Best time of year for buying a splitter?
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HammerheadC4
Member
I got mine a couple years ago around Thanksgiving, they went on sale and I bought one.
I was considering Dirty Hand tools at Lowes and Ariens at HD, TSC had the first sale price at the time.
There should be some type of end of season price drop soon, or a 10% off coupon in the mail.
HD has a 27 ton champion for 999, have not checked it out up close.
Good luck on your search.
I was considering Dirty Hand tools at Lowes and Ariens at HD, TSC had the first sale price at the time.
There should be some type of end of season price drop soon, or a 10% off coupon in the mail.
HD has a 27 ton champion for 999, have not checked it out up close.
Good luck on your search.
Woodsplitter67
Minister of Fire
The big box stores as well as the other stores put them on sale like march/ april.. as with everything, the sale starts at the end of the season. Check out Lowes they carry the DHT splitter and ALOT of people on here use and like them. Check them out, ther a really good splitter
kennyp2339
Minister of Fire
Very nice, now the time to look online at all the major stores in your area that sell splitters, read the specs to narrow down the search, take your results and youtube the brands you choose to see any tutorial video's (lots of things are learned about the product watching a video or 2) Important things to consider is your budget, then hardiness of the unit, motor warrenty, reviews obviously and the ability to run accessories.
A big thing to look out for are engines that have automatic chokes, they seem to have issues if fuel gets old in the (clogged or stuck jets) another issue is certain brands have log racks, some are well designed, others turn to junk after a season, the ability to install a 4-way wedge (they are nice when splitting 8-12" rounds (save a lot of time) but again not all units are made equally. I saw this because the tsc unit your looking at is a proven unit, but you may want to opt for a higher tonnage one if you see better accessories. Also cycle time is kind of a big deal, anything over 12sec is to slow once you get your pace going, also when the splitter is in vertical position and you have a 30" round balancing on one hand and your holding the round flush waiting on the wedge to come down stinks with slower cycle time.
A big thing to look out for are engines that have automatic chokes, they seem to have issues if fuel gets old in the (clogged or stuck jets) another issue is certain brands have log racks, some are well designed, others turn to junk after a season, the ability to install a 4-way wedge (they are nice when splitting 8-12" rounds (save a lot of time) but again not all units are made equally. I saw this because the tsc unit your looking at is a proven unit, but you may want to opt for a higher tonnage one if you see better accessories. Also cycle time is kind of a big deal, anything over 12sec is to slow once you get your pace going, also when the splitter is in vertical position and you have a 30" round balancing on one hand and your holding the round flush waiting on the wedge to come down stinks with slower cycle time.
HammerheadC4
Member
For the splitter, a log catcher or log craddle.
I'm 63 yrs young so I picked up a Harbor Freight trailer Dolly....Moving the splitter is real easy now.
And I purchased a Peavy Hookeroon....makes picking up or moving the rounds a little easier.
Also...PAY ATTENTION when operating the splitter, it's very easy to get hurt.
I'm 63 yrs young so I picked up a Harbor Freight trailer Dolly....Moving the splitter is real easy now.
And I purchased a Peavy Hookeroon....makes picking up or moving the rounds a little easier.
Also...PAY ATTENTION when operating the splitter, it's very easy to get hurt.
heavy hammer
Minister of Fire
Woodsplitter67
Minister of Fire
Definitely the log cradle.. it makes life so much easier. It also cuts down on labor and you handle the wood less. I also hae a 4 way wedge on mine, this also makes life so much easier. It takes about 30 seconds to go from 4 way to a regular wedge. I used it alot last year and haven't had a issue. I like the design of the wedge also.
I have the Dirty hand tool.. DHT
22 ton and the 27 ton
I have the Dirty hand tool.. DHT
22 ton and the 27 ton
Woody5506
Minister of Fire
Not to turn this into a log splitter review thread but so far I love my Ariens 27 ton, but the downside I've learned as of today is the Subaru engine doesn't like starting in the cold (about 15 degrees F today)...took probably close to 15 pulls to get it to kick over. In comparison the Briggs on my snowblower usually fires 1st or 2nd pull after coming out of storage all season.
