Log Spliter Mantis SwiftSplit

[islandAl]

Has anyone used the Mantis SwiftSplit electric log spliter? Being on an island, I am looking for something light enough to get into and out of the boat but be powerful enough to split, pine, oak and maple.
The literature looks promising, but hoping for first hand usage report, positive or negative.
Any other ideas?

[hazelnut]

Did you compare it to this one?

http://www.drpower.com/TwoStepModels.aspx?Name=WoodSplitter2Step&Chap=WDSModels2&SiteEntryMode=0&BC=0%3aHome%7c2%3aDRPowerHome%7c3%3aWoodSplitter2S tep&LinkType=3

This intrigues me a bit as well being that I am on an island. I'd welcome some insight from anyone who has ever used one of these.

[islandAl]

Very similar to another model I found. The DR has a little more sheet metal on the side, but priced higher
www.omegastores.com/omegasplitters.htm
and electric and gas models at www.ramsplitter.com
The Mantis is a 5 ton for $458 (399 + 59 s&h) and looks like it might roll and store easier.
Just do not know if they are powerful enough.

[Orion]

I've used the one from Omega ($499 model) and it works great. Nice and easy to roll around and stores vertically out of the way.

[hazelnut]

Thanks Orion. Looks like something like that might be a good investment for us as well. Certainly will heal the beating my back takes from splitting by hand.

[islandAl]

Orion; my thanks as well.
What wood types and what size max have you done?
Ever wished you went with the next size up?
Any circuit breaker trip problems with some tough pieces?

[Orion]

IslandAl, you've asked all the right questions!

The splitter has so far performed far better than I expected and has met all my needs easily. It is very powerful and splits wood larger than it's spec'd for....sometimes you just need to rotate the piece 180 degrees and take a whack at the opposite side. I've been splitting all types, beech, pine, maple, birch with no problems. I've only popped a CB a few times when I didn't learn to back off when it stalls (not very often). The circuit I was using was a shared circuit so I've just installed a dedicated 20A outside box to eliminate that problem. I've used it for about four cords of wood so far, so I don't know about longevity (hence I'm not really loaning it out), but it seems durable.

It's nice and quiet so I can split wood without disturbing my neighbors any time.

When I use it, I set it up on two large diameter log bases about 15" high. Make sure the non-motor end is slightly higher, otherwise it gets hydraulic lock for some reason, if it's lower.

I'm happy with this size and power of this unit and it stores nicely in my shed in the vertical position.
Omega was a good source online. No problems and quick shipment.

[Island Girl]

I have the DR splitter. It works very well. I have the orginial model. They have a larger one now. It is very sturdy.

[SOMEONEGOTCHA]

I borrowed a DR splitter, not sure of the size, but wasn't to old. I wanted to use it so bad and it was raining outside so I brought a bunch of logs into the basement. (Unfinished) and set it up and secured it on a couple of saw horses. It work out just great until, ya there is always a until to a story. The unit built up some pressure to the log and all of a sudden BANG the log split into and flew about 4' and when it came to a stop I spent the next 2 or 3 hours cleaning up a gallon of paint it hit. Moral of the story "don't do it in the basement". :D

[arthurc]

I had a Mantis tiller for a number of years. For a little baby it was a super machine. After getting to knpw it's idiosyncracies, it worked well all the time. Any probl;ems just call the company and they bend over backward to help you.
i would expect their expertise would carry over to log spliitters

[islandAl]

Great info. And what I hoped for. Did not want to "have" to get a 20 ton gas unit that I could not move around the rocks and boats easily.
Thanks again. :)

[SIKSUKR]

Almost any logsplitter will have plenty of power.It doesn't take a lot of power to split wood.It's the wedging action that does work which is why one can do it by hand.The exception is when you hit a knot cuz your trying to split across the grain.The difference is usually how fast the cycle is and if it is a horizontal or vertical model.Split away!!

[SAMIAM]

Some friends and I were helping a neighbor work up a 7 cord load of wood recently and he had one of those huge 18hp Lafont splitters with the 5-way blade....about half the size of a pickup truck.It broke down after a while so I ran home and got my 25 year old 1 hp electric Jiffy Splitter.The old timers broke out laughing at the sight of it,but things changed quickly.The Jiffy splitter uses a weighted wheel that engages the ram.The result is a one second splitting stroke and a one second return.It's almost like a guillotine.
To make a long story short,4 of them couldn't keep up with feeding and stacking and I had to give them frequent breaks...along with a little ribbing as payback for laughing at me. :laugh:

[RLW]

They are fast and so isn't it when someone loses a hand or fingers. Those darn splitters are very fast as you said, but they are extremely dangerous even when you know what your doing. One has no chance in heck to get there fingers out of the way when the stroke starts forward. :eek: