Woodsplitter Advice Wanted

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jr37

Well-known member
I am considering buying a woodsplitter by next fall. I have been renting one, which means that I need to move a bunch of wood in one day as to save money on the rental. The rental is a horizontal, heavy duty, home-made splitter. I think I would like to get a horizontal/vertical model so I don't have to lift the big, heavy pieces so high.

I am wondering if anyone has one from say (Menards, Fleet Farm, Northern Tool, Etc.) and are they any good. I burn a lot of Elm, which can split hard. How big of an engine do you suggest, how many tons capacity? I know bigger is better, but I also don't want to spend a small fortune.

Thanks in advance

-Jon
 
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baken

New member
We use one made by speeco its a nice splitter. It has a brings and straton which starts every time. You have to watch where you buy it I see at menards the price is better but it has some sort of foreign engine. I think at farm and fleet has them for around $1200 with the brings.
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
Bought mine at Menards 7 years ago with briggs 4s engine I think brand is MTD. 24 ton runs horz & vert. runs like a hose no problems a litle seafoam now & then. Never ran it vertical just hump huge stuff for horz split & I mean HUGE stuff. It would split big Elm lake a toothpick. To me the harder the wood the easier the split it is the soft stuff that does not split well just goes stringy on you instead of clean split.
 
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lvr1000

New member
I have a MTD 20 ton I bought 7 years ago because of piss elm, stringy stuff ya can't split with ax. I have not had anything I couldn't split. I like the verticle cause some of the logs I've split were 40" in diameter.
When it's cold keep it in warm place or start it and let the hydraulic oil circulate with no load to warm up. You don't want to cavitate that pump when the oil is not flowing freely.
 

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lotoftoys

New member
I bought a Speedco from farm and fleet about 7-8 years ago. It is 25 ton with horizontal or vertical split. Vertical is nice for the big stuff as I am not getting any younger. The motor is a 8HP manual start briggs. I have never had a problem with it and I split a lot of wood. A large crotch on a trunk is about the the only thing I have had stop it. If you buy at the the F&F Botique (farm and fleet) they will have the hydraulic lube and everything else you need. I would buy an extra hydro filter and change it out with the first motor oil change also. There may be some metal filings or weld spatter in the hydro tank from manuafacturing. Oh ;and I almost forgot; once your friends and relatives find out you have a splitter they will be your BFF. Its kind of like owning a boat. Good luck!
 
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jr37

Well-known member
I looked at a 35 ton Speeco at Fleet Farm yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised at how well built it is. Two guys that I work with have the Speecos and they really like them. I will keep researching before I make a choice. Besides, I'm laid-off right now, so a splitter purchase is out of the question right now.
 
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bumperboy

New member
If you want a real splitter email me. I am building 4 splitters right now, 5 inch bore cylinders which equal 30 true tons. These can cut 8 inch diameter oak side ways and not stop. As far as the big heavy ones, I put lift tables on them which are great for storing logs also while splitting. The other advantage to these are the torsion axles, so that you can tow them down the road and not have them bounce over your truck when you hit bumps in the road like the rest of them do. These are heavy duty splitters with high quality components, so you pay more but then you got a lifetime machine. jim.drilling@sbcglobal.net (224) 456 -9382
 
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cyguy

New member
28 ton speeco here...and love it. Vertical and horizontal. I've owned it for 6 years and can split a lot of wood in a hurry. Good luck!
 
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jr37

Well-known member
I have heard a lot good about the Speeco, and only one complaint. I hear that the Speeco has plastic fittings that are prone to brake. Any truth to this, anyone have trouble with these?
 
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brooks

New member
Don't get one that you can flip vertically it is absolutely the stupidest idea ever. Get one with a lift. The lift will lift your big logs, hold logs, half split logs etc...

The problem with the ones that flip vertically is that the ram has the wedge and the flat is stationary. Thus your logs will not push off onto your table, wagon, trailer, or where ever you are going with them. The fall to your lap, or the ground on the other side of the I beam for you to pick up off the ground again. It is a major pain in the rear.

