Professional vs. Big Box Store Wood Splitters | Is it THAT different?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 พ.ย. 2022
- I've often wondered whether there is actually much of a difference between the big box store wood splitters and the commercial grade professional series wood splitters. I finally am able to put these two types of wood splitters side by side to find out for certain whether one is significantly different than the other. With some good little piles of hardwood equally stacked beside each machine, I'm going to figure out the time it takes to make each pile into firewood to give myself an idea of what is most efficient. On top of this, I"ll be trying to "feel" whether there's any difference aside from just numbers as let's face it, if it feels good, do it. With all that being said, let's not get ahead of ourselves, I"ve still got to get this old big box store splitter fired up if I'm going to do anything here today. If you've been around the channel before you know for certain that this is half the battle haha. Here we go!
Woodsplitter shown in video: Eastonmade Ultra www.eastonmadewoodsplitters.c...
#eastonmade
#sawingwithsandy
#woodsplitter
Big Box Store wood splitter brand unknown - บันเทิง
Oh, that’s terribly frustrating Sandy. No wonder you went out and got a reliable splitter. Your patience is to be commended. Thanks for sharing, even when things don’t work.
hahah thanks. It ends up being like a challenge and sometimes I try too hard and spend way too long but today it worked out
Just some suggestions. 1) Buy non-ethanol fuel 2) Always shut the fuel off and let it run until it dies out. 3) Treat your fuel with Stabil or something like it. You never know when you’re going to put it away for a while. It would be interesting to see a cost benefit analysis between the 2 splitters. I’m willing to bet the Eastonmade was 10x’s the cost of the other one. Have to split A LOT of wood to pay for that.
Great tips. Thanks for sharing
This particular model, new, is $4,600!!!!! But it's sure a beauty! I thought Sandy said "new to him" though...
running that fuel is too expensive . you can just dump the gas and add a bottle of sure fuel to it if its sat for a while and itll fire up no problem. ive started motors that have sat years and all they needed was a emptying and refilling and maybe a spark plug cleaning carb cleaning.
Also take the go spray away from this man.. spraying that much can wash out the cylinder .. and like previously said shut off fuel and let it run out.
I would like to suggest that you always, always, always use non-ethanol fuel. It is only $1 more per gallon. After 3 weeks, ethanol gas goes through phase separation and will plug up your carburetor with a sticky, dried paint-like deposit. I also always add Marine Stabil to my non-ethanol gas to eliminate inherent moisture problems in small engine gas tanks. Just a suggestion.
Thanks for the entertainment with the old splitter and getting it started and running.
Hahaha was quite the effort
Clean the carburetor out !!!
I've had a Northern Tool 30 Ton splitter for about 10 years with a Honda GSX160 engine. Still going strong. If I had a do-over, I'd have a Wolf-ridge splitter. I got a good chuckle out of your start attempts. Valent effort!
Both nice machines for sure
Another great video Sandy. The professional grade splitter makes a lot of difference, thanks for the comparison.👍🏻
Thanks James
After a several year hiatus, my generator would not run right in spite of proper shut down. My mechanic said run some seafoam through it. Ran smooth as silk after that!! You might want to try it.
Hey Sandy! Great stopping by the wood yard today for the comparison! The old splitter getting it going is pretty entertaining tbh lol, been there before lol! I enjoyed the comparison Sandy! Eastonmade no doubt about it definitively has quality professional products! Would like to have one myself someday! I’ve been looking into eastonmade more since your factory tour video an now follow the eastonmade channel along with a couple other firewood channels to :) thanks again for showcasing this great splitter! I enjoy your wood pile videos!! Take care Sandy! Andrew from NB :)
hahha I was going to cut out a bunch of the hard starting but then figured ahhh what the heck haha.
