Harbor Freight's Central Machinery Electric Woodsplitter Review 

I love that you can operate it with one hand unlike the others designed so babies won't hurt themselves. If you're using dangerous equipment pay attention and don't frig around. It's not like the ram slams closed, it's only going a snails pace. If you can't operate it without hurting yourself you don't have any business operating it.

A note on blowing breakers: It could be that the extension cord you used is too long and skinny. The voltage drop along the line could prevent the motor from getting up to speed fast enough to get off the starting coils before the breaker pops. Normally, the starting coils are switched out with a centrifugal switch as the motor comes up to speed. That overload condition is too short duration to trip the breaker. However, if the starting coil switch out is delayed because of low voltage under load, the breaker will trip. First verification step - Find an outlet that is physically close to the breaker panel and plug in the splitter to see if it runs there. Second verification step - plug into the outlet that the extension cord was plugged into to see if the splitter runs from that outlet. Third verification step - try the extension cord again. If this is the only try that doesn't work, buy a heftier extension cord. Think of the money in gas you will save in not using the generator, plus you can hear your wife say things without having to get close. If the second verification step fails, you need to trouble shoot the house wiring!!! Do that before you need to call the fire department. Electricians aren't cheap, but fires cost an average of $3,000/minute, and hospitalizations are another matter entirely.

Great vid, and very informative. If I may, humbly, I'd suggest butting the rounds up against the blade...that way they won't move side to side as they could if you start them on the ram. But....great vid....I am loving my 5 ton splitter at my summer home in Michigan....I'll have firewood to spare!! Keep up the good!!!

I've owned a previous version of this machine (then marketed by DR) for 12 years. I process about 6 cords of lodgepole pine and oak every season on it. It handles oak up to about 18" and pine as wide as 28" with ease. It has performed flawlessly with virtually no maintenance. It is quiet compared to gas-powered splitters. I installed it on a bench inside my woodshed where I stack the wood as I process it, saving a lot of handling and time. If it wears out I'll replace it with the Harbor Freight version. I couldn't recommend this type of splitter more highly.

Just finished my third season with mine. I know it says up to 10" rounds , but I've cut 16 " all day long and have never had a lick of trouble out of it . It was SO worth the money.

Good review and thanks for the detail and little gotchas especially on the power. Have a generator as you suggested but also have dedicated separate power on the pole barn. So hopefully that will cover it. Thanks 🙏

Reading the instruction manual (included) before you run it is a good idea. Another good idea is to make sure you snug up all the assembly's nuts & bolts, and check 'em frequently. Keep some loctite handy. On my first one, vibration caused one of the bolts seated in a soft aluminum thread hole to back out, and was unrepairable. HF kindly replaced it with a new one, which I'll be cranking up in a week or two. I also picked up a HF foot switch, which I'll connect per a YT video to make it a single-handed operation.

I've watched a number of videos showing this type of splitter. I think there is an adjustable stop you can set so the ram does not retract all the way, saving you time

just a few comments. almost all of the 5 ton electric-hydraulic splitters are virtually identical. I have a sun joe/logger joe splitter and it is the same. I also had one sold by McCullough that had a few difference, but not enough to mention. My biggest problem with them is they all have some form of two handed operation. you need to be able to hold the log in place and cant with the factory configuration. I have modified mine to allow one hand to run it. You should be able with the type of wood you are using and the sizes to split anything in the pile. I over drove mine with some heavy oak rounds about 16 inch in diameter and the wedge broke off. I repaired it, but I found a good deal on the 10 ton DR kinetic splitter and the little sun joe spends most of its time sitting in the corner of my garage. Most people tha complain about these little splitters want a 22 ton splitter anyway and should never have tried to cheap out on this one. You have to know the limittions of your tools.

I just picked one up today. Hello from Waterville.

Any one know how to modify the switch so I can have a one handed operation. We only purchased it for making Kindling and it works fine for that. But two handed operation is a take it back. The motor has to be running for the ram to return on mine.

Doesn't the gas generator defeat the purpose of getting an electric wood splitter?

Bien explicado ,,, muchas gracias ,,,, saludos desde chihuahuas México 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍

HOw is it working wihout two handed operation, you are not pusing the power button on motor.

Love everything about maine. This is the year I finally get to come for good.

having a splitter is definitely nice to have by the end of the day, its nice to see another mainer on youtube

For those that hate sped-up video and want to see actual speed: hit the "

thanks for the review, I want to buy one soon.

Can you tell me the on/off switch part number?

So for my to be running I have to press the turn on and the engage for it to work? And your was on the whole time without having to press it

I just got one and love it!!!! The vent plug the wing nut you speek of should it be removed fully before operating or just loosened a bit. I assumed from the directions it should be removed fully, after a few hours some hydraulic fluid came out of the hole where the vent plug screws in. So do you loosen it a bit but not fully to release pressure??? Thanks great video

Is it slow. Is it fast? We don't know.

And what's the cycle time??

Mine spliltter is about 4 years old. This year, when i press the button, I just get the humming sound and nothing moved so am assuming it is froze up. Can someone give me a website, etc where I can find out how to fix this. Thanks

Most helpful. Thank You......🇨🇦

I love burning Maple.

I have 6 acres in Solon and a small cabin. I hope to build a permanent home there soon. Maine the way life should be.

how did you get it to be a one hand operation that would be a great modification

How do you check the fluid?

So how do you feel about it now? Has it held up

Great content !

Thanks for the review. Over here in WA we are akin to you guys in Maine in wanting to do things on the cheap. I've been thinking about picking one of these up. Still happy with it?

I just bought one of these and it requires two handed operation (momentary contact switch for power) and it will not return the ram to the starting position unless the motor is off. This is a huge hassle and a deal breaker for me. I need my hand free to position the log. Is the one in the video a previous version or has this guy altered the setup?

A cord of split wood delivered is $80 here in Indiana. I did have to stack it though.

Speeding up the camera was not helpful... I wanted to see in real time to get an idea how much time is required to split the wood.

you turn the vent COUNTER CLOCKWISE to open. If you stand the unit on the end it may break off the handle

4:05. Saving the 10" for his wife

You should always use at least a 12 gauge extension cord not over 25 ft. long.

Thanks for the Heads up Homesteader.

Thanks for the review! Only wish one thing...where's your wife? I wanted to see her working it too! After all, you said you bought it cause she wanted to help! Ha ha.

Sarring the wood?

Can you make it set in neutral, instead of letting going in reverse

As long as you and the wifey are happy with your short wood that's all that matters 😄 Jokes aside how much and where at..?

Speeding up the video doesn't allow to see actual speed. Wich is important in this type of review. Other wise it a could be a good video

That is a very expensive stand for it! To get beat up and the glass knocked out of it. My stand is 8 concert blocks, 2 high 4 in the back and 4 in the front> 16 dollars worth of blocks

It's probably better than a gas that cost 1000 dollars

"Central"

you got ripped off on the 4 cords for 560$ delivered. yes delivery prob 80-100$. but its not cut at all you have to do all the world to get those 4 cords. should cost 300$ plus delivery. thats what i get in ohio. given they stacked yours nicer LOL

5 MINUTES OF EXPLAINING YOUR FING WOOD PILE ?

I have one it’s a joke, for larger wood. Save your money

We go by pounds here in non communist territory

Max 20 inches...I'll pass

Too much talking

20 ton gas is what you need, electric splitter and generator is strange to me