Do I *really* need to buy a new electric splitter?

[enchant]

I've been splitting firewood since I moved into my house about 40 years ago. Somewhere along the way, I purchased a 6-ton electric splitter for the occasional small stuff. Now that I'm 75, my days of bucking logs and splitting them down are over. I have seasoned wood delivered. It's mostly fine, but sometimes they get a little lazy with the splitting and I get wood that's really too thick. Or I'll just need some smaller wood to get the fire going in the morning.

The electric splitter has been great for that, but one annoying thing is that, like most of them, it requires two-hand operation. One hand to hold down a button to get the motor going and another to activate the piston thrust. The problem that I have with this is that with seasoned wood, the wood gets pushed up to the blade where it stops while the splitter builds up sufficient pressure to actually split it. At this point, the firewood splits with a loud bang and the two pieces fire off like mortar shells. Years ago, this mildly injured my wife who happened to be standing in the line of fire.

My solution to this was to put my left knee on that motor button, activate the piston with one hand, and keep the other hand on the log to prevent it from shooting away.

This worked fine until I broke my kneecap last year and there's simply no way that I can use this solution now. I've futzed with it a little using speed clamps to hold the button down, but that's a bit of a PIA.

It looks like the Yardmax 6.5 ton splitter might solve my problems. One-handed operation, so I'd have a hand free to steady the log.

I'm ready to do it, but if there's a way for me to avoid spending the $330, I'd love to hear it. It's possible I could open the thing up and splice in a foot pedal, but operating it requires to be on my knees, so that could be problematic. Having it up on a stand would be a lot better, but I simply don't have the room for a dedicated splitter stand.

I was wondering if sharpening the blade might help, but it's been like this since it was brand new.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

There is a trick to make them operate easily. It overrides the safety features however and isn't "recommended". As you described, It involves a trigger bar clamp to keep the power button pushed and an on/off foot operated power switch (plug and play). I used an angle grinder to sharpen the blade and then I took 2 sawhorses and bought a piece of 3/4 inch plywood and screwed it to the sawhorses with deck screws. It worked great. Unfortunately, I sold the splitter off a couple years ago. I'm planning to get another one. I'm not sure about the splitter with the stand how sturdy that is?

I continued to use the homemade stand for other things as well as it was still pretty functional, but lifting an electric splitter off and on is a bit of work and not something I enjoyed doing.

I'm not telling anyone to do the above. I don't want the liability. It's just for entertainment purposes.

 

[begreen]

This worked fine until I broke my kneecap last year and there's simply no way that I can use this solution now. I've futzed with it a little using speed clamps to hold the button down, but that's a bit of a PIA.

It looks like the Yardmax 6.5 ton splitter might solve my problems. One-handed operation, so I'd have a hand free to steady the log.

Following. I gave our gas splitter to a friend in need. Wood is their sole source of heat. I am older yet am missing out on a ton of free wood already cut into rounds. A good electric splitter may be in my future but I don't want a toy that will give up after a year of splitting hardwood. Checking out their 9-ton splitter but would prefer something made in the US if possible.

 

[begreen]

Here is an interesting repair video on the Yardmax 5 ton. He really gets into it. Looks like a flawed casting.

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[ScottLewis]

I have The Boss 7 ton electric splitter. $800 at Home Depot. Great little machine you just turn it on and it runs, it is a one hand operation. If I have a big piece that will be difficult to split I make a 3 inch deep chainsaw cut on the end and split into that cut. Then it splits easily and doesn't blow apart.

 

[enchant]

I have The Boss 7 ton electric splitter. $800 at Home Depot. Great little machine you just turn it on and it runs, it is a one hand operation. If I have a big piece that will be difficult to split I make a 3 inch deep chainsaw cut on the end and split into that cut. Then it splits easily and doesn't blow apart.

Sounds like a nice machine, but that's really far beyond my budget for what I need.

 

[Murray01]

I had an old “Power Fist”(made in China) electric 4 ton splitter. With this unit all I did was C clamp the start switch to the on position and manipulate the lever. Might work with yours?

I’m thinking this is a safety feature, keep both hands away from crush accidents.

 

[enchant]

I had an old “Power Fist”(made in China) electric 4 ton splitter. With this unit all I did was C clamp the start switch to the on position and manipulate the lever. Might work with yours?

