Electric Log splitters

[tmitchell_5188]

Hello, I stumbeld across this forum on electric log splitters. I guess I thought that I was close to buying one, but I'd like some pointers before ordering one. I went to Home Depot and bought the Ryobi today (4 ton $300), but I'm thinking of taking it back and ordering one of these.

Mantis SwiftSplit 5 ton $400
Omegasplit 6 ton $440
DR splitter. 6 ton $640

Any thoughts on these 4 different splitters? Why would the omega cost $200 less than the DR? I'm on a budget ($650 max), and need to split oak and other hard woods, up to 18-20" long, 12-18" diameter. I have a lot of wood on my property (just moved in) that is cut and stacked, but not split. I have bought some wood, but my soap stone stove is a smaller one, and the logs are too large.

I have a complete set of mauls, and wedges, but I just had knee replacement surgery (3 weeks ago) and my days of splitting by hand are over, so I need a splitter. I was looking for a gas splitter, but they're to large (storage is also a concern).

Any other tips for me?

Thanks

Tom

 

[roac]

Hello,

Welcome to the forum. There are a couple of threads going on now that might help ya. Here ya go.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/150/

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/723/

 

[elkimmeg]

Tom I do not have the time to go in full details but I amd familliar with all the mentioned splitters . If I can free up the time today, I will go into details and make suggestions that could save you money and a lot of headaches Right now don't buy till you hear the rest of the Story (Paul Harvey)

 

[elkimmeg]

Omega gas splitters:
Before one gets involved with this company read the payment options You are not protected by using a charge card they will not accept charge card payment
I wonder why?
One customers story
“On the Omega Stores website, they claim that: “customer service is our number one priority”. Don’t believe it, they are impossible to communicate with, and if you do reach them they will lie to you over and over again.
(broken link removed to http://www.complaints.com/directory/2005/october/17/29.htm)
Another one
(broken link removed to http://www.complaints.com/directory/2005/march/9/24.htm)

another (broken link removed to http://www.sptimes.com/2004/01/25/Action/A_reminder_on_the_imp.shtml)

Ebay feed back rating 88.5%. The point here is to make you aware too many have had problems with this merchant. I have personally communicated with this company and did not like the way they conduct business. I have used their one of there earlier 6 ton splitters it worked fine, what scared my off is wondering if I break something and need to replace a part, just about impossible to get in touch with

Mantis SwiftSplit 5 ton: All these splitters are similar made in China. The main problem is the lack of hydraulic reservoir capacity. We are talking pints not gallons. They will split the straight grain 6 to 8” rounds but stop dead when confronted with more difficult grained wood Forget elm I admit I have not worked or seen this brand but 4tons is not a lot of difference over the Ryobi 4 tons

Dr splitters: Much better company to do business with and could have a local distribution outlet near you threw a True Value like hardware store. At 50% more capacity than the Ryobi one notices the difference It will split the occasional piece rejected by the 4 ton ryobi, but still refused to split a straight 10 /14” elm actually the same can be said of the omega splitter I used. Is it worth the additional cost? Better company to stand behind the product is worth more?

Suggestions: go to home depot purchase the Ryobi and see what it can do. Chances are within one hour you will be impressed enough it is a keeper. If not return it for full refund. Advantages is brand name and repair centers and parts availability. plus only $300
Omega, more money more power but once your check is cashed and things do not workout or broken you own it.

Knowing what to expect and using any tool: If you are going to make multi splits why not use the tool that way. Third the log first Not every split has to be dead center making the tool work at maximum effort. If it rejects the initial effort, flip the log around and reduce the amount you are trying to split. Do not expect the same results as a 30 ton unit will deliver, that stops at nothing.
Learn your tool capacities and learn how to achieve the best results with what you have. With this philosophy is why I think you will be impressed with the capabilities of the Ryobi. Personally, I went a different route and opted for more conventional electric splitter. With real components and 4 times more power with a 16 ton electric splitter. The motor alone cost more than the Ryobi splitter.
But I burn two stoves and process twice the wood one stove owners do My supply started out at 16 cords, It had dwindled but I am also adding to it. Some of the wood I am processing, will not end up in my stoves till the year after next. I split a whole cord one weekend with the ryobi.
There is another alternative the two handle hydraulic jack splitters I have yet to use one but would like to try one out. These splitters deliver 10 to 12 tons of force and could be a cost wise solution.
The thing I wonder about them is the length of the jack travel and the speed of completing the split and repeating this action. At some point, I have to try one out to see what it can do

 

[joshuaviktor]

2 HANDLE HYDRAULIC JACK SPLITTERS? Sorry, caps lock was on. Is that sort of a manual hydraulic splitter?

Interesting.

