JonfromSETN
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- Oct 28, 2014
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Small Tree Service Looking into a Wood Splitter Purchase:
Looking to possibly purchase a wood splitter, not so much to get into selling firewood, but rather to 1) give us more disposal options/ease as well 2) as to be able to a rent a log splitter to our clients who are keeping and processing trees we have taken down for them. I will clarify further and then detail the splitter models I'm currently most interested in and looking for feedback on.
We take down a fair number of large oaks and other trees. A wood splitter can help us both in terms of material handling (negating the need for renting a skidsteer and/or having to ridiculously thin "dimes" that can be moved by handtruck). Currently, we might rent a splitter 3 times a year for these types of jobs, often doing a weekend rental and stacking a few jobs into a given weekend. Then, after splitting, paying for disposal ($20/ton) is no longer necessary as we have either a sellable (or at least a give-away in the case of pine) product.
Often times, our clients will economize by keeping and splitting trees we cut down for them. I think that if we were to rent them a rugged roughly commercial-grade efficient splitter as an option, I think the machine could be paid for simply from rental fees in 2.5 years or less.
The primary model I'm eyeballing (but that I can't seem to find any reviews on) is the Swisher 34-ton commercial model for $2900 (delivered). It is fairly fast (10-12 seconds) and includes a 4-way wedge (both of which I see as important on the in-house use front (payroll and workers comp costs on my guys require that the process be as time efficient as possible in order to be justifiable).
Another model I'm considering are the Northstar (Northern Tool) 37-ton which comes with a 4-way wedge. This one is roughly $2300 and I see no real advantages other than a lower purchase price.
The only other model under consideration thus far is the Iron & Oak 20-ton fast cycle. $2900 (shipped). brand has a good reputation, but tonnage rating is somewhat low and currently doesn't have a 4-way option.
Your thoughts?
Looking to possibly purchase a wood splitter, not so much to get into selling firewood, but rather to 1) give us more disposal options/ease as well 2) as to be able to a rent a log splitter to our clients who are keeping and processing trees we have taken down for them. I will clarify further and then detail the splitter models I'm currently most interested in and looking for feedback on.
We take down a fair number of large oaks and other trees. A wood splitter can help us both in terms of material handling (negating the need for renting a skidsteer and/or having to ridiculously thin "dimes" that can be moved by handtruck). Currently, we might rent a splitter 3 times a year for these types of jobs, often doing a weekend rental and stacking a few jobs into a given weekend. Then, after splitting, paying for disposal ($20/ton) is no longer necessary as we have either a sellable (or at least a give-away in the case of pine) product.
Often times, our clients will economize by keeping and splitting trees we cut down for them. I think that if we were to rent them a rugged roughly commercial-grade efficient splitter as an option, I think the machine could be paid for simply from rental fees in 2.5 years or less.
The primary model I'm eyeballing (but that I can't seem to find any reviews on) is the Swisher 34-ton commercial model for $2900 (delivered). It is fairly fast (10-12 seconds) and includes a 4-way wedge (both of which I see as important on the in-house use front (payroll and workers comp costs on my guys require that the process be as time efficient as possible in order to be justifiable).
Another model I'm considering are the Northstar (Northern Tool) 37-ton which comes with a 4-way wedge. This one is roughly $2300 and I see no real advantages other than a lower purchase price.
The only other model under consideration thus far is the Iron & Oak 20-ton fast cycle. $2900 (shipped). brand has a good reputation, but tonnage rating is somewhat low and currently doesn't have a 4-way option.
Your thoughts?