

To the OP, how much are you splitting and what is it? The free stuff I get my hands on heats my splitter up pretty good. But, if you are only splitting half a cord of straight Ash or Cherry at a time anyway, I'd save some money and get one of the big box store 20 tons.
 
Thank you for all of the feedback everyone. My lot is full of white oak, much of which will be coming down and ultimately split and burned. So at least initially, I will need a splitter to handle white oak. Actually, a local tree service is here at my house this morning cutting down three white oaks and a hemlock that I am afraid to mess with, as they are too close to the house.

I am just getting into wood burning having had a Jutol 550 installed three weeks ago. Non-stop burning, love it. My wife thinks spending $1,500-$2,000 on a splitter is overkill at this point. I initially was looking at little electrics... but after spending some time reading posts on this site, I think a larger gas powered until is the way to go. I have always followed a belief that, it you can swing the $$, buy high quality heavy duty and you will usually not be disappointed. I think I need to lay eyes on some of the splitters talked about in this string to be able to get a real feel for the difference in the quality / heavy duty v. light duty. Up to this point, I have only seen pictures on the web... and a neighbor has a MTD.

Sitting here now at the kitchen table watching the tree service guys using their monster equipment... I want the Iron & Oak. Now need to scrounge the $$ and convince the wife. Any recommendations on convincing the wife?
 
New Fire Guy said:
Thank you for all of the feedback everyone. My lot is full of white oak, much of which will be coming down and ultimately split and burned. So at least initially, I will need a splitter to handle white oak. Actually, a local tree service is here at my house this morning cutting down three white oaks and a hemlock that I am afraid to mess with, as they are too close to the house.

I am just getting into wood burning having had a Jutol 550 installed three weeks ago. Non-stop burning, love it. My wife thinks spending $1,500-$2,000 on a splitter is overkill at this point. I initially was looking at little electrics... but after spending some time reading posts on this site, I think a larger gas powered until is the way to go. I have always followed a belief that, it you can swing the $$, buy high quality heavy duty and you will usually not be disappointed. I think I need to lay eyes on some of the splitters talked about in this string to be able to get a real feel for the difference in the quality / heavy duty v. light duty. Up to this point, I have only seen pictures on the web... and a neighbor has a MTD.

Sitting here now at the kitchen table watching the tree service guys using their monster equipment... I want the Iron & Oak. Now need to scrounge the $$ and convince the wife. Any recommendations on convincing the wife?
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Sure thing. I would tell her "Honey lets go shopping at the mall, and oh by the way on the return trip lets stop by the Iron and Oak dealer" ;)

Seriously, I would look into woodsplitters direct. Free shipping, a REALLY good price on the 22-ton, and now we know the owner ;)
 
I'm perfectly happy with my 22 ton speeco. Nothing it can't handle (so far). I have read a few posts here that are not particularly fond of the "vertical shaft lawnmower engine" but I tend to differ. These motors are a dime a dozen and can be changed in no time flat. I think the hydraulics and frame are the important part. Just MHO.
 
Trktrd said:
I'm perfectly happy with my 22 ton speeco. Nothing it can't handle (so far). I have read a few posts here that are not particularly fond of the "vertical shaft lawnmower engine" but I tend to differ. These motors are a dime a dozen and can be changed in no time flat. I think the hydraulics and frame are the important part. Just MHO.
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I would rather not have to change out the engine as frequently by getting a higher quality one intially. The Briggs and Stratton Vanguard 205cc horizontal engine is as proven as the Honda GX series. However, I can't say the same about the B&S 190cc vertical shaft pushmower engine. Even the honda engines on the huskee/speecos have been recalled due to gas-tank and emissions issues in 2008.

Having recently worked on one of the Briggs vertical shaft engines on a northstar, I can say without a doubt that putting this engine on any splitter is a cost-cutting
move. You had better become proficient at running it completely out of gas or using blue ethanol-rated Sta-bil fuel stabilizer. The float bowl on a 18-month old engine was completely gunked up. I know this is not the fault of the engine but the design of everything from air cleaner to the pull-start was completely low-buck
 
also the Briggs vanguard comes with a New 3 year global commercial engine warranty.

Just saying.... you get what you pay for
 
If you are a homeowner, splitting withing cord length of a 230 volt outlet, 30 amp, like a drier, the Ramsplitter electrics are a possibility for you. They store in the space of a lawnmower, can be moved by hand with some effort. Quiet, instant start, no gas engine hassles. Mine, at 3000 psi, per builder's OK is the same splitting pressure as 4 inch ram on typical mass market splitter. It was about the same price as Speeco. My motor is a capacitor start, capacitor run, such as found on a heavy compressor, but with with a service factor of 1.2. The build/component quality is good. I think it is a welding shop that actually builds them. They use a box beam instead of an H/I beam, so look unsubstantial, but I tried to measure beam flex at bypass pressure, and could not get a measurement. When out the woodlot, I use it off a generator. Maybe this helps.
 
For those that have been watching prices longer than I have, can I expect find a better deal than $1,775.96 (plus free shipping) on a new Iron & Oak 22 Ton 6HP Briggs Vanguard Log Splitter [WSBHVH2209-VAN]?
 
These are nice splitters. I was pointing out that they have some trade shows coming up, 1 in CT and another in Western MA. You may be to work a deal with taking home a show splitter so they don't have to take one back to VT.
http://www.timberwolfcorp.com/calendar/
 
New Fire Guy said:
For those that have been watching prices longer than I have, can I expect find a better deal than $1,775.96 (plus free shipping) on a new Iron & Oak 22 Ton 6HP Briggs Vanguard Log Splitter [WSBHVH2209-VAN]?
Click to expand...

I would say your not going to even find it that cheap for very much longer. ;) Prices have not changed for 2 years out of Iron & Oak and the chances of them going down when they price them out for 2011 are pretty slim..
 
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