Best splitter for the money

[sapman]

Looking around at wood splitters lately. Would like a used American or similar, as I know they're good quality, but even those run pretty pricey. Have used an older TSC special for years (Huskee). Not impressed, but still going. Really slow, though.

Wife wants to settle for a cheap ($1500~) new one if nothing else. Anybody have luck with these? I really like the Hud-Son brand, which is fairly locally made to me. And of course a two-stage pump is nice.

Thanks,
Tim

[BlueberryHill]

I have a husky from TSC. Had it for a while. Agree that it is slow. Never had a problem with it though, its been real good to me. I ended up splurging on a Super Split and it was a great decision. I still have the Husky for real big stuff where I want to use the vertical option. But anything that I can lift up on the table of the super split gets chewed up nice and fast. Big old knotty stuff is no problem either. Watch some you tube videos if you have never seen one in action. Super fast and super reliable.

[CampHamp]

I've heard nothing but happiness from SuperSplit owners.

If you like the super split, you might also look at the DR Power splitters. They're US-made and copied the super split fly-wheel idea. I went with them because they can be towed around (my wood stacks are in a few different places and sometimes I like to split in the woods and haul split wood instead of rounds). They have a 2 year warranty and I opted for the 5 year option (extra charge).

I like it a lot. These style splitters are faster than standard hydro units, they are only limited by the speed you can move at!

[Russell Lampron]

I have an older American 4' splitter and like it. It is a little slow on the big stuff but can split some pretty big stuff with ease. I have had problems with the Koehler engine but none with the splitter itself. The gas tank which is made of plastic and glued together at a seam in the middle split apart and the recoil starter blew apart. Both problems are expensive to repair. To bypass the fuel tank problem I put a 5 gallon gas can next to the splitter and run a hose into it. It has electric start so the recoil starter isn't really needed as long as I have my jumper cables with me.

[ScottyWelden]

Brother and I shopped around carefully and settled on a Dirty Hands 28 ton from ...uh..woodsplittersdirect.com? No tax, no delivery--but you must assemble it yourself. It's excellent--10-second cycle time, fairly quiet, good reputation. Around $1650. I would've been very happy with the 27-ton, which is just a tad less "beefy," --more home-owner built. That one goes for around $1250.

[sapman]

Thanks for the input guys! I've seen the Supersplit videos. I figured they hang up on big or knotty elm and locust though. What do they go for? The dirty hands sounds economical with a decent cycle time.

[n8hutch]

Might want to consider the DR copy of the supper split, appears to be in your price range. I have been looking at them, they are on sale, also says something about 0% interest financing for 36 months. I don't know about you but I love using other people's money, as long as it doesn't cost me more.

[SeanD]

Thanks for this thread.

I've liked the idea of the Super Split for a while and the DR is very tempting with a competitive price and the free shipping to boot.

My hesitation is with the horizontal work. I like to split vertically because some of the monsters I roll into place would be a bear to lift up especially if I have a lot of them. So, I'd be trading effort for speed. Maybe not a terrible thing, but something I have to think about. On the other hand it is a PITA waiting for the hydraulic splitter to cycle when I have really small pieces that just need the one split.

If people who use it can up-sell me on lifting the big logs up, I'd be very tempted to go for one of the DR versions that have a price that competes with hydraulic splitters. It is funny to see their promo photos that show a tiny woman splitting a huge log. She couldn't be 100 lbs. soaking wet. Who put that on the table for her?

Sean

[n8hutch]

If you have a hydrolic tilt splitter already you could hold onto it to split the big ones, that's my plan. What's a used splitter really going to bring for cash anyway.

[Big_Eddy]

I have 4 splitters. I've had the oldest one for 24 years now, the newest is from 2000. In my opinion, splitter selection is a tradeoff between speed and power. Depending on the wood we're splitting, my newest splitter is much faster than the old one, but doesn't have enough oomph to power through the toughest logs. Once you get them going though, the two older ones will split just about anything you put in front of them.

I also have a hydraulic splitter I built for my tractor. It gets used for those times when Dad's on his own, and there are knotty pieces to split. Seems like the boys disappear more often on splitting days than they used to.

[maple flats]

I only have 1 splitter, the super split. I had my old hydraulic one for about 3 years after I got the super split and it never got used. Then another producer made an offer I couldn't refuse, and we loaded it into his truck.
While I have never needed it, I do have a tractor/loader and an excavator to lift a block, but so far either me or my grandson lift them most of the time. I think I did use the loader once or twice but that's it. By the way, I'm not a big man except my appetite. On some of the biggest blocks I lift them to another block next to the splitter, then tip it & roll onto the splitter table. My biggest seem to generally be up to about 24" diameter and I cut my sugar wood at 21" long.
On my old hydraulic one it had a tilt feature but I only used that once and decided I like horizontal much better. I have been known to roll or slide a block up a plank with the old splitter, but haven't needed to on the Super Split yet.

