I Ache All Over

[Paulywalnut]

After much looking and himming and hauling I ordered a splitter. I hurt in most places. I know a splitter is work too but I need a change. Pictures will follow when I get it. It's a Gravely 22 ton. The same as an Ariens
The shop is 2 miles from me and they had one on display and it caught my eye. I'm pretty excited to get it and start vertical and horizontal splitting. Anybody have experience with Ariens or Gravely it would be good to know.

 

[Beer Belly]

Don't know a darned thing about Ariens or Gravely, but I can tell ya......ya gonna love Hydraulics

 

[osagebow]

Don't know a darned thing about Ariens or Gravely, but I can tell ya......ya gonna love Hydraulics

Yep. Congrats on the splitter!

 

[ChadD]

I have the 27 ton Ariens and have been very happy with it.

 

[save$]

Way to go! The splitter should help with your aches and pains. You will love those splits with the knots, twists and turns that now split up and your maul is still whole and your wedge isn't hung up. I had to rent the machine so we always made it a family event and ran 5 to 6 cord in one day. It would have been so much better to have my own machine, but with 4 kids, and orthodontist bills, there were no treats for me for a while.

 

[MarkinNC]

After much looking and himming and hauling I ordered a splitter. I hurt in most places. I know a splitter is work too but I need a change. Pictures will follow when I get it. It's a Gravely 22 ton. The same as an Ariens
The shop is 2 miles from me and they had one on display and it caught my eye. I'm pretty excited to get it and start vertical and horizontal splitting. Anybody have experience with Ariens or Gravely it would be good to know.

I was sore and worked hard recently after splitting up a large white oak. The tree itself was hard to move round as well to get it to the splitter. That is why I did the post on here about sitting down and splitting. I barely break a sweat. By chance BackwodsSavage uploaded a video today demonstrating his technique. Its in the woodshed.

I would be interested what you think of the unit you bought. That is the one I am leaning towards. Looks easy to move around with a fast cycle time. Hopefully the engine runs quite and smooth like a Honda.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Good for you....maybe there should be a splitter club. ;-)

 

[Paulywalnut]

I was sore and worked hard recently after splitting up a large white oak. The tree itself was hard to move round as well to get it to the splitter. That is why I did the post on here about sitting down and splitting. I barely break a sweat. By chance BackwodsSavage uploaded a video today demonstrating his technique. Its in the woodshed.

I would be interested what you think of the unit you bought. That is the one I am leaning towards. Looks easy to move around with a fast cycle time. Hopefully the engine runs quite and smooth like a Honda.

Thanks Mark. I have to track down a metal milk crate. Hard to find nowadays. Saw his video too. Very good.

 

[Jags]

Good for you....maybe there should be a splitter club. ;-)

Do you get a special badge if you build it yourself? Or maybe a couple of them?

 

[Paulywalnut]

Do you get a special badge if you build it yourself? Or maybe a couple of them?

A badge with BIY on it. Only forum people will know what it means.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

After much looking and himming and hauling I ordered a splitter. I hurt in most places. I know a splitter is work too but I need a change. Pictures will follow when I get it. It's a Gravely 22 ton. The same as an Ariens
The shop is 2 miles from me and they had one on display and it caught my eye. I'm pretty excited to get it and start vertical and horizontal splitting. Anybody have experience with Ariens or Gravely it would be good to know.

No advice on Ariens vs Gravely except that 22 ton should be good, but do have advice on the splitting. Stick with vertical.

 

[Angelo C]

good luck with the new splitter im sure either will be fine.
the V v H argument will live forever...the "Noodle before you Lug" shouldn't be an argument. its so easy to Peavey or Cant a huge round in its side put a 3" cut in it, grab a wedge and split in two easier to handle splits or 4 for that matter. rolling big rounds under or on a splitter takes a lot out of you. remember this should be fun for most of us...we could just buy it split and stacked from the guy down the road ya know...

