LOG SPLITTER RECOMMENDATIONS WANTED

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No-holds-bared the best? Go custom all the way. That way it's built exactly for you, to your exact specifications. It won't be the cheapest route, but it's certainly the best from a performance perspective.

What are your needs and what's your budget look like? I can design/build just about anything you can dream* with regards to a log splitter. Granted I might need some outside help for some things, but who doesn't?

* Might have to wait for future materials though, steel can only be so strong, for now. :)
 
Yeah, that seems mighty silly to everyone I've talked to.

There's no doubt that there are seriously good machines on the market, my point was to get the "best" would be custom for the customer's unique needs, even considering his stature to position the controls comfortably, for example.

I'm going to call you at some point to drool over that super sexy 340 sometime soon. Have they squared away the ac yet?
 
That link TN posted appears to be a lot like a Timberwolf splitter which is a Cadillac of a machine .Just like the TW that one has a Cadillac price tag too .

You get right down to it just what do you want it to do ? Split wood for the woodstove in the house or use it in a commercial type operation .

For just personal usage those 22 ton machines that TSC sells will ger-er-done for about 1200 bucks . You use one for about a week and end up with a hell of a pile of wood . Even an old coot like me can get two cords a day without much problem and still tip the beer can when the sun is over the yardarm .
 
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  • #10
sawinredneck said:
American CLS.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll check them out. :) A few years ago, a friend of mine was looking
for an Iron & Oak, thinking that they were the best on the market, but they recently
recalled most of their machines due to a major quality issue...

Skwerl said:
Andy, where's that thread where you were shopping for a log splitter last year? Can you dig up a link?
Click to expand...

Thanks Skwerl! You've always got my back!

lumberjack said:
No-holds-bared the best? Go custom all the way. That way it's built exactly for you, to your exact specifications. It won't be the cheapest route, but it's certainly the best from a performance perspective.

What are your needs and what's your budget look like? I can design/build just about anything you can dream* with regards to a log splitter. Granted I might need some outside help for some things, but who doesn't?

* Might have to wait for future materials though, steel can only be so strong, for now. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks Lumberjack. I didn't even know that you could do that! I think that's more than I need. I should have elaborated a little
more huh? I just need a good, dependable splitter for home use. I'll split about 5 or 6 cords a year for firewood. It would be nice
if it would handle up to 25" logs and not have problems with seasoned Eucalyptus up to that size...
 
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  • #11
tntree said:
Carl, Kevin Greens machine is one hell of a design. commercial strength all the way. You could build one though

http://www.splitrite.com/sr325.php

The only thing I would do different is put the log lift on the operator control side.
Click to expand...

If I was going to go into the firewood biz, then I would really consider that one. Looks pretty beefy!
 
I use one of these

MTD-Log-Splitter.jpg






Mtd 25 ton to split the stuff that is too tough to do by hand.
It can be used vertically, for those pieces that are too heavy to lift by hand.

I'm quite happy with it.
 
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  • #13
Al Smith said:
That link TN posted appears to be a lot like a Timberwolf splitter which is a Cadillac of a machine .Just like the TW that one has a Cadillac price tag too .

You get right down to it just what do you want it to do ? Split wood for the woodstove in the house or use it in a commercial type operation .

For just personal usage those 22 ton machines that TSC sells will ger-er-done for about 1200 bucks . You use one for about a week and end up with a hell of a pile of wood . Even an old coot like me can get two cords a day without much problem and still tip the beer can when the sun is over the yardarm .
Click to expand...

Thanks Al, I'll check out TSC too. I just want a good one for home use. 5 or 6 cords a year, that type of thing. But I don't want to buy
junk, you know...
 
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  • #14
stig said:
I use one of these

Mtd 25 ton to split the stuff that is too tough to do by hand.
It can be used vertically, for those pieces that are too heavy to lift by hand.

I'm quite happy with it.
Click to expand...

Stig, how many hours do you have on the Mtd? Will it split a seasoned Eucalyptus log 20"+/- in diameter? I do want one with wheels, that
I can hook up to my truck.
 
Well, it is actually my second MTD. My old partner got the first one when I kicked him out.
That one had a LOT of hours on it, since we used to rent it out.

Now the smart people in charge here have changed the regulations for splitters, so you have to have 2 handles, on working as a dead man's handle.
That should make it impossible to get your hand squshed while splitting. What actually happens is that 2 people will operate it to make up for the dead man's handle and that makes the chance of one of them getting between a piece of firewood and a hard place WAY bigger.

That damned handle makes it really hard to use the machine, so I have modified mine back to 1 handle. This means I can't rent it out.
I can still lend it to people without being held accountable if they screw up and get hurt ( weird rules, I know!).

I lend it out to friends and neighbours ( good for my karma!) so I guess the new one have maybe 200 hrs on it.

Except for water in the gastank ( once) I have never had any trouble with either of them.

As for splitting big euc, I have never come across anything with reasonably straight grain that the thing couldn't split. 25 tons is a lot of force.
 