[sapman]

I've heard nothing but happiness from SuperSplit owners.

If you like the super split, you might also look at the DR Power splitters. They're US-made and copied the super split fly-wheel idea. I went with them because they can be towed around (my wood stacks are in a few different places and sometimes I like to split in the woods and haul split wood instead of rounds). They have a 2 year warranty and I opted for the 5 year option (extra charge).

I like it a lot. These style splitters are faster than standard hydro units, they are only limited by the speed you can move at!

Jamie, which model DR did you get? How long have you had it? Have you encountered much it won't split?

Thanks

[sapman]

I only have 1 splitter, the super split. I had my old hydraulic one for about 3 years after I got the super split and it never got used. Then another producer made an offer I couldn't refuse, and we loaded it into his truck.
While I have never needed it, I do have a tractor/loader and an excavator to lift a block, but so far either me or my grandson lift them most of the time. I think I did use the loader once or twice but that's it. By the way, I'm not a big man except my appetite. On some of the biggest blocks I lift them to another block next to the splitter, then tip it & roll onto the splitter table. My biggest seem to generally be up to about 24" diameter and I cut my sugar wood at 21" long.
On my old hydraulic one it had a tilt feature but I only used that once and decided I like horizontal much better. I have been known to roll or slide a block up a plank with the old splitter, but haven't needed to on the Super Split yet.

Dave, same questions to you. Which model did you get? Encountered much it won't split?

Thanks,
Tim

[David in MI]

I bought a Super Split just before the 2014 maple season. I ordered the basic model but also purchased the extra mounting plate for an electric motor as I may go that route eventually as it would be nice to split wood without earpro. So at this point I've probably only split about 4 cords with it, mostly red & white oak and black cherry although there has also been a bit of ash mixed in. The splitter has gone through everything I've thrown at it, which isn't much at this point, but it's just such a beautiful piece of equipment to use. It's exceedingly fast and only sips the gasoline.

I hate moving firewood around and once the wood is split it immediately gets stacked onto pallets. I cut to 16", stack to 4' high and can split and stack a pallet in about 45 minutes (helpers are stacking). I think with some practice we can get this down further. This is pretty impressive as we split to wrist size. I spent a fair amount more than the TSC brand, a hair more than a Split-Fire which was also under consideration but I'm also not thinking about how much sooner I could be done with my splitting and onto the next project the whole time I'm splitting. Like they say, "buy once, cry once."

Split-fire makes a really nice splitter too. Splits in both directions and has a 3pt model if you have a tractor.

http://www.split-fire.com/

[BAP]

Here is a couple of splitters made in New York and Vermont. I don't have one myself as I have an old Diddier, but I have good things about them.
http://www.americancls.com/
http://www.timberwolfcorp.com/timberwolf-firewood-splitters.html

[maple flats]

I got the model J with balloon tires, production table and the 5.5 hp Honda. I just looked up the ivoice, here I was remembering a smaller engine, but the invoice says otherwise. At any rate, it is FAST.
I have never found a block it would not split if the ends were cut square more or less. If I have a piece with a long angled cut on one end, it will kick the block out unless I keep the angle lined to split it by contacting the point first.
On square cut blocks I have never had it fail to split, but on the tougher pieces I sometimes need to push the activator lever down to retract the ram and then lift again. On truly tough blocks might need to do that 4-6 times, but even then the total time won't add up to more than a typical cycle on a hydraulic unit.
The initial impact when I activate the ram is about 55,000#, retract it and repeat, 55,000# again.
While this is rare it does happen, most whole blocks split on the 1st or 2nd hit, and then splitting off the half block the need to re-hit is almost non existent.

[sapman]

Thanks for all the info, Dave! Yeah the 5.5 Honda and the 6 Robbin are the smallest engines they offer. I was feeling like I might really need the HD, but you and many other reviews have convinced me it's probably not necessary. Now to convince my wife we need this machine instead a less expensive hydro unit!

[CampHamp]

Jamie, which model DR did you get? How long have you had it? Have you encountered much it won't split?

Thanks

I got the first model that came out 4 years ago, which is comparable to the largest one out now. The motor is up much higher on mine and the tow arm looks better now, too. I split about 3 cord of hemlock/spruce for the evaporator and 6-8 cord of hardwood for heat. It will go through anything but needs a few hits on harder stuff (it's more akin to an axe than a wedge, so it slices through knots).

The DR marketing is so cheesy that it is a turn-off, but the machine works great and they've been real good with a couple of support calls. I often run the motor slow, so the smaller unit might be fine for most people, but the 18" log limit on that wouldn't work for me. Either way, you'll want the table and may as well get the 5-yr warranty (I paid $100 for the extra 3 years on a sale deal).