@@sawingwithsandy I’m really glad you left it in for the entertainment valve Sandy, plus honestly (as you’ve shown) sometimes thats just the struggles that one faces when one goes to gear up for a day using equipment.. things happen like that on the job :). It was nice stopping by the woodyard today.. will see ya at the next location! Cheers! Andrew from NB :)
Already knew there would be no comparison in the two wood splitters but your Eastwood is awesome splitter and would make Splitwood fun for sure. I think the working height is a very big push also great video Sandy
Thanks for watching Jeff
When the old splitter kept dying; it seemed to me to be water in fuel and maybe also old fuel. There is something needs fixing if you have to pull many times. I have a fairly new generator, still under warranty I think. It started first time with one or two pulls. It should have continued to start straight away but soon required a dozen pulls, and it seemed to help if I tapped on the carb.. I found a tiny piece of factory debris in the fuel valve bowl, so I suspect a second piece made it to the carb.. The company sent me a new carb., stepper motor for the carb., and all gaskets. I have been busy, so haven't taken the time to replace the parts. Two power outages have occurred. Surprise this time; the generator started properly, repeatedly. Again, I am guessing, but it acts like the blockage passed or is stuck out of the way, lol
My point: If it isn't starting straight away, there is an issue. Sometimes stuff gets stuck and a spray of WD40 or a mild carb internal cleaner, into the air intake(before and after starting) frees up everything. Sometimes, as you did, adding gas or starter fluid into the intake will get things freed up so the carb starts drawing up some gas(hopefully new alcohol free, water free). Also lets you know there is spark.
Your machine acted like either dirt or water was getting sucked up. I use the best gas I can get and Lucas Oil's fuel conditioner, and their upper cylinder lube/injector cleaner oil. Even then, for many small engines, the gas expires sooner than I would like. I have taken to emptying out machines that will not be run for months. I then use up this gas in whatever I currently need gas for, and add new gas to my stuff only when needed.
gotta love that pickeroon!! have a troy-bilt for years then got a 37t ruggedsplit with log lift
Howdy Sandy- I could feel the frustration trying to start the older splitter. I had that same frustration trying to start my generator this morning and all it needed was spark lol. Your new splitter really works well. Take care and God bless
Some days the stubborn in me comes out and I pull longer than I should haha
@@sawingwithsandy Yeah, been there lol. Blessings
Down side to the “push through” design, if you have bigger pieces you have to continually drag the split pieces back to the pusher. That’s actually one thing I appreciate on the wedge through design, the big pieces are right there to be split again! To each their own I say. That eastonmade is defiantly a nice rig, and I wouldn’t say No to having one!
That's a good point Adam
100% correct, i much prefer the wedge for this exact reason. dragging big pieces back to split is much harder then tossing the smaller ones out of the way. not sure why people like the push through design on single split machines, push through is great for big commercial processors that are splitting entire rounds in one pass.
It’s that time again.
I’ve been pleased with results of buying a complete carb off Amazon vs rebuilding one.
Very informative video! I have the old style splitter like yours and never realized the difference in ergonomics with the pro splitter. Will look at ways to modify mine for now. Also would recommend you wear eye protection or face shield. Thanks for taking the time to get into the details.
Thanks David. yeah those ergos sure make the back a bit happier. Thanks or watching
Sandy, those two log splitters are like Apples to Oranges. You can't beat that Eastonmade .
For sure. That Eastonmade is certainly making life easier for me
Morning Sandy! Great comparison test...the Eastonmade definitely wins in so many ways. On a different note, I was watching Paul the Bearded Carpenter yesterday and he mentioned you in his vlog on helping him make his decision on buying his Woodland Mills mill. He is a humble and talented man. I suspect that you may see an uptake in views and subscribers. Greetings from Peterborough.
That’s great to hear Ken. I saw that video as well and appreciated his kind words
Hei Sandy…I’m a first timer, but watching because of my appreciation for, and the endorsement for you from, the bearded carpenter. I’m a hobbyist at best but I really enjoy watching how guys like you do what you do. My Woodlot activities, unfortunately, are only when I’m on vacation in northern Minnesota…I’ll be watching again…you are the latest on my “binge” list…Thank you!!! Buck…SW Michigan…
LOL I can relate with starting certain pieces of equipment. We run Ethanol Free fuel now in everything and it's been a lot better and things like string trimmers, blowers etc. are lasting 3 times as long before they need serviced. I would loose my mind if I had to wait that long to process wood. I have a Super Split and it's very fast and comfortable to use for hours but...things I don't like about it are when you get a piece wedged, it's wedged! and typically the push arm gets lodged as well and I have to bust out my Marshallton big mama jamma pry bar to free everything up and I can see things twisting. Only other thing is at any time even the thinnest sliver of wood will get jammed under the push arm plate and beam and freeze it up and you have to unbolt the block and free it up. This ULTRA has to be the best all around splitter ever made. The speed, power, durability and price in my opinion make it the best all around splitter on the market. I looked at Wolferidge, Bruteforce, All-American and a few others and Eastonmade ULTRA beat them on paper for everything. The only downfall would be how long it takes to get one! I ordered one last October (2022) and just got conformation of it being completed September 8th (2023). I do believe they came out with a video and he stated their production lead time is now down to 8-10 months instead of 12-14 months but from all the videos and positive things everyones said, it's worth the wait.
