Log splitters in the $1500 - $2000 range

[CliffordPaul]

I'm in the market but they all look kind of the same. Have a Black Diamond in mind, but County Line, Challenger and others are available locally. I have friends that will only buy Honda-powered, but these other small engine brands seem to be everywhere. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Cliff

 

[DanielW]

In my opinion, the engine make doesn't matter too much anymore. Honda would still be my preference, but most of them are no longer made in Japan and not quite to the same quality standards they used to be (thought still very good). And there aren't really any secrets in small engine design any more - all the other no-name brands are building theirs just about as good, using the same design principles.

For me, the type of splitter would be more important than engine make. I'd never go back to a single-acting log splitter after having one of the two-way ones from 'Splitfire'. Definitely worth the little extra money in my opinion. Once you get good at using the stroke both ways and having one hand prep the next block while it splits the other, you save a heck of a lot of time. A couple of other companies now make two-way logsplitters, but Splitfire was the first, and in my opinion still probably the best. Simple, built nice and heavy where they need to be, using a quality pump and valve, tried & proven.

 

[brentb]

I have a homemade splitter with a Honda motor that is about a 30 ton unit. I split with a guy that has a 22 ton county line splitter with a Briggs and Stratton motor. For the most part he can split almost anything I can split and his will tilt up so that he doesn’t have to pick the big pieces of wood up which would be handy to have if you don’t have a way of picking the wood up Just something to think about

 

[Nordic]

I'm in the market but they all look kind of the same. Have a Black Diamond in mind, but County Line, Challenger and others are available locally. I have friends that will only buy Honda-powered, but these other small engine brands seem to be everywhere. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Cliff

This may not be a concern for you but I was helping a friend splitting wood with the type and style you are referring to and the exhaust made me feel really sick. Somehow the smoke doesn't get away effectively, I was so glad when it was over. I can run gas chainsaws by the hour and mowers etc. without issues. I have used an electric splitter that will effectively do up to 16" diameter, it's only rated as 4 ton, surprisingly enough. If you work with very knotty and nasty wood I would justify the need for 25+ ton splitters. I now have a 3 pt.hitch splitter with a conveyer belt run off the tractor. In my opinion it doesn't get any better than that.

 

[FarrviewSouth]

I have burned wood for over forty years and I admit I hate change. I have used and built log splitters so I know the various advantages of several designs. Was finally talked into trying a supersplitter! All I can say is it is tremendously faster than a hydraulic splitter, just as safe. I have now split over thirty cords with it and will never go back to a hydraulic splitter. In my opinion this is a case of a better product that just has not had the marketing program to take over the field

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

I'm in the market but they all look kind of the same. Have a Black Diamond in mind, but County Line, Challenger and others are available locally. I have friends that will only buy Honda-powered, but these other small engine brands seem to be everywhere. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Cliff

Honestly, my suggestion is pick one. Honda is not all that, and the clone engines are generally pretty good.

 

[Keith True]

I have burned wood for over forty years and I admit I hate change. I have used and built log splitters so I know the various advantages of several designs. Was finally talked into trying a supersplitter! All I can say is it is tremendously faster than a hydraulic splitter, just as safe. I have now split over thirty cords with it and will never go back to a hydraulic splitter. In my opinion this is a case of a better product that just has not had the marketing program to take over the field

You cannot convince somebody to try a Supersplitter by the written word.They HAVE to be experienced.The biggest obstacle is the,betcha can't split this,or I'd like to see you split this with one of those toys gang.They look like tinkertoys.I have been using them since 1979.There is always going to be some wood that they won't like.It is just a small amount though.There aren't really any dealers for them.You buy them from Paul,the builder.There are places that sell them,but they buy them just like you or I would,and resell them.I have let quite a few people try mine over the years,they are expensive,and nobody wants to shell out that kind of money for something so strange to them.I always told the whiners,you don't know what you are talking about until you have split 30 or 50 cord with one. I have a 6 way LaFont hydraulic that I loaned to a friend in 1996.It is still in his shed,if I want it I can just go get it.

 

[FarrviewSouth]

Keith
That is my experience exactly. I was sure it was not that much faster or could split difficult wood. Now I also have a close to new hydraulic splitter is the barn that I have t started in five years and most of my friends won’t believe the SuperS
pitter is that good. And their customer support is also good

 

[Keith True]

There is a learning curve to using them.You have to read your wood,and keep the top of the beam clean.That little bearing on the pusher can get stuck,and if it don't roll,it just wears a flat spot in it.Splitting force is NOT measured in tonnage like a hydraulic splitter.These act like a splitting maul,or an axe.The pusher hits,and drives the wood through the wedge,and the kinetic energy in those two 70 lb flywheels carries it through.I was with a firewood seller at a fair in the late 70's and we watched one of those at work.They let him try it,and after a half hour my friend shelled out $2200.for one.I did the same thing a year later.No amount of description will sell these things.They have to be hands-on used to see how they work.Tractor supply sold a knock off a few years age,but they were recalled,poor quality rack and pinions.They would bend.They were called a Speeco.DR products makes a good version of it now,I like the control better than the original.They are not cheap though,I sold mine for $2000.when it hit 25 years old.

 

[Nordic]

If someone has a picture of a Super splitter please post it on here so the rest of us can see one, thanks.

 

[Dusty MI]

Anyone ever see/use a wood splitter that was a large cone with threads that you fastened to a wheel on a vehicle and jacked that wheel the ground, then blocked the other wheels, then ran the engine so the threaded cone turned slow.

Dusty

 

[shaun wallace]

Anyone ever see/use a wood splitter that was a large cone with threads that you fastened to a wheel on a vehicle and jacked that wheel the ground, then blocked the other wheels, then ran the engine so the threaded cone turned slow.

Dusty

40 or so years ago there was a company Lely had that setup and have seen one that was badged Kubota or had their sticker on frame. Fastened to lift arms and ran by pto.

 

[Keith True]

I have one of those cones around.I never used it myself.You jammed a piece of wood onto it sideways while it was spinning,and when the end of the wood hit the ground it would stop spinning so the threaded cone would screw through it,opening up the wood.Oak or ash would pop open pretty good,but stringy stuff like elm would just kind of shred and stay all connected together.I saw the rear of a Scout lifted off the ground many times from somebody using that thing.They made a free standing version with it's own engine,and a lot of them were sold around here.Those had a tendency to grab your arm and pull it in.

 

[Farmall m farmer]

Country line 37 ton is what I have it will split anything I can bring up from the woods and the kohler will start up first pull every pull it has held up really good over the past few years we have had it

 

[Charles in Aus.]

Anyone ever see/use a wood splitter that was a large cone with threads that you fastened to a wheel on a vehicle and jacked that wheel the ground, then blocked the other wheels, then ran the engine so the threaded cone turned slow.

Dusty

Some versions were called a ' Stickler ' , there were also ones that ran off a tractor pto .

 

[g ostby]

If someone has a picture of a Super splitter please post it on here so the rest of us can see one, thanks.

Just Googled the Super Splitter. That's the one for me. Never heard of them before. Gary

 

[DanielW]

The kinetic splitters like the super splitter are fast and superb for most woods. The one thing you have to consider is how much stringy/dry wood you plan to be splitting. Around here people split and burn a huge pile of elm, as so much of it has died off due to Dutch elm disease. But elm (especially if it's been standing dead and is now dry) is very stringy, hard-to-split stuff. The kinetic splitters just don't work for it. But for 80 to 90% of woods they work incredibly - especially if you split it shortly after bucking while it's still wet.