So two years later, I finally bought a log splitter.
Well, not entirely true. When I started this thread, it somehow migrated into the discussion in another thread at the time that was all about, "don't buy Chinese". I was trying to make an ethical decision, and was taking my time, so I bought an interim electric 5 ton splitter for $300. That one was better than splitting by hand, but it had a lot of trouble with the gnarly Russian olive wood I have here, especially any green stuff, which I had better luck splitting by hand. It did make smaller (under 8") dry stuff get finished a lot quicker than by hand though.
Anyway, I finally had to fish or cut bait because I have a big pile of Russian olive that the tree guys left me last year, and it's all big stuff that I need to process so it doesn't rot. I went back to looking, and holy hell, prices have gone up like crazy in the last two years. Right around +60%. A fully USA splitter was simply out of budget. I started out looking at getting either a County Line 25 ton (Tractor Supply) or Champion 27 (sold at Home Depot). I drove back and forth between the two stores measuring and checking specs on the display splitters, as well as spending time on the interwebz. Which did I choose? Neither.
I also stopped at the D&B Supply, a local (Pacific Northwest) farm store, and they were selling Black Diamond splitters "designed in the USA" which I take to mean somewhat similar to the DeWalt line of USA tools. I was super impressed with the display splitters, which included models with Honda engines. Apparently they sell mostly to farm stores. I did a bunch of interwebbing, and ended up with their 28 ton Honda splitter. 2000 ducats (no tax, bought it in Oregon). I could have gotten their 37 ton splitter with a Briggs and Stratton, but other than my power washer, all my other small engines are Hondas, and I'm just impressed with them, so paid the upcharge. This was $500 more than the County Line and Champion splitters, but I think with the Honda and build quality, well worth it. From youtube videos, I also paid about $600 more than I would have if I bought it in 2020. C'est la vie.
They had already built ones ready to go, but youtube taught me that the 45mph rating is about 20mph overstated. Plus with no suspension, it was recommended that if you're driving more than a few miles (over 30 for me) you're gonna beat the crap out of it. Plus a point I hadn't thought of (that I learned when I built mine) mentioned on youtube that the kids at the stores who assemble these will often see the grease coating on the bearings and assume that's all the grease you need, versus filling the axle as well. Driving 30 miles dry would probably FUBAR the bearings.
So I had them pull a crated up unassembled one and drop it in my truck. I used lift straps and the loader to move it into the shop. Assembly was mostly straightforward other than instructions were lacking on hose hookups and such, but youtube to the rescue there. The hardest part was mounting the ram by myself. Of the 600ish pounds, the ram was easily 400. Lifting that up on it's end to pin into the trailer was not fun. But it came together, I filled everything with fluids (they threw in 5 gallons of hydro, and I needed the whole bucket, and I'm lucky I got it, because they were nearly out at the farm store) and started her up. Purrs like a kitten.
I was doing a little splitting today, and man, this thing is slicing through even a couple of green 18" logs from a tree I recently cut like it's going through butter. Not even a burp. I am really impressed, and between not swinging a maul and not destroying my back stooping over the little 5 ton anymore, doing firewood is going to be a pleasure. Money well spent.
This is the splitter:
https://www.mydbsupply.com/3633686/product/black-diamond-
