Today we’re taking a look at why somebody might opt for a commercial log splitter vs and residential log splitter. Comparing the Eastonmade 12-22 to the YardMax 25 ton
You hit it by accentuating the human effort. Yes “only” twice as fast time-wise regarding the actual splitting but just watching you and your dad (I’m guessing) it looked like you were just hanging out with the commercial one and actually working with the home one
Good morning Adam, good comparison of the two types of splitters. The bigger one by Easton is definitely the better of the two splitters but taking that big step when you have to finance it is something that you have to think about. The big thing is your health and being able to work the next day. Younger strong folks don’t consider that early enough in life’s journey and injure themselves to soon! Health and well being should be a big factor in purchasing a life changing piece of equipment. Work smarter not harder pays in the long run!! Thanks for sharing with with us.
Wow that was awesome. My back won't allow me to work in a bent over position. Youre new splitter i could stand and split all day long. That's one mean machine. Thank you for showing this.
Yeah it’s tough. I mean if you have smaller rounds you can split in the horizontal position and your back won’t bother you too bad but once you start getting into that vertical position it takes its toll
I used to have a splitter where you were bent over the whole time. It worked good for me , but it’s hard to work bent over. Good info Adam , thanks for sharing
That’s probably my biggest gripe about the residential splitter is having to work bent over on the bigger pieces. And on the really big ones the smaller wedge head isn’t tall enough to fully bust them open. Happy New Year Dave!
Good comparison and comments. The health of your back is a big factor. Once injured, lasts a long time. I had one chunk that took a whole tank of gas to split on horizontal 22 ton splitter, several visits to chiropractor afterwards.
I have that exact logsplitter. The Yardmaxx 25 ton. Mine also came from Family Farm and Home. It's a ok splitter. It's slow and I wish the pushplate was on the cylinder and the the wedge was on the other side. You get what you pay for. Have a Great Day , GOD BLESS
Nice job Adam, great comparison details! I got the opportunity to run a commercial log splitter last week, Oh my I'm still dreaming about that thing lol! The older I get the harder things are to get accomplish, in price consideration they are expensive but truly worth it! I bet your dad enjoyed that big splitter, hey buddy keep up the great videos and thanks for sharing 👍
Hey Dave thanks, yeah my dad is blown away by it. So is everybody else I have over to the house to show it to. My buddies who cut firewood just start laughing at how impressive it is
Rule number one for wood splitter operations: one person operates and feeds the splitter. One person feeding it while another operates the controls is a good way for somebody to lose some fingers. I know somebody who did just that. And one of my sons once had way too close a call in a similar situation. Be safe my friend! BTW, I know this comment is on an older video, but I just recently discovered your channel, and now I am binge watching!
Glad I found this video! I have a 30 ton 'residential'. That other thing is awesome. A few years ago I ended up with a bruise on my thigh about 8 inches across from trying to position a large green log with my splitter vertical. If the big one is twice as fast, twice as safe, three times as cool and at least 10 times better on your back then 10 grand seems quite reasonable all of a sudden.
I was you 2 years ago. Sitting on CZcams watching people do this kind of stuff. If you want it bad enough, make it happen. We bought this property December of 2018 and haven’t looked back.
You and your father are a great team, one other benefit with the commercial splitter is that with the deck you can lode into your bucket or change with out having to bend over to pick up the wood, good video
I have to agree completely about the log lifter. I wrestled with large rounds splitting vertically once and it was terrible. I just picked up my splitter yesterday and hopefully will get a video out soon. Great job on the video brother.
Cool video Adam. I like seeing how you're carving out your YT niche with all this firewood content. You're really building your firewood stash! Happy New Year, buddy. Take care.
Hey Phil, thanks! It’s not 100% intentional but there’s really not much else to do this time of year with the tractor or property and it’s a great time of year to process firewood since it’s cool out. Happy New Year!
Congratulations for your work! I watched almost all your videos the last weeks and enjoyed it very much. The only thing I was very surprised about was to realize how long it took you to add some leg cutting protection to your equipment. Great you had your helmet from the beginning, but I personally consider the leg protection even more important and highly recommend everone to have it on all the time using a chainsaw!
Your filming was fantastic, and your editing was great! You made some very valid points that I learned the hard way splitting for a small tree company with cheap log splitters. I ended up touching the same piece of wood like ten times, compared to the three times handling it with that commercial splitter. I thought sitting on a log while splitting was best, I was wrong (this is splitting a cord a day, not your at home guy with his electric log splitter getting a couple logs for winter).. Turns out there is no way to do it without stressing some part of your body. That commercial log splitter by far will save your body some serious wear. Your comment on "ease of use on operator" is the most accurate comment you could have mentioned. You should see the old timer splitting on his $300 gas splitter I work with time to time. He can't stand up straight. I went back to splitting by hand, it feels so much better long term.. I made what I call a "splitting ring" and fit multiple logs in it, Yes it's slower but unless I'm going big on a log splitter there is not point. Learned that lesson on a wood chipper. Never go small.
First, If you wear chainsaw chaps when splitting wood you are able to work on your knees to split firewood. Use a Peavey / cant hook to move the bucks/ blocks of wood to the splitting plate. I wanted to give thanks for the video. Other videos about the Yardmax splitter solidified my purchase of of the 25 ton model.
