Sharing a Splitter

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A buddy of mine has a 20+ ton in a buddy's ex-wife's garage in storage. I believe she sold it, but he still thinks it's there and just needs to go get it. Assuming it's gone, would you have any reservations about sharing a splitter among friends? Splitting the ownership and responsibility for maintenance? I don't feel like shelling out $1,000+ but if I could split the cost 2 ways, wouldn't be opposed as much.
 
A lot of people do that and are fine with it. Just mke sure if whoever you split it with runs into problems that you have the splitter.
 
Anything like that is always a gamble, and almost always, one party ends up investing more into the unit than another through maintenance/repairs, or one uses it more than another, etc. If that sort of thing concerns you, then don't do it, use the axe for a while longer, and save up. Or look through the garage / attic for something that you really don't need and sell that for a few extra bucks to do it alone.

I split wood with a group of buddy's. They are great guys and we've been best of friends for years as well as coworkers and even business partners at different times, etc. We decided years ago that the exercise and comradery associated with hand splitting outweigh the benefit of a splitter. (hard to talk over that engine running) Plus, even with some mean wood, a couple of guys who know how to use splitting tools can make far more headway than any average hydraulic splitter can.

However, I decided years ago that if I ever did buy a splitter, I'd do it alone, but make it clear that when it shows up to do work, I'm expecting to drink beer that I don't provide :cool:
 
Prolly gonna do just that come springtime in BigBox land or TSC. Hoping they'll unload one for 900 or so then. (Neighbor has a smoke dragon) but we're pretty close - practically family helping raise each other's kids.
 
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Good idea.
Gotta be with someone who will fix it if they break it, & not abuse it. Then it should work out OK.
There are friends & then there are Friends. ;)
 
Yeah, I hate loaning out my tools to anybody. Definitely would not want to share a tool I paid 50% for with a friend. Might do it with my dad, but that would be about it. Don't even want to share a trailer with my brother. Murphy's law says that when you want to use the item, the other co-owner will too. Then, nothing is ever even, as already mentioned. My dad is harder on equipment than me, and a lot worse as far as maintenance goes, but he is my dad. So, I would be able to live with it. As it is, we already share his splitter, and even that becomes a hassle sometimes when one of us needs it and it is at the other's house. Not only that, but I would hate to be the one to break something that I am the co-owner of. Even though I rarely break anything (knock on wood), I would feel terrible about breaking a jointly owned piece of equipment that I could not afford to replace at the moment.
 
My Dad and I share a splitter. It works out fine. He bought the machine from a a friend who no longer wants anything to do with heating with wood. We usually help each other with the logging and splitting. When something breaks, it's usually both of our fault. I usually do the heavier repairs, but I work as an equipment mechanic. For us, It works out just fine, but as was said above, he's my Dad.
 
As stated . . . depends on the person . . . and whether they can afford to and will fix it when something breaks. It really is a matter of trust and knowing that the person is responsible when it comes to its operation, maintenance, storage, etc.

A bit different . . . I have my own splitter . . . but I do loan it out to trusted friends and neighbors . . . folks who I know will fix it if something breaks on their watch.
 
Hmmm thats a tough call!! IMO it really depends on how well you know the "friends" My buddies and I see eye to eye on things like this and would usually fight over who is responsible to fix it lol, but I have also been in these situations where saving a few hundred bucks wasnt nearly worth the aggrivations.....My pal owns the splitter we use and we usually work together regardeless of who needs the wood, he bought the splitter I buy the beer and always show up with lots of fuel ect....good luck
 
I let anyone who needs a spliter (That I know) use mine. Doesnt happen offten but always seems to come back better than they took it.
 
A splitter is one piece of equipment that really doesn't bother me to loan out. Really, what the heck can be "broken" unless intentionally abused.

I always tell the one friend that borrows it on rare occasion - If you break it, I can fix it. Ain't never broke it yet (and I caught the kid helping him throwing logs in sideways just to watch it cut them, we had a chat::P)

And the one I built for the cabin I consider community equipment (along with the old Allis Chalmers B10 garden tractor to pull it around).
 
