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Wood splitter? #7414294
11/25/21 09:55 AM
11/25/21 09:55 AM
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 191
Michigan
T
Thumbian Offline OP
trapper
Thumbian  Offline OP
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 191
Michigan
Thinking about buying a 27 ton or larger splitter, might even participate in Black Friday madness to do so. Any recommendations or definitely do not buy?

Re: Wood splitter? [Re: Thumbian] #7414327
11/25/21 10:16 AM
11/25/21 10:16 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,475
WI>>>MN >>>WI
T-Rex Offline
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T-Rex  Offline
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WI>>>MN >>>WI
With 27 tons, you should be able to split most anything. Stroke, cylinder length is another consideration. Do you need to split 30" boiler wood, or never need anything over 18"? Do you need a log lift? Do you want it to work both horiontally and vertically? Consider a log table, and multiple splitting blades. It all has a bearing on your cost.


Man who mistake shillelagh for fairy wand; see pixie dust, also.
Re: Wood splitter? [Re: Thumbian] #7414380
11/25/21 11:27 AM
11/25/21 11:27 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,761
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
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Law Dog  Offline
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Posts: 34,761
Central, SD
I bought the components and supplied the parts to my Hutterite friend and they built me one I’ve been using it for years now. Like said 30 inch gap for the boiler length but only a 24 inch stroke ram so I just add a piece of wood under the logs that won’t split all the way the first time easy peasy.

I took a straight axle and wheels off a smaller Buick, the engine off a old riding mower bought the auto splitter valve and pump they supplied the rest.

It’s not pretty from sitting outside but it splits everything I ask it to.

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Wood splitter? [Re: Thumbian] #7414445
11/25/21 12:43 PM
11/25/21 12:43 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 131
Taylor county, Wisconsin
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Twisted metal Offline
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Twisted metal  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 131
Taylor county, Wisconsin
I have a 27 ton and my dad has the 37 ton. There is nothing I can’t spilt that I would need the 37.


Life member NRA
Re: Wood splitter? [Re: Thumbian] #7414492
11/25/21 01:35 PM
11/25/21 01:35 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,787
Asheville, NC
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charles Offline
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,787
Asheville, NC
My son borrowed a splitter that was made with a small one-cylinder Diesel engine. The engine and trailer were one part of a generator used to power a spotlight for a highway paving project. That little Diesel was strong. Run all day on a quart of fuel.

Re: Wood splitter? [Re: Thumbian] #7414531
11/25/21 02:27 PM
11/25/21 02:27 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,947
South metro, MN
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Calvin Offline
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Calvin  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2007
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South metro, MN
Make sure it has a decent working area. I've seen some where the wheels are right where you would normally stand, or move wood into the machine. You don't want to be leaning over the wheels all the time. Some logs are heavy enough.

I would also get one that will pivot vertical so you can still split those monsters without having to lift them up.

If you can, grab the tongue and roll it. Some are balanced better than others if you want to move it by hand.

Some of the small units are just lawnwmower motors. One step up is normally a heavier duty engine. Get one with a Kohler or Honda engine if possible.

I have the Northstar 37 from Northern Tool and been very happy with it. I had a part go out on it right away and The Northern Tool service dept replaced it promptly. I haven't had any issues since (5 yrs or so) and I use it alot. It's balanced very well so you can roll it around by hand, Has a Honda engine and good working space where you want it.

I wouldn't bother with the 4 way splitting heads. I got the bigger unit so I could use that head...but I found those heads are more of a pain than they were worth unless you are splitting exactly the same size logs every time. Just a thought.

Last edited by Calvin; 11/25/21 02:28 PM.
Re: Wood splitter? [Re: Thumbian] #7414572
11/25/21 03:28 PM
11/25/21 03:28 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,801
Mn
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Whopper Stopper Offline
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Whopper Stopper  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,801
Mn
27 ton is plenty.

I have a lift on mine which doubles as a table.

WS

Re: Wood splitter? [Re: Thumbian] #7414582
11/25/21 03:50 PM
11/25/21 03:50 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,922
east central WI
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Dirty D Offline
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Dirty D  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,922
east central WI
definitely don't buy one that isn't made in America.