I don’t use my splitter when it’s cold but some makers tell you to use ATF fluid instead of hydraulic fluid if you do any cold weather splitting. They say the engine won’t turn over fast enough to easily start with the hydraulic fluid being cold and that ATF doesn’t become so thick when it’s cold. Maybe call and ask a hydraulic shop if you want to check in using it. Also, most snow blowers have a priming build on the engines but I don’t think many splitters do....? A whiff of starting fluid by the carb will help cold weather starts too.
Woody5506
Minister of Fire
Once it fired up I just let it warm up for a while and cycled it a few times to get it moving. It worked fine at that point.
Yeah if it starts that’s good. I’ve heard of some new splitters that wouldn’t even start when it’s cold. Stay warm!
ZZ Tom
Burning Hunk
I purchased my DHT 22 from Lowes in April, end of season sale I imagine. Got $200 off the regular price with an additional 10% off for using my Lowes card.
That’s the one I bought the day after thanksgiving. $850. Normally $999. But they usually go on sale at various times for $899. At least where I live. I am totally happy with it so far.
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Log catcher/cradle is a very useful addition to a splitter in my opinion . . . especially if you're working with larger rounds that may need to be split multiple times.
Firefighter938
Feeling the Heat
Rural King just had a sale on black diamond splitters. I bought a 25ton for $799 and it came assembled and filled with hydraulic and engine oil. That is something to think about also. I was looking at black diamond, country line, and the harbor freight one. I chose black diamond because of the price, hydraulic oil, larger engine, and proximity of rural King.
Woody5506
Minister of Fire
Yeah if it starts that’s good. I’ve heard of some new splitters that wouldn’t even start when it’s cold. Stay warm!
It probably shouldn't have started but I wasn't going to give up, lol. Any reason why most small engines for splitters don't have a priming button? Even when it's warm out that Subaru isn't the easiest to start.
Chuck the Canuck
Feeling the Heat
I've had the 27 ton Ariens for nigh on to 3 or 4 years and split between 30 - 42 cord per year; I've never had a problem starting up the Subaru. It takes 2 pulls at the very most, and usually just 1 pull to git er going.... I love it! YMMV though....
Woody5506
Minister of Fire
I've had the 27 ton Ariens for nigh on to 3 or 4 years and split between 30 - 42 cord per year; I've never had a problem starting up the Subaru. It takes 2 pulls at the very most, and usually just 1 pull to git er going.... I love it! YMMV though....
I wish mine started that easy. In normal temps it's still 3-4 pulls. Then again I'm not running it nearly as much as you.
Chuck the Canuck
Feeling the Heat
That's a good and pertinent point.... I surely have it going at least once or twice each and every month.... Do you use high test premium gasoline in the splitter? That's about the only thing that I've ever made sure to always use... Other than that, pull to start, split, stack, repeat ad nauseum....
Woody5506
Minister of Fire
Yeah I run non ethanol premium in all my small engines. It runs nice once it does fire up so no complaints there.
I don’t know why they don’t put primers on splitter engines but I think most of them have automatic compression releases. You could go up one heat level on the spark plug and that should help, It sure did for the starting of my Honda ATV in the cold. Talk to your local engine shop to see what they think. Make sure you have the recommended winter oil in the engine too. Your carb might be running too lean also. Do some research online for your carb settings, maybe someone on YouTube has a video on the Suburu carburetors.
I am a huge fan of Honda Engines...I have the GX390 on my 28 ton splitter....I won't own any other small engines.I remember pulling my guts out in cold weather to get Briggs engines fired and running.Wind chill was -10 this am with a temp of 5 degrees. 2nd pull and it was running...milder weather and it fires the first time every time
AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL DECOMPRESSION SYSTEM
All engines
Honda’s automatic mechanical decompression system is designed to give you quicker, easier starts.
This system, which is connected to the camshaft, reduces compression by opening the exhaust valve slightly when the engine is being started. This reduces the amount of force needed to start the engine and improves starting performance.
The system disengages automatically after the engine starts to prevent any power loss during normal operation.
AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL DECOMPRESSION SYSTEM
All engines
Honda’s automatic mechanical decompression system is designed to give you quicker, easier starts.
This system, which is connected to the camshaft, reduces compression by opening the exhaust valve slightly when the engine is being started. This reduces the amount of force needed to start the engine and improves starting performance.
The system disengages automatically after the engine starts to prevent any power loss during normal operation.
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