Would like you guys' opinion on these splitters

I got well over 125 cords on a troy built.

The Huskee/Speeco 22 ton unit is hard to beat for the $. The Briggs engine isn't the best, but it should last a long time and I figure it would be an easy swap to re-power it with a Honda GX if it ever comes down to it.

I haven't met a round that bested it...it will either split it or shear through it. The cradle beam is nice for horizontal splitting, it is light enough to easily move around by hand, and the log extractor feature works pretty good for stubborn pieces. I'm really happy with mine.

I'm also looking for a 15 to 25 ton h/v splitter. The 22 ton Husky at tractor supply looks nice, but it will be $1,284 with shipping. And it does not include a table/log cradle at all. Also, it does not look to hvafe "high speed" tires/axel on it. Can it be towed at 40 or 50 mph?

How many of you guys with a splitter have a table/cradle, and how many do not? I really want a table/log cradle on it to catch the splits so I don't have to bend over to pick them up, and to hold the rest of round which might need additnal splitting. I've had my eye on the Powerhorse unit for $999 + 150 for shipping at Northertools. I like that it has everything included for $1k, but I'm a bit nervous about the plastic elbows on it.... If they would drop the shipping, I'd buy one today. I need to stick with my $1k budget.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200395407_200395407

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Have you looked here:

http://www.logsplittersdirect.com/

Ray

Yea, same stuff and higher prices there.

None of these small splitters wil be 40-50 MPH towable. I'll do 40 with mine on roads that I know and trust but that's it. Even doing 25-30 mph the poor thing bounces pretty hard behind the truck. If you will be towing frequently and need to keep up with traffic, then a small trailer to tow the splitter, haul wood, and even cart that beast of a garden tractor you have would be a worthwhile purchase.

Look for a $100 off coupon for TSC (you can get on their mailing list on their website). I think they can be used online as well. The spit them out 4-5 times a year.

TSC?

I'm with ya on the towing, I just want ability to go down side roads... 30 or 40 tops. They call that "high speed towing" for these things in marketing materials. The others say max speed of 5mph, I want to stay away from those.

Got it, tractor supply co. Thanks...

Yea, those are REALLY nice, but the price tags aren't so nice!

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I had a 30 inch split fire about 5 years ago,,, bought for splitting long wood for gasification boiler.. Quality built machine and worked great... When I moved I went back to a regular wood stove just needing 16's so I sold the splitter to buy a Supersplit which I had owned one previously for over 25 years... Both great machines...anything big I noodle in half to lift... I'll take the speed of the Supersplit,,, it's always waiting on you...Plus I like no hydraulics and it sips fuel.. you can also wheel it around by hand too, even with the production table on it... You can go electric as well..

Does anyone know when TSC splitters usually go on sale? Fall, spring, etc?

Occasionally they will drop the price $100, as I have seen them on sale for $999 instead of the usual $1099. They also put out a 10% off coupon every once in awhile. But no particular time of the year. My local TSC has a hard time keeping the 22 ton machine in-stock.

The Huskee or one of the iron & oak is probably be my choice

I got a great deal on my 27 ton Chraftsman (same exact thing as the lowes TroyBuilt). A guy barely split a cord of wood with it when he was forced to stop burning wood because of a back injury. I purchased it with a flat tire for $625. The muffler was not even discolored. If you are not in a hurry keep your eyes out for something used.

Unless you have some huge wood to split I do not see the need for anything larger that the 27 ton. I have been really impressed with mine I have not had anything stop it yet. There are some top of the line splitters out there with top of the line prices but unless you are doing comercial firewood processing it is overkill. IMO if you are going to spend a fortune on a splitter you mind as well call the oil man.

Good Luck

WTF?! I want one?! Does not say what it is....anyone know?

Scary fast...watch your hands or you will lose em...wow

SplitFire

http://www.split-fire.com/

There's a guy on Youtube that made a 4-way wedge, and a log cradle lift for the Northstar (NorthernTools) Dual 20 ton splitter. That thing is SLICK! I emailed him to see if he would make me one, and he said he doens't have the time. But I just asked him for dimmensions of it, I might make one myself.... doesn't look that difficult. A Valve, a H. cylinder, a cradle (I'll have a local wld shop make that part), and a few hoses! If I get the dimmensions for it back from him, I'll order the Northstar and make this lift for it.

Those are some cute rounds. Let's see what it does with wood that a FIskars or a Maul won't split in 1 swing.

Also 4" cylinder @ 3000 psi = 19 tons of force on the extend stroke. The return stroke will only be 14 tons (assuming a standard 2" rod diameter) and that's only IF the system relief valve is actually set to 3000 psi, which I highly doubt.

My vote, skip the lift and go with the horz/vert version. Or keep looking.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200395407_200395407

FWIW, I'd take the TSC Huskee 22-ton anyday over the Powerhorse but unfortunately you don't have a TSC in Lawn-Guy-Land.

My thoughts are, I don't give a hoot about the Dual direction, or so much about the speed of the unit, so the Dual action I'm not interested in. BUT, what I do like and am drawn to on the Daul unit as opposed to the H/V unit, is the fact the wheels/axel is not in the way of standing on the side of it to work and load logs.... All the H/V units seem to have the wheels and axel right smack in the middle of the work area of the splitter. I understand why, so it is balanced when you rotate it for Vert opperation, but it seems like that would be a PITA. Anyone notice the PITA of the wheels in the way on there H/V unit?

So my thoughts are if I can get the Daul unit, and make the log lift for it, I'd be able to handle the large rounds I have and can't lift by hand, and also get the wheels out the way.

Yep, I am going to build something like the Timberwolf TW6 with a log lift and 4 and/or 6 way adjustable wedge. Going to take some time to get it done, but it is on the list of projects. Hoping it will be a 2014 project. Splitting 36"+ rounds with a vertical splitter has just been a PITA for me and doing it solo would really be painful. Just cannot justify $6k+ for that splitter.

Never had a problem with the wheels being in the way on mine or any other H/V I've used. If I'm working with it in horizontal mode, the lever is slightly to my right, and that's ok since I'm right handed.

Not really that fast,,, just use some common sense.. Keep your hands to the side and it's a one man operation... I will say one thing,,, it makes you feel great when you see how fast your splits are adding up. I only run it half throttle unless you have some big rounds.. sips fuel..

Splitfire as MM said. That one has a fair bit of option$ too. Splitfires (that arent 3pt. mount ) are not cheap, they use professional quality parts and are made in Canada, so comparing them to a <$1000 splitter made in china, isn't a fair comparison. They are a commercial grade machine. All the local rentals run them and that speaks to their toughness. Bear that in mind when pricing one out.

Before I built mine, we used to rent a Splitfire. Solid machine.