Anyone own one of these? Any feedback? Would you prefer the dual direction split style or traditional I beam style?
Harbor Freight dual direction splitter
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brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
My brother owns a Split-fire, which I'm sure is what HF stole the design from...I love it, very slick setup. It will keep 2 guys hopping, and even 3 guys pretty busy, depending on your setup. I hadn't run it until after I finished building myself a standard beam style splitter with log lift...I was pretty happy with it, until I ran his Split-fire! 
I've since had a chance to run yet another splitter, and after that I think if I had it to do over again, I would build myself a vertical table style splitter, with log lift. You can really crank a lot of wood through one of those, without a lot of effort! I takes at least 3 guys, if not 4, to keep that machine busy, especially with a 4-way wedge on it!
I've since had a chance to run yet another splitter, and after that I think if I had it to do over again, I would build myself a vertical table style splitter, with log lift. You can really crank a lot of wood through one of those, without a lot of effort! I takes at least 3 guys, if not 4, to keep that machine busy, especially with a 4-way wedge on it!
I am looking to build or modify a splitter, adding things that I want. Currently got a traditional splitter that can do vert and horizontal. Want to build one with a log lift and a good sized table. Also want it to be at my waist height as most splitter require me to bend over a bit(I am over 6 ft). I am not getting any younger and want to make processing wood just a bit easier....on my back. Think I can modify the HF one. I see the Split Fire has a log lift option.
Take a stroll down the youtube wood splitter search. So many great machines out there. Both "manufactured" and home built. There's lots of ideas to be had down that rabbit hole. There are some verticals with a waist height table, log lift, conveyor, and foot operated. Although, @brenndatomu I have never seen a 4way on that style vertical.
I'm a bit more partial to a conventional horizontal, but production based, splitter. I have my favorite and I'm holding my tongue. I want to see where this goes.
I'm a bit more partial to a conventional horizontal, but production based, splitter. I have my favorite and I'm holding my tongue. I want to see where this goes.
Already took a stroll down the YouTube rabbit hole. I am thinking of building something similar to the Split Fire with a lift and a larger table area. May stroll some more for more ideas or see what others mention.
brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
I don't recall where I seen it...probably on a firewood Facebook page I'd guess...they had a lil video and this thing was cranking out the splits. I do believe it was a diy built unit.
Check out this "home built" vertical with a single wedge.
Not what I want but this thing cruises through rounds. It should come with a warning label.
''WATCH YOUR FINGERS''
Well, HF has a coupon sale going on this weekend. The splitter would be $850. Couldn't pass it up. Went and ordered one. They say it will be 4 weeks until it arrives. When it arrives I will try it out and see what I want to modify.
One mod I know of already is the 4 way wedge.
One mod I know of already is the 4 way wedge.
I like that dual action design. It hasn't caught on with most people, though. The weak point of hydraulic splitters is that they are slow. The dual action design doubles the speed. But big rounds need to be broken down first in order to get them up on the splitter. Brave was making a dual action 20-ton splitter - but they didn't sell enough units so discontinued it and switched to making more of the common design. I never see these used. She is really concentrating helping Grampa split some wood (cuteness overload).
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What size cylinder is on the HF model?
What is the cycle time? An 8gpm pump doesn't seem all that big, but I suppose it's only got a 3.5-4 inch cylinder.
What is the cycle time? An 8gpm pump doesn't seem all that big, but I suppose it's only got a 3.5-4 inch cylinder.
Not sure of cycle time or cylinder size. Will relay the info when it arrives.
brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
According to logsplitterplans.com a 3.75" cylinder at 3,650psi makes 20 tons. At 8gpm with 21" stroke that would be a 13.9 sec cycle. In this case you would get a 7.5 sec one direction 6.4 sec the other. With a 1.5" rod.
13.9 sounds slow, but with dual action it would be pretty fast overall.
I'm not sure if 20 tons would split some of my elm though! My 30 ton has never stalled, but the 9.5 hp Kohler has really strained at times.
brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
With a decently sharp wedge 20 tons should split just about anything...heck I have a 5 ton that splits most of what I throw at it.
If that 9.5 HP was straining the pump hi/lo volume shift pressure must be set too high (or sticking)
Hard to prove without a pressure gauge inline though.
I've never had the wedge fully stop, but I have on several occasions reversed it because I felt uncomfortable putting that much strain on things. I've easily used 90% of its max capacity on dozens of occasions over the last 5 years. Of course, as you mention, I'm not running a pressure gauge.
Back to the HF splitter, one thing I don't like about a moveable wedge splitter is that if you do encounter a piece that can't be split, then it's a real pain to get it free from the wedge. I have bad memories of an old 3pt splitter that suffered this problem when I was a young(er). I remember helping dad wrap chains around the pieces and trying to pull it free. One of the reasons I went with a 30 ton model I'm sure.
I'm not discouraging anyone from buying the HF model. It looks to be a pretty slick setup. Especially for easy splitting wood. At only 8gpm it would be a good candidate for converting to electric. A 120v motor would easily run that pump.
Back to the HF splitter, one thing I don't like about a moveable wedge splitter is that if you do encounter a piece that can't be split, then it's a real pain to get it free from the wedge. I have bad memories of an old 3pt splitter that suffered this problem when I was a young(er). I remember helping dad wrap chains around the pieces and trying to pull it free. One of the reasons I went with a 30 ton model I'm sure.
I'm not discouraging anyone from buying the HF model. It looks to be a pretty slick setup. Especially for easy splitting wood. At only 8gpm it would be a good candidate for converting to electric. A 120v motor would easily run that pump.
If you get a piece stuck on the wedge, put a piece of wood on the other side, next to wedge and run the wedge back.
brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
Most wedge on ram type splitters have strippers to deal with stuck logs.
I have a 4 HP motor running a 16gpm pump on a 220V/20 amp circuit, and it has its hands full...I had to lower the pump shift pressure a bit to not stall it. I'll probably switch to a 5 hp motor, but that's going to fully tax my 20amp circuit occasionally.
220v would run it easily...a 120v motor would do it, but that would about max out a 15A circuit.
I have a 4 HP motor running a 16gpm pump on a 220V/20 amp circuit, and it has its hands full...I had to lower the pump shift pressure a bit to not stall it. I'll probably switch to a 5 hp motor, but that's going to fully tax my 20amp circuit occasionally.
highanddryinco
Burning Hunk
I love mine. I was going to buy the Harbor Freight but just post-Covid, They were no where to be found.
Pretty fancy wood truck...
I would be afraid, very afraid. I'll bet your rear window costs more than any of my pickups
the old split bounced off the window trick, Friend just did that with his 202x pickup, $750 . Was moving furniture, something shifted during transport. I broke the little sliding portion on one of mine, got lucky-junk yard , $10
highanddryinco
Burning Hunk
Fear not my friend, the BackFlip bedcover covers the back of the cab/window. Many a cord has come off that mountain in that truck with no damage.
Nice truck, sure. But unlike so many I usually see around town, it's no grocery getter.
It is if that's what you drive there LOL.
At one time, all I had on the road was a 1 ton dump. It did all my tasks...
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