Hi Adam. I seen on another video, for the vertical splitter. The guy built a wooden floor out of 2 by. It was in a U shape and set around the part that sits on the ground to make a flat surface instead of holding the wood up on the end of the splitter. Looked like a good idea.
The biggest time-saver is the multi-split wedge. The Eastonmade Ultra can out perform even the best kinetic splitters on the market because of the 4-way wedge. Possibly 2:1 and that is just wood that you can lift without a log lift. The back injuries alone that the log lift saves is what I'm looking for. Might only get the Eastonmade 5-11 model or some other brand, but it definitely will have the log lift.
Great comparison . When I do things I don't look at time . I don't have the lawn mower in the fastest speed to cut the grass . I'm not in the fast lane while driving to get some place faster . I take my time in doing everything . So time wise doesn't mean much to me . That Eastonmade splitter is great . Don't like the 6 way wedge . Just too much going on there . I think the 4 way is best . It seems to have a cleaner split . It would be very hard for me to swallow the $10,000 price tag . If you're commercial , yes but for a regular home owner , wow that's a lot of coin . You can get log lifts under $500 that screw into the round . It also can hold the off set piece off to one side until to need to put it in position to split . This way you're not wrestling the split pieces . It all depends on the size of your bank account and how much you are willing to spend . You can get 30T splitters for $1000 these days on sale . That means at least 8 splitters for 1 Eastonmade . If I was commercial I would get the Eastomade because it wouldn't take long to get your money back . For the guy who only burns a few cord a year I'll stick with the other splitter . One thing .... that Eastonmade is made in Canada . It's not made of cheap parts . It's a quality splitter made from quality parts .
That thing looks like a lot of fun. I’ve looked at a splitter multiple times but just don’t have enough need for one to justify the expense. I am jealous of the snow you’ve been getting!
Hey thanks Jeremy, we haven’t really been getting anything to stick around for longer than a day or 2. We’ll get like 3-5” of snow and then 2 days later it’s 40 degrees and sunny and everything melts and makes a muddy mess. Hard to get anything down outside right now
Hometown Acres muddy messes are the down side of snow, best I can remember! It’s been a few years since we’ve had a measurable snowfall here. Looks like you’re getting a lot of wood split - that splitter is a beast!
You could always sit down when splitting vertically, so your not bent over all day. Also not letting the wedge return all the way up every time saves you time
Happy New Year Adam. Good comparison of the two splitters, would be interesting against an axe as well. I just cut the big rounds in half pick them up with the tractor and slide them onto the splitter so always work in the horizontal position, its not fast but way easier on the body . The log lift just makes it look easy.
I have a 34 ton splitter made by Speeco. It has plenty of power, but cycles pretty slowly. I hate using it in the vertical position, as it is a real pain in the back stooping over the whole time. Several years ago I built a stand that is level with the splitter, to put the rounds on. I recently bought a backhoe that has a hydraulic thumb on it. Now THAT is the easy way to lift those heavy rounds!
If you're making money selling firewood so you'll be doing a lot of cutting and splitting the commercial one would pay for itself over time. But if you're just cutting wood for yourself it's really not worth the extra money. And if you're having to work by yourself it's still hard to get some of those big rounds to the splitter let alone lifting them up. Splitting on the ground works for some of us but I see your point
A good comparison between the two. I agree with you that it is not only about speed (although important). However, I think the cost versus the application is an important consideration for sure. Generally, if I was only splitting 10 bush cord a year I wouldn't pay for a commercial splitter but, if I was splitting 50 bush cord a year, I wouldn't buy a residential splitter. Important to match the grade and quality of the equipment to it's purpose and application, I think. (unless of course money is not an issue). All the best to you and your family for 2020, HA!
Hi Adam I would like to ask you what is the brand of the protective orange jeans that you are wearing? where you can buy them? Thank you very much for your answer. BTW great channel
With my experience I have had 3 expensive commercial log splitters as well as a dirty hand tools I purchased from Lowe's I have broke the commercial log splitters but the cheap 20-ton dirty hand tools is still going sometimes the commercial log splitter hangs up on knotty wood but the cheap $1,000 dirty hand tools plows right through it may be slower but it's very tough don't underestimate the homeowner log splitters
Iots of comments on bending over in the vertical position, I only use the vertical to make the big pieces smaller, then I split them into the size of firewood I want. I think that is so much easier, but I don't see anyone doing that. Try it I think it is a lot better for your body. I split about 1/2 cord of the large rounds to a manageable sizes, then I switch to the horizontal position to split into the size that I want.
I made my own wood splitter with an electric engine so like that I can work inside the garage when its cold outside. Like that I dont need ears protection and its warmer to work. It can be -30f in quebec
@@HometownAcres I have a small electric splitter. I just put a tarp under it, then pull all the waste outside. It is amazing though, how much is just dust.
I think having the box wedge and the pull back attachment would really amplify the difference between the homeowner grade stuff and the commercial. Makes short work out of even very large rounds with those on there and low effort from the operator once they get the round onto the lift.
The true comparison upu made is splitter position and wedge design. You compared a vertical single wedge to a horizontal with a 6 way, and a log lifter to boot. I am building a horizontal multi wedge myself right now because it will be faster by design and easier on my aging frame. I'm building it from an existing splitter with a log lifter because I can and it won't cost me what these commercial splitters cost. I personally think they are marked up too high, worth it to some but priced out of what most can justify spending.
