DHT Splitter Review

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I purchased my splitter directly from @DHT last year and they asked that I please post up a review once I have put some time on the unit. Here goes.

Background: This 25T splitter is basically identical to their 27T unit with the exception of a faster pump to increase cycle time at the expense of a little bit of tonnage. DHT had a demo unit in my area and I was put in touch with them by a fellow who used to be active in the Scrounging Firewood thread.

The first thing I did after getting the splitter home was converting the low speed hubs to high speed trailer hubs so I could tow the unit directly behind the car. Being my two cabins are about 40 miles apart, this makes it much easier to transport rather than having to load the splitter unit into a trailer. More info on the very easy hub swap is located here:
http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/splitter-purchase.294506/page-4
In retrospect I might suggest upgrading to taller/wider tires to the ease of rolling the unit around on uneven ground.

My wood processing is a combination of splitting at/near my woodpile (75%) on relatively level ground and at/near the site of the tree (25%) which obviously the terrain can vary. I did use the unit a bit in the vertical position but found (at least for me) that it was faster to rip larger rounds in to halves or quarters rather than wrestling them into position next to the beam.

One of the first tests was some very large (~40"), twisted silver maple. For those that have never dealt with large silver maple trunk wood, it is very difficult to split and is twisted and much more dense than limb wood. The splitter took that down without a challenge. Next up was some very large and twisted red maple and large knotty Norway pine and it took that all down without a challenge as well. I also split some very stringy wood and the wedge shape really seemed to work well to spread the wood far enough to bust those strings loose. I've used other brands of splitters in the past that didn't have as wide of a wedge and they didn't work nearly as well.

The only issues I had was we blew the bushing out of the lovejoy at about 5 cords and DHT mailed me a new one for no charge. We've done significantly more wood since with no issues. Otherwise I have only had to tighten a couple of fittings since purchase.

In review, here's a quick summary:
Pros: Plenty of power, engine starts very well, mild fuel consumption. Very well built and easy to operate unit.

Cons (all minor ones): Wood table is too small and pitched outward so wood wants to roll off. The table does not cover the top of the engine and I am worried that a piece may fall forward and damage the engine. I will probably build a larger table with a lip on the outside to prevent roll offs.
Bark and dirt tends to get wedged at the end of the beam so I would recommend the cleanout holes be reshaped to help the ram push more of the debris through.
I also might suggest finding a way to keep the hoses closer to the unit to avoid them catching on brush.
The measuring sticker on the beam wears off almost immediately, I might suggest adding hash marks on the beam that are either put in with a grinder of a small bead of weld to indicate lengths.

Overall Experience: I am very happy with my purchase and between the quality of the product and the customer service I received I would strongly recommend the DHT line to anyone looking for a splitter.

IMG_8229.PNG
 
Nice write up. I have the 28 and 22 tons. I have stopped them both with large knotty white oak and winged elm. I tend to use mine in vertical quite a bit and there are a few tricks to make things go better. I agree about the wedge design, although I have modified the wedges somewhat. They make a larger table, but there is some cost. PM me before getting their 4 way wedge. I understand that they are redesigning the 4 way. They have treated me very well and offer great customer service. Overall, they are a good company that stands behind its product, which is rare these days.

Weesa
 
I have the 22 ton. It's a great machine that runs great. 1 time I had a nasty, twisted, knotted chunk that it just wouldn't split so that chunk ended up in the burn pit. Other than that I've had no issue splitting about 10 cords with it. I do wish that table was bigger though


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
@svk,
Thanks for the nice write up and we are happy when you are happy. That said please remember that this unit was a prototype so I don't recall that the specs, cycle time in particular, are relevant because I am not sure those are the components that did or didn't make it into production. It probably only has our 13 GPM pump on it and we have bigger ones now.

With respect to your minor concerns..... 1) the filter/base are under the beam on new units which keeps the hoses better out of the way. 2) we have a high speed wheel kit which converts the units to 5 lug trailer wheels, 3) we sell a full length log table which covers the engine, 4) lastly we understand the clean out holes may not seem sufficient but we know that if you make them too big you lose strength at the end of the beam...so we have decided that NOT having the foot plate break off was more important! :)

Cheers...and enjoy the splitter!
 
Thank you again DHT!

When I get into my next round of major splitting I will definitely check in with you on the larger table and may also look at your version 2 of the 4 way head.

I am changing the engine oil this weekend. We have about 3-4 cords of aspen I would like to turn into splits so the sun can do their thing.
 
I have a 22 ton splitter from dht prolly put about 25+ cord through it and I haven't had one single issue it split everything in it's sight. Only issue I had was the welds breaking at the foot connecting the main beam to the foot, contacted dht and they sent me one free of charge and no delivery fee at all. They are top notch with customer service
 
I have the 22 ton as well, very happy with it, really like wedge design, the thin part will cut into even hard knots then the wider part pushes it apart, have not found anything it wouldn't split. Fast cycle time, motor starts easy runs well. About 15 cords so far, only issue I've had is oil leaks where adjuster is on valve (haven't contacted them yet).
Even the deer like it;).
 

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Sorry Nate we can not warranty a product used by animals!! :)


I have the 22 ton as well, very happy with it, really like wedge design, the thin part will cut into even hard knots then the wider part pushes it apart, have not found anything it wouldn't split. Fast cycle time, motor starts easy runs well. About 15 cords so far, only issue I've had is oil leaks where adjuster is on valve (haven't contacted them yet).
Even the deer like it;).
 
