Troy-Bilt 27 Ton Log Splitter

Hello Everyone...
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This spring I added a new tool to my woodshed. I purchased a Troy-Bilt 27 ton log splitter from my local dealer who also sells me my Husqvarna and Dolmar chainsaws. I put a lot of thought into the log splitter I wanted to buy and decided this guy fit my needs the best. Here is a recent action photo of me lugging and my dad at the lever.


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There is a wide range of splitters on the market from inexpensive electric models to mega-bucks processors. The most popular are the hydraulic types such as mine. Hydraulic splitters are slow in terms of production but highly reliable and portable. The major factor for me was I wanted to be able to pull my splitter behind my truck or my four-wheeler to my work site and I also wanted the ability to easily put the machine away in my barn at the end of the day. Of the hydraulic splitters the prices can range from $1000 to as high as $5000 with the more expensive ones having more features and professional grade parts. Given my needs and that speed of production is not a big deal for me, I went with the Troy-Bilt for around $1300. There are other brands that are just as good, Tractor Supply has a very good splitter for example, but if I'm sinking this much money in a tool I like the peace of mind to know I have local dealer support and a healthy warranty. The Tractor Supply splitter is very well built, is a little cheaper, but you also have to buy the hydro fluid. I think also anytime you make a major purchase like this from a big-box retailer you run the risk of an uncertain service policy and indifferent employees. My splitter was assembled, tuned, and ready to work when I took it home.


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In the picture below you can see that I was able to back the splitter right up to my wood shed saving me time and energy. This Troy-Bilt is pretty rugged and split all of my biggest logs. I realize the bigger splitters would probably work faster and easier on big wood but factoring in price I am very happy with this splitter.


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This Troy-Bilt Splitter also can be made to work vertical for logs too big to lug. The one thing I have to be careful with, however, is the engine is near the splitting wedge so I have to take care that a split log doesn't plop onto the engine. Most splitters of this design come with the same concerns but with good working habits this can be avoided. Below is a picture of a big log of ash. The Troy-Bilt zipped right through it.

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I am very pleased with my purchase but I realize your situation and needs may be different than mine. If you are into MAJOR production or require fast production you would be better served to get something different. The bottom line is a splitter is a major back-saver and adds a different dimension to firewood procurement. I wish I would have picked one of these up about 5 years ago.
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OWB

Happy Thanksgiving From OWB

I know I have posted this before but...here it is again!

Big Oak

I wanted to post some pictures of a wood score I had earlier this fall. A local farmer friend called me to offer up a huge red oak that fell victim to a recent wind storm. Of course I jumped at the chance! This is a very big oak! Just the job for my very big Dolmar 7900! Below is a photo I snapped as I rested to enjoy my progress. I have found the Dolmar to be a very photogenic saw.
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Of all the firewood I have processed in my life, surprisingly the type I have the least experience with is oak. I can't explain why as Ohio is thoroughly populated with oak but...hey...here was a chance to become acquainted. This is a huge tree about 35 inches-round but the trunk is probably 40 feet long. I was excited to see the amount of firewood I could get out of the trunk alone.
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Of course anytime a debate is started over the best firewood, oak is usually regarded as supreme because it burns hot, burns long...major BTU's. I can't dispute that but I have to be honest I am not a big fan of working with oak. First, oak smells awful when you cut it...similar to the smell I recall from elementary school when someone would barf in the hallway. Ugh. Second, oak is very heavy...it wears you out to lug, throw in the truck and stack when you get home. Oak splits pretty easy but again it's heavy to lug and, after each split, you are welcomed with the potent odor of vomit. Ugh.

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A big concern with this job was the amount of poison ivy that had grown on the tree. The farmer had sprayed it with some industrial strength herbicide but I still managed to get some skin rash on my hands and arms.

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Above you see some of the big rounds the Dolmar produced. You can see where I started "noodling" the rounds into smaller pieces. I got about 4 truckloads of firewood out of this tree alone. In case you were wondering...the Dolmar 7900 powered through this tree like it was a pine log. The Dolmar has grunt like you can't imagine. The anti-vibe was given its chance to shine as well...the Dolmar was smooth as silk in this hard oak. What a saw!

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That's all for now. I split a bunch of wood today and have some pictures I will post soon. The Troy Bilt splitter is pretty powerful. It handled some tough logs today and ran flawlessly. Safe Cutting.
OWB.

What a Year...Waiting on Winter

Hello Everyone...
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Well, it's been an interesting year for me as I now head into what I like to call "Burning Season." Today I fired up my Hardy H2 for the winter and now I begin the daily routine of feeding the furnace its compliment of logs to keep the home toasty warm.
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When I say it's been an interesting year it's mainly due to the way "life got in the way" of my woodcutting. This year Northeast Ohio had the wettest spring in our history and the rain...along with the muddy fields...kept me, my saws, and my truck at home until things dried out...which was about early July around here. Once July came the temperatures went up into the 90's and stayed there...which made things too hot to cut wood. This fall when the weather started to cool off I was hit with a significant case of pneumonia which I am still recovering from. All of these factors, along with dealing with a sick family member conspired to keep me from bringing home the season's wood needed to ensure a warm winter.
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These unfortunate events...weather, calamities, etc...are why I have always recommended to keep at least a two-year supply of wood at all times. I am pretty sure I will have enough wood to get me into the spring but I may be cutting things close. We shall see. I have to say the pneumonia has been a huge deal for me. I'm mazed how my poor lungs have been much more debilitating to my wood procurement than even when I broke my ankle a couple years ago. You can never take your health for granted and certainly these last six weeks have driven that fact home. Along with the coughing, discomfort, lack of energy, dizzy spells and near-fainting episodes I have really been sapped of my desire to cut wood...even to organize my wood shed. I am very behind...
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On a positive note for the year, I did manage to add a new toy to my wood cutting operation...a log splitter. After a lot of thought I went with a tried and true Troy Bilt 27 ton hydraulic splitter. I know it has a slow cycle but I liked that I could pull it to the work site to split up the large rounds my big Dolmar 7900 provides. It will work vertical or horizontal which can be a back saver. I haven't got to use it as much as I planned,...because of what I wrote above...but it's nice to know I have it and can pull it out of the barn when I need it. Here is a picture of my new splitter the day I brought it home this spring. Yes, it was raining that day too.
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That's all for now. I will be taking some pictures of my wood pile in a couple days to show you my progress. Ohio is supposed to have some 60 degree weather this week so I will be taking some more time to organize the wood pile. The problem now is when I get home from work its too dark outside to see.
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OWB