I'm going to go with a Timberwolf Tw-2 next year. Home built log lift on controls side, are my plans. Why they put it on the other side is beyond me.

I like the timberwolfs, even their lowest model (TW-1) splits some gnarly stuff. (thats the one we used, Carl)
 
Here it is Brian: http://gypoclimber.com/showthread.php?11797-Thinking-about-this.

Really, if that is all the wood you are splitting, I'd look hard at the MTD! Been rebuilding and running one for the last seven years, it's had a HARD life and still keeps going! Whatever you do, make sure you at least get a Honda engine, don't even waste time with the Brigs!
Laugh all you want, but I can out run it in straight grain with one of these: http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay...gId=10051&cmRelshp=sim&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1
Just throwing it out there.

Yes, building you get what you want, but for the amount you are doing, I'd advise against it, it's terribly expensive and time consuming. As well as all the extra equipment needed to build it, and a pretty decent mechanical ability.
I'll build another one soon, but nothing at all like the stupid monster I build last time, and this one will be faster.
 
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  • #18
stig said:
Well, it is actually my second MTD. My old partner got the first one when I kicked him out.
That one had a LOT of hours on it, since we used to rent it out.

Now the smart people in charge here have changed the regulations for splitters, so you have to have 2 handles, on working as a dead man's handle.
That should make it impossible to get your hand squshed while splitting. What actually happens is that 2 people will operate it to make up for the dead man's handle and that makes the chance of one of them getting between a piece of firewood and a hard place WAY bigger.

That damned handle makes it really hard to use the machine, so I have modified mine back to 1 handle. This means I can't rent it out.
I can still lend it to people without being held accountable if they screw up and get hurt ( weird rules, I know!).

I lend it out to friends and neighbours ( good for my karma!) so I guess the new one have maybe 200 hrs on it.

Except for water in the gastank ( once) I have never had any trouble with either of them.

As for splitting big euc, I have never come across anything with reasonably straight grain that the thing couldn't split. 25 tons is a lot of force.
Click to expand...

I was looking at them this morning. They have been recalled by our CPSC at least once. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10062.html
 
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  • #19
sawinredneck said:
Here it is Brian: http://gypoclimber.com/showthread.php?11797-Thinking-about-this.

Really, if that is all the wood you are splitting, I'd look hard at the MTD! Been rebuilding and running one for the last seven years, it's had a HARD life and still keeps going! Whatever you do, make sure you at least get a Honda engine, don't even waste time with the Brigs!
Laugh all you want, but I can out run it in straight grain with one of these: http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay...gId=10051&cmRelshp=sim&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1
Just throwing it out there.

Yes, building you get what you want, but for the amount you are doing, I'd advise against it, it's terribly expensive and time consuming. As well as all the extra equipment needed to build it, and a pretty decent mechanical ability.
I'll build another one soon, but nothing at all like the stupid monster I build last time, and this one will be faster.
Click to expand...

I'm a big fan of B&S. I've never had one fail on me or need anything really... I've seen Honda's fail, mostly carburation issues. I wonder, with splitters, are you comparing the same size engines? Timberwolf uses the Honda GTX series and it looks good to me; I wouldn't keep from buying it because it's not a B&S, but given the choice, I'd usually pick B&S based on my experience.
 
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  • #20
brendonv said:
I'm going to go with a Timberwolf Tw-2 next year. Home built log lift on controls side, are my plans. Why they put it on the other side is beyond me.

I like the timberwolfs, even their lowest model (TW-1) splits some gnarly stuff. (thats the one we used, Carl)
Click to expand...

I talked to them today. They do look nice and everything's repairable. The cylinder is not permanently sealed and can be rebuilt. All made
in U.S.A too. But, the P1 is 2,449. I like the TW-HV2, but I didn't get a price on that one. He gave me a distributer to contact in my area
and said that I should be able to schedule a demo, with some of my own wood... I'm also looking at cheaper models, but they're probably going
to be made in China...
 
You get what you pay for. I think they are selling the P1 around here for 2200.

My friend just bout some kind of splitter on Sunday from tractor supply....

Monday he was bring it back. Went to pull it, it fired up, make a loud clunk, and now it's seized. Gotta call him to see how he made out.
 
Not well I am sure! Those are made by Speeco, I won't even get into the details, as they aren't pretty, do a google search. It makes for an interesting read for sure!
 
5 - 6 cords a year is good exercise with a couple mauls and some wedges ;)
 
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  • #24
I chunk it up with my saws. End up with a big pile of chips! I use a splitting maul (ax type) for the kindling. I can't imagine doing
the logs by hand. That would really hurt!
 
I have the same one that Stig has... MTD with the B&S engine. I had no Honda support up here for the Honda engine.
The detent valve leaves some to be desired. El cheapo.. But run it like a rental and a new valve is under 100.00. If you want to upgrade the valve to a 2 way detent :/: (and like Stig, rental is out after that except for special cases :lol: ) then it is only 100.00 plus shipping :D I have had mine for 5 years or so I reckon. I do about 8-10 cord per year with it. Plus I rented it out... ;)
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