Electric log splitter review

[jtb51b]

I recently decided to buy an electric log splitter just to re-split some splits that were left too large and make "custom" splits to pack the stove better. A friend got a harbor freight model for christmas and likes it, I was going to go by and look at it saturday evening but I was close to Tractor Supply so I figured a few extra dollars would buy a better made machine. I ended up buying both, same day. Heres the breakdown:

The TSC unit "earthquake" $299.00

This unit has 56 reviews, most are for the speeco unit that they sold last year NOT the current machine.

I unpacked it, bolted the wheels on and the roller handle and plugged it in, first problem is that you have to hold both the electric motor switch down as well as move the hydraulic lever to actuate the ram. THEN to retract the ram you must release both the hydraulic lever as well as the power push button. Once the ram completely cycles back, then you can start a new cycle--no starting in the middle. I know its for safety but its almost unusable at any reasonable pace. The motor on this machine is also VERY loud, not sure if it was just the colder hydro oil or not but it is considerably louder than the other unit. I never split anything with this unit as the two handed thing was a deal breaker for me and I wanted to return it in new condition.

The Harbor Freight unit "Central Machinery" $279.99 (minus another 20% coupon)

This one came came out of the box pretty much put together. I had to spin on the hydraulic handle and add some oil, it was about a half pint low from the factory. Plugged it in and pressed the start/stop button-- it stayed in and the motor continues to run until you press it again. The motor on this unit is also loud, although not as loud as the other machine it is still not quiet. I have used this machine to split maybe 20 spits, and I have looked for the worst splits to throw at it. It has split everything I have tried to split. The one drawback I see is that the hydraulic handle has two modes, forward and auto retract. There is no stop, or manual reverse.

Both units are pretty heavy at ~105 lbs but both are fairly compact and easily stored. The HF model has to have the hydraulic handle removed every time you want to stand it up, where the earthquake has a guard that allows the handle to stay on.

Hope this helps someone make the decision that I went through. It seems for me that a few extra dollars did NOT help me to get a better/more productive unit. I will check back in a month or so and update with the longevity of the HF- as its the only one I kept.



Jason

 

[Fsappo]

I sold a handful that I got thru SBI a few years ago, looked like this photo. Worked great out of the box. Would not split a log as shown in the photo. I used it to resplit splits. Folks bought a few for camps, etc. Never had an issue or complaint on them.

 

[jtb51b]

FYI for anyone interested, TSC still shows the reviews for the past unit on this new model. I made them aware of the mistake but they aren't changing it, also they took down my negative (well written I thought) review of this splitter. They wont be getting any more of my money until they change these shady practices!

Jason

 

[Fsappo]

TSC taking down a negative review would also keep me from shopping there again.

 

[mass_burner]

Boy, is this HF splitter small. Its also close to the ground. I'd like to get it up to table height if I can for repetitive liftable rounds.

 

[velvetfoot]

To tell the truth, I have one but never use it. I've been splitting my own wood and there's no need to resplit, plus, I use fire starter squares and not kindling.

 

[mass_burner]

To tell the truth, I have one but never use it. I've been splitting my own wood and there's no need to resplit, plus, I use fire starter squares and not kindling.

I split a good size round on it as a test run. The worst part of splitting by hand is the repetitive bending over, the swinging is the easy part.

 

[velvetfoot]

I split a good size round on it as a test run. The worst part of splitting by hand is the repetitive bending over, the swinging is the easy part.

LOL, I wish. I use a 27 ton splitter. My point was that I don't buy it presplit, so I don't get any large cross section splits.

 

[mass_burner]

LOL, I wish. I use a 27 ton splitter. My point was that I don't buy it presplit, so I don't get any large cross section splits.

I don't buy presplit either, I can manually split the few big rounds manually.

 

[DougA]

I've got a 5 ton electric that has Ryobi on it but my guess is that they are all pretty much the same. I can split anything that I can lift, except really bad knots. Biggest was probably over 24" . For the big ones, the trick is to take chunks off the edges and work your way around it and closely look for cracks that show the easy spots to split. Yes, it is a PITA and I'd rather have a 27 ton but money is tight and the 5 ton was bought used for $50. It's also much quieter than a gas unit and always starts - as long as you have an outlet.

Not saying these are for everybody, probably not even for most but they do work well if you take the time to understand how to use them. You just can't stick a big chunk in and expect it to split down the middle. I always have mine on a table or pair of sawhorses. So much easier.

