Splitter recommendation

Good idea.
That's why I can't find one for sale used, the go quick on craigslist

Doubtful they'd even make it to craigslist. I built mine and I get offers for it a lot. If I were to sell it I would offer to friends first. It would be gone in no time.

Before I bought my Husky, I watched Craigslist like a hawk and went to a couple of auctions that listed splitters, with no success. The used stuff was either priced way too high (within a couple of hundred of a new one) or they were total hunks of junk that the owners still wanted big bucks for. I eventually said "screw it" and bought a new Husky (warranty and all) and couldn't be happier.

Catch one on sale at TSC and call it good and get to splitting (don't forget the ebay splitter table either).

I have the same splitter and nothing stops it. Starts great on the first or second pull.

Tonage is a way to rate splitters but its sort of arbitrary. Most "manufacturers" are optomistic in their estimates. A better way to quickly compare machines is the diameter of the cylinder. Basically in this case your choice will be 4" (20~25 ton) 4.5" (22`27 ton) and 5" (generally rated at 28 ton or above). I'm not saying those tonnage estimates are accurate, only that those are the general ranges the makers will claim for their machines.

It sounds to me like you're looking for one with a 4.5" diameter cylinder. It might be called 25 ton or 27 ton, but it doesn't matter its power will be the same. An engine of about 6.5hp or more will do just fine. I'm a fan of Honda's but my own splitter has a big Briggs and Straton and I am perfectly pleased with it, starts on the first pull every time.

Thanks for the recommendations and experiences! Seeing as the nearest Home Depot is a good 20 miles away, Lowe's quite a bit farther, but we have a Tractor Supply just two towns over, I decided to look at the Huskee 22 ton. It looked good, and the reviews here and elsewhere seemed quite good, plus the sale ($999) was a nice touch. I'd never been at a TS (this one opened about a year ago) and gotta say, my boys (3 & 5) were in Disneyland. What a great place! A little tricky buying equipment (new clerk) but she figured it out eventually. Staff helped me hitch it to my Subaru and we were off to stash it at a neighbor's house. I'll pick it up Christmas eve with the tractor (hmm, have to figure out that one) and haul it to our east field for Friday morning's surprise. I can hardly wait - keeping the kids quiet about it has been a challenge as they are so excited though I wouldn't tell them what that big piece of equipment is for. They just know how much Daddy likes big equipment (and they do too).

I also like the idea of having a repair/supply site right around the corner from us, and can't say as I've had great experiences at the Orange Box when things go wrong. But that's another story. I'm sure hubby will be out on Saturday morning working on clearing some of our trees and testing out the new splitter.

Thanks again, and Merry Christmas!

He is a lucky Man.................... Merry X-mass

Thanks - but I think I'm the lucky one

Huh, I think you should start a new thread this one ends a the stihl dealership!

That was his birthday gift about ten years ago (along with chainsaw lessons from a landscaping buddy and protective gear)! Got started with it all with a used John Deere on our first Christmas here. I'm hoping to set aside enough for a chipper or brush cutter next year! We have a 200 year old house on 5 1/2 acres and keeping up with it all plus keeping us stocked with wood is hard enough, but on top of 80+ hr work weeks, elderly parents, and our two little ones, he's got his hands full. This will be a big time-saver for him (and quite possibly me, depending on if I can run it safely with the boys milling about).

As an aside, I wanted my own small chainsaw for Mother's Day, mainly to deal with the small shoots and scrub trees, but was talked out of it for safety concerns (though I can handle equipment pretty well on my own). So a brush cutter would be a good compromise!

I have the filling you could handle a saw just fine. pto chipper on the jd would be the way to go.

I also bought the 22 ton Huskee from TSC also this past spring. Great little machine! This machine will do just about anything required by a homeowner with your expected volume.

NOTE: I did have an issue with mine: I called and factory and they sent replacement parts with out asking me to confirm when I bought it nor did they ask for a serial number or anything like that. It was actually a pleseant "tech support' experience.

I would recommend an American CLS only because I have one, but whatever you buy may it last a life time.

zap

That's really great to hear - always nice to know that if there's an issue, you can get it resolved. Unlike my current issue with Hewlett Packard and my flailing printer.

If you get back to the machine before he gets it or if you can have someone do this for you just check two things. See that the hose clamps on one of the black hoses are tight and then with the machine level (and the cylinder withdrawn as it always should be when not in use) check the hydraulic fluid on the dipstick. From time to time one will slip out of the factory with a lose clamp and the hose will blow off causing the loss of a good bit of fluid, and also now and then they ship with the fluid a little bit low.

Where are you in NW CT? I grew up in that area, Lime Rock, Salisbury.

Thanks - I will do that! A gift that doesn't start up or doesn't have the hydraulic fluid isn't much of a gift!

The fluids is part of the sale there having right now so if its not full let them know..

I am actually an HP savy printer tech. PM me your model number and issues. I'll try to remember to look for it over the next fwe days and try to help you out there too if I can.

CountryMom27 - you rock! Very cool present.

I find it interesting that there is NO consensus of what brand/models of splitters are the best.

CountryMom . . . I think you made a good choice . . . a lot of folks here love the Speeco splitter and the 22 ton seems to be about right for most wood . . . in four days he is about to be a very, very happy man . . . but be forewarned . . . you may lose him for a few hours as he will probably be looking for some wood to split on Christmas day.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=maul&oe=UTF-8&show=dd&cid=6537724606390036195&sa=title#p

Unfortunatly 12# is the heaviest you can get. You'll save a 'ton' of money. You'll find a way to motivate him ;-)

Country mom,

Can you talk to my wife about gift ideas?

;-)

Ok. You got me. How?