Great demonstration Adam! You made very valid points of the benefits. That sure is a nice machine, do you find yourself using either wedge more so than the other? Thanks buddy, take care!
Yea, it was a choice between Easton made and Wolferidge. They both are awesome splitters, the deciding factor was Wolferidge was very slightly cheaper and the shipping was way cheaper and no border fees. Im on the far west coast in the US...
I would like to add a commercial splitter to my setup one day in future. I will have to still use my Dirty Hands 27 ton tho. Reason being is most of the rounds I work with have to be set into splitter with skid steer ! Most stuff we do is 30 to 48* sometimes bigger!
I have noticed in almost all of these commercial splitters with the 4 or 6 way wedges, the splits are messy/stringy. In the vertical split machines like this Yardmax or even a commercial vertical splitter like a Powersplit, the operator does have to keep turning the wood but the split pieces are much neater splits & just have a more crisp look, if that makes sense.
We have the Wolfe Ridge 28 Pro and Love It! We had a Husky 27 Ton and I told the wife this. I'm not getting any younger, the Wolfe Ridge picks up those big rounds that you would wrestle around with other splitters, and what is your time worth to you.
@@HometownAcres The wife was on board fairly quick as she helps me cut and split usually. They do come with a price tag, but I know 3 guys who have messed their backs up trying to lift blocks, so that's the payback in my opinion. Great splitters though. Hands down to Wolfe Ridge, Easton Made, and all the others with build quality like these.
Oh!...one other side note for people using a combination horz/vert. To save their back from working in the vertical position is to just pinch the log in the vertical position then pull the splitter beam back to the horizontal position and finish splitting the log. Of course this is not feasible with pieces bigger than say 20” cause the weight gets too heavy to over come to lay splitter back horizontally. And if you get it to the horizontal position ready to split, this only works well if you have tables on both sides of the beam.
It may have been "only " 2 minutes faster........but multiple that buy the 50 rounds you had sitting there........days.....weeks....years it's alot of time.
@@HometownAcres It's not just the time... look at your bent over back with the first splitter... I can't imagine a person (let alone your father) surviving much of that. If you are talking pure $$$$ then make sure you add chiropractic bills to your cheap splitters cost figures...
Just check the link, just had my other hip replaced, did start with looking at the yardmax, now one with a log lift, I split 10-15 cords, and help my father in law, I need to save my back and new hips ,I am looking at the 12-22 a lot of money but what is quality of life and time with family and grandkids.
I wonder if a person could get a splitter and just split for other people and make a little money? It would save them from buying one and if I wanted to maybe hook up with a tree service. Thank you for your thoughts.
I was wondering how long you cut your rounds. My wood stove only takes 16” pieces so I buck my rounds to that size. My Stihl MS311 has a 20” bar and is a lot lighter but just as effective as the Stihl 038 AV Super I had for 25 years. Your Husky looks heavy. It obviously gets the job done.
I usually shoot for 16” but I don’t really measure except for eyeballing with my 20” bar. Sometimes I get 15” sometimes I get 18” but my stove will take up to 18 so I don’t have to be precise. I like cutting to 16” so I have some extra wiggle room
I've split 5 cords through it so far. Does what I need it to. czcams.com/users/postUgkxUyQswtttSffRMblGbrhCvZn7JkhtG1-7 I scrounge all my firewood and am not equipped to handle big wood, but for logs up to 24 inch diameter or so, it works great. I've been amazed by some of the gnarly bur oak and elm crotches it has split. For the tougher stuff within it's size range, you might have to study the piece a bit to decide the best attack, but if you split smart it's up to the job. It did arrive low on oil, and I was would have nicked it half a star for that, but it has regained my full confidence. UPDATE NOVEMBER 2021: Still going strong after all these years. I love the one-handed operation. Hope it's still in production if I ever need to replace it
They both needed the same splitting head for it to be a good comparison. The eastonmade did it five times faster than it could have, it needs a single vertical blade to compare to the other one.
@@dethmaul did you watch the video? The single wedge splitter slowed down on big logs with the single wedge. The commercial splitter didn't slow that much splitting with the multi head. Clearly the commercial is far faster. With smaller logs the cycle time could be faster on the residential but at that point, why split the wood at all?
I love these real life demo's, I'm shopping for a new splitter and so far Easton seems to have the best features, I just have a hard time swallowing the 10k usd for it, but I know you get what you pay for here, is there any type of metal rubbing / warping / paint chipping on the underside of the I beam?
The splitters are powder coated and it seems extremely durable I would suggest you see one in person you won't be disappointed ,as a bonus my 12-22 is very good on fuel
If your not doing commercial splitting go for the one of the other 2 units below the 12-22. Same frame just a smaller hydraulic system. If you want the auto cycle than I would consider the 12-22 as its standard. I have the 12 - 22 and it's always waiting for me in single push wood. It's really is a great splitter, once you see it in person you will understand the price tag. Is it worth it....only you can decide that for yourself. I had the same issue with the price but now if I had to do it again I would go after the 22-28. Almost nothing stops that beast and it will do the 12 way. I suspect they will hold there value over the years as well.
