Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => Fire Wood => Topic started by: freefour on September 03, 2013, 09:33:19 AM

Title: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: freefour on September 03, 2013, 09:33:19 AM
I have decided to pick up a splitter this year.  I am getting too old (or lazy) to want to split everything by hand.  I have a Fiskars x27 axe and a 15lb monster mull that does pretty good job if the wood is straight. 

Any recommendations on ton sizes or brands?  Mind you I don't want to put a fortune in one and not wanting to build one myself.   I will probably just hit a farm store or box store.  I've been watching Craigslist for a year now and never find any that is a good deal.  Same with farm auctions.

I didnt know if i'd be ok with the small cheapy $1000 20-22 ton model for most jobs or would better to spend another $300 or so to get a 25-28 tonish model. 

Any thoughts?
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: ecc_33 on September 03, 2013, 03:47:28 PM
IMHO get  the biggest you can afford.
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: jerkash on September 03, 2013, 04:48:04 PM
Get at least a 25 ton.  More would be better
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: bajonesy77 on September 03, 2013, 06:48:41 PM
I have split every piece of oak I have been able to get on my 22 ton brave even with large knotts. Have a few friends who have the huskee brand from the big box stores 20 or 22 ton don't remember but some have had no problems some have had nothing but problems. Most problems related to the engines not the splitter itself.
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: MattyNH on September 03, 2013, 07:03:21 PM
Well choosing the best wood splitter for you.. Really depends on what you want to spend for one..Yeah you can buy the ones from home depot or at tractor supply etc, etc,..Ya they work no doubt..If you want a quality wood splitter Id be looking into timberwolf or american csl. I may sound bias cause i own both brands...But they are impressive wood splitters..Check them out.
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: d conover on September 04, 2013, 08:29:25 AM
I have a Swisher 22 ton and it does a good job, but my brother in law has a Swisher 28 ton and it is better, he has never jammed up in a knotty block and I have.
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: racnruss on September 05, 2013, 02:12:39 PM
I have Northern's 37 ton log splitter and has a Honda motor(I thinks about 10 hp).  It starts very easy and will split anything and has quality parts on it.

BUT;  it is big and heavy and hard to move around by hand.   Also it is too balanced on the axle, meaning no tongue weight.  So, when you are pushing it by hand and you hit a small twig or hole with a tire, the tongue wants to come up and hit you in the chin. Also, you have to use the drop leg to keep it from tipping when you split horizontally.

A friend has a Yard Machine 20 ton splitter that is much lighter and does almost everything my Northern splitter does.  It is much easier to manhandle  around the yard too.  And about half the price.

That being said.  Make sure you buy one with some type of log extractor on the cylinder so it will push off a stuck log when it retracts.

DO NOT buy a log splitter from Harbor  Freight  Tools!  you will regret it.  been there.

$.02  from Russ.
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: coolidge on September 05, 2013, 03:52:06 PM
www.split-fire.com (http://www.split-fire.com)    I have one for my 3pth    Splits in both directions and is fast
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: automan77 on October 07, 2013, 03:51:18 PM
I have a troy built  27 ton and have split a ton of white oak and it splits it like nothing.
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: freefour on October 08, 2013, 12:13:47 PM
I went with the 27ton Troy Bilt also with the honda motor.  Runs and splits GREAT.
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: automan77 on October 08, 2013, 06:03:25 PM
you will be happy with that 27 troy built. It will handle anything you throw at it.
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: steve.b on October 10, 2013, 05:49:11 PM
I have the huskee 22 ton and it has split everything I've ever put on it. They are on sale right now for $999
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: willieG on October 15, 2013, 07:35:02 PM
i have a 32 year old son, runs on tim hortons coffee  :thumbup:
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: MattyNH on October 15, 2013, 07:44:59 PM
i have a 32 year old son, runs on tim hortons coffee  :thumbup:
LOL yeah my dad says Im a bull when it comes to splitting his fire wood.
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: willieG on October 15, 2013, 07:47:18 PM
we likely only split about 1 cord a year or less our wood is normally ash and elm and they all die at about 12 or 18 inches across the stump so there is not much splitting required
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: MattyNH on October 15, 2013, 07:48:55 PM
we likely only split about 1 cord a year or less our wood is normally ash and elm and they all die at about 12 or 18 inches across the stump so there is not much splitting required
sounds like pretty easy splitting..
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: mlappin on January 30, 2014, 08:24:58 PM
Ash is, elm can be a bastard if it came from a fencerow or yard, can be as well out of a woods for that matter.

Have a buddy that has a Troy Bilt, has had no problems i know of.

Nobody builds stuff like they used to but Troy Bilt is still pretty good.  I just installed the first set of seals in the tiller shaft on the Troy Bilt that my dad bought for mom when I was little, so say it's around thirty five years old, I replaced the motor once and the tines several times.
Title: Re: help choosing best log splitter
Post by: wissel12 on January 30, 2014, 08:33:21 PM
My dad sells 25 to 30 truck loads of wood a year. He has a husky 22 ton. He will get about 8 years out of it.
Does a good job for the money.