Harbor Freight 10 Ton Manual Log Splitter Review

[@mikeh8228]

I am 73 years old. I have had this same manual hydraulic splitter for 10 years now. I heat my house with wood in the winter but only need about 2 cords a year since I live in central Arkansas. I store it on my covered back porch and only use it when I encounter rounds too large for me to lift to get on my electric 5 ton HF splitter. It works great to break them into halves and quarters that I can readily lift. It works well on green oak as well as dry oak. And as a back up to the power being out, I have a large HF generator, also on the same porch to power my home or if I need to split wood, power the electric splitter. Always good to have equipment for grid down situation! I used to split all this stuff by hand, with a maul and wedges but my knees and bad back cannot handle that activity now, but with these tools, I can get her done!

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Great to hear Mike! You sound like you have done your homework and are prepared! Thanks for watching and for your comment, its much appreciated! If you havent subscribed to our channel please do as we have many other videos about outdoor preparedness, survival and homestead living content.

[@jamesdavis1821]

At 62 your comment helped me decide to get one now.

[@mikeh8228]

@@jamesdavis1821 Thanks, James, glad to have been of assistance!

[@OldManJimmy1]

I bought one of these a few years ago, still going great. One thing I'd like to mention regarding this splitter is one of the handles moves the ram at half the speed of the other so you have one handle that moves the ram fast and the other moves it at a much slower rate for high tonnage log spitting.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Oh wow, good to know. Thanks so much Jimmy for that. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know that. Please subscribe to our channel if you enjoy our content. 👍🏽

[@AEAYOSHTON]

I learned this the hard way earlier today and suspected as much lol

[@Boogie-Knight]

The handle in you left hand moves it fast, but is not designed to apply a lot of pressure. That's what the handle in your right hand is for...the actual splitting. Didn't it come with directions, like mine did?

[@AEAYOSHTON]

@@Boogie-Knight mine said nothing about that

[@Leo-f1x]

Ok booger. I think everyone knows how to work this splitter. 😂😂😂

[@lyndafjellman3315]

I've had one of these for years now. I like it. I have abused the heck out of it and it still works. I have left it out in the rain, split logs too big for it(dia) and as long as I can get it onto the machine I can break it. I use flat pieces of wood like cut offs of 1x6's to shim out the jack part if the log is too short. If I ever finally break it will buy another one.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Thanks for the comment! Ya, this thing is a good non fuel consuming backup. Definitely works!

[@danielleterry2331]

I am 61 can I do this? I have a lot of trees that got taken down last year and cut up 16” to use in my wood stove I just didn’t have a log splitter but I can afford one of these

[@lyndafjellman3315]

@@danielleterry2331 I'm 68 and use it just fine. If you can pick up the log. . .It is slow, but mighty. The two levers have different "gear ratios" so one is easy to pump and the other is harder. So I use both till I can't pump the one and then just use the easier one. We had some Eastern Washington Pine a few years ago, that my husband and grandson couldn't split with a maul, but we were able to break them on this thing.

[@steve-nm7dp]

​@@lyndafjellman3315m

[@LeRoisAdventures]

I have a full power splitter. I bought one of these because I had never seen one before and wanted to try it out. I use it to entertain children because it’s something they can do that has big results that they can see. I believe it’s really good for their self esteem. They really enjoy it. As safe as it is I always insist that they wear safety glasses. Without actually telling them it helps them to grasp the concept of “force multiplier” which if you think about it is how nearly everything that humans do works.

[@somethingoutdoors1412]

One other pro you didn't mention is it's much quieter. Awesome video, I'm getting one soon.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Thanks for watching, please subscribe if you enjoy our content.

[@mikeh8228]

HA HA Especially if you do not talk while doing the splitting, if you are in a SHTF situation.

[@tomstorm7081]

Did not know a such a thing existed. As a back up to your main log splitter, I think this will come in handy. Good information and interesting.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Pretty good alternative to having to chop using a splitting maul. Thanks for watching

[@bwcok7947]

Went and got one. Now it is time to get busy. Going to read a little here on how to use it and tomorrow will be splitting time! TY for your suggestion. Did not know it was available out there.

[@donaldpearrell3262]

I had one of those a while ago, it is a good piece of equipment. Only got rid of it when I downsized to a small place and I don't have trees around that I have to worry about

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Ya it seems to be lasting a long time, definitely worth it for the price!