$11,500 vs $1250 of course there's a vast difference. I'm not selling firewood- so the choice is a "well duh" for me. but if the wrong one showed up I wouldn't be calling the manager either
Also silly pushing split wood off wedge and tray instead of letting next piece clear it instead of immediately putting that next piece through it. Actually faster than the demonstration. And 1 person could do that vs 2 on the homeowner special.
I sit on a log so I’m not bent over it makes life easier by utilizing your legs to hold logs up close to the beam and stuff like that. But yeah that Easton would be a whole lot easier !
@@HometownAcres The Yardmax because it more affordable and I'm not the firewood business - except to keep warm in the winter. I'm getting next winters firewood in right now using my brother's Craftsman 19 Ton splitter.
I know one thing for fact . there ain't noone getting close to me while I'm using my saw . I ain't getting within 10 feet of someone elses saw . check out some wounds from hospital pics . you will agree .
I apologize if I hurt your feelings. I really enjoy your videos. I'll be 70 in January, and have just finished my wood pile for this coming winter. About 80% pignut hickory, all split with a axe, sledge and wedge. It's getting harder every year. If I could afford it I would have a splitter too. Sometime pick up a 100 lb barbell, then pick up a 100 lb bag of grain.
Isn't the real issue how much time you spend using the log splitter? If you are using the residential style splitter less than 20 hours a year and virtually never in the vertical position the cost benefit analysis of the commercial splitter would be less favourable. However if you are spending 20 days or more per year using the splitter the better machine would be a no-brainer.
Eastonmade is the better horizontal log splitter. Powersplit is the better vertical splitter. Eastonmade and Powersplit have videos showing their splitters compared to an inferior model I would like to see a comparison video between the Eastonmade and the Powersplit. By design their is less handling of the logs with the Powersplit.
Richard, Eastonmade does have a comparison video... czcams.com/video/QHy4bCAv6MA/video.html. I don’t agree with the conclusion of this video cause I have run both a modified commercial and clone vertical and I can say the guy running the PS needs to remove the 4 way and go back to a single. I myself am partial to horizontals but above say 14” rounds the vertical clone can out pace my commercial horizontal. And it compounds the bigger diameter logs you go.
Exactly. The commercial splitter has a multi split. The residential does not. That’s the whole point of the video. Showing the difference between a multi split commercial splitter vs a single split residential.
You hit it by accentuating the human effort. Yes “only” twice as fast time-wise regarding the actual splitting but just watching you and your dad (I’m guessing) it looked like you were just hanging out with the commercial one and actually working with the home one
New Balance. The work boot, walking, running, hiking shoe for dads everywhere. Love the videos!
Haha it’s not spring until dad gets his brand new pearly white new balances. The old ones become grass mowing shoes and the old old ones become boots
Good morning Adam, good comparison of the two types of splitters. The bigger one by Easton is definitely the better of the two splitters but taking that big step when you have to finance it is something that you have to think about. The big thing is your health and being able to work the next day. Younger strong folks don’t consider that early enough in life’s journey and injure themselves to soon! Health and well being should be a big factor in purchasing a life changing piece of equipment. Work smarter not harder pays in the long run!! Thanks for sharing with with us.
I agree. Plus the commercial splitter is a 1 time purchase that would last you the rest of your life with its build quality.
Hometown Acres That’s for sure !!
Wow that was awesome. My back won't allow me to work in a bent over position. Youre new splitter i could stand and split all day long. That's one mean machine. Thank you for showing this.
Yeah it’s tough. I mean if you have smaller rounds you can split in the horizontal position and your back won’t bother you too bad but once you start getting into that vertical position it takes its toll
I used to have a splitter where you were bent over the whole time. It worked good for me , but it’s hard to work bent over. Good info Adam , thanks for sharing
That’s probably my biggest gripe about the residential splitter is having to work bent over on the bigger pieces. And on the really big ones the smaller wedge head isn’t tall enough to fully bust them open. Happy New Year Dave!
Good comparison and comments. The health of your back is a big factor. Once injured, lasts a long time. I had one chunk that took a whole tank of gas to split on horizontal 22 ton splitter, several visits to chiropractor afterwards.
I have that exact logsplitter. The Yardmaxx 25 ton. Mine also came from Family Farm and Home. It's a ok splitter. It's slow and I wish the pushplate was on the cylinder and the the wedge was on the other side. You get what you pay for. Have a Great Day , GOD BLESS
Nice job Adam, great comparison details! I got the opportunity to run a commercial log splitter last week, Oh my I'm still dreaming about that thing lol! The older I get the harder things are to get accomplish, in price consideration they are expensive but truly worth it! I bet your dad enjoyed that big splitter, hey buddy keep up the great videos and thanks for sharing 👍
Hey Dave thanks, yeah my dad is blown away by it. So is everybody else I have over to the house to show it to. My buddies who cut firewood just start laughing at how impressive it is
Rule number one for wood splitter operations: one person operates and feeds the splitter. One person feeding it while another operates the controls is a good way for somebody to lose some fingers. I know somebody who did just that. And one of my sons once had way too close a call in a similar situation. Be safe my friend! BTW, I know this comment is on an older video, but I just recently discovered your channel, and now I am binge watching!
Happy new year. Keep up the great content. We will keep watching.
Happy New Year!
Glad I found this video!
I have a 30 ton 'residential'. That other thing is awesome.
A few years ago I ended up with a bruise on my thigh about 8 inches across from trying to position a large green log with my splitter vertical.