Thanks for the video. Having a splitter that can go vertical is nice for splitting the large diameter pieces that are way too heavy to lift.
That's a good point
You sir have way more patience than I have I would have said well guess that ones done after the 10 time trying to start it. Thanks for great video by the way. I laughed so hard with the dancing and music section. Sounds like you’re having carb problems and it is being compensated for by adjusting the governor. Take the carb of and put it in one of those ultrasonic parts cleaner 2 time cycles and put it back on.
No surprise here. Except for the unexpected exercice routine 😂 great machine
Hahah certainly a test in patiences
Sorry, it was actually incredibly entertaining watching you wrestle with the old log splitter. Glad you didn't give in. Love your videos.
hahha it's all good. I was laughing while editing it too
Thanks Sandy, that was entertaining
Great to hear that Marc. Thanks for coming along for the tour
The trouble with the non-adjustable tables is the pressure on your back, but a hydraulic hoist takes care of that. I like the tables on both of your machines, but the 3 pt hitch on my tractor-powered splitter allows adjustment of the working height, though the rig is slow. The guy who split up the beech and maple out of my woodlot loaded his 12' dump trailer 200 times from his little Crossfire splitter with an ancient 6.5 Honda. The twin cuts per stroke and the hydraulic lift table (as well as some serious skill) made him amazingly productive over the winter and spring.
Sounds like a great setup
Professional splitters are nice. But reality is the time spent splitting is one of the least time-consuming parts of splitting wood. Getting the rest of the operation more efficient is a bigger time saver. I see guys with Eastonmade's and they're dicking around moving rounds by hand/hand stacking etc etc. They should save the money on a professional splitter and buy a skidsteer or something, add a conveyor, totes etc etc. Also see guys slopping around in mud instead of making a nice, well-drained all-weather pad that keeps wood clean and allows easy vehicle access.
Gave me a good laugh when you thought about crushing the old splitter. A new engine with a few horsepower more and a change of hydraulic fluid and the old splitter would perform considerably quicker and much more reliable. The only advantage that I see that the old splitter has is that you don't need to lift the rounds as high. Good demonstration.
I think you're right Paul. The good feeling would ware off quick after crushing it so a new engine or new carb would likely be a better choice
Hey Sandy I see why you enjoy that Eastonmade so much, the only issue that I see with it the possibility of running out wood to split, lol. I would sure like to have one but it is not practical for me I only burn a cord or so a year at my cabin. Really enjoying your videos you have good content. All the best.
Haha I know what ya mean Wayne. With it being so fast my to do list is getting done faster than I’d like
After watching your videos about your Kioti, (finally got a CK 4010SE) I, "somewhat "caught up in your vast accumulation of videos, and now looking at saw mills, lol!
Splitting can be enjoyable if you have a machine that wants to run, but tech has improved in a lot of outdoor wood working machines.
Only problem I see is, the faster working machine, doesn't allow for as many "sluge" breaks!
Hey Bruce! That sure is a great tractor you’ve got there. Glad to hear you’re liking the sawing and splitting videos. I hear ya about the sludge!
@@sawingwithsandy Sandy, I'm a Sluge lover myself, and your vids on saw milling have been most helpful, in answering MANY questions on all aspects of milling! Keep up with what you're doing, and may the sluge always flow, lol!
Cheers Bruce, having a sludge as we speak again haha
The higher wedge on the Eastonmade also makes a big difference. A stroke limiter on that unit would cut cycle times even more, but hey what's the rush. Erin On.
Hi Anthony thanks for watching. I agree with ya that high wedge is nice and helps to get a nice clean split right through each piece. That thing is so fast sometimes I just watch it go back and think to myself...."it's waiting on me...better get moving" haha
Hi Sandy! The Eastern Made is a masterpiece. I hope it is as enjoyable to use as it is to watch it in action.