[SeanD]

I just noticed with the DR is that it takes two hands to engage the ram. There's a safety that needs to be engaged. But I've seen other videos where the the DR is used with one hand. Is the two-handed operation the new version? It looks like the Super Split can be used one-handed.

Sean

[CampHamp]

I just noticed with the DR is that it takes two hands to engage the ram. There's a safety that needs to be engaged. But I've seen other videos where the the DR is used with one hand. Is the two-handed operation the new version? It looks like the Super Split can be used one-handed.

Sean

Bummer. That's a new "feature".

[Jebediah]

I would bet there's a way to bypass the two-hand requirement. Yours truly, Captain Safety

[upsmapleman]

I have a Timber wolf TW-5 and some features you will not find on a super split is it will pick up a 500 lb block of wood and put it on the rail. I have a four way wedge that make 4 pieces at a time if that is not fast enough you could have a 6 way and triple the amount of blocks per split. The auto cycle eliminates the need for a second person as you start the split you can be getting another block to put on. If you can keep a block on the rail every 10 sec. making 4 or 6 blocks to a split you are good. I would love to see a super split work with some of the wood I throw at. I looked at a add and thought they only had a 6" wedge which seems short for a piece of stringy wood such as Hickory. I windrow my wood. Split to the pile gets to big pull it ahead a few feet and repeat to the pile is gone. The price is way above the average home owner who only splits maybe 20 or 30 cord a year. They are made to split that much a day. When choosing a splitter it boils down to kind of wood you will split. Pole wood verses whatever you find in the woods, how fast you want to split it, how much you want to spend.

[Mel]

No easy answer to this one.

The Huskees are pretty good value for the $, as are the Ariens splitters, and DHT. But it would depend how long your wood is - they won't do anything much more than 2'. Then you'd have to factor in how big the stuff is you're wanting to split, and other tools you have available - going vertical to split the big stuff is important to some, not so much to others. Then other factors - I like to sometimes pull the splitter right in beside the tree where it lays with an ATV (say for windfalls in the sugar bush), and be able to work on either side of it. Some are better than others for that. The DHT also seems to be a good machine, but I don't think the controls are set up the best for working either side. And the motor is a bit exposed to falling splits - which might also be a factor for others that put the motor at or behind the wheels.

I have a Surge Master (re-badged Wallenstein) 22T H/V that I really like for shorter stuff, I can park it almost anywhere with an ATV and work both sides. Honda motor, works great. The longer stuff, we use an old one that started out as a 3PT. hitch splitter, but got wheels, tank, and a Honda powered power pack added to it - it works good too, but doesn't get moved around a whole lot, as it's kinda heavy. 4 & 6 way wedges can be good too, but if you work a lot of hard to work wood can also be a hassle if it doesn't split right the first time. And they can make a lot of splitter debris with stringy, knotty or twisty stuff.

[David in MI]

I would think that the person who has the equipment to get a 500 lb block to the splitter likely has the equipment necessary to raise it up to the work table on the splitter as well. When I'm splitting larger rounds I just load them into the front end loader on my tractor and pull right up to the work table so that the bottom of the bucket is even with, or slightly higher than, the table. That way I can just roll them out and onto the table. I think my back with thank me one day. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK9PRWNCi0I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNHIXuqHJUM

[BlueberryHill]

I would love to see a super split work with some of the wood I throw at.
I have nothing bad to say about a TW-5. But I gotta stick up for Super Split on this comment. I split a lot of hickory for firewood with my Super Split and it is no problem at all. The TW-5 and the Super Split are very different from each other, so it's a matter of preference I think. But as far as I can tell, both are fast, great to work with, reliable, and have good resale value too. If anyone in my area wants to try it out, you are very welcome to come on over and split as much (of my wood for me, haha) as you want.

[PerryW]

I always split everything by hand for 30 years, but bought the 22 ton Husky from TSC for $1000 three years ago. Yes it's slow, but I have split almost 200 cord of hardwood (firewood sales) and 20 cord of softwood since then and so far there's nothing it won't split. I leave the pin out so it takes only 3 seconds to change between vertical & horizontal modes.

[sapman]

I windrow my wood. Split to the pile gets to big pull it ahead a few feet and repeat to the pile is gone. The price is way above the average home owner who only splits maybe 20 or 30 cord a year. They are made to split that much a day.

I pile my wood the same way. And yes, TW-5 is a LOT more than I'm prepared to spend. I know they're great machines. Wish I had a woodlot to make a firewood business out of.

I appreciate all the input on this topic! Think I'm leaning toward the SS, though wife still wants to spend less. For what they cost, I can't see a faster way to split firewood. Assuming they will go through the hard stuff with a few hits, like they say.