Thor diavolik 30 ton vertical splitter

[grahamc]

I am considering buying a Thor diavolik 30 ton splitter with the electric stop / go feature which allows for easy holding of wood before the full splitting pressure is applied. Reasons for this are mainly good local dealer, looks well made, and the power requirement is quite low ( 50 hp ), which suits me as I run all my kit off of a 45 horse power compact tractor, which should be just about man enough to handle the Thor. It also can split 1.23 metre, which will allow half of an 8 foot length of cord to be split, whereas some of the other makes of splitter only allow 1.15 metres. Does anybody have experience of this splitter, especially with the stop / go feature, which adds about £ 500 to the cost of the machine. Cost of splitter is about £ 4500 plus vat. I am keen to go vertical, because it suits the way I work ie I have a decent counter balance forklift and the yard is all concrete, therefore loading with a hiab / grab onto a horizontal splitter doesn't really fit in with the kit I have. I have looked at other makes  ie balfor, Rabaud etc, but they all seem to need more hp at the 25 / 30 ton end of the range. Any advice / comments would be appreciated. On the back of this, I have a very tidy BGU 13 ton vertical splitter which will be for sale in the next few weeks at around £ 1450 plus vat, and will be put on arb trader with photos soon.

[fonzy]

Having used the 18 ton Magik on very knotty dead ash I can't see any requirement for the 25 or 30 ton options.  Very well made splitters and easily changed to single hand operation.

 

 

[rowan lee]

Looks a serious bit of kit. I like the Thor stuff a lot, bomb proof gear. Not 100% sure I would like the fancy electronic stop/go system you mentioned. I like the 'leader system controls' on the Magik series of thor splitters which is mechanical rather then electric - but I'm just old fashioned. Problem is the leader system is only applied to splitters up to 18tons, and you want bigger, so no choice.

 

Why is it you want to go so big? You breaking big timber, or is it the fact the bigger ton machines have longer splitting blades, or is it for more efficient use of the 4-way cross knife attachment? If it is for bigger timber a winch would probably be a good idea.

 

[grahamc]

Thanks for the replies. After talking to a few people including m large, I have decided to order the 18 ton super magic. M large have said that it is such a competent splitter, which is far and away the more popular of there large vertical splitters, that very few of there customers feel the need to spend more money on a bigger splitter that has extra capacity that is rarely needed. My local dealer has a couple of 18 ton splitters in the yard, and will deliver a new one into me for a days use on demo. If, after that, i still wish for a bigger machine, they will take the 18 tonner back and sell me the bigger machine. You cant get fairer than that.

[fonzy]

M Large are very good to deal with.  I think you'll be happy with the 18 ton.  100% agree with what they've said.  I really don't see why Thor offer the 25 and 30 ton considering what I've seen the 18 ton deal with.