While we're on the subject of turning trees into heat, I'd like to pick a few brains. I'm looking at getting a splitter and this one has my eye...https://www.logsplittersdirect.com/YardMax-YU3566-Log-Splitter/p68198.html?icn=PED&icl=product+page
After doing some reading, this is probably a bit oversized for my needs. However, I feel the price increase from a "standardish" 20- 25 ton to this is fairly small.
This one has a Briggs engine so parts, if needed, should be easily sourced.
To help with efficiency, it has what I believe is a fast cycle time compared to others.
After reading some of the reviews the only complaints seemed to be that it has a heavy tongue weight.
I don't think this company offers a 4-way adaptor for the wedge, but I don't know if that's something that most folks use anyway...???
It will be getting used for wood for our fireplace insert and our daughter's "new to them" stove.
Another reason for looking at this size over a smaller one is that we will be splitting... the cost of it with them. It makes it so we can both have one in this higher grade for the cost of a basic one.
Are there any other things I should be considering while shopping for a splitter?
Keep reading everything you can about the make/model splitter you're shopping. Like forums for guns like ours, there are vast communities that talk about splitters, saws, axes, etc. You'll see a bunch of different opinions but should see a trend on the one your shopping as well as other options that may suit you better. Keep in mind some people abuse the crap out of their tools and then write bad reviews.
I did no research 3 years ago and bought a Menards Forrest King 22 ton splitter because it was on sale. I later learned that they stopped carrying it because of all the problems customers reported. Fortunately, ours has had zero problems, no leaks and the OG can start it on the first pull every time. I run stabilized gas through it always.
I think you'll be glad with going bigger. We sometimes wish ours was bigger but that is only when we are trying to split 30" oak rounds. I like having the option to switch between horizontal and vertical but don't use the vertical much at all (but we don't split rounds bigger than 30" anyway).
We wish ours had a bigger shelf (ours looks just like the ones on the YardMax you're looking at), that would save us a lot of time and muscle but I've not found one for it.
If you plan on routinely splitting rounds that are 12" in diameter & larger, get a 4-way wedge. It's save you a ton of cycles and time.
That's all I can think of right now. Good luck!
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