If the big one is twice as fast, twice as safe, three times as cool and at least 10 times better on your back then 10 grand seems quite reasonable all of a sudden.
Wow, great job, great to see you and your dad getting some quality time, happy new year Adam, to you and your family
Happy New Year Wooly!
I watch this and all i say to myself : This could be my life !
You make me dream , keep it up !
I was you 2 years ago. Sitting on CZcams watching people do this kind of stuff. If you want it bad enough, make it happen. We bought this property December of 2018 and haven’t looked back.
You and your father are a great team, one other benefit with the commercial splitter is that with the deck you can lode into your bucket or change with out having to bend over to pick up the wood, good video
I have to agree completely about the log lifter. I wrestled with large rounds splitting vertically once and it was terrible. I just picked up my splitter yesterday and hopefully will get a video out soon. Great job on the video brother.
Thanks Ben! I’m looking forward to seeing what you got!
Cool video Adam. I like seeing how you're carving out your YT niche with all this firewood content. You're really building your firewood stash! Happy New Year, buddy. Take care.
Hey Phil, thanks! It’s not 100% intentional but there’s really not much else to do this time of year with the tractor or property and it’s a great time of year to process firewood since it’s cool out. Happy New Year!
well done Adam, truth is the truth . That lift and muti blade head rocks :)
Nice video, keep up the great work and Happy New Year!
Happy New Year
Congratulations for your work! I watched almost all your videos the last weeks and enjoyed it very much. The only thing I was very surprised about was to realize how long it took you to add some leg cutting protection to your equipment. Great you had your helmet from the beginning, but I personally consider the leg protection even more important and highly recommend everone to have it on all the time using a chainsaw!
Sweet vid! Awesome machine. Happy new year bud
Thank you! Happy New Year!
Your filming was fantastic, and your editing was great! You made some very valid points that I learned the hard way splitting for a small tree company with cheap log splitters. I ended up touching the same piece of wood like ten times, compared to the three times handling it with that commercial splitter. I thought sitting on a log while splitting was best, I was wrong (this is splitting a cord a day, not your at home guy with his electric log splitter getting a couple logs for winter).. Turns out there is no way to do it without stressing some part of your body. That commercial log splitter by far will save your body some serious wear. Your comment on "ease of use on operator" is the most accurate comment you could have mentioned. You should see the old timer splitting on his $300 gas splitter I work with time to time. He can't stand up straight. I went back to splitting by hand, it feels so much better long term.. I made what I call a "splitting ring" and fit multiple logs in it, Yes it's slower but unless I'm going big on a log splitter there is not point. Learned that lesson on a wood chipper. Never go small.
Im glad you touched on a couple points I didn’t and added your own experiences. Thanks for sharing!
Nice job on the comparison! 👍
First, If you wear chainsaw chaps when splitting wood you are able to work on your knees to split firewood. Use a Peavey / cant hook to move the bucks/ blocks of wood to the splitting plate. I wanted to give thanks for the video. Other videos about the Yardmax splitter solidified my purchase of of the 25 ton model.
Hi Adam. I seen on another video, for the vertical splitter. The guy built a wooden floor out of 2 by. It was in a U shape and set around the part that sits on the ground to make a flat surface instead of holding the wood up on the end of the splitter. Looked like a good idea.
I thought about doing something like that prior to getting this Eastonmade. I think it would help but it still wouldn’t solve the bending over part
Happy new year Adam. Good video
Happy New Year Jason!
The biggest time-saver is the multi-split wedge. The Eastonmade Ultra can out perform even the best kinetic splitters on the market because of the 4-way wedge. Possibly 2:1 and that is just wood that you can lift without a log lift. The back injuries alone that the log lift saves is what I'm looking for. Might only get the Eastonmade 5-11 model or some other brand, but it definitely will have the log lift.
Great comparison . When I do things I don't look at time . I don't have the lawn mower in the fastest speed to cut the grass . I'm not in the fast lane while driving to get some place faster . I take my time in doing everything . So time wise doesn't mean much to me . That Eastonmade splitter is great . Don't like the 6 way wedge . Just too much going on there . I think the 4 way is best . It seems to have a cleaner split . It would be very hard for me to swallow the $10,000 price tag . If you're commercial , yes but for a regular home owner , wow that's a lot of coin . You can get log lifts under $500 that screw into the round . It also can hold the off set piece off to one side until to need to put it in position to split . This way you're not wrestling the split pieces . It all depends on the size of your bank account and how much you are willing to spend . You can get 30T splitters for $1000 these days on sale . That means at least 8 splitters for 1 Eastonmade . If I was commercial I would get the Eastomade because it wouldn't take long to get your money back . For the guy who only burns a few cord a year I'll stick with the other splitter . One thing .... that Eastonmade is made in Canada . It's not made of cheap parts . It's a quality splitter made from quality parts .
It is certainly built with parts meant to last. You get what you pay for
After owning a super split it is difficult to watch a hydraulic even in fast motion. I do love that lift!!
That thing looks like a lot of fun. I’ve looked at a splitter multiple times but just don’t have enough need for one to justify the expense. I am jealous of the snow you’ve been getting!