Got a link?

Joshua

 

[carpniels]

Hi Joshua,

Check ebay. Lots of them for sale. I have never seen or used one myself. They are basically hydraulic car jacks with frames that hold the wood.

Carpniels

P.S. Elk,

As usual, thanks for that terrific post. I have been interested in an electric logsplitter myself and will probably buy a Ryobi on your recommendation.

Thanks

 

[tmitchell_5188]

Thanks for the info I went out today and bought the Mantis at a local lawn and garden shop near my home. So far I'm impressed. Seams to work great for what I plan on splitting. I did buy the Ryobi at home depot yesterday, and I'll return it tomorrow. The main reason for going with the mantis was the large 10" wheels. Since I plan on using it out by my wood piles, and my yard isn't very level or smooth, the Mantis seamed like it would be easier to move around in the yard than the DR or Omega. The Omega seamed like a great value, but sounds like from the negative feed back that I read abouth the company, could be difficult to deal with.

Bottom line with the Mantis was it was available at a local shop, and had the larger wheels, and I also liked the position of the switches. I have a friend who lost part of a finger running a gas splitter because his hand was too close to the log when it exploded. Since I'll probably be only splitting smaller stuff, I think it'll fit my neads. I do have larger logs on my property that are too large for the splitter. I probably have 6-8 cords of wood stacked up at the bottom of a very steep hill, with about 30-40% of it being too large for the splitter. If, and that's a big IF, I can even get them up the hill, I'll just rent a gas one for the day and split them.

This hill is so steep that I had to winch my Arctic Cat 4x4 ATV up the hill. No way am I going to carry a 50-60 pound log up that hill I'll try and rig something up to winch the wood up next year. I may leave all of the big stuff and just let it rot. For what I can get a cord of wood delivered for, it's not worth it to me the try and haul all of it up. Plus with my knee replacement surgery, I should not be even trying to carry the big stuff up.

I plan on spending some time tomorrow splitting more wood on the Mantis. I'll post more info after I spend a few hours running it.

Thanks!

Tom

 

[elkimmeg]

Tom now that you remind me, If I kept the Ryobi I was going to swap out to larger wheels . I was more concerned at its splitting capabilities but a good point. Did you split with it? and how did that work out? Again please follow up with your 5 ton unit . Remember one can splitt larger logs if you adjust to smaller splits first, working around the log to get to a more manageable log. The more you work that tool and learn its limitations, the more productive it becomes

 

[tmitchell_5188]

Didn't even take the Ryobi out of the truck. I only bought it because it was the last one in the area. I've been burned by not getting it. Went back and they were all gone. I missed 2 at Home Depot on a green tag special at $220 each a couple of months ago.

More to follow in the next few days!

 

[tmitchell_5188]

Took back the Ryobi, and split more with the Mantis. I only had one piece that it would not split. It was a narly log with knots and branches. I did learn one thing, I had 2 different logs explode on me when I first start to split them. The Mantis has the two switches up on the handle so you're away from the logs. Good thing because when the ram started to apply pressure, the log split and the 2 pieces shot straight up and went off to the side. If I would of been down low pressing the switch on the side of the motor, I might of been hit by a log.

So far I'm real happy with this for the price.

Tom

 

[BrotherBart]

Took back the Ryobi, and split more with the Mantis. I only had one piece that it would not split. It was a narly log with knots and branches. I did learn one thing, I had 2 different logs explode on me when I first start to split them. The Mantis has the two switches up on the handle so you're away from the logs. Good thing because when the ram started to apply pressure, the log split and the 2 pieces shot straight up and went off to the side. If I would of been down low pressing the switch on the side of the motor, I might of been hit by a log.

So far I'm real happy with this for the price.

Tom

That is something people really have to watch out for with vertical splitters. It is very easy to get in a splitting routine sitting on the stool splitting away. At the slightest sign of resistance by the log ya need to stand up and to the side. When one explodes the last place you want it to be aimed is between your legs or at your knees.