Re: Wood splitter? [Re: Thumbian] #7414585
11/25/21 03:53 PM
11/25/21 03:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,153
Alaska and Washington State
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waggler Offline
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,153
Alaska and Washington State
I've never used a splitter; I have a question or two.
I cut mostly Douglas fir and Alaska yellow cedar for firewood, most of it splits really easy with a maul.
Do you guys use a splitter because your wood is tough to split, or because it is faster.
It seems like I could move from round to round faster with a maul than I could haul each piece to a splitter. Maybe I'm missing out on something good?


"My life is better than your vacation"
Re: Wood splitter? [Re: waggler] #7414627
11/25/21 05:10 PM
11/25/21 05:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,475
WI>>>MN >>>WI
T-Rex Offline
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T-Rex  Offline
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WI>>>MN >>>WI
Originally Posted by waggler
.
Do you guys use a splitter because your wood is tough to split, or because it is faster.
Lots of my wood is not only tough; but impossible to split by hand or by machine. The fibers are so twisted in stuff like elm, that even in a splitter it tears, rather than splits.
Originally Posted by waggler

I cut mostly Douglas fir and Alaska yellow cedar for firewood, most of it splits really easy with a maul
You are correct.
Originally Posted by waggler
It seems like I could move from round to round faster with a maul than I could haul each piece to a splitter.
That is a reasonable assumption. But, if you are the "John Henry" type I could challenge you to a contest!


Man who mistake shillelagh for fairy wand; see pixie dust, also.
Re: Wood splitter? [Re: waggler] #7414628
11/25/21 05:11 PM
11/25/21 05:11 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,922
east central WI
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Dirty D Offline
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Dirty D  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,922
east central WI
Originally Posted by waggler
I've never used a splitter; I have a question or two.
I cut mostly Douglas fir and Alaska yellow cedar for firewood, most of it splits really easy with a maul.
Do you guys use a splitter because your wood is tough to split, or because it is faster.
It seems like I could move from round to round faster with a maul than I could haul each piece to a splitter. Maybe I'm missing out on something good?


Much of the hardwoods are harder to split, Elm and Ironwood as 2 examples. I'd bet that a decent guy with a maul could split a cord of softwood in the time it takes to split a face cord of elm.

Don't forget also hardwoods are alot heavier, your doug fir weighs about 33lb/cu ft and the Hickory I burn weights 48lb/cu ft. So when moving the stuff I'm moving a good 50% more weight. But on the flip side I burn 50% less (volume) than for the same amount of heat.

When I'm splitting I'm taking 16" pcs out of the yard trailer and put right on the splitter. The splits fall off the end of the splitter right up against the pile where they get stacked for the next couple of years. If I was splitting with a maul on the ground I'd have to dump the load, split them, toss them over to the stack. More work than the splitter.

My splitter is a kinetic, very fast, less than 2 seconds cycle time. I have run hydraulic splitters that a decent guy with a maul could beat in a speed race as long as they are splitting easy stuff.

So on both accounts, at least for me, there is less moving of wood with the splitter and the splitter is very fast. Plus a splitter will split tough chunks with crotches and big knots easily.

If all I split was easy stuff like you I don't know if I'd bother with a splitter.

Re: Wood splitter? [Re: Thumbian] #7414629
11/25/21 05:13 PM
11/25/21 05:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,539
Sandhills Nebraska
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Gary Benson Offline
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Sandhills Nebraska
I use a logsplitter for the same reason I drive a vechile instead of walking.


Life ain't supposed to be easy.
Re: Wood splitter? [Re: T-Rex] #7414632
11/25/21 05:18 PM
11/25/21 05:18 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,922
east central WI
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Dirty D Offline
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east central WI
Originally Posted by T-Rex

if you are the "John Henry" type I could challenge you to a contest!


Depending upon the circumstances I'd bet a maul can beat a hydraulic splitter.
Say 6-8" fir rounds that require one split and maybe something like 2 dozen lengths laying in a pile on the ground.

