Which log splitter?

[wvwoodchuck]

Around here, there isn't much on CL as far as a used splitter. Tractor supply has a Huskee 22 ton for $1000 and Sears Craftsman 27 ton for $1400.
Which one do you all think is better?

 

[RNLA]

Sears tends to make reasonable stuff, I have no experience with Huskee or Husky. Take a close look at the engine comparison and the overall specifications. I own a 34 ton Iron & Oak. I could always recommend a Honda engine, they make an industrial version and a home owner version, get the industrial. Most people can get by well with 22-27 tons of pressure. Most of the wood that you want to handle could be split by a smaller unit than the one I have, I do admit it is a bit over kill! :smirk:

 

[Nic36]

I don't have any experience with the Sears splitter. Do a search on the Huskee 22-ton splitters and I don't think you will find many, if any, complaints.

 

[cptoneleg]

I have the 22ton from tractor supply have no complaints I got it because of the price, going itno 2nd yr. probably have split 6 to 8 cords of wood. Had some bolts get loose that holds the motor down, and I let it cool off every 2-3 hrs seems the hyd. oil gets awful hot , especially in the summer:

 

[TreePointer]

As with much of Craftsman OPE (except the newer riding mowers which are made by Husqvarna), they are MTD clones (also like the Troy-Bilt model sold at Lowe's).

The Huskee (SpeeCo) 22-ton unit from Tractor Supply Co. is a better unit, IMO:

- higher beam (saves back)
- sturdier built-in log cradle (MTD log cradle known to bend under load)
- sturdier log dislodger
- better price
- SpeeCo customer service has been very good in my experience.

 

[bogydave]

try in "the gear" section for more info

I think sears is MTD, (aka troybilt). Lowes has same, different name.
Some issues on some of those models here.
Some have no problems.

Huskee 22 ton is Speeco brand
Like the brand, I have the 22T & like it so far.
Made by Speeco, I believe** (broken link removed to http://www.speeco.com/products.php?id=95)
1 factory is in Colorado, some foreign parts. *** (broken link removed to http://www.speeco.com/news.php?id=11) ...Owned by : Blount int, Portland OR.
http://www.blount.com/

Do a search in the "the gear" section here. Log splitters, lots of info.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/70176/

 

[WhitePine]

There are quite a few videos of the 22 ton TSC splitter on YouTube. Most are pretty bad, but one in particular is not too shabby. It's over 15 minutes long. You get a good sense of what it is like to split with that model.

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4pAx2zJeLc

 

[bpm44]

I have a Troy-Built (MTD) 27 ton with the Honda and diamond plate fenders & have been very happy with it. Bought it years ago from an OPE dealer - they gave me a year with no interest on their credit (this was before they started showing up at Lowe's). I have only had to change fluids and haven't had any trouble with it. It's not the biggest or the baddest but it's been getting the job done for me. I've probably run at least 40 plus cords through it. I really like not having to rent one anymore. Before that I used to hand split. I'm too old and broken to even think about doing it that way now...

 

[Got Wood]

IMO save your money and get the Huskee. I have split 20+ cord with mine and have yet to find a piece it couldnt handle

 

[wvwoodchuck]

Thanks everyone. I've been leaning towards the 22ton, but wanted to get some experienced reviews first.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

There are quite a few videos of the 22 ton TSC splitter on YouTube. Most are pretty bad, but one in particular is not too shabby. It's over 15 minutes long. You get a good sense of what it is like to split with that model.

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4pAx2zJeLc

Wow!

I did not watch the whole video but if I had to judge this splitter by what the video shows I would not buy one! I also was certainly not impressed with the guy's technique (or lack of technique). In the first place, why not have that thing totally vertical? Sitting with the angle just causes him lots and lots of work and effort. He'd be better off swinging a splitting maul. And what about that splitter....almost stalling. Something is drastically wrong there.

The reason I bought my 20 ton is to cut down on the work I had to do and this fellow worked harder on his first log than I do splitting 10 logs! Geeze, maybe I should make a video.

 

[peterc38]

I've split about 40 cords in 1 1/2 years with a Huskee (Speeco) 22 ton without any issues.

 

[WhitePine]

There are quite a few videos of the 22 ton TSC splitter on YouTube. Most are pretty bad, but one in particular is not too shabby. It's over 15 minutes long. You get a good sense of what it is like to split with that model.

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4pAx2zJeLc

Wow!

I did not watch the whole video but if I had to judge this splitter by what the video shows I would not buy one! I also was certainly not impressed with the guy's technique (or lack of technique). In the first place, why not have that thing totally vertical? Sitting with the angle just causes him lots and lots of work and effort. He'd be better off swinging a splitting maul. And what about that splitter....almost stalling. Something is drastically wrong there.

The reason I bought my 20 ton is to cut down on the work I had to do and this fellow worked harder on his first log than I do splitting 10 logs! Geeze, maybe I should make a video.

Please do. They need more well done videos.

I have looked at dozens of YouTube videos in my search for a splitter, both stand-alone and three point. Most videos are so bad as to be nearly unwatchable. Few offer much context to the subject and are typically shot too tightly from an unsteady platform, not to mention going in and out of focus much of the time.

When I posted the link, I was careful not to mention that I did not get a good impression of the splitter from that particular video. I wanted people to watch it and make up their own minds.