Hey thanks Jeremy, we haven’t really been getting anything to stick around for longer than a day or 2. We’ll get like 3-5” of snow and then 2 days later it’s 40 degrees and sunny and everything melts and makes a muddy mess. Hard to get anything down outside right now
Hometown Acres muddy messes are the down side of snow, best I can remember! It’s been a few years since we’ve had a measurable snowfall here. Looks like you’re getting a lot of wood split - that splitter is a beast!
You could always sit down when splitting vertically, so your not bent over all day. Also not letting the wedge return all the way up every time saves you time
Happy New Year Adam. Good comparison of the two splitters, would be interesting against an axe as well. I just cut the big rounds in half pick them up with the tractor and slide them onto the splitter so always work in the horizontal position, its not fast but way easier on the body . The log lift just makes it look easy.
Hey mark I’ve tried that too and you are correct it does save your body but it is a very slow process
Good video Adam
Nice job on this report thx
I have a 34 ton splitter made by Speeco. It has plenty of power, but cycles pretty slowly. I hate using it in the vertical position, as it is a real pain in the back stooping over the whole time. Several years ago I built a stand that is level with the splitter, to put the rounds on.
I recently bought a backhoe that has a hydraulic thumb on it. Now THAT is the easy way to lift those heavy rounds!
Haha I bet. I would love to see that
Very good very factual content well done
Thanks Harry!
If you're making money selling firewood so you'll be doing a lot of cutting and splitting the commercial one would pay for itself over time. But if you're just cutting wood for yourself it's really not worth the extra money. And if you're having to work by yourself it's still hard to get some of those big rounds to the splitter let alone lifting them up. Splitting on the ground works for some of us but I see your point
A good comparison between the two. I agree with you that it is not only about speed (although important). However, I think the cost versus the application is an important consideration for sure. Generally, if I was only splitting 10 bush cord a year I wouldn't pay for a commercial splitter but, if I was splitting 50 bush cord a year, I wouldn't buy a residential splitter. Important to match the grade and quality of the equipment to it's purpose and application, I think. (unless of course money is not an issue). All the best to you and your family for 2020, HA!
Absolutely. This splitter is not meant for everybody. All depends on your application. Thanks for the comment! Happy New Year!
Great comparison. I like your analytical approach to firewood processing. Maybe you could do a cost analysis sometime.
I could definitely do that. What did you have in mind? Just a simple profit/loss calculation of 1 cord of wood or something different?
I appreciate your review of the two wood splitters. How much is the commercial 6 wedge wood splitter??
Hi Adam I would like to ask you what is the brand of the protective orange jeans that you are wearing? where you can buy them? Thank you very much for your answer.
BTW great channel
That is a great splitter!
With my experience I have had 3 expensive commercial log splitters as well as a dirty hand tools I purchased from Lowe's I have broke the commercial log splitters but the cheap 20-ton dirty hand tools is still going sometimes the commercial log splitter hangs up on knotty wood but the cheap $1,000 dirty hand tools plows right through it may be slower but it's very tough don't underestimate the homeowner log splitters
Iots of comments on bending over in the vertical position, I only use the vertical to make the big pieces smaller, then I split them into the size of firewood I want. I think that is so much easier, but I don't see anyone doing that. Try it I think it is a lot better for your body. I split about 1/2 cord of the large rounds to a manageable sizes, then I switch to the horizontal position to split into the size that I want.
I’ve don’t that before too and it works well. But you still have bend over quite a bit to quarter up a half cord
I made my own wood splitter with an electric engine so like that I can work inside the garage when its cold outside. Like that I dont need ears protection and its warmer to work. It can be -30f in quebec
It would be real nice to work in the garage. You could then sweep up the scraps instead of having them in the yard
Good fishing in Quebec.
@@oneofthosepeople2101 yes thousands of lakes
@@HometownAcres I have a small electric splitter. I just put a tarp under it, then pull all the waste outside. It is amazing though, how much is just dust.
Good use of wedge
I think having the box wedge and the pull back attachment would really amplify the difference between the homeowner grade stuff and the commercial. Makes short work out of even very large rounds with those on there and low effort from the operator once they get the round onto the lift.
Yeah I might have to buy the box wedge. For these big rounds it would be awesome to have and so much fasterp
The log lift is the only way to go I have one on my rugged made and very with rugged made spliters
I would like the log lift because it makes a good work table also.
Yeah I forgot to mention that. The work table is 3 times the size of the table on residential splitter. So much nicer to the extra room
Yeah I want a log lift haha 👍🔥
Makes all the difference!
The true comparison upu made is splitter position and wedge design. You compared a vertical single wedge to a horizontal with a 6 way, and a log lifter to boot. I am building a horizontal multi wedge myself right now because it will be faster by design and easier on my aging frame. I'm building it from an existing splitter with a log lifter because I can and it won't cost me what these commercial splitters cost. I personally think they are marked up too high, worth it to some but priced out of what most can justify spending.
Great demonstration Adam! You made very valid points of the benefits. That sure is a nice machine, do you find yourself using either wedge more so than the other? Thanks buddy, take care!
I definitely use the 4 way wedge more but right now I only have those big 22” rounds or bigger left so the 6 way is nice with those
My back hurt 30 seconds in watching the home splitter...… The commercial one is worth it for me just based on that!
Yep. Couldn’t agree more
We just ordered a Wolferidge splitter last week. Cant wait to get it.