I purchased my splitter directly from @DHT last year and they asked that I please post up a review once I have put some time on the unit. Here goes.

Background: This 25T splitter is basically identical to their 27T unit with the exception of a faster pump to increase cycle time at the expense of a little bit of tonnage. DHT had a demo unit in my area and I was put in touch with them by a fellow who used to be active in the Scrounging Firewood thread.

The first thing I did after getting the splitter home was converting the low speed hubs to high speed trailer hubs so I could tow the unit directly behind the car. Being my two cabins are about 40 miles apart, this makes it much easier to transport rather than having to load the splitter unit into a trailer. More info on the very easy hub swap is located here:
http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/splitter-purchase.294506/page-4
In retrospect I might suggest upgrading to taller/wider tires to the ease of rolling the unit around on uneven ground.

My wood processing is a combination of splitting at/near my woodpile (75%) on relatively level ground and at/near the site of the tree (25%) which obviously the terrain can vary. I did use the unit a bit in the vertical position but found (at least for me) that it was faster to rip larger rounds in to halves or quarters rather than wrestling them into position next to the beam.

One of the first tests was some very large (~40"), twisted silver maple. For those that have never dealt with large silver maple trunk wood, it is very difficult to split and is twisted and much more dense than limb wood. The splitter took that down without a challenge. Next up was some very large and twisted red maple and large knotty Norway pine and it took that all down without a challenge as well. I also split some very stringy wood and the wedge shape really seemed to work well to spread the wood far enough to bust those strings loose. I've used other brands of splitters in the past that didn't have as wide of a wedge and they didn't work nearly as well.

The only issues I had was we blew the bushing out of the lovejoy at about 5 cords and DHT mailed me a new one for no charge. We've done significantly more wood since with no issues. Otherwise I have only had to tighten a couple of fittings since purchase.

In review, here's a quick summary:
Pros: Plenty of power, engine starts very well, mild fuel consumption. Very well built and easy to operate unit.

Cons (all minor ones): Wood table is too small and pitched outward so wood wants to roll off. The table does not cover the top of the engine and I am worried that a piece may fall forward and damage the engine. I will probably build a larger table with a lip on the outside to prevent roll offs.
Bark and dirt tends to get wedged at the end of the beam so I would recommend the cleanout holes be reshaped to help the ram push more of the debris through.
I also might suggest finding a way to keep the hoses closer to the unit to avoid them catching on brush.
The measuring sticker on the beam wears off almost immediately, I might suggest adding hash marks on the beam that are either put in with a grinder of a small bead of weld to indicate lengths.

Overall Experience: I am very happy with my purchase and between the quality of the product and the customer service I received I would strongly recommend the DHT line to anyone looking for a splitter.

View attachment 583598
SVK I built a splitter for my dad and ran into the same problem with the love-joy bushing...by the way the electric motor ones are the same as with gas engine. My dads on his 4th motor now and those bushing failed alot until we replaced it with Sprocket and double chain. I just rebuilt dad splitter this summer after 20 years it still works good. On those hard to split rounds slap off the side of the round and it'll split a lot easier.
 

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SVK I built a splitter for my dad and ran into the same problem with the love-joy bushing...by the way the electric motor ones are the same as with gas engine. My dads on his 4th motor now and those bushing failed alot until we replaced it with Sprocket and double chain. I just rebuilt dad splitter this summer after 20 years it still works good. On those hard to split rounds slap off the side of the round and it'll split a lot easier.
Sorry the gas motor bushing are Not the same as the electric ones...the gas ones last longer, their made to take the cycling on crank of gas motor.
 
I have the Champion 25Ton splitter that has quick cycle times. It was something I was attentive to when shopping around. Found out it makes no difference to me -- in splitting wood by myself. The time it takes to retract is less time then it takes me to clear the wood and load a new log. In the splitting direction, usually the split accrues a 1/3 or 1/2 way into the log, so is quick that way as well.
 
You might want to look at how the axles are connected to the unit. My bet it's like most and it's just a short piece of axle lightly welded to the sheet metal oil tank with no suspension what so ever.
Hitting a pothole at speed will probably break an axle rite off the unit.
 
I have the DHT 27 ton , good unit , cycle time from 1-2 inches back to 18 inches is just about how long it takes me to get the the next round off the tailgate and into the splitter almost never let it get back to 24 inches.

I typically try and position the splitter right behind the truck with 2-3 inch gap between the tail gate and log rest so that the right half of the tail gate is to the log rest and I can roll the rounds right in but also when braking down larger rounds be able to set some back on the tail gate while working on the rest.

I wish the lovejoy connector was as simple as pulling pin slide the pump back some changing out the rubber and putting it back together and pin in.
 
Trapper Pete... replace the lovejoy with two sprockets and a double chain... it'll be the last time you'll ever have to change it. We changed this when Dad was still on he's 1st motor. Dads on his 4th motor now. My Dad splits a lot of wood and wore out 3 motors completely. The splitter I built for his is 48tons, 2-stage pump, 36" stroke, 6min to travel 36" running on 1st stage. 2nd stage is 5 gallon min. At 48 tons his slitter never get to the 2nd stage much.
 

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