Does This Pile Justify Buying a Splitter?

[davidmsem]

So I cut down some trees in the backyard. This is the main pile and there are two others that are smallish. I can have a splitter delivered to the house and rent it for about $100 per day. I figure it will take me several days to cut what looks like what will be four chords, maybe 5 at the most. Should I spring for the $950 splitter that is 22 ton at the tractor store. I think it is a Countyline brand . Or should I rent for however many days it takes and working alone this may take a decent amount of time . So I'm on the fence......any opinions? I don't know after this how I would use the splitter. I think I will buy split firewood from one of the local sellers.

Money is not particularly tight at this point in my life, but I don't like wasting money either in creating a maintenance and storage problem.

 

[prezes13]

Splitter is a nice thing to have. If you plan on heating with wood for long and will split your own wood I say yes. Better yet find someone or more than one person who would go partners with you.

 

[davidmsem]

Splitter is a nice thing to have. If you plan on heating with wood for long and will split your own wood I say yes. Better yet find someone or more than one person who would go partners with you.

I'm not sure how I would use it in the future. I'm not sure if I can have unsplit firewood delivered if that is even a thing that is available. I do have access to a property that often has trees down and that will be free wood, but I would need to borrow a truck to get it.

 

[osagebow]

Get it, use it, flip it for 800 bucks if you change your mind. You still save a few hundred over rental.

 

[prezes13]

It is quite a bit of wood but if it's one time shot split as much as you can by hand and for the rest rent a splitter.

 

[zach1992]

Buy it use it and sell it. Your still coming out ahead taking a 100-200 loss on the splitter. Better then 100 a day for a week.

 

[BrotherBart]

1 round and two twigs justify buying a splitter.

 

[drewmo]

I'd try to split some of those rounds by hand before buying a splitter. If that goes easy, split what you can and save what you can't for the splitter. I find it easier and quicker to use an ax than rolling them huge rounds onto a splitter. Both give you a good workout, but you have more bragging rights when you've done most with your ax.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Have you looked at electric splitters. They will do 90% of the work. The other 10% can be split by hand down to size or are too ugly for even the big splitters.

 

[Quentin2]

That's a quandary, if you scrounge in the future, you'll need it delivered or to borrow a truck. As much as I'd like to tell you to spring for the useful tool purchase. In your shoes I would try to rent on a Saturday and hopefully get Sunday free. That's how it works round here. Split what you can, my guess you'll put a huge dent in those piles if not all of it. dependent on how hard you work. Anything left is free exercise.

 

[claydogg84]

Buy the splitter for $1,100 with tax and use it. After you're done you can decide whether to sell it at what would most likely be a $300 loss, or keep it and have log loads of wood delivered to your house. A log load for me cost $800 and is guaranteed 8 cord. Either way, you most likely won't be able to rent a splitter long enough to finish all that by yourself for $300.

 

[Dix]

Hell yes !!

*Dix always willing to help some one spend money*

 

[BrotherBart]

Start splitting it by hand. Somewhere along the way you will have your answer.

 

[Rossco]

Yeah start splitting by hand. It's not a race, You don't have to split it all.

 

[mopar440_6]

Compromise and find a used splitter? Let someone else take the depreciation hit from new, split the pile you've got, then sell it for what you paid. If you find a good splitter that just needs a shave and a haircut (oil and filter change and some cleanup) you might actually be able to come out ahead with a little elbow grease...

 

[davidmsem]

Compromise and find a used splitter? Let someone else take the depreciation hit from new, split the pile you've got, then sell it for what you paid. If you find a good splitter that just needs a shave and a haircut (oil and filter change and some cleanup) you might actually be able to come out ahead with a little elbow grease...

I'm finding that used splitters hold their value pretty well after looking at used ones. That surprised me. I'll take another look at Craig's list and the Bargain News.

 

[BrotherBart]

Buy the splitter for $1,100 with tax and use it.

I got the new ad flyer today. It is on sale for $949. Full of hydraulic fluid.

 

[davidmsem]

I got the new ad flyer today. It is on sale for $949. Full of hydraulic fluid.

It seems like a decent machine, especially for the money. I'm tempted.....

 

[BrotherBart]

I paid that much for my 22 ton. In 1988 dollars. Right in there with the best money I ever spent.

 

[davidmsem]

Buy the splitter for $1,100 with tax and use it. After you're done you can decide whether to sell it at what would most likely be a $300 loss, or keep it and have log loads of wood delivered to your house. A log load for me cost $800 and is guaranteed 8 cord. Either way, you most likely won't be able to rent a splitter long enough to finish all that by yourself for $300.

I live in Connecticut......if I see that a delivery of logs is available, then that can sway me into justifying the cost. I will research this......this is a good idea....Thank you.

 

[BrotherBart]

Sale ends Christmas Eve.

 

[davidmsem]

Sale ends Christmas Eve.

Thanks.....I'm off of work for the holiday, so I'll have time to go look......sounds like a good task for tomorrow.

 

[davidmsem]

Start splitting it by hand. Somewhere along the way you will have your answer.

I ruptured the disc at L5 S1. I'm one hundred percent okay after the surgery, but really don't want to swing an axe. So yes, the answer does lie in there.

 

[BrotherBart]

I have had a "shelf" at L5 since age 14. Diving board thing. But something in your body pays a little every time that maul hits the round. And it is cumulative. I have 67 years of those accumulations.

Buy the splitter if you plan on heating with wood. Even if you buy wood get the lil electric for that re-split that you only discover you need after you load the stove and it is taking off and you need that one more piece.

 

[davidmsem]

I have had a "shelf" at L5 since age 14. Diving board thing. But something in your body pays a little every time that maul hits the round. And it is cumulative. I have 67 years of those accumulations.

Buy the splitter if you plan on heating with wood. Even if you buy wood get the lil electric for that re-split that you only discover you need after you load the stove and it is taking off and you need that one more piece.

I plan on heating with wood as much as I can. I just built the shed and installed a Regency I3100L. The heat this thing throws is amazing......I'm certainly in the honeymoon phase, but I've wanted to do this a long time. Thank you for the thoughts.