Harbor Freight 5 TON Log Splitter is it worth the money does it work?

[@buckscountyautospa6008]

I just picked one of these up and was totally surprised by how well it works! Took a little while to get used to the two hand operation. Can’t beat it for the price!

[@sterndrives3290]

Yes works great and pays for it self in no time.

[@mikeh8228]

I have had mine for 15 years and rarely have a problem with any wood, knotty or otherwise. I am 74 years old and cannot lift a log that big high enough to put it on my table mounted splitter. So I bought a HF 10 ton manual splitter and I use it to break the log in half, then I can readily lift it and split it on my 5 ton. Both splitters are still going strong. I just clamped the button in the on position, and now I can operate it 1 handed! As you get older you work smarter, not harder! HA HA

[@sterndrives3290]

That was something else I wanted to look into some sort of foot pedal.

[@abrahamghannam2137]

Bro I have the same wood splitter it’s an excellent machine hopefully you didn’t damage the seals because of the vent five turns and I hope you checked it to make sure it’s full but not overfull of hydraulic fluid and if all is good all you have to do is lift the log from the front A little bit when you have a big one like that or put like a 1 inch peace under that front of the log and it will split it with no problem

[@sterndrives3290]

Ahh okay yeah ill have to try that thanks. The Log Splitter finished strong.

[@strongtowerconstruct]

@@sterndrives3290 I just received an electric log splitter like this in the mail with a log not the same diameter as that one but it's pausing and it won't split it. Were you able to troubleshoot and see why it didn't have enough power to push through?

[@sterndrives3290]

@@strongtowerconstruct what I do is first make sure the vent is open check your fluid level then keep rotation your log until it works. If there are knots in the wood find a soft spot or lay it flat.

[@strongtowerconstruct]

@@sterndrives3290 thank you!

[@robertm5969]

Zip tie the button closed and use a foot pedal to turn it on and off. Then you can use one hand to hold the round and the other for the control lever. For rounds like that Id split with a maul 2" from the edge, inside a tire to keep the pieces contained. Then save the knotty pieces for the splitter. That way you're working fast and saving your energy instead of burning out on knots.

[@sterndrives3290]

Okay that's what I need to do soon.

[@PainterD54]

I think I would make some kind of stand to get the splitter off the ground and make it stable so it can't tip over. And then make some kind of table at the end of the splitter so the split pieces don't just fall on the ground (or on your foot!) and also do the foot switch mod so I wouldn't need to use both hands to operate it.

[@sterndrives3290]

Yes that would help my face is too close to the wood being cut up.

[@marcellino1956]

I just bought one so wish they would have come with a foot switch....I hate having my face so close to that wood.....sometimes that stuff explodes

[@daye8132]

They sell a foot switch

[@marcellino1956]

gonna check that out@@daye8132

[@robertm5969]

Zip tie the button closed and add a foot switch. Good to go

[@petervrabcak5597]

Grind off the glue paint on the outside of the blade

[@sterndrives3290]

Ahh okay I'll have to try that thanks.

[@kirkstinson7316]

Well to be fair the instructions do say uo to 19" diameter logs. Not 22"

[@sterndrives3290]

Yea it's worth the money.

[@davidperdue7506]

10 inch, not 19

[@426superbee4]

I could bust that with a Maul with in 3 hits.. Maybe in 1

[@sterndrives3290]

The only problem I have is with knots in the rounds other than that it works great.

[@426superbee4]

@@sterndrives3290 Yes i just tried a stump part that was barrel full of knots. Red Oak. I just kept chunking it off > WHAT A PAIN. it had so many wedge marks around on it, from the splitter. If i sawed it up it wouldn't burn

[@sterndrives3290]

@@426superbee4 for the big chunks with knots try using a saw and cut a line thru the side of the wood about 2 to 3 inches then it should split.

[@426superbee4]

@@sterndrives3290 Some Gnarly stuff. Its very compact, weight a lot to! I burn some chunks of it today. It took for ever to burn!. The other firewood made it into coals it wouldn't burn. Just made hot coals

[@bholberg561]

I don't have any logs as big as these to split, mine are up to 12 inch diameter. I use a Lowes Kobalt axe, to split my wood. Guaranteed I can manually split wood 5 times faster than this machine can. It's good exercise as well!