 

[Paulywalnut]

good luck with the new splitter im sure either will be fine.
the V v H argument will live forever...the "Noodle before you Lug" shouldn't be an argument. its so easy to Peavey or Cant a huge round in its side put a 3" cut in it, grab a wedge and split in two easier to handle splits or 4 for that matter. rolling big rounds under or on a splitter takes a lot out of you. remember this should be fun for most of us...we could just buy it split and stacked from the guy down the road ya know...

Yep I split and process for a good workout. The splitter is still some work. I'm tired of the maul and sledge.
Hey I'm not giving up my Fiskars. If you zoom up my avatar, I ride that 70 or so miles a week.

 

[bogydave]

Not sure the splitter will get rid of or prevent the "all over aches"
but
it is sure nice & a lot easier.

 

[BrotherBart]

Good decision. Back in 1988 I was still hand whacking six cord a year for the old dragon. And my shoulders were talking to me. My neighbor heated with wood too but had a son that was built like a bull and did the splitting when he came home from college on weekends. One afternoon I got in the truck and went down there and pulled in and asked him how much that kid's college tuition was. Then started backing out. He yelled "You SOB you are going to buy a log splitter aren't you?". He was right. I headed straight to town. When Scott graduated he bought one too.

That old splitter is still getting it done. Same one Backwoods Savage has.

 

[MofoG23]

As you already know the Ariens and Gravely units are the same. I do not have experience with the 22 ton, but I've had my Ariens 27 ton for many years now without a single issue. The Suby/Robin motors are top notch - smooth, quiet and hardly sip any fuel. Before I bought this splitter, I was borrowing a MTD clone (22 ton) for a couple years.... no question Ariens is a step above the other "box store" clones....worth the extra $$$ IMO - especially when comparing quality and layout.

Good luck and be sure to post some pic's!

 

[Paulywalnut]

As you already know the Ariens and Gravely units are the same. I do not have experience with the 22 ton, but I've had my Ariens 27 ton for many years now without a single issue. The Suby/Robin motors are top notch - smooth, quiet and hardly sip any fuel. Before I bought this splitter, I was borrowing a MTD clone (22 ton) for a couple years.... no question Ariens is a step above the other "box store" clones....worth the extra $$$ IMO - especially when comparing quality and layout.

Good luck and be sure to post some pic's!

Thanks Mofo. The 22 ton is new this year for Gravely. Identical to the Ariens 22 ton. Being new just size will be different noe quality I'm sure.

 

[Machria]

Here ya go, lots of info and pics on the Ariens 22: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/ariens-22-ton-splitter.112892/

I just updated that thread with pics of the "work table" installed. In summary, the Ariens 22 is not the best (aka strongest, best built...) ,splitter in the world however it has some REALLY nice features/specs that I have yet to see on any other splitter.
1. The work area (where you stand to load/unload/split logs) is the largest most open area with nothing in the way (aka tires, axel, motor...).
2. It has the smallest footprint of any 20+ ton splitter on the market. It has a narrow stance of 38" instead of 48"+ on most other splitters. So if storage space is limited, this is a big +.
3. The lightest and easiest 20+ splitter on market at 375lb's, and it is very well balanced. This makes it super easy to move about by hand. I can pick up and move around with one hand no problem.
4. The motor, pump, filter, hoses... are all way out of the way! Split logs or falling rounds can NOT fall onto and break anything. Most splitter I see, have "stuff" dead smack in the area falling splits will land.
5. Home Depot carries them, so you should be able to see one in person and/or buy one just about anywhere in the country. Helpful hint: HD takes competitor coupons, I used a 20% off from Harbor freight to save $300 on it!
6. Comes complete filled with Hydro fluid and Log cradles for both sides. A $60 add on accessory adds a work table which is now pictured in the linked thread above.
7. Centrally located control, easy to work from either side and again, out of way.