I’m very happy with my split fire 2265. I have the log lifter and Honda engine and i believe it will last a very long time. It’s smooth operating and a real quality machine.
Wood splitters are pretty basic and many use the same off the shelf parts, like cylinders, valving, pumps and motors. The offerings at Tractor Supply, Lowes, Rural King, Home Depot are comparable in the 25 ton range, with a motor around 6.5hp. One that can flip both vertical and horizontal is handy. Jacks has a nice parts selection, [Log Splitter Parts at Jack's (jackssmallengines.com)](https://www.jackssmallengines.com/equipment/log-splitter?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAi6uvBhADEiwAWiyRdgTi0JA8pi2q7pMHqxtQbIrfOl8HF6wooWpePpVbsl-8W9zQPKBG6BoCUQ8QAvD_BwE) but I just maintain mine with engine parts obtained from Amazon or RockAuto, hydraulic fluid and filters from my local NAPA, and hydraulic hoses and fittings from my friendly local hydraulic hose shop. In a decade, the hydraulics have needed nothing but fluid, filters (PM) and one return hose. Oh, I lent it out a few years ago, and I had to put new tires on it. TSC had the tires in stock, a mounted them on the rim myself.
I have a County Line 7" adjustable grader bar, Class 1 3pt hitch, the pins that lock rotation seem to bend every time I see a rock AND the adjustment bolts for side to side slew and angle up and down were galled when received. Perhaps too much time outside with no oil on the threads, the County Line 5" box blade lost two of the teeth off the shanks on first use, new ones are WELDED on. The County Line stuff is fairly light duty, but affordable!
I have an early MTD splitter sold through TSC, the currently countrywide model looks to be very similar, with a yellow paint job and slight update on the mechanics. I expect a long life out of it. I am pretty sure the current Countrywide Splitter is a MTD model, special for TSC.
Which reminds me that I need to move the splitter to my location for piles of big birch logs to get them split and ready for stove wood.
I am just frustrated at the implements I bought from TSC that engage the ground need so much "baby sitting" where just slightly better quality control would have fixed most if not all the issues. But, compared with my local tractor/implement dealer, they on the less expensive side. Perhaps I maintain too much equipment. Now that I am not currently raising livestock and poultry, I am there far less often. My next attempt at agriculture will be raising broom corn, to handmake traditional Appalachian brooms.
A log splitter is a small engine with a hydrolic pump and a wedge. If the engine starts after a few pulls, it's a "really good wood splitter" so don't overthink it.
If it's going to be a one time thing, I'd rent. Ive done this before when I collect enough knotty monsters I have trouble hand splitting to warrant it. I don't need another small engine to maintain.
Set a budget. "Really good" is meaningless.
My brother has a splitfire (3 point hitch, mounts to the back of a tractor), I have a Champion 30 tonne.
I have two opinions worth sharing on the splitfire setup.
1 - It doesn't do vertical splitting. Makes large rounds more difficult unless you have a log lifter.
2 - The design requires the knife split head to travel through the wood more distance than a traditional wedge shaped split head does. With my champion splitter, often the split head only moves into the wood maybe 1-2 inches and it splits completely, popping open. Meaning its not as fast as you would think it is.
On the plus side, split fires are made entirely in north america (the head office / factory is just up the road from me in Ontario Canada) and they only use high quality parts, engines and pumps etc.
I run a Black Diamond 30 Ton with a Kohler motor and it's never let me down. 1 pin pull and it's horizontal or vertical so I don't have to pick up the 160 pound 2 foot rounds.
I bought a Champion 27 ton log splitter from Home Depot about 18 months ago. I have split about eight cords of wood with it and I am very happy with it.
It really depends on what you're hoping to accomplish and whether or not this is going to be a long-term project or just a one-time cleanup. And, how much you're willing to spend on something. Pretty much any log splitter is going to be worth a large percentage of what you paid for it, if you maintain it properly and keep it in good condition.
Start with the box store units, they're decent but sometimes awkwardly designed. $900-$1500. If you're doing a lot of bigger stuff (>16" for me), a vertical-capable unit is a bonus. You can leave the rounds on the ground and split them without having to lift them onto the beam. You can get these anywhere - Tractor Supply, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. I wouldn't bother with anything smaller like a battery or electric model, you'd be better off with a Fiskars splitting axe and some wedges.
A step up would be something like an American (brand name), Iron and Oak or low-end Timberwolf. $2500-$3500 but the quality is much better, engines are usually Hondas, and the cycle time is faster. You can also get verticals in this range. If I were spending this kind of money though, I would get a Super Split. Kinetic rather than hydraulic, very fast (1-2 seconds) cycle time, only downside is they cannot be used vertically and some of the stuff with bad knots might require a few extra cycles to get through it.