[quote="
However, I decided years ago that if I ever did buy a splitter, I'd do it alone, but make it clear that when it shows up to do work, I'm expecting to drink beer that I don't provide :cool:[/quote]

AND...

you can always sell it if you need the $$$$ as they really hold their value.
 
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It can be done that way but I prefer to own it myself. We paid somewhere around $700 or thereabouts over 20 years ago for our splitter. True, I had to put it together myself but after reading about how some are put together before purchasing, I'm glad I went that route and saved some dollars. And in the time we've had this splitter, the only thing other than regular maintenance was the knotted end of the starter rope came undone. Tied another knot and all is well. However, we have to be careful no as it is going through some oil. Loaned it out, provided the oil and it still came back with hardly any oil in it. Such are the trials of loaning equipment...
 
When a co-worker asked to borrow the Timberwolf, I said "I don't loan out my wife, my truck, or my tools." I am particular about maintenance and don't want the thing abused.
 
I bought a splitter and told a close friend (35+ years) he can use it when he likes.....BUT, if it breaks on your watch WE split the cost of the repair....it stays at my house, in my shed....he lives 2 blocks down the road. I won't lend it out to anyone else....it's not a "top of the line" splitter, so I don't want too many people using it like a commercial unit
 
When a co-worker asked to borrow the Timberwolf, I said "I don't loan out my wife, my truck, or my tools." I am particular about maintenance and don't want the thing abused.

Spend that kind of money on a splitter and I don't blame you one bit for keeping it to yourself.
 
I decided to "Go It Alone" as it will always be avalible when I need it.
To many of my friends are in these share agreements that never seem to work out.
The way I plan to do it is simple.
If you were to rent the local splitter you can split up to 22" blocks for $70/ 8 hr day plus you put the fuel in it and return it full of gas.
If you want my splitter that will do up to a 28" block, you will keep it full of fuel, and get me the operator for
$30/cord (CASH)
 
$30/cord seems cheap, unless all you are doing is pulling the lever and someone else is throwing the rounds onto the splitter.
 
bought one with a very good buddy of mine couple years ago we went halvers on it. he's not big on manual labor so it stayed at my place and i would take it to his place and help him when he had some stuff to split. he sold his acreage last year and moved to a townhouse in the city so has no use for it anymore. told me it was all mine now and doesn't want to be paid out for his half ! so for me it worked out very well, but probably wouldn't have done that deal with anyone else.
 
I rather own it outright than have to deal with a partner. That said, I have loaned my splitter out a couple of times.
 
If he won't take responsibility for a splitter he bought, what makes you think he would for one you buy?
 
$30/cord seems cheap, unless all you are doing is pulling the lever and someone else is throwing the rounds onto the splitter.
For that price, I don't mind loading the splitter and pulling the lever, but some else must haul the splits away
 
A buddy of mine has a 20+ ton in a buddy's ex-wife's garage in storage. I believe she sold it, but he still thinks it's there and just needs to go get it. Assuming it's gone, would you have any reservations about sharing a splitter among friends? Splitting the ownership and responsibility for maintenance? I don't feel like shelling out $1,000+ but if I could split the cost 2 ways, wouldn't be opposed as much.

I purchased a electric 4 ton splitter so I could save for a big one while saving my back as well as avoiding just such a situation and I can say it is a mighty splitter. There is not much that little guy wont split under 18" round. If you wait till spring the price on the electric splitters drops for spring clear out sales. I paid 120 I believe because it was used and returned. That was almost 4 years ago I believe and it still runs like new. In fact I stopped looking so hard for a splitter and just rent one once a year or so for the real big stuff. Mine is similar in size and capacity to this one however it is Ryobi I just couldnt find a picture for you.
http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-O...Id=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051#.UIKqM0I8u18




Pete
 
I share one of those $300 Homelite splitters from HomeDepot with a friend. We've been using it for 4 seasons now, we each use about 5 cords/years, and it's working out fine. Thinking about buying another one just so we don't have to haul it back and forth. Those little things kick a**!!
 
I guess it all boils down to each particular situation.
Some communities/ families work well with sharing equipment, logistics and the cost.
And when they move away,or when something breaks, they will have to resolve the cost/investment as well.
 
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