barnartist, there is good information if you care to do some searching. There is also some emotion in some of the posts so bear that in mind too.
First, I would not even look at any splitter that would not stand vertically. I simply is too much work to lift each log onto the splitter. It is enough work without making more for yourself.
In our case, when we purchased, over 15 years ago we really did not know what to get. We lucked out and talked to a store manager one evening. The splitters were on sale and it was in the spring of the year. We talked them down maybe $100 more than what was listed! (Yes, it can be used either horizontally or vertically but we've never split even one log horizontally.)
My question to the man though was how much power will this thing give and what do I really need? I told him my fear that I'd buy and not be able to split our twisted up elm. He guaranteed that if I bought and it did not do the job that I could return it for a full refund. I bought.
Here is a picture of our little 20 ton splitter and this year's splitting pile.
Here's another after getting started.
Sorry, I did not keep track of time so can't tell you how long it took. I can say it took less than a gallon of gas though.
One thing people seem to get concerned with is tonnage. We wondered too especially because many years we split a lot of elm. Of all the years we've had this we've found exactly one piece that it would not split. Perhaps it would have if I'd toyed with it but I simply threw it on the brush pile and forgot all about it. So I can say we've never needed a larger splitter.
Another thing is cycle time. To be honest, I've never looked ours up nor timed it as I could see no need. Cycle time is misleading anyway simply because when you are splitting you probably won't allow the full cycle anyway.
When I split, I will not stand! I sit....and it is actually safer than standing beside the log. That is because of a split goes flying it will always fly sideways, but we've only had a few really small ones fly and that was while making kindling, which is fun to make with a splitter. You can make a lot of kindling in just a little time. We make it out of soft maple and simply split every inch or so across, then turn and do the same thing again. The wedge probably doesn't move over an inch or two at the most all this time. It's down until split then up and quickly right back down working across the log. I usually can handle up to a dozen 1" x 1" pieces.
Also, sitting while splitting is very easy as you don't do much lifting at all. You simply roll a log onto the splitter and you can almost always do this one handed until you get the log to the splitter. And you will split faster while sitting.
The same splitter today is actually a 22 ton and the cost is $1099 at Tractor Supply.
Someone a bit ago hollered CHEAP! Okay, but we've split well over 100 cord of wood with this splitter and had zero repairs or problems.
btw, that splitting pile is a bit over 7 cord (I think). It is almost all split now and we'll start stacking soon. Then we'll know for sure how much wood is there.
Good luck to you.
EDIT: If you look by the splitter you'll see an old milk crate and a green hot seat sitting on it. That is where I sit while splitting.