For the amount of wood you'll flip it for vs. the amount you don't flip it for, it is much easier to use a maul and wedges to split them in halves or quarters than to tolerate this poor design. Big crotches you cant lift, no problem, use a chainsaw cut 1/2 through and smack a wedge. I'm telling ya, that flip feature is worthless, makes splitting a ton more work, and much, much slower!
 
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bumperboy

New member
Plus who wants to be on their knees on the damp or frozen ground or in the snow when you are splitting, gets pretty tough on your knees and back. The verticals are a silly design.
 
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jr37

Well-known member
Well it has taken me a year and a half, but I made a deal over the phone on a splitter. I am buying the one that I have rented for the past few years. The guy has decided to close the doors on his business and has taken a job elsewhere. I called and asked if he would be interested in selling it, and the answer was yes. He wants a little more than I would have offered, but it's still a pretty decent price. Besides, I know what I am getting in a used machine having been renting it. Not like buying blind at an auction or online somewhere. It is really well built, has always been able to split the Elm I throw at it. Hopefully will last me as long as I want to burn wood.
 
gary_in_neenah

gary_in_neenah

Super Moderator
Staff member
I would guess new would be 35 to 40K. Here's an Ad that I found on the Net from a year ago.
.
HAHN HFP-160 Firewood Processor Attachment


Description:2011 HAHN HFP-160 Firewood Pro Firewood Processor Skid Steer Attachment. Owner stated this machine has under 25 hours, and is only 8 months old, reason for selling is changing business venture. Machine located in Northeast USA.
Model: HFP-160
Year: 2011
Stock #: 677-1
Price:$29,900
Location: Northeast USA

SOLD
 
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jerkbait_1075

New member
I built my own so I guess I cant really be much help as far as brands to choose from. Its just gotten to the point where I have a hard time to find anything that fits my standards of quality and what I am looking for in a product. Plus I am fortunate enough to have access to a fully loaded Fab shop where we repair heavy equipment and heavy duty construction vehicles. I typically gather a few parts here and there from the equipment that we send down the road and build my own stuff from the things I salvage.

I can how ever comment on the horizontal or vertical thing. I too have to to agree that the whole veritcal thing is kinda silly for the reasons listed above. I would like to add one more. That would be damaging your back from trying to roll and man handle to large of pieces even if it is in the vertical position. I had it happen to me. If you have ever had a ruptured disc or bulging disc you would understand. For me I simply find and only take smaller wood. Its just not worth the risk of injury. My motto when it comes to wood is that if it is any bigger around than a man hole cover is stays on the ground.

Thats just my two cents for what its worth. Typically the horizontal only models are a little bit cheaper. I think the key is where the major components come from. Engine, hyd pump, spool valve, ect. Seems anything that is foriegn is simply junk anymore. Its true, you get what you pay for. I put a new Briggs 12 horse on mine. Mine to starts on the first pull everytime. Mine was recently underwater due to flooding. I drained all the fluids from engine and system and made sure the cylinder was clean and dry. New gas and she started on the firstpull.
 
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anonomoose

New member
As an OLD guy, I can definitely disagree on the horizontal vertical thing. NOT having to lift anything much is a good thing and that is why they make the vertical combo.

Yes, you can spend a bunch of time vertically cutting up big blocks but with a vertical machine that isn't necessary. I had a huge ash tree go south from the ash borer and the bottom blocks of wood were huge....as long as I could maneuver the blocks to the splitter I could split the wood and make the slab smaller.

Anyone who is serious about wood use needs one of these machines. You can split up several cords of wood in minutes compared to a maul.

And even if I was a casual wood user, I would enter into agreement with a couple other guys to buy one and use it because they are that efficient. Not sure about renting one...never paid to do that but over the long haul a splitter is well worth the time to own. Mine is a 30 ton and I haven't found anything it won't chisel down thru....and if I have to haul it any distance, I just wheel it up into my open trailer and tie it down and go...up north or south....it travels well. Use synthetic oil and remember to run it dry each time and you have something that will last for years.
 
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