Log Splitter Suggestions

[Deep Fryer]

Hi guys & Gals! Hope you all had (some of you are probably still having) a nice & toasty winter.

My neck of the woods here in Long Island got hammered pretty good during Hurricane Sandy. I myself lost 4 good size red oak trees and everywhere around me there are plenty of large sections still on the ground. My neighbor gave me 4 of his oak trees, he was not going to use it. My neighborhood is still cleaning up and I'm taking some additional loads, its a shame to see whats being hauled away cause no one is taking it, there is just so much of it around.

In any case, I need to get a log splitter & was wondering if anyone had some good suggestions. I'v rented one in the past (a 27 ton Troybuilt), but I have so much wood that it doesnt make sense to rent anymore. A new Troy Built is going for $1,600.00 at the local dealer, I was hoping to keep it in the $1,200 hundred range, it comes with a Honda motor. Aside from the price I thought the unit, when I rented it was a fine piece of equipment.

Are there other brands/units I should/could be considering?
Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.

As a side note, there is still tons of wood to be had, I'm a little hesitant about taking more as people are telling me it will just start to rot, I thought if it was off the ground and covered it should be ok, is this a reasonable assumption?

 

[mellow]

I got my troy built 27 ton from Lowes for $1200.00. Talk to a manager and see if you can talk him down now that the season is over, I like mine, especially with a 4 way wedge.

This thread will be moved to The Gear section shortly, and you can find my review of the wedge there.

 

[Deep Fryer]

Thank you Mellow, I'll go to Lowes & see what they got.
I understand about moving the thread.

 

[begreen]

Lot's of talk on this topic in the gear room.

 

[teutonicking]

Hi guys & Gals! Hope you all had (some of you are probably still having) a nice & toasty winter.

My neck of the woods here in Long Island got hammered pretty good during Hurricane Sandy. I myself lost 4 good size red oak trees and everywhere around me there are plenty of large sections still on the ground. My neighbor gave me 4 of his oak trees, he was not going to use it. My neighborhood is still cleaning up and I'm taking some additional loads, its a shame to see whats being hauled away cause no one is taking it, there is just so much of it around.

In any case, I need to get a log splitter & was wondering if anyone had some good suggestions. I'v rented one in the past (a 27 ton Troybuilt), but I have so much wood that it doesnt make sense to rent anymore. A new Troy Built is going for $1,600.00 at the local dealer, I was hoping to keep it in the $1,200 hundred range, it comes with a Honda motor. Aside from the price I thought the unit, when I rented it was a fine piece of equipment.

Are there other brands/units I should/could be considering?
Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.

As a side note, there is still tons of wood to be had, I'm a little hesitant about taking more as people are telling me it will just start to rot, I thought if it was off the ground and covered it should be ok, is this a reasonable assumption?

I like my Huskee 22 ton splitter. You can get it from Tractor Supply Co. for around $1,000-$1,100 depending on whether its on sale, etc.

 

[Jags]

Properly stored, firewood will last for many years. Cut/split/stack to get the moisture out. Don't let it touch the ground and don't store "in the round". For long term - I would also top cover the stacks (or move into shed). Keep over growth (weeds, etc.) away. It is a source of moisture.

The 22 ton Huskee has quite a following in the $1000 range.

Edit: here is a recent thread you might want to review:
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...sell-shortly-after.108484/page-2#post-1424788

 

[Deep Fryer]

Thanks Guys!
I've found some of the other threads on this topic as well, lots of reading to be done but all very helpful.
I guess I'll look into getting some more of the wood thats available here.
Jags, thank you for the tip on the weed overgrowth, that makes a lot of sense.

 

[Jags]

We have some folks on this site that are sitting on YEARS worth of cut/split/stacked firewood. They have been doing it long enough to know better than waist energy on something that is gonna turn into mulch.

Don't underestimate the importance of splitting that wood. Don't store it in the "round".

 

[Deep Fryer]

Don't underestimate the importance of splitting that wood. Don't store it in the "round".

I wont, I'll be looking to purchase a splitter regardless of what I go with by next week & start splitting, I'll post some pictures of what I have & what's getting hauled as well.

 

[mikefrommaine]

I'd be taking as much oak as I could get my hands on. 3-5 years from now you'll be sitting on some pretty good firewood. If you can't use it all you could always sell by the pickup load on CL to recoup some of your splitter cost.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Honda has quite a following. However, I would not let that sway my decision on a splitter. When we bought out over 20 years ago we had a choice of B & S or Briggs and Stratton. We took the B&S and so far, so good although a friend did his royal best to burn the engine up, but that is another story. When we have to replace the engine we'll probably go with either B&S or Honda depending on price.

So in over 20 years with a little 5 hp B&S engine running a 20 ton splitter, we could not be happier. Our repair cost so far on this splitter has been exactly $0.00 We are somewhere around 275-300 cord split so far.

 

[tekguy]

Huskee 22ton at Tractor Supply, will be on clearance if you can find a store with any in stock. I paid 899 or 949 if I remember right this time of year -couple years back on clearance

 

[Deep Fryer]

I'd be taking as much oak as I could get my hands on. 3-5 years from now you'll be sitting on some pretty good firewood. If you can't use it all you could always sell by the pickup load on CL to recoup some of your splitter cost.

YOu are absolutely right Mike, thats a good way to look at it .

Thank you Dennis, I read about your friend's treatment of the splitter, a few of my neighbors here wanted to all go in on a splitter but I have my reservations about how they would treat anything. I always take good care of my tools and equipment, dont know that they would be as considerate. Kind of like lending out records back in the day, not a good idea, they always came back with scratches.