[@RobinLeveille-i4v]

Would be interesting to see if you could hook up the two arms to a stationary bicycle wheel.

[@wcsd9577]

Looks like a decent design and the price is right. And if you had a helper to load the logs while you work the jack, seems like you could get a lot done fairly quickly.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Ya, having a helper is always nice! It works really well

[@FoxMan777]

Only wish I could find seal kit for it. Front seal leaks hydraulic fluid now after a few years.

[@chrispysailor2300]

Thanks man, I was going to get the electric one, but saw this is a little cheaper. Wanted to check it out first and thanks. Sold.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

great, glad we could help you make your decision. Thanks for watching and for your comment. Please subscribe to our channel if you like our content.

[@rayc76knoxville]

How would this work on Hickory? I have this machine. We recently took down a Hickory. When I first got this machine, we had some Oak Logs - boy were they hard? Very hard. Thanks for sharing.

[@sargeatlarge24v]

I bought one today and looking forward to using it. Going to use it to start out my roadside firewood stand and be more efficient then trying to split by hand

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Great to hear! Thanks for watching and for your feedback! Please like and subscribe if you enjoy our content as it helps us grow our channel. Thanks again.

[@octaviofuentes7781]

Thanks for sharing my man today I'll be buying one of those

[@mapex311]

Could you potentially put on a larger bottle jack - like 30-50 ton to give it more 'torque' especially if you want to split something much larger/ dense? - ie 14-18" oak

[@LifeintheNorth40]

I would say yes, since basically that is what the Harbor Freight splitter is using is a bottle jack style actuator. So I believe you could try that and it may work. We appreciate your watching and commenting on our video. Please subscribe if you enjoy our content.

[@mikeh8228]

I have been using mine to split up to 22 in diameter red oak, with the stock set up. When a round gets that diameter, an 18 to 20 inch long piece weighs too much for me to lift to put on my electric 5 ton splitter, so I use this machine to break it into halves or quarters so I can then lift it!

[@skrupulant]

A standard bottle jack isn’t suitable for horizontal use because the ram won’t fully extend in that position. Additionally, the frame of the splitter isn’t designed to handle such high loads - even with the stock jack, I’ve read comments from users saying they’ve bent the frame. I’ve been using this splitter for several years, and I’ve never encountered a log it couldn’t split due to insufficient force. The issue is usually not the splitting force but the irregular shape of the logs - this splitter isn’t ideal for splitting logs with uneven or irregular shapes.

[@ethicalaxe]

I mostly use an axe with thick cheeks for splitting. Sweet spot is about 4-5lbs usually. I do think that would be the best way to go through this firewood quickly without electricity/gas. Mauls can be cumbersome. This is a cool little device though. Wonder how it would go through difficult knots. Instead of pulling out splitting wedges this could be good for those gnarly pieces if it works for them.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Very good info and pro tip Ethical Axe! Thanks for sharing and for watching the video.

[@Phiyedough]

It is a strong machine but hard work on knotty stuff. Those levers are only thin tube so they do bend on jobs like that but the rest of it copes OK.

[@jasonlmcross]

Nice simple demo, thank you. But it might have been an idea to show a range of log sizes (in diameter) just to see what it's capable of doing in say a 12inch to 15inch log length, for instance.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Thanks so much. Good idea I can tell you I've split up to at least 15 inch diameters before it works. Obviously, it's gonna depend on wood type how dry the wood is or moist sorry, didn't include it in the video that's a good point. Please like and subscribe if you enjoyed our content.

[@mikehoward8201]

@@LifeintheNorth40 I have split some 20” green oak rounds with this unit. By breaking them in half, then I could pick up the half and get it on my electric machine!

[@petecruz2281]

A few comments. My splitter works good on soft logs. Sometimes you need some kind of a spacer when the logs are too short. One problems that I have is trying to split oak. I use both handles till it gets hard to work both of them. I continue with the one that keeps pushing. It's finally splits the log and pieces of the logs go flying everywhere at a high speed. What am I doing wrong?

