thinking of investing in a splitter - what features are most important?

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Good point there about buying and shipping parts - I'm quite up to assembling and have bodged some welding in the the past (what would need welding if I bought one in pieces??)

I've had a look online here, there are very few models around and the once that come even close to the 22 tons you all seem to have are well over £1000 :(

Mike
 
though I'd love to have a $4000 splitter at my beck and call....I love splitting wood.....however,allocating space for it, and the inevitable day it goes down and the cost to repair, makes me appreciate the $80 weekend rental unit.
something goes wrong, its on their dime not mine.

splitting wood by hand ? not a chance. I can think of better things to do with my day :)
 
"I’ve had a look online here, there are very few models around and the once that come even close to the 22 tons you all seem to have are well over £1000 :("

Yeah, I don't understand price differences between UK and US. The 22-ton at Tractor Supply Co. (TSC) in US is on sale for $999 (617 pounds UK). Even with 17% VAT, that's 722 pounds UK. Leaves a heckuva lot for shipping (which is not that expensive for crated machinery).
 
What's the biggest 220 volt splitter? I can't deal with the noise and maintenance of another gas engine, unless it's a Harley V Twin... Lol...
 
"...I can’t deal with the noise and maintenance of another gas engine, unless it’s a Harley V Twin… Lol… "

Some Harleys have a split-tail tank, but I don't think it'll do much to firewood....
 
JPinnell said:
Did anyone notice this guy is from the UK, as in Britain? Lowes, Tractor Supply, etc don't exist over there.

Don't get an electric for your needs. Get a motor powered hydraulic and diesel would be cheaper to operate over there. No less than 15 ton and with a 2 stage pump. The higher tonnage rated spiltter just seem to be mostly marketing and have faster cycle times. I use a 15+ yr old 15ton splitter and it works faster than I do at a little over half speed. It will cut oak cross grain against the knife. Those big 36" across rounds will be tough to manhandle no matter whether you opt for a vertical or horizontal splitter. I like a horizontal splitter with a table, but then I lift the big rounds up using the loader on the tractor.

With how expensive things are in the UK and the Pound being strong right now you might do better buying parts and shipping over. If you're at all handy assembling one yourself isn't that difficult if you can weld or know someone who can.

For the record . . . yes . . . from Post #12 . . .

"Final thought . . . folks keep mentioning the Huskee splitter from Tractor Supply . . . do you guys even have a Tractor Supply in the UK?"
 
Mesuno said:
... trying to persude family that a cheap 7ton electic one is a bad idea. Am I right?

I really don't like starting an answer with "depends", but it really depends on you patience and/or time.

For the last 4 years I've been using a 7 ton electric. I would say that there are less than 10% of the "to-be-split" pile it cannot process. Sounds good, right? Well, yes and no:
1. No matter what kind of heavy-duty extension cord I use -- it will pop the fuse very often. Yes, I may need higher Amp circuits, but still...
2. So each time I use it -- I have to drag the generator to plug the splitter directly.
3. On most larger pieces (12"+ or even smaller if knotty) it will choke if I try to split in the middle: an internal circuit will get triggered in the splitter, forcing me to switch it off, wait 2 sec., then on again, etc. Eventually that piece will get processed but it will involve:
-- several shut down/start up
-- flipping the piece back and forth
-- splitting it by smaller pieces from close to the edge

In short: it takes time. Compared to using my in-law's 35 T Huskee, I estimate that I'm at least 5-6 times slower with the electric (if not more). Maybe it doesn't sound that much -- but when you count all the hassle about it, not spending time with your kids, thinking three times before heading out to split (do I have enough time?), your body getting tired, etc. -- that's a lot.

FWIW: I'm getting a new gas splitter this year. The electric goes to Craig...

Cheers,
Zevi
 
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