Sure is a great tool to use. I'm happy out using it everyday
Easton made*
Lord...I feel your pain! I go thru the exact same agonizing routine with my Karcher (Honda motor) Pressure Washer. When it runs, it runs beautifully...operative word here is "when". I'm still screwing with it, and haven't hit that point yet of ".... it", I'm buying a new one!
Hahaha I have a few pieces like that too
Great video!
Thanks! Hope you're keeping well
good video like going from a vega to a caddy. if you count starting time wasn't even a contest. i have a old northern kit one got new some time in late 1980s with a briggs 5 hp it has done well. changed hydra oil for first time this year. changed engine oil too should changed it 2 years ago. only thing i have replaced is pull rope. still starts on 3 pull most of the time. i think the new one will last as long as you do. i would love to have one of there axis splitter. you work they with a foot petal and they are really fast. thanks for video's. take care, be safe and well.
hahah starting time would've added like another 30minutes. sounds like a great engine you've got going there. I do like that axis as well. Sure looks likes an efficient splitter
Nice video…thanks! What is the name of the containers that you are putting your splits into? I’ve seen these on trucks with square plastic tanks in them but haven’t seen just the “cages”.
Hi Larry, those are called IBC totes. They’re quite pricey now a days but handy if you can find them cheap
@@sawingwithsandy Thanks…I’ll have to keep an eye out for them on ebay or Craigslist.
Still on the fence about getting the vertical.split wirh log lift . My question to you is how do you ge t the wood out of IBC tote do u tilt it over with forks.. 😮just wondering thanks
I do like that vertical splitter (Eastonmade Axis ex.). I"m thinking I"ll head that direction at some point. I just dump the IBC cage out with the tractor forks when I need the wood out
That Honda on the old splitter just needs some love
It’s sure been around the block. It’s actually a knock off Honda but still could use some attention for sure
On your old splitter, you probably need a new carburetor and a valve adjustment from that thing running at 5,000 rpm.
Aren't you glad you got all that done before this dump of snow?!?
Hope you're keeping warm 🔥☃️
Sure am! What a dumping we got here. Hope you’re able to get all cleared out
This video reminds me of the headstone in the graveyard that read ( his mower finally started on the 33rd pull)
I'm a DIY fixer upper guy. The short logspltters could be mounted on a homemade trailer just made from 2x4s and bolted together. Bigger tires and more weight and a wider axle stance. You could also add to the table either with wood or metal. Kind of a compromise. Me, if 3 pulls fail, I'll have starter fluid right away. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
That sounds like a great build right there!
P
Maybe he should do a little maintenance on the unit. I would run then.
I will stick to the old wood splitter that new one is to fast for an old guy like me . Happy splitting and be safe. From snow packed Ontario. 👍
Old one may end up getting a new engine
@@sawingwithsandy There ya go! Put a new harbor freight (or the Canadian equivalent) engine on that older splitter and sell it to an old guy like me.
Always nice when you throw a chunk of change at a tool or piece of equipment and it exceeds your expectations. So, did you get some of that snow from that massive storm? Are you ripping around on one of your snow machines or too busy digging out? A little jealous on the amount of snow but then again I won't be spending the next 2 weeks digging out. Take care Sandy! ❄👍✌
Hey Jill. Yeah lots of snow here now. Just out cleaning up as we speak. Will be getting out the sleds real soon. Hope the storm didn’t cause too much extra work for ya
@@sawingwithsandy No snow for us in NE Washington State, just cold 0 degree farenheit. Usually get what drops down out of Alaska. Have fun plowing!
I've had a Huskee 22ton ($650 in 2004) and now a Countyline 25 ton ($1250 in 2024) and they both work admirably, that old Huskee is still Goin' strong with all original parts and having split 10-20 cord each year I've owned it.. always starts easy, actually on the 1st pull after sitting all winter this year. I dont like the push-through design its a pain to have to pull the big halfed round back to split it into manageable pieces.. the C.L 25ton has worked great, way faster and more powerful than the Huskee thanks to the 14gpm pump and 4.5" cylinder and its too soon to say wether it'll last long-term like the Huskee but for the price it cant be beat
That Ultra a nice-looking splitter. It's probably the one I would get if mine ever went completely kaput.
I'm finding it's a great step into the commercial word of splitters
i have the wolfridge inverter splitter for my bobcat and a tractor supply 25 ton for smaller stuff. both work great for what i do.$4 grand for both. wolfridge is good company gave me military discount of 5%.
Sounds like a great setup
Might as well enjoy the experience of splitting wood, a task that used to be a lot of work with the splitting axe. Nothing is cozier than a warm home heated by a wood stove from all that wood the EastonMade Wood Splitter processed so easily.
The first is roaring right now in the house and sure is nice
Do you run nonethanol gas? I have a Troybilt splitter and I have it in blocks to bring it up to my height.
Hi Randie, I do run non ethanol in my small engines
The major difference between the two: 5 grand, 6 grand Canadien. Mine has a Honda engine, starts first pull every time (use non ethanol fuel and shut off fuel when done so carb is dry). Most want a unit that you can also stand up for heavy pieces.
There was a used Eastonmade Axis with the conveyor for sale in Southern Ontario 3 months ago. $15,000, some days I kick myself for not buying it. I have no use for the conveyor but that is my splitter of choice and they never come for sale used.
They sure are slick looking. I've not tried one but saw it being built at Eastonmade factory and was jealous
Hi Sandy ; is there an oil filter on the Ultra? I was just doing my first oil change and I just can’t find it. Thank you.
Great question, I don't believe there is on this unit unless I missed it as well
@@sawingwithsandy Ok. Thank you .
When was the last time you worked on the primer or adjusted the carburator or cleaned the gas tank? It might just need a tune up.
I gave the carb on the old engine a good cleaning probably two months ago. Can't seem to find the problem with it. Going to likely buy a new carb for it to see what happens.
Where did/ you get your IBC totes from?
Nice splitter it would be cool to have a dock just a bit higher than the ibc cage so the wood could just get push off into the cage by the machine
In manufacturing we live and die by cycle-time for commodity production. That fast cycle makes all the difference. Keep up the good work👍-Andy
Sure helps get the wood piled quick that's for sure. But then I"m back to doing more of the chore list haha
Have a GX200 Honda on my Splitfire and barely ever have to run it much faster than a high idle. I’ve never ran it wide our or even close to it.
My old splitter engine has some pre existing problems so have to run it a bit higher at times
A Harbor Freight Predator engine and you have a great spare!
I agree with ya 100% there David
“It’s well maintained “ then fights to get it running 😂😂
Well maintained, not well running 😉
HAHAAHAHAAHAAHA (Sorry) Thanks Sandy.
Nice review between the Old vs New routine.
Being 6'4" I got tired of lifting the logs so I split 100% vertical. Back the splitter to the pile and sit in one spot and split away.
Mike M.
I like that way of doing this Mike. I'd likely do the same.
As always I enjoyed this video although it really isn't a fair comparison. Your old highly-modified splitter is a tired old rig. Perhaps with a carb rebuild it would be easier to start. Unless I missed it you don't mention the splitting power of either unit. Eastonmade doesn't on thier website for the Ultra either. That older unit of yours looks like it's in the 25 ton size bracket but I'm no expert at visually sizing these things. You can get one of those most anywhere for between $1100 and $1300 u.s. brand new. The Eastonmade is sitting at $4600 according to the website. You could literally buy 4 of the smaller units for the same price. So as you mention having helpers you could run two of the cheaper units at the same time for half the acquisition cost. Also, I've used the tilt feature on my Countyline 40 ton splitter a bunch. I've had rounds from the trunk of a black walnut tree that weighed hundreds of pounds. Way too much to lift onto a horizontal splitter even with my tractor. If I were in the firewood business I might be able to realize a cost benefit to the professional model but it would take a long time for a personal model. One could always raise the smaller budget splitter on some sort of platform to ease back fatigue. Thanks for your excellent content.
Thanks for watching Paul. Just wanted to compare a homeowner splitter vs a commercial splitter. That old engine sure needs some work. It's been having troubles with idle, linkages, carb for over a year. Haven't had a chance to change out that engine but may be coming soon. Where I live the cost of a homeowner splitter is a bit more than where you live but overall the Eastonmade is def a few thousand more. Would have to weigh out time savings/ergonomics with cost for sure. Thanks again for watching
Nice comparison
Thanks!
