best log splitter

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danp76

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Hello, I'm looking to purchase a durable log splitter that can handle tough knotty wood. I live in New Hampshire, and split all hardwood for firewood. What size/brands would you recommend?
 
A woman who want's exercise.

I've had great luck with the red-haired, blue-eyed kind...

When unoccupied, these do get a bit daffy, and can be dangerous, so beware...
 
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timber wolf or Ironoak

Both timber wolf and iron Oak are very good splitters.:rock: :rock:
 
A friend and I have split about 17 cords in the last two years with a Huskee. I think it is a 34 ton or something like that. It has worked flawlessly and we have not had anything it would not split. It works vertically or horizontally. If I was in the market, I would give it serious consideration.

How much wood are you planning to split? 5 cords, 10 cords, 50 cords?
 
I currently only split about 10 cords, but am looking to make some side money, and play around with wood a bit more during the summer months. How good are the home depot units? I would like to purchase one that can split vertically for the big pieces, and horizontally for the smaller ones.
 
Hello, I'm looking to purchase a durable log splitter that can handle tough knotty wood. I live in New Hampshire, and split all hardwood for firewood. What size/brands would you recommend?

I going to get a few frowns with this one, but I have always wanted a good splitter, but the money always comes up short, besides me being a cheap skate.
I just turn the saw and rip the chunk of wood and then split with a mall, however I do have plans to build a splitter for a three point with a PTO pump. I got the steel and the cylinder, but not a pump yet. :biggrinbounce2:
 
huskee

I have the splitter at the bottom of my Sig. Has worked well for me since I have had it (about 4 months) Split everything that I thought it should (for whatever that is worth). Given the research I did, you pretty much get what you pay for. I would have loved one of the name brand models listed earlier in this thread but wasn't willing to spend the money. But on the flipside I wasn't comfortable with the $1000.00 model that I saw at Home Depot. (troy bilt I think?) Which is why I ended up with my Huskee. I talked to more than one person who said to pay the extra for the Honda engine.
 
vertical/horizontal spitters

I have found that some of the vertical/horizontal splitters seem to have poor accessability in the horizontal mode. It seems that the tires/axle reduce accessability to the splitting bed while positioned in the horizontal mode. Are all of them like this??
 
I am not an expert, probably have split over 120 cords with splitters, mauls, axes, wedges and chainsaws.

I would not consider anything that doesn't go vertically, unless it had some sort of hydraulic/rack system. It is a pain when you lift a 300 lb chunk on the splitter beam and 2/3 of it falls off and you have to lift it again and 1/2 of that falls off and, well... you get the idea. The vertical option will keep the wood close to the wedge and fairly easy to manuver back into place.

There is a lot of experience here on AS and tons of reading.
 
I agree I definetely want a splitter that can split in the vertical position for the big pieces. The smaller ones i would rather split horizontally to save my back...is access poor in the horizontal mode on these splitters, do the tires get in the way?
 
that depends upon how much $$ you want to spend....

there's already been several threads on this very same topic. you may want to do a search.

basically stay away from MTD and Harbor freight splitters.

Huskee/speeco give most bang for the buck. a 22 ton Huskee/speeco splitter ($900) will handle most anything you can throw at it.

I've got the 35 ton huskee unit for $1,500, could have easily gone with 22 ton unit.

if you want to spend more $$ ($2,500+) look at iron and oak and several other higher end splitters. Nothern tools gets good reviews too. they are priced a little higher than Huskee, but cheaper than Iron and Oak.

My $1,500 35 ton huskee, 6in ram, 8x10 beam, 12.5hp equivalent in Husky would cost aprox. $2300. and higher yet for more pro brands.

the most bang for the buck and still reliable splitter award goes to Huskee/speeco.
 
I've had great luck with the red-haired, blue-eyed kind...

When unoccupied, these do get a bit daffy, and can be dangerous, so beware...

:biggrinbounce2: :biggrinbounce2: now THAT's funny.

Asking what is the best logsplitter is like asking which saw to buy around here. I would stay away from the big box store stuff with the exception of Huskee.

My Brave 26 ton is Horizontal/Vertical, without the access issues mentioned with some of the horizontals.

Having a bad back the horizontal/vertical is important to me. Big pieces on the ground can be rolled not lifted when its vertical, stuff in my pickup bed can be rolled right onto the splitter when horizontal.
 
there's no problem with access, 35ton huskee. but as already mentioned. lifting 300+ lbs logs could be a problem :D

use mine in vertical position 99% of the time. lack of four way is main disadvantage when splitter is mounted on ram.

been busting up logs 3ft + diameter with no problems. knurly portions simply gets sheared.

huskee 35 ton 4.JPG
 
there's no problem with access, 35ton huskee. but as already mentioned. lifting 300+ lbs logs could be a problem :D

use mine in vertical position 99% of the time. lack of four way is main disadvantage when splitter is mounted on ram.

been busting up logs 3ft + diameter with no problems. knurly portions simply gets sheared.

huskee 35 ton 4.JPG


I just bought the 22 ton Huskee with the 6.5 briggs. I got mine at a TSC store where I drove about 50 miles to buy it. The guy there gave me a 10% off coupon good for one item. I saved $99.95 and it came with both kinds of oil. They were really nice also.:biggrinbounce2:

046,

Did yours come silver? Mine is all red...

Shipper
 
I had a cub cadet badged MTD POS for 5 years without any problems. Split over 200 cords with the thing. It didn't owe me a cent and I even got $500 for it when I sold it. I upgraded to a Timberwolf TW-5 w/ conveyor because I thought I might die waiting for the MTD to run it's 17 second cycle and I was expanding my output this year.

If you do buy from one of the box stores, make sure you get the assembly manual and go through and make sure everything is properly assembled and tight.
 
yep... mine came in silver.

in hindsight the $900, 22 ton huskee/speeco splitter would have done just find for my splitting duties.

note; comment about MTD splitters is from multiple posts about MTD's giving problems. lately there's been several posters commenting their MTD has done fine.

but no one has made given any negative feedback on huskee/speeco splitter so far. same for northern, iron&oak and other high dollar brands.

I just bought the 22 ton Huskee with the 6.5 briggs. I got mine at a TSC store where I drove about 50 miles to buy it. The guy there gave me a 10% off coupon good for one item. I saved $99.95 and it came with both kinds of oil. They were really nice also.:biggrinbounce2:

046,

Did yours come silver? Mine is all red...

Shipper
 
Why always the negativity on Harbor Freight?
I got one but haven't used it much yet.
It has a 30 ton ram, 9 hp Subaru Robin engine and a sturdy beam.
It seems well enough built to me, and it was $1000.
I guess time will tell.
 
northern hydraulics 37 ton vertical horizontal. $1900 It also has a 4 way wedge and will go thru "anything". It was $1000 over my buget when I bought it but I`m making my money back renting it to trusted customers(the ones that have common sense) for $100 a weekend. 7 more rentals and its free to me. I take the 4 way off for rentals so the machine does not work hard. I have a contract they must sign that covers damage and I give them saftey instruction also. Sofar so good. After the unit is paid for i WILL NOT RENT IT. The machine is way more masive than the pic. Honda engine started first pull out of the box . I think its awesome.

Glenn
 
I have a timberwolf TW-5. It has a log lift for big chunks and a hydraulically adjustable 4-way wedge. I have been very happy with it. The timberwolfs are expensive but I feel the quality you get is well worth the price.
Now I just need to find an inexpensive conveyor! They have models less expensive than the model I bought but am sure they still have the quality workmanship mine has. With proper maintenance it should outlast me!
 

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