Honest Review of Harbor Freight Wood Splitter | Ultimate HF Log Splitter Mod

If you would split those big round logs, it would make more easy to lift and set on the splitter. Then you can go to town making firewood

I made mine hands free. I use a foot peddle to operate mine. I don't want to be any where around the dangerous thing! I had some logs explode on me. If my head was there it could have killed me> I even had 1 explode while guiding the log. LUCKY that i didn't have a good grip on it. IT STILL HURT

I've got the 7 ton version of this splitter. I like you're ax addition. Mine is made by Boss Industries. It doesn't have the safety switch thing. My motor runs continually. It's just a lawyer that needs a new boat that specified the stupid safety switch. You can probably rig that. Good vid, brother. it's been several years. I hope you are still well and using your splitter.

It's still a toy?

I have the same problem with this splitter. Very often the logs will jump out violently. I will definitely try your modification, as the standard wedge angle is too wide. 👍

Could you not just take a grinder to the existing splitter to sharpen it up?

Get ur self sported. ❤. Two tables either side of splitter. , ur back won t last if ur. Hearts frighten and fearfull of woes. [. Drives ur. Living coarpse☠️😀😀😀🥱. Until its broken and or old and weak. Like. Mrs and mrs. Biden of. Oz 🚚

2023 it now costs $330 :( :( :(

Opening the box on my new HF log splitter today. Wood is ready to go. I need to lay in a supply of beer to make this work right. NOT Bud Light though!

Lmao. Get another drink of beer. 😂😂😂

Let me get a drink of my beer before I watch this video 😁

Bloody ripper idea, definitely doing that. Cheers Kev.

That side-mounted interlock switch is a great safety item. It keeps both hands out of danger. Unfortunately, it causes your head to be close alongside the log as it is split. When a log explodes, as will certainly happen, your head and a 25 lb chunk of log moving at 100 mph may well be in the same space at the same time. Ouch! Be sure to wear a helmet with face guard and maybe you will only get a broken neck. This is what happens when lawyers and bureaucrats design machinery.

Great personality, you should do many more videos! Exactly what the world needs these days is a manly man.

Y'know....best thing about this is the welding the additions to the existing blade....yes, that makes a world of diff!! I now have on of these...might purchase another for my winter abode...and I know some welders!!! Thanks!!

its splitting the log partly because its splitting at the edge. you can split ANY wood at the EDGE with your maul. i'm 5'9" and 160 lbs and i split bigger diameter and longer length juniper and siberian elm with a maul i've had sine i was 14-16 years old. it ain't hard you just have to chip away at the edges. well, yeah it is somewhat hard. but the maul will not even begin to touch the spines, especially when theres a branch off. multiple wedges and a 12 lb sledge work but its not worth the time and effort at that point. but it can be done. sometimes the 20 ton shop press and multiple wedges won't even do it.

I thought an electric log splitter was kind of a joke when my grandpa got one. It does not give a shit it will split anything.

I could not find the harbor freight electrtic log spliter on their web site

I purchased my 5 ton in early summer. I live in SoCal and the most prevalent wood here is eucalyptus. Funny thing with this wood is how hard and twisty it is. If you try with all your might and use an ax, the ax will just bounce right off the log. Very hard to split. This 5 ton from Harbor Freight has NO problem splitting this twisted wood. I have split rounds that were up to 15" diameter. Maybe not the first try or down the middle, but starting on the edges and taking slices off. Sometimes I have to work the round and flip it or just move it a quarter turn. I have it on a rollaway bench that I love. It hasn't failed me yet with over 2 cords split so far. As far as adjusting the ram, all I did was to cut a piece of wood and place it behind the ram so it won't cycle all the way back. Yes, the two hands to control is somewhat awkward at times when you want to hold your wood from raising up. I would also like to see some small spikes on the ram head to keep it from slipping off the wood sometimes.

I had this exact splitter lasted about 8 weeks motor broke couldn’t get a refund or fixed…
Absolutely shite

I just got one and it is amazing. Cuts like butter. Great you’re having a beer in between each cut🍻

Thank you! Your rendition of this log splitter was exactly the context I was hoping to see posted.