I'm considering a splitter. I'm not going to be doing it for a living and I'm not going to be heating my entire home with wood but, need a good, reliable splitter to make a decent amount of firewood each year (and is easy on an older man's worn-out body...lol). Is buying one like some of the other tools where you should get the biggest you can afford? Glancing at what's out there it ranges from the itty-bitty 5 ton on up to the 35+ ton and price ranges are just as big so, what recommendations, features to look for... would you advise for someone like myself? Thanks
Hi Roger. I think a lot depends on the amount of money you want to spend and the amount of time you want to spend splitting wood. My old splitter did me really well for years but it was quite a bit more time to get the wood split compared with a splitter like my new Eastonmade Ultra. I find the ergonomics is the big difference with the new splitter of mine that would make me lean towards it if I had the funds available at the time of purchase. Also since I do split a lot of wood I find that it makes for an easier decision since it's so much faster. Another thing to consider is how you'll load logs onto the splitter and the general size of the logs you'll be cutting up. If you can lift them by hand that works well but if you don't have a piece of equipment like a tractor you'll want to look at things like log lifts likely. Many people will tell you about tonnage rating on their splitter but the truth is I've never had any splitter not be able to split the common hardwoods that I've got around me like Elm, Oak, Maple, Ash, Cherry, etc. Some people who have super exotic wood that they are splitting may say otherwise but I haven't even come close to not being able to split a log
@@sawingwithsandy Ok, so tonnage is not that big of a consideration I take it. By that I mean a middle of the road 20+ ton would split anything I need (the vast majority would be oak and hickory). I have a tractor but don't have a problem with picking up the firewood length logs myself.
Also wanted to know if there were any features I should look for or avoid or if there were any particular types of structural things to look for or avoid. Things like the ability to split both vertical and horizontal, or the cycle speed...
If it came down to two units I’d buy the one with the higher tonnage but I’ve also heard manufacturers give tonnage ratings that seemed a bit higher than what the math says. My older splitter actually has a slight bend in the i beam and so I’d say as strong if an I beam as possible or a different design like the Eastonmade with the box steel. Besides that if you can lift the rounds I’d say a nice wide table up at the splitter helps avoid having wood fall off onto the ground. Sometimes manufacturers have firewood trays to keep the wood right in place. One big thing for me is cycle time. I like a faster cycle time
Be been seeing a few super splitter videos.
I wonder how that machine and the eastonmade ultra would do side by side ??
They do look like nice units. Would like to give one a try sometime
Never was a picker on fan. Figured I’d just wind up dropping a round on my toes
The 4 way splitter is always a plus in my books
For sure. I really like using it as well
@@sawingwithsandy Yes, The 4 way is not only for splitting, but it help the log not to slide up on the splitter
You could have put in the 4 way splitter and sped up even more. The new splitter has so much power it is effortlessly pushing through anything you ask it it. The old splitter seems a tad underpowered sometimes.
For sure. That 4 way is a great add on
Hello Sandy, redo this vid when the Eastonmade has the same or near the same hours and age as the other splitter, I bet the old one has done some hard work too, and did it well compared to a maul or sledge & wedge,( an engine repower and hydraulic cylinder, change hyd oil and filter may bring it up some.) my point being, You have stepped forwards every time ,made improvements in power and efficiency, When you look back at what you used to do, the previous results look rather puny.
For sure will keep everyone updated as the splitter gets more and more use. Sure is finding a good spot here in my tool cillection
A good carb cleaning would probably do wonders after a compression test the way you start that older engine wide open. Probably wore it out no compression until it's so warm to help it fire off
Let your equipment warm up before going wide open.. give it a few years your newer one will more than likely be the same way of starting.
Unfortunately the linkages are all broke it bent on this engine from previous damage from a snow fall so doesn’t allow much throttle control anymore
I often edit out warm up of my equipment
I'm surprised you are not shoveling snow left and right just yet!
As of this morning I am haha. Sure got a blast of winter yesterday
Everything you dont like about the small unit you can change, also a larger motor and pump, add a work table and raise it up as well as change the ram and splitter position. The smaller unit can be made to compeat with the other one.
But is it worth the money to upgrade it, or do you just sell it to someone looking for a splitter who doesn't have one?
For sure. Will have to weigh out the pros and cons for sure
That’s what I did
Sandy, what is the tonnage rating for the ultra?
14tonne
Lol, not quite a fair comparison with that tired old machine. Even the feed rate seems quite slow on that. But you can definitely see the speed on that larger machine. I have been looking at the Kinetic machines with as low as 1 second cycle time.
I do use the horizontal/vertical though quite often on my log splitter when working with larger oak rounds. But that Easton Made has some serious advantages. I do notice my back hurts when splitting for a while. More height would help a lot. And that large table is a serious bonus.
