
This machine is quite the little workhorse and was a tremendous time (and back) saver. I was a bit skeptical but after reading the reviews I figured I'd give it a try. I got it for $250, so the investment wasn't going to break the bank. I'm not disappointed - it did an amazing job. What would have taken me days to process by hand, I was able to do in a little over 1/2 a day by myself including cutting logs down to size (used a wen 4017 electric chainsaw, another incredible workhorse!), splitting, and stacking. Having a helper would have made the job go even faster.Because I don't split wood often (maybe a cord a year), spending the money on a gas splitter which I would have to maintain was not appealing to me. The noise, smelling like gas, maintenance, and storage were all negatives for me with a gas splitter. This is essentially maintenance free, not noisy at all, no gas smell, and you can store it upright in a corner - so hardly any footprint.Did it get stuck on some of the larger logs? Yes, but they were more than 20 inches in diameter, which is more than this machine is supposed to handle. I let them sit out in the sun for a few weeks, and eventually was able to get through them. I have 4 left that I couldn't split. I'm thinking if I let them sit a bit longer it will split them - if not I'll process the old fashioned way.As others have said it is low to the ground which is tough, but I sat on a milk crate and that saved my back. I'm sure I could have put it on a table or up on blocks, but I'm a one person show so that would have been a bit difficult as it is heavy. The need for two handed operation also slows things down a bit, but I understand that is for safety reasons. Some people have posted modifications that will alleviate that, to me it wasn't that big of a deal.I can't say enough good things about this little splitter. For the price, if you're not splitting dozens of cords a year or making a living off of selling cords of wood, it can't be beat. I would describe myself as a firewood hobbyist; I use a wood stove insert in my home to supplement heat in the winter, have an outdoor fireplace, and a solo stove. I anticipate this will be a wonderful addition to my "hobby" and a massive time saver.
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