Re: Wood splitter? [Re: Dirty D] #7414645
11/25/21 05:31 PM
11/25/21 05:31 PM
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 601
ontario, canada
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old243 Offline
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Joined: Feb 2019
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ontario, canada
I have a kinetic splitter as well. a super split made in Maine usa. It will make 3 guys sweat. if you are in a rush. I operate myself , so get done what , I am comfortable , with . They have a u tube video's you can watch.. Good machine.

Re: Wood splitter? [Re: Dirty D] #7414650
11/25/21 05:34 PM
11/25/21 05:34 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,475
WI>>>MN >>>WI
T-Rex Offline
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T-Rex  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
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WI>>>MN >>>WI
Originally Posted by Dirty D
Depending upon the circumstances I'd bet a maul can beat a hydraulic splitter.
Say 6-8" fir rounds that require one split and maybe something like 2 dozen lengths laying in a pile on the ground.
Maybe, Probably, but, where is the fun, or challenge without putting it to the test.

In fact if the goal is a couple dozen swift blows with a maul, opposing a hydraulic cylinder moving at a few feet per minute John Henry is a guaranteed winner.

Let's try it with at least a full cord. "A man ain't nothin' but a man."


Man who mistake shillelagh for fairy wand; see pixie dust, also.
Re: Wood splitter? [Re: Thumbian] #7414651
11/25/21 05:36 PM
11/25/21 05:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,761
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
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Law Dog  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,761
Central, SD
I get some bigger rounds from a buddy in the tree cutting business he brings me some that are 3 feet plus across, impossible to lift up to a horizontal beam. If I tip it vertically I can move those pieces with iron pokers to get them under the wedge/ cylinder.

With the hardwoods here we don’t burn softwoods with all the dead elm and ash we have here no reason to. No way to split our stuff by hand and live to see the sun go down. LOL Some stuff is so tough the wedge will stick then reverse lifting the whole round into the air until the wedge pulls itself out I need to hold the lever down and sometimes rock it to get it to split the huge ones.

The plus to the big stuff is nobody wants it they know they can’t move it or split it but I just roll up and split it on the spot and haul it out then clean up the mess. This year I picked up about 10 cords within a few miles of the house just a lucky year most years it’s a 15-20 mile haul.

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]


Last edited by Law Dog; 11/25/21 05:42 PM.

Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Wood splitter? [Re: Law Dog] #7414658
11/25/21 05:48 PM
11/25/21 05:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,475
WI>>>MN >>>WI
T-Rex Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
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WI>>>MN >>>WI
Originally Posted by Law Dog
.....tree cutting business he brings me some that are 3 feet plus across, impossible to lift up to a horizontal beam.
My situation exactly. I cut them to 24-30" lengths, noodle them down to semi manageable, say 100-150 lb, blocks and lift them onto the splitter rail with forks on the front end loader.


Man who mistake shillelagh for fairy wand; see pixie dust, also.
Re: Wood splitter? [Re: Thumbian] #7414708
11/25/21 07:12 PM
11/25/21 07:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 411
central mn
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rats4me Offline
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 411
central mn
The biggest advantage with the wood splitter is it doesn't get tired , doesn't miss a stroke all day as long as somebody can run the lever.


Even a blind chicken gets some corn
Re: Wood splitter? [Re: rats4me] #7414719
11/25/21 07:26 PM
11/25/21 07:26 PM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,344
Hudson valley , NY
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slowpoke Offline
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slowpoke  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,344
Hudson valley , NY
I run a TW -6 with hydraulic log lift and 4 way wedge .... it dumps wood directly on a conveyor and into my wood shed ...

Re: Wood splitter? [Re: Thumbian] #7414730
11/25/21 07:37 PM
11/25/21 07:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 352
Ontario
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RustyShacklefrd Offline
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RustyShacklefrd  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 352
Ontario
I have a woods 27 ton . Made in the USA , I like it . Only thing I don’t like the engines mounted in a stupid spot so it can get hit by logs easy

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