Timberwolf vs ????

[fhafer]

Before I got my splitter, I rented a Rayco just like you pictured 2 or 3 times. I don't remember it as being particularly fast, but it was built like a tank. They make nice stump grinders too.

BTW Sandhill, ppl is internet for people.

It is built like a tank. It has the standard wedge, four-way, and six-way wedges I bought as options. Wedge lift and log lift. Not really fast, but plenty fast enough to get you in trouble if you throw levers faster than you think.

 

[chipper1]

Ppl? I do not know what that stands for. No personal gain here from Timberwolf, any dealer, or anyone else. There is a list of things I like about the TW-6, and a list of things I don't care for. They build a great splitter that sells. But it doesn't hit the bullseye for everyone. I choose TW through a process of elimination based heavily by people on this site who had bad experiences purchasing from other smaller builders. I also bought a SuperSplit based on Arboristsite member comments.
Just looked and read some of the threads GM_Grimmy posted. I'd love to run that machine. I like the wedge design much better. I do not think I would like that log lift. I operate the machine by myself, and when using the log lift, I load and operate from that side. That lift appears too large for that, not leaving room for the operater. Note: Timberwolf's manual says the operator station is on the engine side, not the lift side.
As with any splitter, you will either have to adapt to the splitter, or have a splitter built around how you work. If I was to do it again, I'd spend a little pocket money and drive to Iowa, try their splitter, and see what A.E. Metal Werx could build for me. I would also search out someone with a Split Fire bi-directional four-way with log lift to try out, and for a lot less than the TW. I think they can run less horse power because the wedge is more efficient. Might not work with a conveyor as well. Again, the opportunity to try it first might dispel that thought. I would also take another look at Tempest.
You should remember, doing firewood is a process, and splitting is just a piece of it, of how you work. Money may be better spent on a tractor, skid steer, a dump truck, or dump trailer, small processor, etc. About 75% or more of what I split is on a SuperSplit, which means the Timberwolf is resting in the garage.

Some great info here.
I'm sorry to hear about the timberwolf resting in the garage, that can't be good for it. I'll come out later tonight and bring it over to my place.
Got a little I cut today I need to split up.
Hope you guys are doing well over on the sw side.
I'll be in Grand Junction tomorrow if plans go well.

 

[GM_Grimmy]

So what I'm hearing, a TW-6 may be overkill for me doing the splitting on my own and not having a conveyor to take the wood away?

Overkill is under rated. Better to be over kill, as your process might change later on, and then you might wish you had something bigger. I wish I had a conveyor, but well there's always 2 of us. I work around that with other things. I have a tandem wheel cart that if I can get the trailer close enough to, I cart it. After each cart, we change positions and then I gather the wood that goes on the lift and he splits. Again, it's all about how you run your operation. If having a splitter of this caliber, if might get you thinking about how you can do it more efficiently later on as well.

 

[chipper1]

So what I'm hearing, a TW-6 may be overkill for me doing the splitting on my own and not having a conveyor to take the wood away?

BWS, just hook up with sandhill crane and see what happens from there. Don't rush any decision on this right now. I will help you find whatever you decide uou want. You can stop out here whenever you'd like an we can look at what's available on line. I'm pretty good finding what people are looking for. Tw-5 just sold in gr for 3500, I didn't know you were looking. You can park the truck right in front of my house.

 

[angelo c]

So what I'm hearing, a TW-6 may be overkill for me doing the splitting on my own and not having a conveyor to take the wood away?

Complaining about having wood split too fast is like complaining about your young beautiful blonde wife who cooks and cleans and is great with the kids, spends little on herself helps anywhere she can and is great upstairs at night and has a broken toenail ?

a TW6 will bury itself in a few hours with splitter trash and splits so you end up throwing splits further and further and yer arms get tired fast...hard to complain about that but that's what happens. Sometimes the new wife sleeps in a little late....I don't complain too much....

most people don't complain about power windows and power steering and air-conditioning...yet they are "overkill"....