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Thanks for the comment @petecruz2281. Oak is such a hardwood, it makes sense that this basically bottle jack has a harder time building compression on a hardwood then it just pops and breaks the wood causing splintering. I dont think you are doing anything wrong, its the nature of the mechanics of how this splitter functions. In some cases splitting with a maul may be better. Go with whichever option uses less energy. Thanks for watching and for your comment. Please like and subscribe as we are trying to grow our channel.

[@mikehoward8201]

Split that oak when it is green, not once it dries out!

[@Tobiedawg1]

The handles have different size hydraulic pistons. The left handle moves the ram faster, the right handle is for when the going gets tough. I split logs way larger than specified with no problem. Knotty wood can be difficult, but still way easier than a maul and wedge.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Thanks Tobie, ya this is way tougher than it looks, definitely works with larger rounds than it says it can!

[@172turtla]

Great review, great video. Thanks for posting!

[@LifeintheNorth40]

You bet thanks for watching! Pleas subscribe if you like our content.

[@Platoon3090]

No offense but you should have read the directions first. And explained the different handles uses. The splicer isn’t supposed to be used like a cross country ski machine. I’ve used mine and split rounds up to 3 feet in diameter. The machine works good but it works even better when you use it correctly.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

No offense taken, I don't believe I saw that in the directions or any actual how to on the operation. Makes sense, It didn't seem like my technique was very efficient. The splitter does work well, and Im sure when I can no longer use my gas powered splitter I will use this one frequently until I am good with it! Thanks for watching and for your comment.

[@rickrolls3786]

Show us how it's done, soldier boy.

[@Platoon3090]

@@rickrolls3786 I already have a video. On my channel, that I made about 3 years ago.

[@rickrolls3786]

@@Platoon3090 .... I watched. It's a video just as much or more about you berating other people and presenting yourself as superior than other people while calling them names as it is the splitter. It's not necessary to cut other people down in order to make yourself look big or give instructions.

[@Platoon3090]

@@rickrolls3786 thanks for watching. Yes I did berate because so many people do reviews and have now idea what they’re doing. I actually used my splitter for a few years before I did the review. And I’ll assume you got more information on using this splitter than you got on most other “out of box” reviews.

[@dalemcelhany4642]

I've had one and used it for years. It is slow and perhaps best for making kindling and fire starters. The pistons leak and will eventually deplete all the hydraulic fluid. It's cheap, it works but it will require maintenance. D

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Ya, typical for Harbor Freight. Inexpensive items that don't have the best longevity in many cases. Although my nice gas log splitter, needs hydraulic fluid from time to time as well. Please like and subscribe if you enjoy our content.

[@kevinpeyton33]

Do you know what it means wjen the splitter is pushing into the wood and not splitting it...doesnt happen on all my pieces but it does happen on some...these are pieces that are split already that I'm splitting more for kindling.

[@kevinmiller5148]

Good video, very informative. A camping neighbor bought one and let me try it.....way cool!

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Awesome! It’s a good piece of equipment to have in hand, thanks for the comment!

[@late4suppa1]

I've owned a gas powered hydraulic splitter and got rid of it. Just bought one of these and can't imagine its any slower than the gas one and no maintenance.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

I have a gas operated lock splitter to be honest I love it. I use it a lot. This is a great backup in the event. You run out of the ability to get gasoline and or you're in a situation where you wanna do it manually there's always a good old-fashioned splitting maul as well. Thanks for watching please like and subscribe if you enjoyed our content.

[@thomashoffman872]

I've had one for 10yrs. Good workout.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

good to know it lasts a long time! Definitely physical exertion!

[@MegaKg9]

Came for the review stayed with a sub thanks

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Thanks for watching and subscribing!

[@bettestorm9950]

Great demo and great information.👍

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Thanks for watching!

[@larryfeeks6620]

Nice. Great demo!

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@kevinpeyton33]

Will this split already split would into kindling size pieces ?

[@MinnesotaMegOffGrid]

Recently found your channel and am bunge watching your build. I'm a 46 yr old woman and wondering how well it works for your wife? Or a woman in general vs you, Mr Muscles.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Very cool thanks for watching our build series. Are you watching the offgrade cabin or the offgrade bathroom build? Hopefully both ha. My wife can definitely actuate this harbor freight log splitter. It’s basically just a hydraulic bottle jack my wife does work out but if you’re capable, you should be able to pump this Hydraulic bottle jack actuator no problem. Thanks for watching and for your comment. Please like and subscribe if you enjoy our content.

