Tell me about those little electric splitters

[Mac88]

I see them on CL quite often, 5 tons or so, pretty cheap. I get a lot of slab wood, and I'm thinking one of those little buggers would be the cat's meow for turning it into kindling. Over the winter I could work in the garage, plugged into the wall, nice and warm, no exhaust fumes. I've never seen one up close. How do they work? Hydraulic, or some kind of mechanical monkey motion to move the wedge? Anybody got one? Good, bad, indifferent opinion on them?

 

[Craig21901]

I've got the 5 ton DR version. Bought it new a couple of years ago and have had no problems with it. Would be great for turning slabs into kindling. I only use it when I get the urge to split and the weather is not cooperating. Very nice to bring some wood into the garage and fire up the electric. Just do not expect it to split anything with a knot or an ugly. Oh, and to answer the question on how it works - yes, the DR version does have hydraulic fluid. It has a smooth motion and 2 speeds. Not a bad investment if you can get a good used one for a few hundred, IMO.

 

[Dogsout]

I got this DR electric splitter with table this summer at an auction for $55.00. Wasn't really after it but it kind of fell in my lap. If you are splitting straight grained wood it works great. Put a little twist in the grain and not so great. Big chunks also not so great. I have settled on using mine for Silver Maple splitting for kindling for my ODW. When I got home with it couldn't wait to test it so I plugged it in right in the back of the truck and shaved a couple of bigger maple splits down to kindling. Worked great. Have split in the shop with the radio on and it worked fine. Don't think I would pay over 100 bucks for one myself but that is just MHO.
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[Whitespider]

I was thinkin' one would be handy in the basement by the firebox.
Some of my splits are a tad bigger than what I want... funny how that is, as a splitting day goes on the splits tend to get a little bigger.

 

[ZeroLife]

Thank you for posting this. Have been looking at them also. Figured it would be a good way to include the Mrs. in the splitting chores;p They won't split anything knotty or twisted huh? Does it cycle quickly?

 

[blades]

No not fast, Hydo for splitting force, spring return ( single acting cylinder) most require 2 hands to actuate splitter one to to hold power switch one on the valve. I have 14" one from HF that is 12 years old ( 4 ton i think), use it kindling. Was perfect for the stove I had at the time. Lot of these popped up in the last few years, same mfg. over in chicom area, different window dressings. They work fine. As you noted, plug it in and split. I have seen them up to 7ton and 20+ inch stroke

 

[haveawoody]

I have a ryobi 4 ton electric.
Real nice little splitter for any of the straight grain woods.
A truck drove over it so i got it for 20$, took two cutsall cuts 10 minutes with a sledge and two welds and it was fixed.

It will handle quite big rounds but as the wood gets nastier it tends to be a lot of turning pieces to get a split going.
I've put rounds of sugar maple on it that takes all my effort to lift into place and the little splitter has no problem.
If your looking for something quiet to opperate and very portable the electrics are decent and will split 80% of everything.
Then just fire up the regular splitter for the ones it won't.

Quite a few times i have both gas and electric going to make short work of a giant pile of rounds.
Or the electric will go to a job for splitting for a customer, heck why use my gas when i can plug it in
IMO look for a 6 ton or better, i hear they split 90%+ of anything.

 

[stumpy75]

I have the Speeco 5ton, and as mentioned above, it's ok for straight-grained stuff. I use it for a lot of smaller ash limbs, and it works pretty well for that, but don't expect it to do the work of a large splitter.

 

[Jules083]

Just an FYI, I got the ad for tractor supply in the mail the other day, they are going on sale for $199. I've given it a bit of thought myself, but I don't really NEED it so I'm not getting one.

Would be handy to keep in the basement next to the stove though.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk 2

 

[Rsquared]

I have the Speeco 5ton, and as mentioned above, it's ok for straight-grained stuff. I use it for a lot of smaller ash limbs, and it works pretty well for that, but don't expect it to do the work of a large splitter.

I have the same one. Mine will lock up easily on bigger ash or oak rounds. Have to put a cut in the bigger ones and then it works fine. Split quite a bit of smaller to medium rounds with it so far, but as stated above, won't do the work of a large splitter.