Hi tekguy, after some reading I see the Huskee 22 has a lot of fans here, that says something for sure, thank you, its definitely on my list.

 

[MasterMech]

Lot's of talk on this topic in the gear room.

What's it splitter season or something?

I like my Huskee 22 ton splitter. You can get it from Tractor Supply Co. for around $1,000-$1,100 depending on whether its on sale, etc.

He's gonna be taking a road trip if he wants to find a 22 ton Huskee in "Lawn guy land" (Long Island). No Tractor Supply Co. stores on the island AFAIK. We tried that with Machria in another thread.


$1200 is going to be a tough budget for Long Island (No TSC and HD/Lowes pricing seems high.) I think I've seen that 27 ton Troy-Bilt in Lowes up here for around $1300.

 

[bogydave]

Having good luck with my 22 ton Speeco.
Speeco makes the Huskee, .
features that I liked when shopping:
Nice cradle beam, nice wedge design. Full length beam & ram end mount.

 

[Deep Fryer]

What's it splitter season or something? Yes!

He's gonna be taking a road trip if he wants to find a 22 ton Huskee in "Lawn guy land" (Long Island). No Tractor Supply Co. stores on the island AFAIK. We tried that with Machria in another thread.
$1200 is going to be a tough budget for Long Island. Im realizing that as I search (No TSC and HD/Lowes pricing seems high.) I think I've seen that 27 ton Troy-Bilt in Lowes up here for around $1300.

Lawn guy land, I like that.
There are no tractor supply stores out here, even on the eastern most end where there is still some farms, I've checked out there.
Funny story speaking of "lawns", my neighbors probably think I'm in pretty bad financial shape since I'm the only person in the neighborhood that actually mows his own lawn (takes me about 1.5hrs), mind you this is with a riding mower, but that kind of thing is still frowned upon, "poor guy, must be hitting some hard times if he's gotta mow the lawn himself, & now he needs wood to keep his family warm, poor bastard".

Lowes has the Troy down here for $1399.00, gonna swing out there today to see if they still got em in stock.

 

[mikefrommaine]

Imagine what they would think if they saw you selling some of that wood.

 

[Deep Fryer]

Imagine what they would think if they saw you selling some of that wood.

It would either be, " Yep, he's washing up" or "We should have gotten in on that $ action"

 

[tekguy]

i picked my huskee up at a TSC in CT, so it wouldnt be a huge trip to find one from LI

i would be more worreid about the tow home, borrow another trailer to put it on and strap it down good

 

[MasterMech]

Funny story speaking of "lawns", my neighbors probably think I'm in pretty bad financial shape since I'm the only person in the neighborhood that actually mows his own lawn (takes me about 1.5hrs), mind you this is with a riding mower, but that kind of thing is still frowned upon, "poor guy, must be hitting some hard times if he's gotta mow the lawn himself, & now he needs wood to keep his family warm, poor bastard".

I cut, split, and stack my own wood, mow my lawn, and have a chit ton of outdoor power equipment around since I run a shop out of my garage.

My neighbors think I'm the man. (Prolly why I don't live in LI )

 

[mikey517]

Home Depot carries the Ariens splitters now as well as the Troy Built. Ariens is made in USA, and when you compare them side by side, the Ariens is a much more sturdy machine. Has a nice Subaru / Robin engine mounted well out of the way of the work area.

The Ariens & Gravely splitters are virtually identical.

 

[NCFord]

I have used a couple of 20-22 ton splitters and a few 26-27 ton splitters and my votes is for the 26-27 ton. It may be a little bit more but they come with a bigger piston and seem to handle the bigger wood better. Don't forget this splitter will last a very long time.

 

[Old Smokey]

I'm sure you've read all about 'em and have already used it but the 27 ton Troy Built w/ the Honda engine is a beast for the price. We've put it to hard use for jeez 5 years now and it still starts on the first pull and takes on all that we can split. Never had to do much except check/change the fluids. Hope it works out for you.

 

[ArsenalDon]

Hi guys & Gals! Hope you all had (some of you are probably still having) a nice & toasty winter.

My neck of the woods here in Long Island got hammered pretty good during Hurricane Sandy. I myself lost 4 good size red oak trees and everywhere around me there are plenty of large sections still on the ground. My neighbor gave me 4 of his oak trees, he was not going to use it. My neighborhood is still cleaning up and I'm taking some additional loads, its a shame to see whats being hauled away cause no one is taking it, there is just so much of it around.

In any case, I need to get a log splitter & was wondering if anyone had some good suggestions. I'v rented one in the past (a 27 ton Troybuilt), but I have so much wood that it doesnt make sense to rent anymore. A new Troy Built is going for $1,600.00 at the local dealer, I was hoping to keep it in the $1,200 hundred range, it comes with a Honda motor. Aside from the price I thought the unit, when I rented it was a fine piece of equipment.

Are there other brands/units I should/could be considering?
Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.

As a side note, there is still tons of wood to be had, I'm a little hesitant about taking more as people are telling me it will just start to rot, I thought if it was off the ground and covered it should be ok, is this a reasonable assumption?

I have a partnership in that 27 ton Troybuilt.....any chance of getting 3 or 4 guys into going into partnership with you? just a thought

 

[ArsenalDon]

As a side note, there is still tons of wood to be had, I'm a little hesitant about taking more as people are telling me it will just start to rot, I thought if it was off the ground and covered it should be ok, is this a reasonable assumption?

Get it off the ground and treat it right and it will last for years and years, you have the chance to even make some money if there is that much out there