[@LoriBerry-z8l]

I’m glad a woman asked this question I’m thinking of trying one Iam active but not a gym person I hope I don’t regret this purchase but iam tired of waiting on a man to split my wood lol

[@MinnesotaMegOffGrid]

​@LoriBerry-z8l I actually bought one this past spring. I will say that it is still super hard. Maybe because the wood i need to split is ash? It has been a year stacked but most i can't split and will have to rent a hydraulic.

[@AEAYOSHTON]

the metal pin keeps coming out of mine... not sure if ill keep using it

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Can you drill a hole in the pin and attach a cotter pin through it for retention? Please like and subscribe to our channel if you enjoy our content.

[@knz9701]

Great Demo on this..

[@rickrolls3786]

Thanks for sharing. What was the diameter of that log? It looked bigger than 6 1/2 inches . Do you think you could split bigger one?

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Rick it was probably bigger, not sure now. I will tell you that this log splitter will easily split bigger as well. I was surprised how much hydraulic power it actually has. Thanks for watching and for your question. Please give us a like and subscribe if you enjoy our content.

[@rickrolls3786]

@@LifeintheNorth40 ....Yeah, I watched a couple others and the logs all looked much bigger than 6 1/2 in. I don't even bother splitting logs that small unless it's for kindling.

[@mikeh8228]

I split rounds up to 18 inches in diameter with it, mostly straight grained wood like oak, and it works fine. I just quarter them and then use my electric to get them to the size i like to burn.

[@billocnl816]

I got mine. I love it. Has anyone noticed that the right handle moves further than the left?

[@mikehoward8201]

Yep, read your instruction booklet! It tells you why!

[@pezjme]

Is that how you use it? LOL, I thought it had two handles so you could work it from either side. Put on some skis before you split wood and you can practice cross country skiing.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

You can use this either laying on the ground or standing up, whichever is best for your splitting needs. It is a bit of a work out, less than splitting with a maul though. Please like and subscribe if you enjoy our content.😁

[@skrupulant]

Actually, the two handles serve different purposes. The faster pump, with its larger piston, is just for quickly positioning the ram. It's the slower pump, with the smaller piston, that you should use for the actual splitting. Using the slower pump reduces the force on the pump and handle, making the process easier on both the splitter and you.

[@Phiyedough]

I have had one of these for 11 years and it it is pretty much worn out but still kind of works. It leaks so bad I've been topping it up with chainsaw chain oil but I don't know what grade of hydraulic oil it is supposed to take. The instructions don't say what grade to use.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

I would just get some hydraulic fluid and top it off with that. Jacks use that too I believe. Thanks for watching and for your comment. If you like our content please like and subscribe👍🏽

[@Flybynite88]

Mine got a bent steel beam but it still splits

[@samyguz8]

What type of wood are we splitting here?

[@LifeintheNorth40]

I had a combo of white and black pine as well as various firs. I apologize I am not sure which I was splitting in the video. Please subscribe if you enjoy our content.

[@cordellscott]

Great demo

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Thank you so much!

[@The_Blessed_Cowboy]

Looks like more fun if it was an elyptical machine that also crushed firewood

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Yes sir, a bit of a cross country skiing motion. You can stand it up and go up and down for leverage as well. Thanks for watching, please subscribe if you enjoy our content.

[@djflier7934]

Did you need to purchase oil separately?

[@LifeintheNorth40]

I assume your asking about hydraulic fluid? Great question, no sir. Came with hydraulic fluid in it.

[@mikeh8228]

hydraulic fluid is in the jack, unless it starts leaking, no need for more....this has no motor so no lubrication is necessary!

[@ega0117]

Can you cut the log perpendicular with that chopper?🤔

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Yes, I believe you can. Have not tried that yet. It has wheels on one end to move it around. Thanks for watching and for your comment, please subscribe to our channel if you enjoy our content!

[@mikeh8228]

What do you mean perpendicular??? No wood splitter is made to split wood perpendicular to the grain. You use a chainsaw to do that!

[@skrupulant]

The splitter does have a lot of force, but the wedge is quite low. If you want to use the splitter for cutting rather than splitting, it can work, but only for relatively thin branches.