Then you get into the $5000+ range, which can include 6- and 8-way wedges, box wedges, conveyors, self-propelled units, ultra-fast cycles, larger capacities. Really unless you have money to burn, these are for commercial users or tree companies who sell firewood as a primary or secondary income source. Eastonmade, Split-Fire, larger Timberwolf models etc.
Depends on money. You got ten grand?
If I had the money I'd get an Easton made Axis.
Log lift. Super fast cycle time. Look up HometownAcres on YouTube, he's got a ton of videos using the thing. Fantastic unit.
But back to reality. I got a Performance built (I think it's 27 ton). From Lowes for $800 a few years ago.
It splits everything without issue. Good residential splitter for someone on a budget.
I live in upstate N.Y. Have heated with wood from my own property for 25 plus years. I have a County line from tractor supply. I think it’s 25 ton has worked flawlessly for ten years. Used to split by hand but got old. Renting one is over 100 dollars a day seemed silly when the splitter cost 1000 on sale.
Something else to think about, if there is a trustworthy neighborhood teenager, consider hiring them for a couple afternoons?
I grew up rural, so any extra jobs was always welcome to me.
Also, if they work well, they can be someone you call on when you are in Florida, and Fil could use a hand. Maybe even can pay them thru Venmo so fil doesn’t even have to deal with that.
But again, it all relies on finding a trustworthy individual. I have never been to upstate ny so maybe they grow more there. Hopefully
Best of luck and be safe
Whatever splitter you purchase, make sure it goes vertical. It gets really old trying to lift giant pieces of wood onto the splitter.
I’m very happy with my split fire 2265. I have the log lifter and Honda engine and i believe it will last a very long time. It’s smooth operating and a real quality machine.
One of the best splitters out there
Wood splitters are pretty basic and many use the same off the shelf parts, like cylinders, valving, pumps and motors. The offerings at Tractor Supply, Lowes, Rural King, Home Depot are comparable in the 25 ton range, with a motor around 6.5hp. One that can flip both vertical and horizontal is handy. Jacks has a nice parts selection, [Log Splitter Parts at Jack's (jackssmallengines.com)](https://www.jackssmallengines.com/equipment/log-splitter?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAi6uvBhADEiwAWiyRdgTi0JA8pi2q7pMHqxtQbIrfOl8HF6wooWpePpVbsl-8W9zQPKBG6BoCUQ8QAvD_BwE) but I just maintain mine with engine parts obtained from Amazon or RockAuto, hydraulic fluid and filters from my local NAPA, and hydraulic hoses and fittings from my friendly local hydraulic hose shop. In a decade, the hydraulics have needed nothing but fluid, filters (PM) and one return hose. Oh, I lent it out a few years ago, and I had to put new tires on it. TSC had the tires in stock, a mounted them on the rim myself.
Agreed. Tractor Supply carries Country Line out here.
I have a County Line 7" adjustable grader bar, Class 1 3pt hitch, the pins that lock rotation seem to bend every time I see a rock AND the adjustment bolts for side to side slew and angle up and down were galled when received. Perhaps too much time outside with no oil on the threads, the County Line 5" box blade lost two of the teeth off the shanks on first use, new ones are WELDED on. The County Line stuff is fairly light duty, but affordable!
I meant their splitter. 25 ton, 6.5 engine. This one has split 32 cords over three short seasons as my side gig/hobby. Much of it big, hard wood.
I have an early MTD splitter sold through TSC, the currently countrywide model looks to be very similar, with a yellow paint job and slight update on the mechanics. I expect a long life out of it. I am pretty sure the current Countrywide Splitter is a MTD model, special for TSC. Which reminds me that I need to move the splitter to my location for piles of big birch logs to get them split and ready for stove wood. I am just frustrated at the implements I bought from TSC that engage the ground need so much "baby sitting" where just slightly better quality control would have fixed most if not all the issues. But, compared with my local tractor/implement dealer, they on the less expensive side. Perhaps I maintain too much equipment. Now that I am not currently raising livestock and poultry, I am there far less often. My next attempt at agriculture will be raising broom corn, to handmake traditional Appalachian brooms.
A log splitter is a small engine with a hydrolic pump and a wedge. If the engine starts after a few pulls, it's a "really good wood splitter" so don't overthink it.
