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Log Splitter Recommendations

Posted By: DakotaBoy

Log Splitter Recommendations - 07/22/21 03:57 PM

I've been looking at hydraulic, gas-engine-powered log splitters. Looking at the TSC branded County Line 25-ton and the Harbor Freight 20-ton units. Does anyone have either of these units? LIkes, dislikes? Pros, cons?
Posted By: Kre

Re: Log Splitter Recommendations - 07/22/21 04:06 PM

FWIW...

My buddy and I went in on a Dirty Hand Tools 27 ton splitter 10 years ago. Kohler engine.

It's been great and between us, we've split a lot of wood with it.
Posted By: swift4me

Re: Log Splitter Recommendations - 07/22/21 04:10 PM

My splitting has almost always been by hand unless I had a bunch to do and a buddy showed up with a tractor and a pto driven splitter.

My friend inAlberta bought a DR splitter after owning a splitter like you asked about for years, and I used the DR with him several times. It was much faster.

I found this video... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG7Ytb3M-B4

And you can see for yourself. My buddy was splitting mostly spruce and birch, but in the video they are splitting hardwood.

Pete
Posted By: Hanger

Re: Log Splitter Recommendations - 07/22/21 04:18 PM

Tractor supply works great for us. Dad bought a 20ton (electric I think) and it just dimpled the log. He returned it and we just use the tractor supply one. My buddy has the same and uses it every weekend almost, he cuts about 2 pallets worth 5’ high. Been doing that for 2 years now.
Posted By: Law Dog

Re: Log Splitter Recommendations - 07/22/21 04:23 PM

Consider the types and size of the wood your working with you get into the tough to split woods you will have a lot of big rounds laying around if you cannot get through them. I had 30-35 ton one made by the Hoots even with that I need to hold down the lever on the huge stuff.

Elm and Russian olives are the worst I have to deal with in my area.

Not pretty but no rounds laying around in the way.

Rear axle and tires off of a FWD car, ram from Northern Hydraulic, Prince auto valve and the rest of the parts from Surplus Center in Lincoln NE. The hoots made up the hoses, hydraulic tank and made the beam with the bottom plate.
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The beam will pivot and stands up also easier to use that way you could never lift a huge round as some need poker bars to get them up on the plate. I set mine up for 30 inch pieces of wood gap for the boiler but the ram only came in 24 inch but it gets the job done.
Posted By: Alex the dog

Re: Log Splitter Recommendations - 07/22/21 04:31 PM

For days where I have a small amount to split, I typically use a Fiskar's 36" splitting maul. On the day's where there is a pile of chunks to go thru and I have another person present (usually someone who hunted on the property the past season) we use a County Line 25T splitter I bought 4 years ago to replace a tractor 3pt splitter and sure glad I did!. I have not found a piece that it didn't go thru with the two stage pump / Kohler engine combination. Annually I split 15+ cord for three households. The tree species I split is primarily green ash with beech, elm, birch and hard maple mixed in. Chunks are 20" long and I have not added a cross cut wedge to it 'cause like as large of piece as possible that my wife can still handle grin

Dave
Posted By: Gary Benson

Re: Log Splitter Recommendations - 07/22/21 04:36 PM

I built my own and ended up spending more than a new one would have cost!
With that being said, I'd recommend at least 22 ton to split the tough ones. The local farm supply store might give you better service than HF if you have problems with it down the road.
Posted By: Scuba1

Re: Log Splitter Recommendations - 07/22/21 04:42 PM

I have a 27 ton splitter from back diamonds ( rural king ) and have not found a piece of wood yet it won't split. Oak and hickory burls included, fresh or dry. That thing will split it. It has a briggs and Straton engine on it that works fine. I drain the carb when I plan on not using it for a while.
Posted By: GREENCOUNTYPETE

Re: Log Splitter Recommendations - 07/22/21 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by Kre
FWIW...

My buddy and I went in on a Dirty Hand Tools 27 ton splitter 10 years ago. Kohler engine.

It's been great and between us, we've split a lot of wood with it.


I bought my 27 ton Dirty Hand Tools in 2014 , and have split a lot of wood with it , very happy

if you run below 5 degrees you need lighter oil
it explains the temp ranges in the manual , it starts hard below 5 if you don't run the lighter oil

it wasn't worth switching back and forth so I just try and only split above 5 degrees

the horizontal / vertical feature is handy for breaking up the big ones , although I noodle most of the big stuff up with the saw now rather than wrestle with them
Posted By: WBG

Re: Log Splitter Recommendations - 07/22/21 05:23 PM

Super split.
Posted By: 080808

Re: Log Splitter Recommendations - 07/22/21 08:03 PM

About 7 years ago Lowe’s had a 27 ton, Honda motor on sale for $1299. I got the 10% veterans discount, no sales tax (farm). Due about 60 cord per year (face cord) and very pleased. Nice thing it pivots to vertical on big blocks if necessary. btw Troy Bult. All hardwood. Only wished the ram returned faster when there is two of us. Good luck.
Posted By: charles

Re: Log Splitter Recommendations - 07/22/21 08:55 PM

Avoid sweet gum.
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