On the big box splitter the wedge pushes the wood against the stop plate. The opposite occurs on the EastonMade. Why???
On the big box store one it splits in vertical position too so they put wedge on the ram for that
Having the wedge on the cylinder is asking for trouble imo....I rented a couple before building mine, and all of the force is against the solid back plate....meaning that if a log "pops", it comes firing back at you with tons of force. Happened a few times and left some nasty bruises. I built my splitter like the Eastonmade (but waaay slower cycle time) with the pusher on the cylinder and the knife mounted at the end. Log pops fire away from you this way, so it's much safer.
You need to adjust the valves on the first splitter. It doesn't sound like it has any compression and the pull starter on it needs looked at. The hydrolic side of yhr splitter seems good but that engine has been rode hard and put away wet to many times.
Yeah seems like it's got some work needed for sure Chuck . I"m hoping to put some time into it before long and bring it back into order soon
It helps if the splitter Will actually start. Get it running correctly and change hydro oil and filter, that’s a good starting point.
Yeah for sure Mike. This old splitter has been giving me trouble for well over a year.
What kinda money for axis
That looks like a Honda, might need a carb rebuild, just had to do that to a 4 year old honda on one of my splitters, I have an 18year old Briggs Intek I have never had to do anything to and it cranks within 3 pulls every season and every usage.
Hey Randall. Thanks for watching. It's a Honda knock off but sure does need a rebuild. Think I"ll see about getting that done over the winter to breathe some life back into it.
I enjoyed the video.
Great to hear that David. Thanks for watching
Don't know how many hours you have on that old engine, but you might be surprised what it can do if you just change the rings and head gasket, replace the spark plug and the plug wire, and give it a good internal cleaning.
What log hook are you using?
It looks like a Fiscars Hookaroon. 'Nice tool.
With the new splitter I don't think you will be using the old one much unless you feel like you need the exercise lol
Now here some to make you smile don't you have a relative or friend that always want to borrow things or try to buy things from you that is the one you let them borrow or sell to them lol specially if they are not in your favorite group of people that would be a good way to get a satisfaction to see them struggle to make it start have a great day
hahahah I'll probably put it up for sale at some point in the future
I guess put it santas list its better.to have both lol . Iam still on the fence on getting the vertical over thr horizontal. But either one is great .iam using a country line 30ton box store brand cant wait to upgrade .
hahah always better to have both
LMAO Good thing you did not include the start time in the comparison...I have an old, very old snow blower with a no go attitude like that. Some times it is faster to just shovel the driveway. LOL
hahah you can say that again. It would've been an extra 30 minutes.
All are better than splitting by hand with an axe! As long as they run I am for them. Have used a variety of brands and never cursed a one!
I’m with ya on that one!
Would have been nice if that Easton had a foot activate pedal so you could free up another hand while splitting.
Would be neat to try. I’ve never seen a horizontal splitter with a foot pedal before
Great Camparison
Thanks Doyle
hahha it's all good. I got a good chuckle out of editing it as well
Anything for your fans lol in the beginning I was losing it …..lol. Thanks. Craig Pa
hahah I figured it was worth a laugh haha
Hahaha...I don't think you would have been as patient as you were if this had not been a comparison video...lol
Haha I agree. I was thinking about just driving over the old splitter and calling it a day
Time to move the old one on, the ultra is your go to now
I agree Jeff. I'll probably breathe a bit of life into the old one for a bit longer than retire it
I use the old blockbuster unless tackling white gum. A blockbuster just bounces off that. A hydraulic log splitter is the only answer for them lol. The blockbuster probably explains why my hands are arthritic now.
Sure are handy units to have around
Just for argument
For someone doing say sub 10 cord a year.
An upgraded gpm pump and going from a 3/4" to 1" shaft higher hp engine.
.
Would make its speed somewhere between 8 to 14 seconds depending on how many things change.
As well as a lower cost then a hole new machine.
But i agree, the table and working height are noteworthy advantages as well.
Some upgraded parts would help the old splitter out for sure. I did consider doing that but ultimately I’d have to change nearly everything including hoses, valve, engine, but I still wouldn’t be able to get to the quality and features of the Eastonmade. Things I couldnt change added up real quic like like hydraulic tank, axles, wheels/tires, usher vs wedge position, table height, hitch position just made it an easy decision
What do you want for the old splitter?