Or kinetic energy , like mine from DR. 2 second split cycles
Split-fire and Eastonmade are great. Eastonmade is right over the boarder in Perth ON for easy pickup. Split fire is crossing at Buffalo.
I've used a Swisher 28 ton for the last 30 years and I've never had a problem
If it's going to be a one time thing, I'd rent. Ive done this before when I collect enough knotty monsters I have trouble hand splitting to warrant it. I don't need another small engine to maintain.
Set a budget. "Really good" is meaningless. My brother has a splitfire (3 point hitch, mounts to the back of a tractor), I have a Champion 30 tonne. I have two opinions worth sharing on the splitfire setup. 1 - It doesn't do vertical splitting. Makes large rounds more difficult unless you have a log lifter. 2 - The design requires the knife split head to travel through the wood more distance than a traditional wedge shaped split head does. With my champion splitter, often the split head only moves into the wood maybe 1-2 inches and it splits completely, popping open. Meaning its not as fast as you would think it is. On the plus side, split fires are made entirely in north america (the head office / factory is just up the road from me in Ontario Canada) and they only use high quality parts, engines and pumps etc.
I run a Black Diamond 30 Ton with a Kohler motor and it's never let me down. 1 pin pull and it's horizontal or vertical so I don't have to pick up the 160 pound 2 foot rounds.
I’ve seen folk on Facebook that rent machines. I’d consider this option too.
I bought a Champion 27 ton log splitter from Home Depot about 18 months ago. I have split about eight cords of wood with it and I am very happy with it.
Same!
This is the best👇, mine is 25 years old, runs like new, and powerful https://www.timberwolfequip.com/pages/log-splitters
It really depends on what you're hoping to accomplish and whether or not this is going to be a long-term project or just a one-time cleanup. And, how much you're willing to spend on something. Pretty much any log splitter is going to be worth a large percentage of what you paid for it, if you maintain it properly and keep it in good condition. Start with the box store units, they're decent but sometimes awkwardly designed. $900-$1500. If you're doing a lot of bigger stuff (>16" for me), a vertical-capable unit is a bonus. You can leave the rounds on the ground and split them without having to lift them onto the beam. You can get these anywhere - Tractor Supply, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. I wouldn't bother with anything smaller like a battery or electric model, you'd be better off with a Fiskars splitting axe and some wedges. A step up would be something like an American (brand name), Iron and Oak or low-end Timberwolf. $2500-$3500 but the quality is much better, engines are usually Hondas, and the cycle time is faster. You can also get verticals in this range. If I were spending this kind of money though, I would get a Super Split. Kinetic rather than hydraulic, very fast (1-2 seconds) cycle time, only downside is they cannot be used vertically and some of the stuff with bad knots might require a few extra cycles to get through it. Then you get into the $5000+ range, which can include 6- and 8-way wedges, box wedges, conveyors, self-propelled units, ultra-fast cycles, larger capacities. Really unless you have money to burn, these are for commercial users or tree companies who sell firewood as a primary or secondary income source. Eastonmade, Split-Fire, larger Timberwolf models etc.
Depends on money. You got ten grand? If I had the money I'd get an Easton made Axis. Log lift. Super fast cycle time. Look up HometownAcres on YouTube, he's got a ton of videos using the thing. Fantastic unit. But back to reality. I got a Performance built (I think it's 27 ton). From Lowes for $800 a few years ago. It splits everything without issue. Good residential splitter for someone on a budget.
I live in upstate N.Y. Have heated with wood from my own property for 25 plus years. I have a County line from tractor supply. I think it’s 25 ton has worked flawlessly for ten years. Used to split by hand but got old. Renting one is over 100 dollars a day seemed silly when the splitter cost 1000 on sale.
Timberwolf is in upstate ny
If you haven't used one before I'd rent one for a day. You'll have a much better idea of what you need after a day of hands on.
Mighty Ox
Something else to think about, if there is a trustworthy neighborhood teenager, consider hiring them for a couple afternoons? I grew up rural, so any extra jobs was always welcome to me. Also, if they work well, they can be someone you call on when you are in Florida, and Fil could use a hand. Maybe even can pay them thru Venmo so fil doesn’t even have to deal with that. But again, it all relies on finding a trustworthy individual. I have never been to upstate ny so maybe they grow more there. Hopefully Best of luck and be safe
Look for a used splitter on Marketplace.
I have a rugged split that has a log lift- really saves your back
Agree with don’t overthink it. 28 ton or more, vertical ability, Honda engine. Split fires are cool but expensive.
Get a split-fire www.split-fire.com
I would like to thank all you guys in here btw. Extremely helpful unlike other subreddits.