Log splitters

[Turtle]

I have finally concieded that used log splitters are impossible to get so I am going to buy new. The question I have, is the tonage. I will be using it for old oak. How much force does it take? I was looking at a 22 ton. Speed is not of the essence and I won"t be doing a forest, just home owners type work. Will that handle it or do I need to look larger? Thanks for the help.

 

[Paul in WI]

I bought a Northern Tools 30 ton unit a year ago.
The 30 ton is not much more than a 22 ton.

I was also able to add a 4 way spliter option to it, a real work saver.
I have only been able to stop the spliter twice with a oak log that had knots in it. Also the unit will not let you get a stuck log on it due to the design of the unit.

 

[Bud in FLA]

BTDT - I went through the same thing a month or so ago. I found out I didn't have the parts to build one and I also found ou that I could buy one cheaper than I buy parts and build one.
I looked at a 22t and a 28t but when SWMBO suggested the 35t at TSC I went for it...and there's been times the extra tonnage has paid off in old & new oak! The strok time is 16 seconds - plenty fast when fingers and thumbs are that close to the wedge. I'll never use a horizontal splitter again, either if I can help it - much easier to "bottle roll" a log in place than to pick it up and set it!
The 35t at TSC was about $1850 and it's already paid for itself when you look at the cost of split wood.

Lowe's sells a 22t Troybilt that looks kinda light weight. Tractor Supply has a Huskee 22t, 28t & 35t that are built heavier for comprable prices. Troybilt uses a 5.5hp Honda GC motor, TSC/Huskee uses a light commercial B&S motor
Note - The Huskee 35t has a B&S 15.5 engine - that's a 15.5 engine (that's 15.5 ft lbs of torque, 342cc / 20.85 cubic in) and that equates to approx 11hp according to them. No point in making it simple to see what size an engine is, huh? Cu In still make a LOT more sense to me than Ltrs, too!
The only 15.5 moter specs I could find

 

[TimV]

Turtle: If I were you, I'd worry less about tonnage than I would about features. Tonnage is simply a function of system pressure and cylinder size, and like most things (horsepower, compressor CFM, etc.) is usually rated optimistically, to say the least. I'd be far more concerned with the quality of the components, features and layout of the machine, ease of portability and setup, size of things like the main beam, wedge and cylinder, quality of the welds, etc. etc. than I would be about the tonnage, as about the only thing that's good for is comparing two machines in the same manufacturer's line. We've ran a no-name horizontal/vertical unit for 20 years (pretty much exclusively in vertical mode) that has an 8-hp Briggs and is rated for 20 tons in all sorts of hardwoods (though not oak--not much of that around here, but some mighty twisty elm!) and it does just fine.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Features may be more important than HP/Tonnage. I'd get one with the type of "rail" that cradles the uncut log--Stationary stop, and splitting wedge mounted on the cylinder ram. This way, all you have to do is rotate the unsplit portion for the next stroke of the splitting wedge. If wedge and stop are arranged the other way, you'd always be picking up the unsplit portion from the ground.
I have a TSC unit, 33T,8 hp Tecumseh Ind/Com engine that I've used several years, supplying two households with primary wood heat. Have had only normal maintenance repair.

 

[Sean Feeney]

My brother bought the Harbor Freight one last year I think about $900 He has done about 10 cord, nothing broke yet, it's much faster than mine and you can stand it up. I think if you use a good oil and change often, keep it covered and never ever let my brother-in-law use it, it should last

 

[JDemaris]

If you tend to get very big wood, especially stump wood from hard maple or red oak, you'll get some pieces that will not split. 22 ton is not enough. I suspect you're talking a 4" bore cylinder? If you want to be able to split anything, you need a 4.5" or 5" cylinder - probably rated 30 - 35 ton. I've got both, and the difference is night-and-day.

But- I get some really big wood, and even in my case, maybe 1% or 2% won't split with a 22 ton splitter.

If your wood is always 20" diameter or smaller, the 22 ton unit will do all you need.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I've never found wood I can't split with my spitter, but sometimes you have to shoot for closer to the edge. That's like downshifting, never fails.

 

[guido]

Hello Bud
Here is a formula to find H.P.
H.P.= Torque x RPM / 5252
In your case 15.5 x 3600 rpm's/ 5252 = 10.6 H.P.
15. 5 looks stronger the 10.5 H. P.
Bigger numbers same engine.
Tq = Hp x 5252 / RPM'S.
In your case 10.6 H.P. x 5252 / 3600 rpm's = 15.464 Lb. Ft.
RPM'S =HP x 5252 / TQ.
In your case:
10.6 H.P. x 5252 / Tq = 3591 RPM's.

Guido.

 

[El Toro]

Here's one I built in 1982. It has a 10hp Tecumseh engine off an old Sears tractor. I only used it on hard wood. It had a 2-stage pump and control valve from Northern Hydraulics. I only used a 4-inch I-beam and it was slightly bent. The pro models you buy probably have a tempered beam. I copied this one off the splitter I rented. Hal

 

[Tim B from MA]

I second and third 1950ish's point about having the wedge on the piston and the stop at the end of the splitter beam.

Other considerations:

People focus too much on splitting the big stuff (how to get it on the splitter, whether the splitter is powerful enough). The key to a good splitter is setting it up so you can split repeately with the least amount of body movement.

Just find a well made, horizontal splitter with a two stage pump. I have a 5 hp two stage horizontal splitter - it has been very rare when it does not have the power to split even the ugliest knotty logs.

Personally, I would never own a vertical splitter. Bending over everytime you need to set or adjust a log is no good, and they are not set up to use comfortably when in vertical posistion. Without exception, when they are horizontal they are all too tall, and you are practically standing on one of the wheels.

 

[CJ3b_jeep]

buddy of mine has a large one, 11 hp for sale in northeast ohio, just tuned up and runs great for $500. It's a beast. He bought a smaller one.

 

[jimmy/gambrills , md]

im looking for a splitter also . $500 is a good price , wish i could find one around here for that..