Newbie contemplating a wood splitter/ help!

[Firemountain]

Hey guys, with an upcoming stove purchase I am looking into a log splitter. I need some help in determining whether I go with an electric 15A model that can run off of standard household current such as the....

Pow 'R' Kraft 4/7 ton electric log splitter: the reason I like this is after looking at all of the 5 ton electric splitters, I feel that this would be the best in its class. I also like it due to its small size....I can stick it in my garage or shed with a minimal footprint.


OR....do I go with a 16 ton Ram splitter in an electric model and run it off of my 220v generator. Now I know this sounds contradictory in buying an electric splitter, and running my gas engine anyway with the generator, why would I just not buy a gas splitter. 2 reasons....for one it's just one less gas engine to maintain, and two... When I redo my house in the next few years, I can have a dedicated 220 line installed in my garage which would then allow me to utilize electricity. The big downside here is the larger footprint which would really compromise my shed and/or garage.

Here is one of the deciding factors, I will be using my new stove as supplemental heat and not burning 24/7. Initially, I will probably be buying the majority of my wood precut that I will season myself. The splitter will be used to split rounds that I get from local landscapers who cut down trees, as well as split down bigger precut pieces for kindling.

Is the Ramsplitter overkill for my useage?? I do know that the price is like double, but I don't want to buy something that may not hold up over time and/or outgrow. I can see myself becoming that type of guy who starts to say screw the precut deliveries, and just hoard wood from the local tree guys for free.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Dom

 

[Clyde S. Dale]

Fiskars x27. Just my 2 cents...

 

[brant2000]

I agree. If you've got a good (err....we'll say OK) back, and don't mind some free exercise, then splitting by hand is the way to go. X27 is also my weapon of choice.

 

[Coach B]

I'm with Clyde. If you are planning on buying most of your wood its hard to justify the cost of a splitter. Plus its just sitting around most of the time. You can always buy one later if you end up processing most of your own. My FIL bought a splitter for us to use this year since we live next door and both burn wood. Even with two of us using it I have a hard time seeing how it going to pay off. Of course we split all our own wood manually for 15 years and I'm a bit partial to the old fashioned way.

 

[paul bunion]

A Ramsplitter 16 ton does not need 220v. You can put it on 150' of 10 gauge cord and it will work fine. If you store the Ramsplitter vertically it isn't all that big. If you want to see one let me know.

 

[gzecc]

Log splitter comes later. First get some wood. If you buy a couple of cords (2) for next year (I suggest) get any hardwood besides oak. Stack it in single rows off the ground. If your wife doesn't have a problem with that, then start working on two more cords (again not oak) for the next year. If you start to get a head because tree guys are dropping off so much wood, you can rent a real hydraulic splitter. The tree guys are not going to be dropping off the easy stuff for free. Its going to be the big, crotchy, poison ivy infested pieces that they don't want to process or sell themselves.
The little electric is good for splitting the stuff you should be able to split with a maul, unless you are physically unable.

 

[Clyde S. Dale]

I agree. If you've got a good (err....we'll say OK) back, and don't mind some free exercise, then splitting by hand is the way to go. X27 is also my weapon of choice.

Speaking of the x27, I did a little splitting today on my lunch break. Frozen red oak and an x27 makes for quite an enjoyable experience on a beautiful winter's day...

 

[paul bunion]

. The tree guys are not going to be dropping off the easy stuff for free. Its going to be the big, crotchy, poison ivy infested pieces that they don't want to process or sell themselves.

But you can can get the neat, clean, easy wood delivered for free here. Logs or rounds take your pick.


This was all in the past year. Yes there was a vine or two of poision ivy on one of the ash logs and ants are a a given. I get the wood when it is cold so they can be delt with.



Just a half load here, about three cords. Same price as above.



I even got the most 'crotchety' logs put directly on the 6x's for cutting.



This is the above log load + my neighbors oak tree which which bucked and rolled into my yard. About 3 cords of red oak in that.

 

[northwinds]

I've been thinking about getting a splitter for 7 years. I also keep thinking about renting a splitter to see how I would like it. I'm three years ahead of wood, and my yellow maul just keeps on making firewood. Hand splitting is truly great exercise. I'm in my 50's and I will keep thinking about getting that splitter as long as I can.

 

[gzecc]

But you can can get the neat, clean, easy wood delivered for free here. Logs or rounds take your pick.


This was all in the past year. Yes there was a vine or two of poision ivy on one of the ash logs and ants are a a given. I get the wood when it is cold so they can be delt with.

View attachment 129052

Just a half load here, about three cords. Same price as above.

View attachment 129053

I even got the most 'crotchety' logs put directly on the 6x's for cutting.

View attachment 129056

This is the above log load + my neighbors oak tree which which bucked and rolled into my yard. About 3 cords of red oak in that.

View attachment 129055

Wow, nice looking stuff. Guess you won't even need to rent a splitter.

 

[Firemountain]

Thank you for all of the input guys. For the time being I have to avoid the manual labor due to a bone spur in my shoulder, hence the reason for a splitter. Once I get surgery done in the upcoming years, then I can start swinging an axe/maul. I already have a decent chain saw so I have that part covered. I am just trying to get prepared once the snow clears to start stacking/preparing wood.

I have to admit that I am leaning towards the Pow'R'Kraft 4/7 ton, so if anyone has this unit, I would like to hear your input on it.

