So a local discount store has electric splitters on sale for $250. It's a 5 ton 2HP splitter. Useless or worth the money?
Electric wood splitter
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DanCorcoran
Minister of Fire
A search on this site will bring lots of discussion of electric splitters, e.g.:
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/75511/
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/75067/
As you read these and others, you'll realize that it's just like chainsaws...depends on your particular situation. Some folks need a small arborists chainsaw to haul up into a tree, others need a 16" for cutting up downed wood, others need monsters for their daily livelihood. In my case, I bought a Pow'R'Kraft 7-ton electric splitter. It is perfect for my needs. Your mileage WILL vary.
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/75511/
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/75067/
As you read these and others, you'll realize that it's just like chainsaws...depends on your particular situation. Some folks need a small arborists chainsaw to haul up into a tree, others need a 16" for cutting up downed wood, others need monsters for their daily livelihood. In my case, I bought a Pow'R'Kraft 7-ton electric splitter. It is perfect for my needs. Your mileage WILL vary.
jimbom
Combustion Analyzer
I have been using an electric splitter since 2008. Bought it at Lowes. Splits 20" oak and hickory all day. Most of my rounds are 10 - 12" on down. Does what I need done. I think it was about $300 all in. I have had to sharpen the wedge a few times and add some power steering fluid one time. I try to take care of it.
I've got a Speeco 5 ton that I got from Tractor Supply for $225 (On sale for $250 plus 10% off coupon). It does about 95% of the wood I've tried and takes a few tries on the bigger stuff before it splits. I only split about 2 cords this year with it. It did fine, but if I was going to be splitting much more than that, I would want a gas splitter.
CodyWayne718
Feeling the Heat
mayhem
Minister of Fire
Nater said:
Same analysis for me, except I do about 6-7 cords a year. It'll do 95% of my splitting, whatever it can't split can either get halved with the sledge and wedge, the Fiskars or just get tossed aside and burned in the firepit or rot in the woods because one freaking tough round isn't worth that much effort to me for 6-8 splits of wood.
If you get alot of knotty, stringly or huge diameter wood, or you deal wiht stuff longer than 20" consistently, the electric splitters are not for you. If the bulk of your firewood is reasonably straight, 18" or less in diameter and under 20" in length, then I think you will be pleasantly surprised by an electric splitter.
If you get one, spend the money and get a good qualify large gauge extension cord. I picked upa 100' 12 gauge cord for about $60 or so from Wally World, works fine and I can do my splitting and keep the mess away from the house...otherwise the wife will make me clean up every time I split.
DanCorcoran
Minister of Fire
I use a 25-foot 10 gauge cord from Harbor Freight. The shorter the cord and the heavier the wire (that is, the lower the gauge number), the more power will make it to the splitter. Running with too small wire (that is, higher gauge number) or too long a cord will overheat and possibly burn out your motor.
Bad Wolf
Minister of Fire
I use the 25 ton American for my outdoor splitting and a 5ton electric downstairs next to the TARM for a final split of anything thats over 4". The TARM likes the smaller splits but I'd be all day if I tried to get everything that small before I stacked it.
Thanks for the input guys. I'll be scoring a huge load of rounds this weekend thanks to Irene. As long as they're actual rounds and not 2 headed knotty things, I think I'll get it.
I bought the Home Depot Homelite 5-ton on Friday night with a 100 ft. 12 gauge power cord. I use boxelder for kindling and had some 16-20 inch diameter rounds that were first to go on the Homelite. In years past, that stuff was tuff to split with brother's 20 ton, so I figured it would be a good first test. Although I was able to split each of the 22 or 23 rounds, it was no picnic. That stuff is about as stringy as it gets, but the little splitter managed to get through it. Next up were some big Black Cherry rounds from the very base of the tree, anywhere from 16 to 22 inch diameter. The heartwood in those rounds were tough, but again, with the exception of one round, the splitter did the job. The 100 ft. cord is going to be returned in favor of a 25 foot 12 or 10 gauge. With the remaining 5 or 6 facecords that need to be split, I will give each round a whack with the 8 lb. maul before putting it on the splitter. Seems to work much better when you half the big ones. Still, I love the fact I can store this under my workbench in the summer and with the 2-year extended warranty, only set me back $350.
DanCorcoran
Minister of Fire
"The 100 ft. cord is going to be returned in favor of a 25 foot 12 or 10 gauge."
I think that's exactly the right thing to do. The more power you deliver to the splitter, the more power it'll have for splitting. As I posted above, I use a 25-foot 10 gauge.
I think that's exactly the right thing to do. The more power you deliver to the splitter, the more power it'll have for splitting. As I posted above, I use a 25-foot 10 gauge.
Hinterlander said:
The size/type of the rounds you're splitting suggest that you might have been better off going for a gas powered full-size. I get the whole "It only set me back $350." But it sounds like you're doing a lot of work where the point of a splitter is to make your job easier.
MrWhoopee
Minister of Fire
Love my Homelite (Ryobi actually) from Home Depot. I split 5+ cords per year, my friend also uses it for the same amount. For the biggest rounds (28-30 in. dia.), I plunge the end of the bar on my chainsaw into the face about 2 in. to create an opening, then place it so the wedge enters the cut. Works like a charm. I added simple foot pedals to both controls to free my hands and allow me to stand straight while splitting. Thinking about digging a pit to put the splitter in for the big rounds instead of rolling them up a ramp.
Jack768
Member
I have a 4-ton electric. Seems durable, and is quiet, easy to use, and doesn't annoy the neighbors. I have split maybe 1 cord with it since buying it in the spring. It's well worth the circa $300 I paid for it, but if I had it to do again I might look at one of the smaller gas models (I don't have an appropriate storage area for something bigger than the 8-ton gas unit). It's fine for resplitting splits and doing stuff that's around 8 inches, or with some creative splitting around the edges, somewhat bigger. Neighbors had their oak trees trimmed this spring and, after obtaining the wood, it easily did almost all the branch wood. However, the stuff that I get often is large, not straight grained, hard to split, etc. and repeated failed split attempts with the electric get annoying. So as I've used it more, on things that aren't obviously small enough, I just use the Fiskars -- faster and less frustrating. (Got some huge ironwood-like stuff this summer that even wedges had difficulty with and the chainsaw was the only way -- very annoying.)
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