Hey Jeffrey it’s been several years since you have been running this rig. How’s it holding up. Thinking about getting one. Thanks

I love mine man….its a beast

Looks like a little kids toy or is that what it is 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I have one. I love it. I haven't modified it at all. I have split hundreds of 25 inch plus diameter oak rounds with it, and it has never complained. I recommend this splitter highly. Like he said, for the price, it absolutely cannot be beat. It is a beast!

I got a dud one would out th box Seal 54.4x3.1 o ring and crackers every time now recommend looking on another channel he puts wood in with zip ties it's very hard without but possible... Love the axk bit I dad try and sharp my but looks like it made a difference so I'll give it a try

ok… i like a guy who hydrates with beer!!! my only beef is that you modified your rig with a welded axe head!!! now i am not saying it was not a bright idea but i am NOT a welder. So out of the box i have no idea how great or bad the splinter is.

I like mine as well. It struggles with oak. 1.5 cords and the blade is getting dull. I do a cross cut with a saw to help get it started. Time to sharpen the blade before I destroy this thing.

Well you’re a nice looking guy and all. But it would be nice to see the ax head you welded and any other mods you have done. Don’t think people came here to stare at your head and watch your lips move. Or maybe you made the video for yourself so you can play it back over and over to see yourself. I would rather sharpen the wedge myself and spend the 270 bucks on beer

You have a great idea for a very marketable attachment since a lot of people don't have welders, you could call it the penetrator, lol.

That button sucks

It seems to me that not only being overall safer, welding the axe head to the wedge for a longer, steeper angle would greatly increase the capacity of the splitter. By just how much is anyone's guess, but I expect with your 5 ton unit you're easily splitting logs that a 7 ton electric with a stock wedge would still struggle with. I plan to do just that once I get my hands on a new 5 ton so I can more easily handle the real knotty rounds I sometimes get.

'Murican ingenuity!

Love your commentary...Subscribed, keep the good stuff coming. I just bought one of these splitters. Works well so far: stout and strong..Thanks

Yeah but what about us that have no access to a welder?????

Could you happen to tell me the length you cut the axle to? I keep my splitter at a mountain property in TN and I would like to have the axle ready to go next time I go vs. hauling my chop saw and drill too. Thanks

I have axe heads in my chicken coop too! Love this video. 👍👍👍

I bought the extended warranty on mine. Wonder what they'd say if they saw the welded hillbilly shit I added on. 😆

Can it core an Apple?

What you can do is clamp the button down so that it's always depressed and 'on' then just plug the entire unit into a foot switch. So that you can use one hand on the log to guide if needed. Wen sells one on amazon.

Would it be too much to mention the model? Tons?🤦🏻‍♂️

Just got one!! Very nice splitter!!

Thank you, sir, for your review.
I'm thinking about getting one of those I Have a bunch of wood.I'm getting a little older. gonna help me out a great deal?Good job on the woodpile keep up the hard work

What axe head did you weld on? Was it purchased at Harbor Freight too? I want to do this this weekend.

Thanks for sharing my man 5 🌟 review

drinking beer and operating a log splitter, brilliant . see you soon in my ER

You get what you pay for junk my 40 year old splitter died l ast week 8 inch cylinder and 8hp flat head w e are ta l king black oak maybe 1000 c I rds last 25 years finally broke a valve

Every round you intend to split has its own story. And if you care to take a few seconds and examine it closely, it will show you EXACTLY where it’s strength, and weaknesses, are. Especially after being cut up 3 years prior.
Round splitting 101:
Look for the micro splits running outward from the center, and line the largest one up on the wedge.
If the round has a knot, keep the knot end up on the piston side, never down at the wedge, regardless of “sharp” it is. Puts undue stress on the piston, pump, and engine.
Use hardwood “mini rounds” in front of short height, large diameter rounds you intend to split, if the piston plate must extend out over half it’s length to engage the round you intend to split. In other words, if you can see over half of the piston exposed befor engagement, use a mini round to drive it. This will prevent premature piston seal failure from excessive lateral loads on the extended piston.
Good luck.