Thanks,
Dom

 

[mol1jb]

Thank you for all of the input guys. For the time being I have to avoid the manual labor due to a bone spur in my shoulder, hence the reason for a splitter. Once I get surgery done in the upcoming years, then I can start swinging an axe/maul. I already have a decent chain saw so I have that part covered. I am just trying to get prepared once the snow clears to start stacking/preparing wood.

I have to admit that I am leaning towards the Pow'R'Kraft 4/7 ton, so if anyone has this unit, I would like to hear your input on it.

Thanks,
Dom

In that case it may be bettrr served to just rent one when you need it.

 

[Firemountain]

I have thought about renting one as needed as well. I may start out and see how my situation develops, and buy one later. Just trying to see from guys here what the general consensus would be, since I don't have the experience you guys have.

Dom

 

[Jags]

At this point in time - without my log splitter(s) I would either purchase the stuff already split or quit burning wood. I ain't going back to hand splitting 4-5 cords per year.

 

[gzecc]

Thank you for all of the input guys. For the time being I have to avoid the manual labor due to a bone spur in my shoulder, hence the reason for a splitter. Once I get surgery done in the upcoming years, then I can start swinging an axe/maul. I already have a decent chain saw so I have that part covered. I am just trying to get prepared once the snow clears to start stacking/preparing wood.

I have to admit that I am leaning towards the Pow'R'Kraft 4/7 ton, so if anyone has this unit, I would like to hear your input on it.

Thanks,
Dom

Make sure to get "paul bunions" contact for the wood. That is golden. Maybe he won't share!

 

[Ashful]

Hand splitting really is the way to go, for less than several cords per year... but seeing as that's not an option right now, I'd also just plan to rent a gas unit for a day, once per year. Far more productive, and you preserve your valuable shed/garage space, and avoid maintenance on a seldom- used machine.

 

[Applesister]

When I told my 2 older brothers I wanted to get my motorcycle license they gave me a 90cc dirtbike to learn on. First off the seat was so high I had to mount it like a horse. And second the engine would seize when it got hot.
So one day when I managed to get it started I got about 2 miles from the house when it quit on me.
I had to walk that thing back to the house.
Like your parents buying you a shetland pony cause you are too small to ride a horse. No one knows that shetland ponies hate children.
Buy what you want.
Horse people have a great saying: Buy the best you can afford.
Buy that brand new off the showroom motorcycle with electric start. lol

 

[Applesister]

"Necessity is the plea for every infringment of human freedom, it is the argument of tyrants, it is the creed of slaves.". - Willian Pitt

 

[gzecc]

Dom, Take a look at this on CL
(broken link removed to http://newjersey.craigslist.org/for/4351757468.html)

 

[Ashful]

You feeling okay, Sista?

 

[gzecc]

You feeling okay, Sista?

Sounds like cabin fever!

 

[jillybeansisme]

If it were me, and it will be in another year or so once I get moved, I WOULD buy the electric 5 ton. It can handle more than it says from everything I've heard. The biggest issue is the wheels are too small to run it over the ground well and some of them require you loosen some nut or it won't work and will stop on you. The only other con that I've heard was somebody's plastic handle broke off. So if you are using it near the house, the tires shouldn't be an issue for you.

Everything I've read is get the kind that uses one hand to operate OR be prepared to jerryrig it so that you can use just a foot to operate it. Good luck!

 

[tsquini]

I hear all the time "I'm not going to burn 24/7, just supplemental heat". If you buy a splitter and all the tools and get years ahead on your wood supply you will be burning 24/7. Once you have all the tools for splitting 1 cord our 8 cords is not much different. If you are truly going to just burn for supplemental heat just buy 1 cord of seasoned wood every year.

 

[wahoowad]

OP,

I would go with the 15A electric unit. I've been using one for 7 years to split 1 to 3 cords a year depending on my scrounging success. I recommend the Homelite model since it is the same model as my now-unavailable Ryobi. Search this forum for Homelite and Ryobi and you will quite a few threads from happy users.

Sure, the Ramsplitter is more powerful and I've been tempted to get one for years. But 4 tons is splitting 99 out of 100 splits for me so I'm not spending $1200 just to split the one crotchety log I foolishly bring home. Others have put gauges on their splitter and find that most pumps do not generate over 1 ton to split the majority of splits which tells me lower powered splitters are plenty sufficient.

The Powerkraft may be good, I just haven't noticed the threads on it if there have been many. The Ryobi and Homelite guys have been plenty satisfied.

(ok, I still want a Ramsplitter but know I don't need it )

 

[Soundchasm]

Big fan of the electric 5 ton. Have probably split a dozen cords with it. Minimal noise, I can use it for an hour, I can re-split any deliveries, takes about a square foot on end. Have to remember to close the bleeder valve before transport or the fluid can spill out. Have to open it before splitting. I've done 20+" rounds with some strategy. Just put my chair in the "no fly" zone and zone out.

The wheels DO suck. Want to throttle the guy who mandated two-hand operation. Big crotches are not its strong suite. I don't use an axe because there'll be some evening I've got blood in my eye thinking that one more good whack will bust that sucker open and there's just enough daylight for this last swing... And then my wife will have proof I'm an idiot.

I'll rent a splitter if the rounds are so big they can only be split vertically.