Task Force 5 Ton Electric Splitter at Lowes

[johnnywarm]

Electricity and cords were a bit of a PITA but that's to be expected with this thing. So far so good though. I'll do my best to torture this thing in the next month.

Kirk

How did the splitter do???

Thanks JW

It works on the pieces within it's limits. It will stall on heavily knotted pieces (over 10")
My plan fell through on a tractor so the cherry trees are still stuck in the woods. I bought an old backhoe that should be able to pull them out but it needs a major hydraulic overhaul first. Hopefully I can finish that up this weekend and then I can pull the trees out on the next trip.

I foresee the electrical requirements becoming an issue and it's probably not suggested to use an extension cord. That means I'll have to move the logs near an outlet and then move the splits to where they will be stacked. It's not a big deal but it is extra work.

Thank you. I use a very Thick extention cord for my compressor and small welder. it works great. i think its 25', i got it at lowes. its about 50 bucks but well worth it.

 

[jfederer]

About the Task Force 5 Ton Electric Splitter - I just bought one (the display) but did NOT get the manual. I have searched the internet and can't find one available there. Any ideas?

I bought this unit a day after I bought the Ryobi from Home Depot. The Task Force is by far a better machine. Everything from the wheels up is better on the Task Force. I returned the Ryobi. I have used everything from a 40 ton gas splitter down. I wanted a little electric unit for the basement so I could split inside. Am I impressed with this splitter! I haven't found much it won't split. It did have a little trouble with some larger green apple logs (couldn't split them) but then so does my 40 ton. This thing is well worth the money - much better then the Ryobi. One thing I have noticed is that all the lights in the house go dim when it starts. Must pull quite a load. No - I was NOT using an extension cord.

For those of you with back issues (like me), try a small table. I have a portable Husky Scaffold "thing" I got at Home Depot a while back that you can set to different heights. I'm going to try it with this splitter. Lifting it up might be a bit of a problem...did I mention I have some back issues?

 

[precaud]

Try 800-456-8934

 

[bayshorecs]

I have one of the 4.5ton splitters too. So far, I have split about 1 cord of wood. About 75% 1-3 year old dead elm. If there is a good crack already, you can usually get the piece to split. On a lot of them, it would just grunt and stop. After about 5-6 tries exploiting a crack, it would split. I still have about 12 pieces I couldn't get.

Maybe it will be easier with something other than elm. The maul bounces off some of the pieces too. I hope get get after a couple downed oak limbs that have been sitting for a year and see what it does with them.

Better than nothing, but wish it was bigger.

 

[jfederer]

Thanks for the telephone number. I called 1-866-456-8934 and got someone I could actually understand! They were in Canada. Was told they would send a manual, etc., in 5 - 7 business days. I was impressed with the fact that I could understand them and that they said they would send what I needed quickly. I just got back from a friend's house where we split a whole bunch of different wood and really put this Task Force unit to the test. There was nothing it didn't split. Started with White Birch, then Maple, then some green Black Birch. Couldn't resist pushing the limit of 10 inches well over that. It worked fine. I will have to say again that I am really impressed with this thing. I had very low expectations.

 

[tkirk22]

Thanks for the telephone number. I called 1-866-456-8934 and got someone I could actually understand! They were in Canada. Was told they would send a manual, etc., in 5 - 7 business days. I was impressed with the fact that I could understand them and that they said they would send what I needed quickly. I just got back from a friend's house where we split a whole bunch of different wood and really put this Task Force unit to the test. There was nothing it didn't split. Started with White Birch, then Maple, then some green Black Birch. Couldn't resist pushing the limit of 10 inches well over that. It worked fine. I will have to say again that I am really impressed with this thing. I had very low expectations.

Good to hear about the manual.

FYI: There's a vent near the end of the ram (opposite motor) with a plastic butterfly head. My manual says it should be opened 4 turns when splitting.

I had a lot of trouble splitting either elm or ash. I don't remember which but it was stringy and 3 letters. I even cut the rounds down to 8" long and then ripped them down the middle...the Task Force didn't even touch them.

 

[jfederer]

Yes, I knew about the "valve" from the Ryobi I bought. I figure both units probably come out of the same factory in China. But the Task Force one is still much better. The wheels are ball bearing instead of plastic sleve, the oil check dipstick has a knob so you can check the oil level without having to ues a tool, you can stand it on end for storage - with the Ryobi you have to put a piece of wood under the control handle which probably wasn't good for it, and it's rated at 5 ton rather then 4 ton for the Ryobi. In short, I'm pretty impressed considering the price vs. a gas unit that is more difficult to store, move, maintain, etc. I have a couple of gas splitters for the big stuff. I certainly couldn't replace either of he gas splitters with this one, but it sure is handy. About that relief valve on the end of the unit - there have been a couple of times I have just flat forgotten to open it. It worked fine. Perhaps I am putting a strain on a seal somewhere, but it still worked. I really need to remember to open that thing. Thanks again for the info in the valve - frankly I would have overlooked it since I didn't get a manual were it not for the fact that I had bought the Ryobi first and read about it. Now...if I can just figure a way to modify it so it will crush cans...wouldn't that be neat! On second thought I should just be happy with the fact that it does what they say it will do - split wood.