[@TheDanallen]

I bought one about a year ago, kept it in the garage, safe from the elements. It worked fine for a week or so, then the cotter pin broke. They gave me a new one and, now, a bit less than a year later, it has given up the ghost. Appears the seals have given out. It doesn't work. Avoid....

[@jr-xs9tf]

Can be difficult with wet wood. No prob, just let it dry out a few months and it's money.

[@willwarro4054]

i can get the same result using my hydraulic shop press. and split it vertically. then press bearings and other mechanical needs. that one can't

[@LifeintheNorth40]

You are correct, why not. All this is really is a bottle jack with a frame. Thanks for your comment.

[@willwarro4054]

somebody stole the idea from one of those ski exercisers that dude was selling back in the 70,s - 80,s. @@LifeintheNorth40

[@skrupulant]

A shop press will never fully replace a wood splitter. First off, presses are much slower-these manual splitters have two speeds for a reason. The stroke length on a press is usually shorter than on this splitter. Plus, a press doesn't come with a wedge, so you'd need modifications to make it work for splitting. Lastly, the press table is typically set quite high, meaning you'd have to lift heavier logs, whereas with a splitter, you can simply roll the larger ones into place.

[@reliefmango6]

U better review it

[@rohitkumarslmaheshwari6377]

The way you are doing seems much more energy drainer than using a swift AXE.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

That is my poor demonstration, it is actually less taxing than using a splitting maul over time. Thanks for watching, please subscribe if you enjoy our content.

[@stephaniekidoodles7655]

It says 6.5 inch diameter logs. None of your pile is that thin

[@LifeintheNorth40]

I have split larger than what they say with no problems! Hope this helps. Please subscribe of you enjoy our content. Thanks for watching.

[@mikeh8228]

The manufacturer always understates the capacity because wood varies dramatically in how tight the grain is, whether the grain is straight or curly or twisted.

[@MOTORCYCLEMIKEANDBREE]

SKIP TO 3:10 your welcome

[@viktorfalstadt4946]

a 10 year old could split that entire stack by himself with a medium axe. try that splitter on some knotted up, gnarly trees and it will pop like a fat girl 9 months after prom.. you're lucky you have such straight and limbless trees there.

[@viktorfalstadt4946]

try it with some juniper or siberian elm. i have tried a few pieces in a 20 hydraulic shop press and multiple splitting wedges and the 20 ton ram just hits it's limit.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Ya we do have pretty good trees on our property and use our gas log splitter for gnarly stuff, we don’t have any hard elm!

[@VidadeAP]

Looks like it would fit on a dolly Easy to live around . And it would lift it a foot or maybe half a foot off the ground 😂

[@Never-mind1960]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too slow. It would be acceptable if the split point could move to the edge of the log.

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Its a good back up for when my gas powered log splitter breaks or I run out of fuel. Thanks for watching and for the comment @No BS! Please subscribe to our channel if you enjoy our content.

[@bradowen9418]

you could put mirrors up, advertise as a "back to nature" gym, and charge yuppies $50 dollars a month to come split your wood

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Sounds like a good deal to me!

[@mikeh8228]

You mean $50 an HOUR!

[@johnzimmerman6516]

Why in the world would anyone in their right mind buy this? Get a splitting maul.

[@JohnDoe11VII]

This thing is crazy. An ax, and splitting wedge with ear plugs is by far cheaper, faster, and easier to carry and does not have hydraulic seals that can fail. Children and women can use this, but they would be better off with a splitting wedge. They will struggle with loading the tray or moving the machine.

[@426superbee4]

I didn't buy one for sure! I went Electric 6 ton. I don't buy any thing from HF or NT> Its like a slow boat from China. It takes for EVER for my stuff to get here! from them

[@LifeintheNorth40]

Just a good backup.Please subscribe if you enjoy our content.

[@426superbee4]

@@LifeintheNorth40 I drink to that! Cheers

[@mikeh8228]

That's odd, because Harbor Freight always has in stock what I am buying!!

[@426superbee4]

@@mikeh8228 It a Texas Longview Store. THERE SLOW

[@williamnicklaus2203]

Takes too long - I will try a good maul

[@LifeintheNorth40]

I have one of those and am good swinging it. This is a good less fatiguing option for high volume splitting when and if the gas powered log splitter goes down. Thanks for watching!