another log splitter question?
my husband wants a log splitter. ( and i think he should have one)
my question is what size is needed for average log splitting. we use 4 to 5 cords of wood a season and cut about 6 or 7 cords in summer for the following winter. my husband says he needs a 20 ton and i think thats to much i think 8ton but he says it wont have enough power. we’re looking to get a gas powered not electric. and of course there’s the matter of the difference in price the 20 ton is at least 1500.00 and a 8 ton is about 500.00 or 600.00. the logs we usually get are not bigger than 18inches round. help settle the dispute. thanks!
ELECTRIC HYDRAULIC LOG SPLITTER 7 TON CUTTER WOOD NEW ~
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Comments
I split logs by hand myself, though I do an awful lot less of it than your husband probably does. I don’t know about the mechanical kind, but if he’s looking for an effective hand tool, I’ve had excellent results with the Wood Grenade, which tapers to a point, not a wedge.
The difference in size needed has a lot to do with the kind of wood you’re splitting and how fast you want to split it. I split about 8 cords per year but I cure it for a full year before splitting — and I split in the wintertime when the billets are frozen. My home made little electric 8 ton handles the job just fine. If I try to split green wood in the summertime however, it is pretty slow going and if I needed to do that regularly, I’d build a bigger unit.
BTW if your man (or your neighbour) is a bit handy with a welder, a log splitter is about the easiest back yard project to cobble together and many plans are readily available on line.
95% of the time an 8 ton will work. 20 ton comes in handy when dealing with knotty wood freshly cut down.
8 ton would be fine. he was able to do it all by hand before he will be able to fight a few tough pieces.
Personally i like to get stuff used or on end of season clearance sales so i can get the best stuff which i normally couldn’t afford.
I just got my first log splitter, it’s 20 tons. It splits anything, even giant 36″ rounds. I’m not sure an 8 ton would do very well on gnarly, knotted wood (the kind that’s most satisfying to use a hydraulic splitter on). I saw your previous question, and Honda engine powered ones are considered better. I run mine with my tractor hydraulics, and it hangs off the front so I can drive up to a log and split it, all from the tractor.
How about renting an 8 ton for a day and see if it will do what you need?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwsq6Su7kak
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200344513_200344513
If you don’t mind a little manual labor, a two-speed manual one works pretty good as well with less pollution, easier to maneuver, no electricity needed or gas required.
I occasionaly cut wood for my brother’s place and his neighbor…did a whole pile in one day….2-3 cords one time with help. If you can’t count on fairly dried wood, bigger is better.