 

[mass_burner]

Thanks DougA, I'll try saw horses, and your advice. So, its not possible to use it vertically.

 

[Jags]

So, its not possible to use it vertically.

No.

 

[DougA]

As Jags says, not vertically.
BTW, there are some large gnarled splits that the electric splitter won't handle. I save them up and rent a big splitter every 2 yrs. I looked at buying a big splitter and renting it out to help pay for it as someone here suggested. Other people in our area are doing that and it's now down to $50 for a 2 day rental for a 27 ton. Hardly worth buying one at that price - at least for me.

 

[dougand3]

$50 is good for 2 days rental. HD rental here is $69 for 4 hours or $99 per day. Even more ridiculous is the 4 week rental - $1200. You can buy it for that.

 

[Seanm]

I have a 6.5 ton yardworks electric splitter and have had it for two full seasons now. I have never had a splitter before so dont know how they compare to gas but I understand they are slower and not as powerful. I find its easier on the body than splitting by hand. It takes longer to split a cord using the splitter than it used to take me by hand but its also easier and I can use it all day, in fact its something my kids can run as I feed it rounds. I can split some pretty big larch and fir with it and it saves my back so Im happy.

 

[WES999]

I picked this one up from CL for $65, guy said it was not working. I was able to get it running OK.
I don't know what brand it is but it looks a lot like the one it the pic above.
I set it up on some boards to get it to a comfortable height.
It works surprisingly well for a small machine.
So far I have split a good amount maple. It did get stuck a few times on some larger pieces but I did eventually get them split.

 

[Seanm]

Just make sure on an electric that you open the bleeder valve before commencing splitting!!

 

[Huntindog1]

I had the electric splitter from Lowes it did fine for most stuff.

The rail that the log sat on broke were it attaches to the side of the tank as I was putting bigger stuff on it than I was supposed too but it was splitting them but I didn't think about the weight on that rail might be too much. I think it would have been fine if I hadn't been dropping stuff down on that rail when the stuff was actually over sized for the splitter.

Its was a nice electric splitter but I abused it.

 

[dougand3]

Many good comments on the little 5 ton electric splitters. The HF one says up to 10" diameter round. I use 12# and 8# mauls. I just can't split 20"+ rounds any more, except pine. Maybe the maul is wearing out - it couldn't be me.
Is anybody splitting a 16"-20" hardwood round successfully?

 

[DoubleB]

Is anybody splitting a 16"-20" hardwood round successfully?

Not really for me. On rare occasion I can crack something that big, which means I've wasted so much time trying that by now I just throw those on the big pile that awaits a gas rental. I take that back--oftentimes I'll drive a wedge into a round to crack it open, then hoist it onto the splitter to finish the job all the way through. Still kind of a waste of time, but a bit easier than hammering all the way through.

Last spring I was establishing my firewood inventory and used the HF to make a lot of small splits (2-3") so it could dry in only 1 year. Now I'm 3 years ahead and most stuff is either small enough to dry in 3 yrs without splitting, or else is too big for the 5ton. As such, I find the 5 ton splitter has a pretty narrow role for me by now, and maybe less than 1/3 of my wood goes through it, and some of that is a lot of negotiating too.

 

[DougA]

Is anybody splitting a 16"-20" hardwood round successfully?

I do that size often enough with my 5 ton. I find I have to take chunks off the edges and advance toward the middle. I am regularly splitting black locust, elm, oak, maple, red cherry, ash ... Probably BL is the toughest because it is so stringy while splitting. There are times I get frustrated but that usually is ones with Y's & knots.

When I started cutting 24" for my new stove instead of 16", it added even more to the PITA for tough pieces but the upside is that the pieces now just barely fit into the splitter and there is no wait while the ram goes from home position to the piece of wood.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I picked this one up from CL for $65, guy said it was not working. I was able to get it running OK.
I don't know what brand it is but it looks a lot like the one it the pic above.
I set it up on some boards to get it to a comfortable height.
It works surprisingly well for a small machine.
So far I have split a good amount maple. It did get stuck a few times on some larger pieces but I did eventually get them split.
View attachment 159081

I have that exact one. It was sold by Grossmans as iron and oak or something like that.

With my back hand I press down both levers and use the other to hold the round. It'll treat you well. It has done 90% of what I've thrown at it. It doesn't owe me a dime.

 

[Huntindog1]

Is anybody splitting a 16"-20" hardwood round successfully?

Yes the one I spoke about previously from Lowes could split logs that diameter. Had to have no knots or forks or sometimes you get real stringy wood.