They look like nice splitters too
Yea, it was a choice between Easton made and Wolferidge. They both are awesome splitters, the deciding factor was Wolferidge was very slightly cheaper and the shipping was way cheaper and no border fees. Im on the far west coast in the US...
I would like to add a commercial splitter to my setup one day in future. I will have to still use my Dirty Hands 27 ton tho. Reason being is most of the rounds I work with have to be set into splitter with skid steer ! Most stuff we do is 30 to 48* sometimes bigger!
The log lift will lift just about anything you can put on it
I have noticed in almost all of these commercial splitters with the 4 or 6 way wedges, the splits are messy/stringy. In the vertical split machines like this Yardmax or even a commercial vertical splitter like a Powersplit, the operator does have to keep turning the wood but the split pieces are much neater splits & just have a more crisp look, if that makes sense.
I agree completely. The 6 way wedge does give a little messier end product but I think the 4 way wedge is almost as clean as a single vertical wedge
Check out the Eastonmade box wedge with the auto retracting attachment gives you really nice even pieces
That puts it in perspective! Maybe get dad a new pair of gloves for helping LOL
We have the Wolfe Ridge 28 Pro and Love It! We had a Husky 27 Ton and I told the wife this. I'm not getting any younger, the Wolfe Ridge picks up those big rounds that you would wrestle around with other splitters, and what is your time worth to you.
Sounds like you already won that battle haha. Hopefully other men out there can use this video to make the same argument to their wives lol
@@HometownAcres The wife was on board fairly quick as she helps me cut and split usually. They do come with a price tag, but I know 3 guys who have messed their backs up trying to lift blocks, so that's the payback in my opinion. Great splitters though. Hands down to Wolfe Ridge, Easton Made, and all the others with build quality like these.
Hey Adam what your Top 5 log splitter choices?
Oh!...one other side note for people using a combination horz/vert. To save their back from working in the vertical position is to just pinch the log in the vertical position then pull the splitter beam back to the horizontal position and finish splitting the log. Of course this is not feasible with pieces bigger than say 20” cause the weight gets too heavy to over come to lay splitter back horizontally. And if you get it to the horizontal position ready to split, this only works well if you have tables on both sides of the beam.
That’s a good idea!
Wonder if it will split green live oak that size ?
It may have been "only " 2 minutes faster........but multiple that buy the 50 rounds you had sitting there........days.....weeks....years it's alot of time.
Yeah. I value my time so 2 minutes faster on every round is pretty substantial
@@HometownAcres It's not just the time... look at your bent over back with the first splitter... I can't imagine a person (let alone your father) surviving much of that. If you are talking pure $$$$ then make sure you add chiropractic bills to your cheap splitters cost figures...
Just check the link, just had my other hip replaced, did start with looking at the yardmax, now one with a log lift, I split 10-15 cords, and help my father in law, I need to save my back and new hips ,I am looking at the 12-22 a lot of money but what is quality of life and time with family and grandkids.
Absolutely. If you enjoy splitting wood this machine will allow you to do it for far longer
Using a log splitter horizontally is way more efficient! Saves your back too
I like the viedo
Nice channel - just came across it. Where does this guy live? Looks like a nice area
Northwest PA
Hometown Acres I’ve been through the PA Wilds area and its one of my favorite parts of the country
Great question, I was wondering as well. I live in the NC mountains, and I really miss the snow we used to get.
I wonder if a person could get a splitter and just split for other people and make a little money? It would save them from buying one and if I wanted to maybe hook up with a tree service. Thank you for your thoughts.
Interesting idea. I'm sure if you thought it out you could make it work
I was wondering how long you cut your rounds. My wood stove only takes 16” pieces so I buck my rounds to that size. My Stihl MS311 has a 20” bar and is a lot lighter but just as effective as the Stihl 038 AV Super I had for 25 years. Your Husky looks heavy. It obviously gets the job done.
I usually shoot for 16” but I don’t really measure except for eyeballing with my 20” bar. Sometimes I get 15” sometimes I get 18” but my stove will take up to 18 so I don’t have to be precise. I like cutting to 16” so I have some extra wiggle room
Longevity is a key factor also. Eastonmade is made better with better parts and will ultimately probably last longer.
I bet this splitter will lady a lifetime with proper care
I've split 5 cords through it so far. Does what I need it to. czcams.com/users/postUgkxUyQswtttSffRMblGbrhCvZn7JkhtG1-7 I scrounge all my firewood and am not equipped to handle big wood, but for logs up to 24 inch diameter or so, it works great. I've been amazed by some of the gnarly bur oak and elm crotches it has split. For the tougher stuff within it's size range, you might have to study the piece a bit to decide the best attack, but if you split smart it's up to the job. It did arrive low on oil, and I was would have nicked it half a star for that, but it has regained my full confidence. UPDATE NOVEMBER 2021: Still going strong after all these years. I love the one-handed operation. Hope it's still in production if I ever need to replace it
Great video but this is like comparing a rickshaw to any Mercedes in an AMG configuration. The comparison stops at 'both have tires'.
Haha this is a great comment
They both needed the same splitting head for it to be a good comparison. The eastonmade did it five times faster than it could have, it needs a single vertical blade to compare to the other one.
@@dethmaul did you watch the video? The single wedge splitter slowed down on big logs with the single wedge.
The commercial splitter didn't slow that much splitting with the multi head.