I’m thinking this is a safety feature, keep both hands away from crush accidents.

It *sort* of works, but... The sequence goes like this: I clamp the button down and the motor starts. I push the lever which forces the piston forward. The wood splits and I let go of the lever. The piston stops forward motion, but doesn't retract until I release the clamp to stop the motor. I'd really prefer to not have to do that. With the Yardmax, you turn on the engine with a switch and then activate the piston with a lever. Push the lever and the piston goes forward. Release it and it retracts. Truly one-hand operation.

I'm all for safety, but I feel it's far more hazardous letting the logs fire off.

This two-handed operation sounds to me like the result of lawyers trying to stop people who would like to get rich by doing something monumentally stupid and then suing a corporation for their self-inflicted injuries. And to a great extent, I understand the lawyers point.

 

[begreen]

Sounds like a nice machine, but that's really far beyond my budget for what I need.

$529 at Walmart
Boss 7ton

 

[enchant]

$529 at Walmart
Boss 7ton

Thanks, but still $200 more than the Yardmax.

 

[ScottLewis]

I just looked it up and it is $529 at Home Depot! Wait a minute I paid $700 four years ago, I thought the price would go up.
Well, it is just a suggestion, if you don't want to pay that much, no problem.

 

[Murray01]

The piston stops forward motion, but doesn't retract until I release the clamp to stop the motor

Mine retracted, slowly, which gave me enough time to grab another round or spin the partially split log.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

Thanks, but still $200 more than the Yardmax.

I just got an ad from Ocean State Job Lot. In it is a 7 ton electric splitter for $399- Order online and they ship it to the store of your choosing for pickup, no charge. Then they'll give you a $200- gift card for anything else you want to buy at Ocean State in the future. It doesn't specify the brand.

7-Ton Hydraulic Log Splitter, Blue

Ocean State Job Lot

www.oceanstatejoblot.com

Now I'm thinking about buying that one. hahaha

 

[enchant]

I just got an ad from Ocean State Job Lot.

That looks almost exactly like the one I currently have, except mine is black and the wheels are a little different. But I see the button that requires a second hand to operate.

 

[vatmark]

We bought this splitter. When hurricane Helene came through there was so many trees down. We didn’t want to spend a ton of money. We split lots of big stuff on it and I have to say I was shocked it handled it. My son attached a foot pedal(not spliced in) to it for operation. He used a clamp that holds the button down. I included picture of the size of the wood we were splitting.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4KNQFTC?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

 

[ScottLewis]

vatmark you're splitting those oak drums without having to make a chainsaw cut in the end first?
If so that WEN is outperforming my 7 ton Boss, and it is a lot cheaper. The Boss is a great little splitter don't get me wrong.

WEN gets great reviews on Amazon.

 

[begreen]

I just checked an Costco has the Boss 7 ton electric splitter for $380! Unfortunately out of stock right now, but maybe Sam's Club?

Tractor Supply has the 6.5 ton Yardmax for $329.

 

[vatmark]

vatmark you're splitting those oak drums without having to make a chainsaw cut in the end first?
If so that WEN is outperforming my 7 ton Boss, and it is a lot cheaper. The Boss is a great little splitter don't get me wrong.

WEN gets great reviews on Amazon.

It was me(the mom) and my son who worked together. We never used a chainsaw to cut the ends. But I will remember that for the future. We first looked if there was anything that looked like a natural split and started there. If that didnt work we rotated the round and eventually found a spot that worked. I have to say I was pretty shocked how well it worked. Sometimes we had to have the round “not centered” so the split was going through closer to the side of the round. There were a few rounds that we used a wedge and sledge hammer to split in half first because they were just too big but it was only a few out of all we split. We filled a 12 foot rack, 8ft, 10 ft and 5 ft using that splitter. I just looked and we paid $281.05 with tax for the splitter.

 

[ScottLewis]

I do that as well, when there is a big round, start at the side and work your way in.
I also have the Jotul 500. Great stove. And it is getting a workout this week.

 

[Grateful11]

This guy built a stand and made a foot operated activation pedal for his. I have a Homelite just like his but they're made them under lots of different labels. I have 22 ton Gas/hydraulic splitter now but occasionally I'd like something like what he built. He has other videos on there of his splitter setup. He's really got his moneys worth out the thing, I'm surprised it
s still running. Mine looks like new compared to his.

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