 

[D&B Mack]

I have the Speeco 5ton, and as mentioned above, it's ok for straight-grained stuff. I use it for a lot of smaller ash limbs, and it works pretty well for that, but don't expect it to do the work of a large splitter.

:agree2:

I had the speeco and kept it in the garage for breaking down splits that were a little too large. I would still have it if I was splitting by hand or hydraulic only. I sold it when I got the DR Rapid Fire since that is fast at breaking down splits into more manageable sizes.

As long as you realize its capabilities, it works great. I find the people that really complain about them are the ones who expect it to do the same work as a 22 ton splitter. My father uses his regularly.

 

[Dogsout]

Quite a few times i have both gas and electric going to make short work of a giant pile of rounds.
Or the electric will go to a job for splitting for a customer, heck why use my gas when i can plug it in
IMO look for a 6 ton or better, i hear they split 90%+ of anything.

Haveawoody must have a lot better luck with his electric splitter then I do. I would very much disagree with the "90% + of anything" statement speaking for my 6 ton DR splitter. I can only speak for the model that I have pictured above and you are going to fall closer to the 50% of anything then 90%. On mine if you are doing stuff that is iffy for the splitter make sure and have a big sledge close to knock the unsplit piece off of the wedge when it won't push it through. Straight grained wood that will pop half way through is what mine will do and do GOOD. As Mac stated above if you can pick one of these up off of CL for little or nothing not a bad investment, paying 100s of dollars for one just would not fly in my book.

 

[haveawoody]

Dogsout,

Try splitting on the round next time you use your electric.
Not much my little ryobi won't split doing it that way.
I would say for straight grain wood the electric is fine to just split normal, but for tough or twisted or big wood use the split on the round technique.
Nothing beats the electric the morning after one to many

I hear you on the sledge though trying to split bit knot pieces on an electric.
Then again have had that happen on the gas 22ton so it happens.

 

[dozerdean]

electric log splitter

I get slab wood for wood furnace and used to cut them with my table saw. Decided to get a electric splitter.I have a 5 ton & 7 ton can't really tell the difference.Works great for slabs.Will split a 26 in. maple, but takes time to work around it. 2 man operation.They do more than what you think.

 

[Mac88]

Wow! Lots of great opinions, mostly positive. As I mentioned, I'd use it primarily for splitting slab off the mill. Most of it is straight grain, "1 by" stock with a lot of sap wood content so knots and gnarly aren't too much of an issue. My old "Relic" splits all the cut-offs and non-millable stuff outdoors. Thanks for all your input.

 

[Fred Wright]

The electric/hydraulic 5 & 7-tonner makes ain't bad. I'm presuming the negative reviews online are from users who overlooked the "5-Ton" rating somehow and expected it to do more.

Some models have a low profile - it's recommended they be placed on a sturdy table or bench. They are fine for home use. I wouldn't try running one all day long, busting gnarly rounds. But they do what they're designed to do.

 

[Mac88]

Some models have a low profile - it's recommended they be placed on a sturdy table or bench.

That was my first thought. Build a low bench to bring it up to a comfortable work height. Thanks Fred.

 

[stihly dan]

I got 1 of those dr 5 or 6 ton splitters for free. Used it a little. I put it on the tailgate of the truck. I have only used it on wood that I gave up on with the maul, or fiskers. That little thing split about 1/2 of it. Way to slow to use as a splitter. But gets a few rounds split, thats to much work by hand. Also I like a 5ft, 3in round instead of the sledge if it gets stuck.

 

[Hddnis]

In my dreams I see myself picking up a Super Split with a blown engine really cheap and putting a 1/2 to 1 horse moter on it for making kindling indoors in the winter.



Mr. HE

 

[Mac88]

In my dreams I see myself picking up a Super Split with a blown engine really cheap and putting a 1/2 to 1 horse moter on it for making kindling indoors in the winter.



Mr. HE

Good idea. I don't envision finding one "really cheap" though. The SS would probably work well with an electric motor. I've never looked at one up close to see how the mechanicals work.