Clearly the commercial is far faster.
With smaller logs the cycle time could be faster on the residential but at that point, why split the wood at all?
@@roflstomps324
If he's going through the trouble of timing it, then he oughter've given them a fair 1:1 comparison.
@@dethmaul It can't be fair... it is residential vs commercial. Like I said, ricksaw vs Mercedes in AMG configuration.
I love these real life demo's, I'm shopping for a new splitter and so far Easton seems to have the best features, I just have a hard time swallowing the 10k usd for it, but I know you get what you pay for here, is there any type of metal rubbing / warping / paint chipping on the underside of the I beam?
I haven’t seen any signs of wear yet. I’ve only run the splitter for probably 10 hours though. I expect this splitter to last a lifetime though
The splitters are powder coated and it seems extremely durable I would suggest you see one in person you won't be disappointed ,as a bonus my 12-22 is very good on fuel
Kenny check out Wolfe ridge splitters. They have one with loft and hydraulic 4 way, or can put a six on it.
If your not doing commercial splitting go for the one of the other 2 units below the 12-22. Same frame just a smaller hydraulic system. If you want the auto cycle than I would consider the 12-22 as its standard. I have the 12 - 22 and it's always waiting for me in single push wood. It's really is a great splitter, once you see it in person you will understand the price tag. Is it worth it....only you can decide that for yourself. I had the same issue with the price but now if I had to do it again I would go after the 22-28. Almost nothing stops that beast and it will do the 12 way. I suspect they will hold there value over the years as well.
That vertical splitter will keep your chiropractor’s lights on
👍👍👍 🤝🤝🤝
$11,500 vs $1250
of course there's a vast difference.
I'm not selling firewood- so the choice is a "well duh" for me.
but if the wrong one showed up I wouldn't be calling the manager either
❤👍 Serbia
What do you like better the 4 way or 6 way?
Personally I like the 4 way better. It is more versatile.
Thanks for the input I'm gonna order a eastonmade Monday & wanting the box wedge bit wasn't sure if I wanted the 4 way or 6 way
Also silly pushing split wood off wedge and tray instead of letting next piece clear it instead of immediately putting that next piece through it. Actually faster than the demonstration. And 1 person could do that vs 2 on the homeowner special.
U need a bigger saw
On the homeowner splitters I use kneepads better on the back
Yeah knee pads would help quite a bit
I sit on a log so I’m not bent over it makes life easier by utilizing your legs to hold logs up close to the beam and stuff like that. But yeah that Easton would be a whole lot easier !
Hii why dont you buy a trailer for your utv so you can load more firewood
A trailer in the woods is a pain. Especially this time of year when it’s all muddy
Bigger saw would make this go even faster.
Not a fair comparison! One wedge against a 6 way - the outcome is obvious! Both are good splitters!
If you had to pick one which would you choose?
@@HometownAcres The Yardmax because it more affordable and I'm not the firewood business - except to keep warm in the winter. I'm getting next winters firewood in right now using my brother's Craftsman 19 Ton splitter.
I know one thing for fact . there ain't noone getting close to me while I'm using my saw . I ain't getting within 10 feet of someone elses saw . check out some wounds from hospital pics . you will agree .
Cost difference?
Roughly $1,000 vs $9,500
Any log splitter is better than no log splitter...
that was all unfair cause you left the 6way on verse 2way shouldve taking 6way off to make it more fair.but besides thae great vid
It’s not meant to be a fair comparison. It’s meant to show you how the commercial splitter is better than the residential.
500 lbs rounds ????
Yeah me and my bundle couldn’t deadlift some of these. We could both deadlift propbably 200 lbs each. So they are more than 400 lbs
I apologize if I hurt your feelings.
I really enjoy your videos. I'll be 70 in January, and have just finished my wood pile for this coming winter. About 80% pignut hickory, all split with a axe, sledge and wedge. It's getting harder every year. If I could afford it I would have a splitter too.
Sometime pick up a 100 lb barbell, then pick up a 100 lb bag of grain.
Isn't the real issue how much time you spend using the log splitter?
If you are using the residential style splitter less than 20 hours a year and virtually never in the vertical position the cost benefit analysis of the commercial splitter would be less favourable.
However if you are spending 20 days or more per year using the splitter the better machine would be a no-brainer.
I use the commercial splitter probably 3-4 days a week
You seem to split more pieces with the residential splitter than the commercial one. That takes more time. Try counting how many
5 times faster than ax
Eastonmade is the better horizontal log splitter. Powersplit is the better vertical splitter. Eastonmade and Powersplit have videos showing their splitters compared to an inferior model I would like to see a comparison video between the Eastonmade and the Powersplit. By design their is less handling of the logs with the Powersplit.
Richard, Eastonmade does have a comparison video... czcams.com/video/QHy4bCAv6MA/video.html. I don’t agree with the conclusion of this video cause I have run both a modified commercial and clone vertical and I can say the guy running the PS needs to remove the 4 way and go back to a single. I myself am partial to horizontals but above say 14” rounds the vertical clone can out pace my commercial horizontal. And it compounds the bigger diameter logs you go.
Not a fair test, single vs. multi-split!
Exactly. The commercial splitter has a multi split. The residential does not. That’s the whole point of the video. Showing the difference between a multi split commercial splitter vs a single split residential.
That is a great splitter!