Looking at possibly getting a log splitter and looking for advice on sizing and what brands and features to look at and/or avoid. I've also seen some 3pt hitch models that hook onto your tractor hydraulics. Anyone have experience with this type? Will be used primarily on juniper, pinon, and ponderosa ranging from 6" up to about 18" dia with a few knots here and there. Any advice would be great. Thanks!

Sledge and a wedge

I used one that hooked on my skid. It would bust anything with the skid at idle. It sure worked good on big rounds.

The type of wood you're working with will dictate the size splitter you will need talk to local folks to see what characteristics the wood in your area has. Here we need a lot of power elm and olive can be tough to split. The west end of the state they burn a lot of pine 2 different applications to get the same jobs done.

Bought a Troy-Built 27 ton from Loews 4 yrs ago 24” capacity. Do about 10 STANDARD cords per year. All hardwood. Move it anywhere with UTV. Very happy with it. $850 but that was on sale, veterans discount, no sales tax.

From my experience the 3 point ones are slow compared to the ones with there own pump and motor.ive had a speeco for close to 20 years 25 ton with a 10.5 briggs on it.its been a good machine it tilts up vertical to split bigger pieces.that being said they work OK in that position but it can be hard on your knees when splitting like that after getting pieces of wood laying on the ground i ended up putting a wheel chair lift on mine to pick bigger pieces up and really like it.have used the one on the front of a skid loader before too but I didn't want to spend the money for a skidloader.

The 3 point ones I have never cared for too slow. I bought a full beam troy built 27 ton last fall from menards for under 1100. I cut mostly red elm and red oak and its been great so far. My guess is a 25 to 27 ton would be fine for you.

Been using a 16# monster maul a LONG time, always made short work.of it

Then, had my sons do it. Made a contest/ race out of it, lol

Now, back to me.
I have to do a few rounds, walk away, do.a few rounds, walk away

Last year, told one to come over for supper, but come dirty and I needed a hand for a few minutes.

I have a Champion brand, 37 ton with a 338cc engine. Been very satisfied with it, splits the toughest elm, oak and cherry with ease.
I still split the easy stuff with a 6 lb. maul as I enjoy it. lol Put up 8 to 10 full cord a year.

Zim

I've always used a splitting maul or a wedge and sledge when needed, still do at 67.

I do borrow one on occasion and they sure are nice for the big, twisty, knotty stuff. They make short work of it.

The one I borrow is owned by my neighbor who is a landscaper. It's a Huskee 27-ton sold by Tractor Supply Co. It's got a 5.5hp Honda engine on it. He's had that splitter for 15-20 years and it's been used hard. Never had any issues with it. I've split some real goonies with it. It pulls the engine revs down some but when the two-stage pump kicks in it goes right through.

If I end up buying one it might be that brand.

The power of hydraulics may be the 9th wonder of the world. The amount of force a dinky little hydraulic motor not much bigger than a soup can generate is beyond bizarre.

In addition to what others have said, for heavy, high volume work it helps to have a platform large enough to keep the log and splits on same level so only lift it once. Controls in a handy place, with an auto return. Rarely seen but ultimate attachment is an adjacent conveyor to catch and elevate splits onto a pile or into a truck bed.

I had the smallest one Lowes had, 20 ton?, it split everything I put through it....knots and all, if you can read the wood even an electric model will split most stuff....what don't split burn it in a fire pit, lol

A couple things I find valuable in a wood splitter. We have decent wood here , oak , maple , hickory and ash. However it is heavier. Having a log lifting assist device , powered or unpowered is a big plus.

Cycle time is very important. Really speeds up your work time.

I'm not suggesting this is right for you, but it works well for me.
A total different type of splitter than most.

I have a electric kinetic splitter, Super Split.
I split 95% Sugar Maple, Hickory, Ironwood the rest occasionally Oak and Cherry.
I'm picky about my wood, don't burn any thing else. Red Maple, Ash stays in the woods.
I don't mess with Large stuff, 16" is getting to be it. Most about 8-12" I'd say.
Larger stuff I get sawn for lumber or it stays in the woods.
I split my stuff relatively small. So I'll hit a chunk more than most would.
I split my stuff right next to where its stored, no need to haul the splitter around so Electric is OK.
I have more than I can handle as is, no need to bust my butt with large heavy stuff.

Advantages for me, its fast, no splitter is faster.
Pull a handle and it splits and retracts in about 2 seconds.
No need to manually return the ram. I'd look for that in any splitter.
Its quiet, no gas, oil changes or any other issues that come with a gas engine.

Downside as far as I'm concerned.
Occasionally I have to hit a knotty piece twice and very rarely do I get something stuck.
Gotta get out the extension cord to use it.

I have used large hydraulic splitters. After using this they all seem very slow and very noisy.
I don't care if you have a log lift or not, you still have to muscle it around on the splitter and get it to the splitter.
Either that or your hopping around with a tractor/skid steer or whatever else to move stuff around.

Tractor powered speed depends a lot on the tractor, for pine you need some decent power if it’s not cold the stringy stuff splits tuff, you don’t get a good pop with it.

Yep, It all depends on the size and pressure of your hydraulic system. That's what will determine how fast the ram moves.

A buddy has a skid steer that runs his splitter ram fast. That same splitter on a smaller tractor is slow.

Find a splitter that will work laying flat or standing up, you can split some big rounds if you can get them to the wedge, with a few iron bars you can move some of the bigger rounds that way the wedge area. If you can’t split the round across start taking chunks off the edges then.

Like others mentioned a 3 point tractor model is slower, but if you have a tractor already and not in a big hurry they are worth a look. That’s what I have but I am retired, no place to go and all day to get there. It’s homemade and way over built but I got it in a barter deal.

Check out the brand Split-Fire.

I had a splitter from Northern Hydraulics for near 30 years. The hydraulic cylinder needed rebuilt, it cost me more then the splitter did new years ago. Gave it to my boy.

I bought a new Champion 37 at Home Depot ton a few years ago. Been working great so far. Had to replace the pull starter assembly just recently though. Plenty of power I split various hard woods, cherry, oak, elm and ash.

They all work good until something breaks.