Hey Ron, haven't fully decided on selling it yet
I have a basic 22 ton simple splitter from fleet farm. There is nothing it can't split and it flips vertical for some huge rounds I get. How you operate and take care of your splitter is much more important than the type. Watching someone operate it inefficiently like you were doing drives me crazy.
Thanks for watching. You'll have to go back and check out some of my older videos to see how the older splitter came to be. It's be a bear for years unfortunately.
At 6:19 I would’ve just taken your word for it that there’s a big difference. Way to power through it
Thanks for watching
Hi Sandy how’s your mini excavator going really looking forward to seeing it in action 😊
Hey Jeffrey just wrapping up the next video on it. All going well with it
Hello Sandy. ".......It's probably because I enjoyed the rest after pulling the pull handle like 20 times". I stopped counting after 50 pulls. Is it possible to access the nut beneath the pull cord cover. A cordless drill might work. I think the slowness of the cycle time is due to the hydraulic pump. If it were changed, it might be faster, but why, you already have a good splitter. At worst, if you removed all parts, you might have the makings for a small trailer. By the look of some of the pieces of wood, you must have a large wood stove for the house. Have good days!
I’m thinking a replacement engine may be in order for the old one. Yeah I’ve got a pretty good size wood stove
With the taller wedge I've cut slabs and then cut two into four in one stroke.
If only manufacturers wold put a clutch on their machines, they would start another easier.
I was waiting to see the 4 way wedge. Se la vie.
Hey Rick. Be sure to check out my other woodsplitter videos to see the 4 way wedge in action. Wanted to keep it to single wedge to keep it somewhat similar
Sandy did you ever look at the split fire splitters?
I have an Ultra on order but Eastonmade wants to charge me $5500 to ship it to Alberta. I can get a split fire all tricked out for the price of the ultra out of Alberta
Hey Scott! I did look at super split but ended up liking the quality I saw in the Eastonmade with the commercial grade parts. I wonder if it’s worth it to drive and pickup the splitter to save some money? The speed and working height so found to be real nice on the ultra as well which sold me
@@sawingwithsandy i pondered the drive but it would be over 7000 km round trip so pulling a trailer the gas cost and time and wear and tear on my vehicle I’m not saving much
The height I get although the split fire does have an option to take it up to 32”
Anyways maybe you could do a review of the split fire 3465, being that it is an Ontario company and for us guys in western Canada the shipping and time to wait for an eastonmade is a big barrier
Funny enough I never heard of crossfire till I saw your video yesterday on the log loader. When I called an alberta dealer for a price he told me about splifire
Anyways please keep up the great videos, we are moving out to our offgrid homestead in July and you have been a huge inspiration man
That’s great to hear about the move Scott and I’ll for sure keep in mind the splitter. Hope your winter out west there is going good . All the best
@@sawingwithsandy thanks Sandy
What brand of engine is that?
Hey Steve, I'm not too sure what the old engine is. It's an offshore engine but not sure of the brand.
In the old boys defense. He probably would have performed better if the crab was cleaned and fresh gas put in. I never have trouble starting any of my equipment but I also have a specific way of starting so 5 pulls gets it every time if not sooner.
For sure. I’ve tried cleaning it a few times and haven’t been able to get it going so probably will buy a new carb as a last resort
@@sawingwithsandy did you try changing the size of your jet depending on what the elevation is it might want less gas.
@@sawingwithsandy also don’t start it with choke on. So the process i do is choke off fuel on. Pull 3 times quick back to back. turn choke on. 3 pulls and that almost always get it. If not. Pull 10 times max with choke on. Then choke off and pull till it starts. If over 20 pulls total. Get starter fluid to start up the vacuum
Last night on craigslist, a guy had a 25T Countryline & a 22T Husky for sale 2-fer package deal for $750. Said the Husky won't stay running. These machines looked like they were purchased not long ago no rust or wear etc. The combined price of these new is $1600 +$1000 = $2600. Checked my bank for funds and in the meantime the ad was removed. Someone scooped them up immediately. I need to find one with problems and cheap. I can repair anything....won't weld my mower blades back together.
I know the feeling. I’ve had a few times where I missed a good deal for whatever reason. Frustrating for sure
Never ever seen a Honda that hard to start
The old splitter there has a Honda-clone engine (not a Honda but one that looks like it). It's had some issues over the years for sure