 

[Dalmatian90]

What other options are out there besides TW?

American is another one in the TW league that I haven't seen mentioned yet.

http://www.americancls.com/

 

[T. Mainus]

All-wood splitters are built in Michigan. They look as good if not better than a Timberwolf.

http://www.allwoodlogsplitters.com

 

[GM_Grimmy]

All-wood splitters are built in Michigan. They look as good if not better than a Timberwolf.

http://www.allwoodlogsplitters.com

They are heavier, weight wise, but are lacking in quality and the engineering is poor. I had one, and the longer I had it, the more I hated it. Ended up taking it back and taking a big loss on it.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk 2

 

[Sandhill Crane]

No auto cycle valve yet. Couple reasons. One is that I'm not using the splitter all that much. Second, I seem to use it more in the cold and snow, and I've heard that messes with the detents, making them more finicky and popping out on the splitting stroke. Been cutting out of a pile of mixed size stuff and using the TW this week without the conveyor. I leave the quad in neutral and the splitter pushes it forward as the pile builds. The auto cycle would be nice, but... Still wanting a dump box for the truck too, and a few other things.
The real reason it is not getting used much is the tree service I've been getting wood from thinks there is twice as much in their truck load of logs than what it stacks out to. They brought a load over today, and I passed on it. What they don't get is I'll buy wood from them every week or two like I did last winter from their stock pile. I never got more than two cord out of one of their loads. I prepaid $300. then cut, split and stacked it, paying a per cord price stacked, not log form. Prepaid again, and work up more cordage, etc. Worked good for both of us I thought. I had work and he had money coming in during the winter to pay his guys, or payments on equipment. This summer I wasn't going to get to work up the wood right away so I paid for a truck load of logs. What his guys brought was half of what was said. Good oak, just not much of it. It is the age old want to make a quick buck now without thinking about the bigger picture. In Jan., Feb., March. he might be a little hungrier (more hungry?), and, I need to find other sources as well, but I knew that when I started.
Believe me I like my TW, but I'm not pushing it either.
That list of things I don't like:
-It is poorly balanced with the four-way wedge and log table grate attached even with a full five gallon fuel tank on the tongue end. If it is hooked to the quad in the garage no problem. If it is not, I put the rear leg down under the wedge in case my grandson (who is two) were to lean on the log table and unexpectedly tip it on himself. To me that's a big deal. I always fill the tank before it is unhooked in the garage.
-Also, there is no suspension or even an axle.
-The four-way and table grate need to be removed to tow or they may bounce off [really , even if it just half a mile].
-Large rounds can catch the front edge of the table great (auto cycle mode could get ugly).
-The wedge is very wide, which in many instances makes unstackable junk of pieces with knots.
-The four-way needs to be lifted off by hand which is awkward at best. I added a 1/2" thick steel plate shelf to mine which makes it even worse on my back. At least once per splitting session the four-way is lifted off the main wedge by a round while splitting and needs lifted back on.
-It could be a few inched higher for the conveyor. (my conveyor is proped up a bit, 4", to level the engine on it, so the height is maybe a conveyor issue)
-There is no good place to set down a pulp hook. I was putting it in the open tube on the log lift when up. I put the lift down with the hook still in it two days ago. The lift has good down presure. Ordered a new tip from Bailey's.
The things I like:
-Ergonomics is pretty good.
-It is impressively built.
-Paint looks good after a year.
-Works as it should, busting up the big stuff.
-cycle time is good for hydraulic with 28 ton rating.
-I like the log lift. At first I did not. I thought it was too narrow and slippery (bought it in December). Now, those are the things I like about the log lift. I was going to add some expanded metal to it at first but I'm glad I did not.
-resale promises to be pretty good if necessary.
-Just looking at the cylinder about makes me giggle! What more can I say... Well, the price might make you choke, so there is that.
If you could find a used TW-7, that might be a good find. As far as I know only Tempest makes a wedge like that. I believe the TW-7 is discontinued.