 

[firefighterjake]

As TP and BG pointed out the Craftsman is most likely a rebadged MTD splitter (like many of their other clones.)

My own opinion is that either will be fine for what you want . . . I have a MTD which has been fine . . . but if money is an issue I suspect the Speeco/Huskee will do everything you need and more . . . at a better price point.

Some things folks consider are engine type, speed of the splitter, etc. . . . quite honestly the one feature I think most folks should really consider is whether their splitter can split both vertically and horizontally. I give Backwoods a hard time about his love of splitting vertically . . . but while I prefer splitting horizontally and find it easier I have on occasion split vertically for very large wood . . . and many folks who split wood vertically opt to split that way all the time as they find it easier.

 

[cptoneleg]

There are quite a few videos of the 22 ton TSC splitter on YouTube. Most are pretty bad, but one in particular is not too shabby. It's over 15 minutes long. You get a good sense of what it is like to split with that model.

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4pAx2zJeLc

Wow!

I did not watch the whole video but if I had to judge this splitter by what the video shows I would not buy one! I also was certainly not impressed with the guy's technique (or lack of technique). In the first place, why not have that thing totally vertical? Sitting with the angle just causes him lots and lots of work and effort. He'd be better off swinging a splitting maul. And what about that splitter....almost stalling. Something is drastically wrong there.

The reason I bought my 20 ton is to cut down on the work I had to do and this fellow worked harder on his first log than I do splitting 10 logs! Geeze, maybe I should make a video.

That video should be called "I Fought The Log and The Log One"

 

[Backwoods Savage]

There are quite a few videos of the 22 ton TSC splitter on YouTube. Most are pretty bad, but one in particular is not too shabby. It's over 15 minutes long. You get a good sense of what it is like to split with that model.

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4pAx2zJeLc

Wow!

I did not watch the whole video but if I had to judge this splitter by what the video shows I would not buy one! I also was certainly not impressed with the guy's technique (or lack of technique). In the first place, why not have that thing totally vertical? Sitting with the angle just causes him lots and lots of work and effort. He'd be better off swinging a splitting maul. And what about that splitter....almost stalling. Something is drastically wrong there.

The reason I bought my 20 ton is to cut down on the work I had to do and this fellow worked harder on his first log than I do splitting 10 logs! Geeze, maybe I should make a video.

Please do. They need more well done videos.

I have looked at dozens of YouTube videos in my search for a splitter, both stand-alone and three point. Most videos are so bad as to be nearly unwatchable. Few offer much context to the subject and are typically shot too tightly from an unsteady platform, not to mention going in and out of focus much of the time.

When I posted the link, I was careful not to mention that I did not get a good impression of the splitter from that particular video. I wanted people to watch it and make up their own minds.

Well, for sure I won't be doing much splitting this year. So it has to wait until I heal up a bit.

I do like that title, "I fought the log and the log won!" Very fitting indeed.

 

[Thistle]

There are quite a few videos of the 22 ton TSC splitter on YouTube. Most are pretty bad, but one in particular is not too shabby. It's over 15 minutes long. You get a good sense of what it is like to split with that model.

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4pAx2zJeLc

Wow!

I did not watch the whole video but if I had to judge this splitter by what the video shows I would not buy one! I also was certainly not impressed with the guy's technique (or lack of technique). In the first place, why not have that thing totally vertical? Sitting with the angle just causes him lots and lots of work and effort. He'd be better off swinging a splitting maul. And what about that splitter....almost stalling. Something is drastically wrong there.

The reason I bought my 20 ton is to cut down on the work I had to do and this fellow worked harder on his first log than I do splitting 10 logs! Geeze, maybe I should make a video.

That video should be called "I Fought The Log and The Log One"

+1 Perfect. :coolsmile:

 

[WoodpileOCD]

There are quite a few videos of the 22 ton TSC splitter on YouTube. Most are pretty bad, but one in particular is not too shabby. It's over 15 minutes long. You get a good sense of what it is like to split with that model.

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4pAx2zJeLc

Wow!

I did not watch the whole video but if I had to judge this splitter by what the video shows I would not buy one! I also was certainly not impressed with the guy's technique (or lack of technique). In the first place, why not have that thing totally vertical? Sitting with the angle just causes him lots and lots of work and effort. He'd be better off swinging a splitting maul. And what about that splitter....almost stalling. Something is drastically wrong there.

The reason I bought my 20 ton is to cut down on the work I had to do and this fellow worked harder on his first log than I do splitting 10 logs! Geeze, maybe I should make a video.

That video should be called "I Fought The Log and The Log One"

+1 on that Dennis. I had those two thoughts exactly. Why is he working so hard to lift the log and why is this thing stalling.


Here is your next splitter. http://www.youtube.com/user/joshlarrabee#p/a/u/1/gPvdCxLkQa0

 

[wvwoodchuck]

OK, went to Tractor supply to get the log splitter and they had just sold the last one earlier in the morning. I was pretty bummed and was going to get the Craftsman. I decided to head to Lowe's first and see if they had anything left. I found a Troy-Built 27 ton priced between the Huskee and Craftsman, so I brought it home. I had a load that needed split so it went to work right away. My 7 yr old son was the operator and I loaded and unloaded the wood. We had a great time together! He liked watching the wood being split.

 

[thinkxingu]

The best splitter is the one you own. Good luck with it.

S