Hydraulic Log/Block Splitter - Petrol, Diesel or Electric?

[scrapsD40]

Checked out a few old threads, but most a few years old, plus I'm more interested in the motor side of the machine in this discussion.

I do on ocassion cut a little bit of firewood for home (as opposed to a lot of firewood when camping), and according to my shoulder the day has arrived, and hopefully the tax cheque, to allow me to look at a heavy duty log splitter.

My budget should be in the vicinity of $1,500 to $2,000 and for this I seem to be in the market for a 30 to 40 tonne unit.

The unit will be used at home either on the front driveway or in the back yard, and only for short sessions 1/2hr to 1hr max.  My neighbours also have a wood fire, so most likely they'll borrow it on ocassion, so noise of the motor shouldn't be an issue.

Accepting that electric is possibly the quietest, and least maintenance, I'm also looking at a diesel motor with electric start, but wonder if petrol is less maintenance.

Who used what and what's the use/maintenance history like?

This was last year's harvest (being burnt this winter) that was all split by hand, so need something a bit heavy duty.

[Dingo0163]

I've got a 40 tonne key start now. Wouldn't be without it. It's a 13.5 hp petrol and even the missus can use it. If your neighbours are going to use it , make sure they have a ride on to move it. They do have a tow hitch and they are heavy. I got it for $1600 on sale already assembled. You can assemble it yourself or pay an extra $200 for them to do it. A mate got a 30 tonne unit and told me to spend the extra on a 40 tonne because his worked hard on some of the knotty stuff.

[tracker]

Gezzzzzzzz.....Are you guy's for real.... ....We don't even need fire places in the house......Can buy 3 or 4  20 kg. bags to go camping for a week end .....Oh how i love Nth. Queensland.


                                             Cheers Tracker.

[UIZ733]

Wouldn't take long to knock up one of these;
Take your pick. Cheap to boot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40sCGb678sQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuHV0BlvjMc
With a V6 Nissan Diesel, the second example would be a ripper........................literally. 

[Johnnos3003]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuHV0BlvjMc

wow...

[fuji]

The one from Whitlands looks good but 4.5k is a bit much.??

[mrdenn1s]

I just swing a splitter.

[scrapsD40]

The one from Whitlands looks good but 4.5k is a bit much.??

Hired one of them from our local last year. Nice units, but out of my budget.

Having said that, I know if I invest well, I might be able to hire mine out too

[tk421]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40sCGb678sQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMsObwqD788

But this is what you need:  https://youtu.be/o7QMlcVqHrs

[UIZ733]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMsObwqD788

But this is what you need:  https://youtu.be/o7QMlcVqHrs

Holy $hit.  Some sphincter twitching moments there. Darwinian theory at its best! 

[tk421]

All silliness aside. Honda make the best stationary motors in the world. I'd be looking a unit with a Honda Petrol engine. And one that splits vertically. You won't have to lift the bigger logs so far. Something like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6ZKtaoxZ1E

http://www.redgumproducts.com.au/log-splitter/redgum-gx200-log-splitter

[Dingo0163]

All silliness aside. Honda make the best stationary motors in the world. I'd be looking a unit with a Honda Petrol engine. And one that splits vertically. You won't have to lift the bigger logs

The one I've got you can pull a pin and use it vertically or horizontally. It also has a Honda on it.

[Hoyks]

Most of those death traps I think would struggle with Australian Hardwood. A bit of pine or ash and they do OK.

[GGV8Cruza]

I normally hand split and stack, what is it worth to hire for the weekend for a good unit. I would have thought it more economical to hire one once a year have a split wood party and take it back, repeat the following. You don't need somewhere to store it and they maintain it.

I have a mother load coming to me in the coming weeks so I think I will need a splitter to get through it all, will watch with interest

GG

[scrapsD40]

I've got a 40 tonne key start now. Wouldn't be without it. It's a 13.5 hp petrol and even the missus can use it. If your neighbours are going to use it , make sure they have a ride on to move it. They do have a tow hitch and they are heavy. I got it for $1600 on sale already assembled. You can assemble it yourself or pay an extra $200 for them to do it. A mate got a 30 tonne unit and told me to spend the extra on a 40 tonne because his worked hard on some of the knotty stuff.

Thnx, good info on the difference between the 30t and 40t. Mostly split mountain ash, but on occasion do stumble across Nagambie yellow box, and Murray River redgum, so the extra power will be worth it. The key start is also of interest.

All silliness aside. Honda make the best stationary motors in the world. I'd be looking a unit with a Honda Petrol engine. And one that splits vertically. You won't have to lift the bigger logs so far. Something like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6ZKtaoxZ1E

http://www.redgumproducts.com.au/log-splitter/redgum-gx200-log-splitter

thnx, this looks the goods and yes re the motor. Best to get a quality unit.

I normally hand split and stack, what is it worth to hire for the weekend for a good unit. I would have thought it more economical to hire one once a year have a split wood party and take it back, repeat the following. You don't need somewhere to store it and they maintain it.

I have a mother load coming to me in the coming weeks so I think I will need a splitter to get through it all, will watch with interest

GG

thnx Garrick, I really enjoy splitting and stacking by hand as it's good exercise but those days are coming to and end for what I need for home each season. Hiring should be easy option, but in season you have to book the units weeks in advance and then the pressure is on to maximise hire time and pump through as much as you can. I've also found the units around here are well used and not as well maintained as one might think.

If I do pursue this option, it'll be a long term investment like my chainsaws. Hopefully something the sons can use in years to come if you buy right and maintain well.

There's also a chance I can hire it out to Fuji and get my money back pretty quick

[scrapsD40]

..

[#jonesy]

Hired a towable unit from Diamond Creek a month ago.  It was $120 a day (if I remember right) so $240 picked up Friday night and drop off 7 am Monday. And about $10 in fuel.
 I towed it to the ski club in Mansfield. It took a whole day for a group of us to split a 20m truckload of rounds which were huge, many were a 2 person lift.
The unit had a horizontal ram. The "operator" and "loader" were on opposite sides of the log so lining up the cuts was impossible. The blade was at 90 degrees so a few were "squeezed" out with a bang
 Last year we used a vertical ram and I liked it much better. The blade had an angle so it pulled the log back towards the upright. You could also manoeuvre the log as you lined up the cut.

[xcvator]

FFS, you've gotta wife haven't you  why have a dog and bark yourself 

[GGV8Cruza]

FFS, you've gotta wife haven't you  why have a dog and bark yourself 

And he is back from the wilds with a bit of internet

Hope the trip is going well Keith

GG

[moose2367]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1uDzwAODYM

[fuji]

Thought I would go halvesy with you Scott. 😂😂😂

[scrapsD40]

Thought I would go halvesy with you Scott.

So we can get the really big one then

[speewa158]

Silly Old Bugger put your back into it ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[scrapsD40]

Silly Old Bugger put your back into it ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Slab of green on offer if you come and split my trailer load of wood,,,,,,,,,,

[speewa158]

                                                     Dreaming                 .