 

[Homelite410]

How many of them "commercial made" splitters use anything better than mild steel?
I know one that does.

 

[angelo c]

Sandhill, just grab the phone book and call all the tree service guys within 10 miles of you. Or go and spend a day at the dump/recycling center and grab phone #s off the trucks that PAY to dump trees off. No way would I pay for tree cuttings. They will dump off in your yard if you ask the right guys. Tell them you need one load a week or two and drop a case of beer in the drivers lap. He'll be back. I rebuild a few saws for the guys at cost, they like saws that run. I like wood. When I call, they drop off . They know I like Ash, maple and oaks. They let me know when they are close by so it's convenient for them to drop. Around here it's about $60 to dump a load at the recycle center.

 

[Sandhill Crane]

I mis-spoke. The TW-6 does have an axle, sort of.

 

[angelo c]

I mis-spoke. The TW-6 does have an axle, sort of.

Im told it's a torsion axle. Mine, an older model does not. The older units sag on the frame eventually. The frame is supposed to be redesigned and resupported in the new model. And a hole is placed under the oil drain so that huge mess is now controlled.

 

[Sandhill Crane]

Mine is the older style then also.

 

[shamusturbo]

If you can swing it money wise, and they are available (which I believe they are) CRD Metalworks in Mass. makes a "green monster" splitter and that's exactly what it is. Check them out on youtube. I was the second owner of the original model which I have since sold to replace with a processor. I wish I had the means to keep it but such is life. They auto cycle and split anything onto a 11' conveyor. (Not sure, but they may have started making them a touch longer) They come with an 8-way wedge and you can buy them extra in a 6 or 4 or build them just as easily. Pretty bad machine but somewhere close to $16k. We bought that after a TW-5 and before a CRD Loco 20.....

If you are looking at being more productive in general for firewood, a skidsteer may be a better initial investment rather than a bigger splitter.......just my 2 cents.......

 

[shamusturbo]

 

[CaseyForrest]

Made right here in MI...

http://www.allwoodlogsplitters.com/

I used a buddies tw2 last winter and split almost 20 cords with it. It never skipped a beat but I do feel like I was pushing the limits of the machine with the quantity I was splitting. But it was a catch up year.

 

[GM_Grimmy]

Made right here in MI...

http://www.allwoodlogsplitters.com/

I would stay far away. You can get a lot better for your hard earned money! The guy is almost impossible to deal with. Tells you what you want to hear and does his own thing.

http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/timberwolf-vs.290512/page-2#post-5669407

 

[Wood Doctor]

Check these guys out:
http://www.bravesplitters.com/

Brave makes a good splitter in Streator, IL.

 

[captjack]

I have been really happy with my tw5 - its the 36 inch model and a little slower than the regular one because of the extra ram travel.

The tw5 is a great splitter. I think when you get to that level of equipment you are entering into the Ford v Chevy debate.

I am a shorter fella and the Tw5 is perfect for me. some of my taller friends wish it was higher off the ground like the American ALS splitter. The removable table is nice vs the ones that dont come off. The Timberwolf is a really well balanced machine - meaning its easy to move around by myself. i like the removable hitch its nice if I leave it out near the sheds ( harder to steal it)

Having a hydo controlled (4/6 way) wedge is nice when splits get jammed under it - you just raise it and the splits fall out - makes it quick to clear. I have found on a rare instance when a round get stuck and doesnt split when using the 4/6 way - you can raise it and slide it off the main wedge and put back on the beam and push the 4/6 way with the ram into the back and split it against the fixed wedge. I f you are like me you get wood that is given to ya - so its not all perfect straight 2 foot rounds with out knots haha I get my share of nasty red oak with knots in it and have tendency to shove everything into the 4/6 way.( to lazy to lift off)

I have not used a splitter with a 4 way the goes all the way down but .... it looks like a good design.

try to find one of those farm shows where manufactures showcase their splitters. See which one fits you best - its a big investment and a machine that will likely out last the owner if maintained.