Thor Alpino or Mignon

[Matt Venn]

Looking at the above two splitters for doing around 10m3 a year. Is the 11t Mignon worth having over the 8.5t Alpino? Think for the bulk of my splitting 8.5t would do the job but for the extra £500 would the Mignon last longer as a heavier duty build, I’m planning this splitter doing 20-25yrs for me. Both would be 230v electric motor, and if I ever need to use it away from the workshop it would be powered off a genny.

[scbk]

I don't know either splitter sorry, but you'd need a hell of a genny to run one!

Even on the mains, for 3kw working away for hours, you need to have a decent electric connection.

 

The less powerful splitter has a slightly smaller motor and slightly higher speed.

And 110kg vs 171kg.

That means a load more metal in the bigger splitter, but a lot more effort if you want to drag it about by hand!

[nepia]

I had a petrol Mignon and found it a great machine once it was going.  But it was a pig to move anywhere - it had next to no ground clearance so unless you move it on good flat concrete it's a real pain to get anywhere and heavy with it.  Very good as a static machine though; I loved the foot pedal function for gripping logs with the blade

[daveindales]

I've had the Thor Alpini 8.5 ton for 3 or 4 years now. No problems at all with it 

[Matt Venn]

6 hours ago, daveindales said:

I've had the Thor Alpini 8.5 ton for 3 or 4 years now. No problems at all with it 

Have you been happy with it? I’ve looked at them all and it was between Posch, AMR and Thor and I think for the price Thor look good and I like the idea of the foot pedal and auto return. 

[Matt Venn]

10 hours ago, nepia said:

I had a petrol Mignon and found it a great machine once it was going.  But it was a pig to move anywhere - it had next to no ground clearance so unless you move it on good flat concrete it's a real pain to get anywhere and heavy with it.  Very good as a static machine though; I loved the foot pedal function for gripping logs with the blade

The Mignon I can spec with big pneumatic tyres which I think will help the ground clearance problem the little plastic ones on the Alpino look a bit flimsy to me and I’m sure will be the first bit to fail.

[nepia]

14 hours ago, Matt Venn said:

The Mignon I can spec with big pneumatic tyres 

...which would have left the machine on the tilt when working surely unless you went to the trouble of chocking it?

[Matt Venn]

1 hour ago, nepia said:

...which would have left the machine on the tilt when working surely unless you went to the trouble of chocking it?

I think they go on an axle modification bracket that moves the wheel higher than it’s original position. This means the machine sits level when in use. Off memory I think they are 40cm diameter 

[daveindales]

23 hours ago, Matt Venn said:

Yes, more than happy with it.

 

 

23 hours ago, Matt Venn said:

 

Have you been happy with it? I’ve looked at them all and it was between Posch, AMR and Thor and I think for the price Thor look good and I like the idea of the foot pedal and auto return. 

 

[welshy1973]

Any update on this? What did you buy? I’m looking for an alpino 8.5 electric as well. Who’s given you a decent deal at the moment?