Log splitters

[jimc]

I've had a Harb. Freight  Horiz/Vert. 5hp.for the last few years, It's OK  if you are a welder & know what to check.
Crappy (hollow !) wedge design & the ram seal was incorrectly assembled.
Once I 've gotten it sorted out, it is pretty good.I've only stopped it a few times , and split loads of 36+inch  inch red oak .
Most any cheap splitter needs bolts checked & replaced from time to time if you work it.
I'm on my second motor, so it has worked for me.
You pretty much get what you pay for.
I'm definitely in favor of the moving wedge type.
 

[Furby]

Yesterday I went back over to stack the rest of the wood, and finish clearing the brush.
I asked if the rental company had said anything about the condition of the splitter and they said, nope. I guess the guy looked it over and then told them that the splitter was sold to someone. He got $800 for that thing.

Hey, it was still working!!!!  

[ADfields]

Mine is a 25ton MTD and like I say I have had very very little trouble with it at all.
Andy

[Frank_Pender]

I use a unit I designed and a friend helped me build.  There are three splitters that can operate on a 3/4 ton Ford pickup axel.  One unit runs horizontal and pushes the block into a 4 way wedge made of T one steel.  The wing span on the horizontal knife is 20 inches and the vertical above is 12", while the bottem wedge is 2" thick and 6" high.   The second unit is designed to run vertical and has the wedge push through the block.   The block sets on a 24" lazy susan that inturn spins on a 3" to 2" tapered pies of old lift truck fork.  The third unit is semi portable one end attatches to a reciever hole that acts as the main anchor point and swings out to set on a pedistal.  Its hydraulic hoses attatch to quick disconnects and I can use the valve that operates the
horizontal unit.   The third unit is similar to a cabage slicer that wouldhave a box mounted above where the knife is located on the slicer.  This unit is designed to make kindling.  All three units have a out a back time of 5 seconds each.  I am not able to operate all three units at once.  The powere system is a 20 horsepower Wisconsin engine with a Zeneth propane carborator.  I can usually produce about 5 to 6 cords of wood with a 7 gallon can of propane.

[lamar]

Hi ADfields, Is your mtd like the ones they seel at lowes etc.? Does it have a cast wedge? Also is the cyl. mount cast ? Ive got to check on harbor freight add I thought they said their's is solid steel.Could they of updated.

[RSteiner]

That sounds like too many issues to deal with, maybe the old saying is true "you get what you pay for".  I have looked at some of the less expensive wood splitters and wondered how robust they really were.

I just purchased my first wood splitter last month after 30 years of splitting by hand I put the maul and wedges into semi-retirement.  I purchased a Super Split wood splitter which works with a fly wheel principle instead of hydraulics.

It has a plate that pushes the wood through the wedge.  I think that puts less side way stress on the pushing device.  I haven't got a piece of wood stuck on the wedge yet.  The wedge is narrower than others I have seen so it shears knots off easier than those with wide wedges which split more by seperation force.

I really like the Super Split as it has a work table which catches the split pieces for reprocessing.  I had 1/3 of a cord of elm which came from dying tree at the neighbors place.  It took me 20 minutes to split the lot.  Last year I would have thrown most of it away than to try tp split it.

Randy

[Furby]

Just thought I'd throw this up here.
The fellow we were helping out is 85, his name's Jay. One of his hobbies over the years was making clocks and tables. He made most of his clocks out of walnut or cypress, and his tables were cypress. He showed me his last round of cypress and his last couple of small stumps. He has them stored in the rafters of his garage for safe keeping. He says you can't get cypress anymore. I told him, wanna bet?  
I said if he ever wanted some more, I know just who to talk too.  
This is a clock that he made and has hanging on his livingroom wall.

[karl]

Hey Frank- How 'bout postin some pics of that wood splitting beast, I'd really like a look ,eh?

[ADfields]

It's all steel, no cast on it at all.   Came from Walmart back about 1996.   The new one has a shorter beam and the ram is held at the front not the back like mine but they also work just fine.
Andy

[Haytrader]

RStiener,

I would like to see pics of ur splitter too, or a link.
TY

[ADfields]

Hear is a link to Super Split.
http://www.ripsaw.com/gfx.html

Don't sound like the faster cycle time helps it's speed much over a hyd. splitter.   1/3 cord in 20 min. is 1 cord an hour and thats what my wife gets with our hyd. splitter, I can get close to 2 cord an hour from it.
Andy

[Haytrader]

Thanks Andy

[Stan]

  1/3 cord in 20 min. is 1 cord an hour and thats what my wife gets with our hyd. splitter, I can get close to 2 cord an hour from it.
Andy

Either one of you could split all the wood I can burn in less than a day, how's come it takes me a couple of weeks?  :-/

[ADfields]

I don't know Stan.   I do know a good part of my Summers are always took up with fire wood work.   Started out with just an ax when I was a kid and I tell ya a splitter is a heck of an upgrade!
Andy

[oldsaw-addict]

The splitters mentioned thus far are fine if you want a rugged log splitter for years of use, BUT can they split a 7foot diameter log like it was a 6" branch? the ultimate splitter is the one I have shown here. this bad boy is for those really stubborn logs that JUST WONT BREAK with regular size splitters and wedges, plus it works well for those oversize logs too. the only catch is that you need about $250K or so to get one unless you get it illegally that is, or at auction. --Photos MUST be in the Forestry Forum gallery!!!!!--.com/albums/v112/boyfriend101/log_buster_large.jpg[/img]

[lamar]

jimc, Im looking at the 24t 8hp.Not sure about the engine(flathead brigs standard) might be a gass hog.If your 5hp held up that good this one should work.Are the biger ones more tempermental? Im ok if the splitter is all steel cause I can weld.Did harbor F work with you one parts.I would want to mount a log cradle on both sides,I like to work off the truck or trailer in horz. position when ever posible.Thanks for the Info

[Stan]

Thanks for the offer teacher, but I don't think them chunks would fit in my parlor stove.