Cheap Log Splitters

[GavJ]

I bought the screwfix one, £199 now but was £170 for a while there, not used it much but did split for about 2 hrs at the weekend, rain stopped play, more than I can manage with the axe..... Have split some knarly bits of wood so far, cant vouch for how long it will last but happy so far, also made a stand up from some tube I had lying around.

Done a video of it in action but too large for site..

 

[addjunkie]

Depressing isn't it...only 21 and already realising I'm not as tough as I used to be

At 21 I thought Icould walk on water, now I struggle to not pass it in the middle ofthe night!

 

[GavJ]

I bought the screwfix one, £199 now but was £170 for a while there, not used it much but did split for about 2 hrs at the weekend, rain stopped play, more than I can manage with the axe..... Have split some knarly bits of wood so far, cant vouch for how long it will last but happy so far, also made a stand up from some tube I had lying around.

Done a video of it in action but too large for site.

 

[daleyd]

You can put the vid on you tube and then link to it it’s better than trying to upload to the site

 

[gaz1]

 

[fizzy]

I have a Clarke 4 ton log splitter.
Works incredibly well. I have split stuff up to about 28" diameter with it!
I use a pusher log - save a lot of time waiting for the ram to move on shorter pieces and also it seems to have more power at the start of the travel. I have probably split over 100 tons with it.
I use a desk fan in hot weather blowing on the motor to keep it cool.

Log tongs make life a lot easier. One person sitting on a chair operating the splitter and another person loading and you can do a lot in a short time.

 

[addjunkie]

I have a Clarke 4 ton log splitter.
Works incredibly well. I have split stuff up to about 28" diameter with it!
I use a pusher log - save a lot of time waiting for the ram to move on shorter pieces and also it seems to have more power at the start of the travel. I have probably split over 100 tons with it.
I use a desk fan in hot weather blowing on the motor to keep it cool.

Log tongs make life a lot easier. One person sitting on a chair operating the splitter and another person loading and you can do a lot in a short time.

4 ton doesnt seem much for knotty wood. Mines 22 and sometimes doesnt do a straight split if the knots in the wrong place.
A pal of mine has one of these, works a treat. He does a lot of tree surgery and splitting for folks.

Log Splitters

www.mdlpowerup.com

 

[fizzy]

4 ton doesnt seem much for knotty wood. Mines 22 and sometimes doesnt do a straight split if the knots in the wrong place.
A pal of mine has one of these, works a treat. He does a lot of tree surgery and splitting for folks.

Log Splitters

www.mdlpowerup.com

I am not sure which model it is - bought it around 2010. It looks beefier than their current 5 ton model.
It only ever struggled on some knotty bits but very few really. Most impressive.
I also bought the manual version - they are rubbish in case anyone is tempted - way too slow!

 

[MetalMonkey]

Well I've bitten the bullet and ordered a 7 ton one on a stand. We shall have to see how well it does.

We already split it with axe, mauls and sledge and wedges, but neither of the two of us that do it are in the best of health now.
It was more about finding a more convenient way rather than speed, I'd rather put the energy into something more productive than splitting wood! Hopefully this will save the back and joints.

I don't think there is a lot of difference between the 4/5 ton and 6/7 ton models other than the length of logs they can accommodate. I expect they are Chinese tons anyway, so entirely arbitrary.
The wood is usually poplar, ash, birch and the occasional bit of eucalyptus – I don’t think it will put up much of a fight.

Thanks for the replies chaps.

 

[fizzy]

Well I've bitten the bullet and ordered a 7 ton one on a stand. We shall have to see how well it does.

We already split it with axe, mauls and sledge and wedges, but neither of the two of us that do it are in the best of health now.
It was more about finding a more convenient way rather than speed, I'd rather put the energy into something more productive than splitting wood! Hopefully this will save the back and joints.

I don't think there is a lot of difference between the 4/5 ton and 6/7 ton models other than the length of logs they can accommodate. I expect they are Chinese tons anyway, so entirely arbitrary.
The wood is usually poplar, ash, birch and the occasional bit of eucalyptus – I don’t think it will put up much of a fight.

Thanks for the replies chaps.

Remember to use a pusher/spacer log to save it having to travel full stroke.
And the log tongs help a lot as well.

 

[MetalMonkey]

Remember to use a pusher/spacer log to save it having to travel full stroke.
And the log tongs help a lot as well.

This one appears to comes with an adjustable collar stop to set the stroke.

 

[Agrismith]

I think alot of people either buy the cheapo splitting mauls or using a felling axe. These are absolutely worlds away to either the fiskars posted above the Husqvarna equivalent or a proper maul like a granfors bruks or wetterlings
With a Husqvarna s1600 (0nly 1.6kg and 600mm long) I can fly through logs way quicker than my mate with a b and q special maul and be less worn out at the end.
Even if you buy a splitter for the price of the above Husqvarna (<£40) or the smaller fiskars x29 (£50) they are well worth having

 

[dobbslc]

Remember to use a pusher/spacer log to save it having to travel full stroke.
And the log tongs help a lot as well.

And be ready for the odd one to bang out and fly straight at your head...

 

[pedrobedro]

And be ready for the odd one to bang out and fly straight at your head...

Or to take your finger end off like it did my friend His right index finger is now one knuckle shorter.
My wife was 8 feet away from the splitter and still got a bruised shin from a flier. I broke the edge off my splitting maul using it on rough wood so I cut it straight and remade the edge and it improved it 100%, no more sticking in the cut.

 

[fizzy]

And be ready for the odd one to bang out and fly straight at your head...

Never happened to me - clever see