Forest Master 17 ton log splitter

[georgejones]

Can anyone post a review of the Forest Master 17 ton log splitter please?

 

The website states max diam of log 10 inches; this doesn't seem much for a 17 ton machine?

 

Is the ram sturdy enough for the job?

 

Does anyone out there have one, please?

 

I would go for the 22 ton version which is twice the weight of the 17 ton one, and therefore stronger (?), but the cycle time is much longer - 28 secs is a long cycle.

 

I suppose the machines are less expensive than others because they are imported from Slovenia or somewhere like that - and you have to assemble them yourself ?

 

Hope you can advise me,

 

George Jones

[Chris Sheppard]

for the sort of money they are and the style they are, I'd have said more likely built in the US or the Far east. The Slovenian company who manufacture the Forest Master range of trailers and cranes aren't anything to do with that company selling the splitters.

 

also, 6.5hp engine on a 17 or 22 tonne machine is definitely going to be painfully slow in both directions.

[georgejones]

Thank you for your prompt response, Chris.

 

Whoops! That's a bit like the UK firm Timberwolf being nothing to do with the USA firm of the same name selling excellent logsplitters.

 

Perhaps you could take a look at the product on the website? It states a cycle time of 16 secs. I queried this with the supplier (why is the 17T version faster than the 22T one) who told me that the 17T machine has bigger hydraulic pipes. The link is: Forest Master High Quality low Cost, Trailer Mounted Petrol Log Splitters

 

Hoping you can shed some light on this,

 

Sincerely

 

George

[Chris Sheppard]

Usually on lower priced machines they all use the same pump and engine so the hydraulics all supply the same flow and pressure. On a smaller tonnage machine the ram is usually a smaller diameter (in the sense of needing less oil to fill it) so doesn't require as much flow to make it move a certain speed - making a bigger capacity ram need more oil so if both are using the same flow rate then the bigger one will be slower.

 

Also, the length of the splitting knife can be a big influense to how well a machine performs - a certain pressure over a small knife would make lighter work of knottier timber but often require more cuts per log, whereas a longer knife will generally be quicker on decent timber and require less cuts.

 

I'd query them on the apparent one handed operation as shown in the photos as if it is only one hand operation there's no way it can be CE approved so they shouldn't be selling it. Also, if it's auto return, does it have an anti crush system fitted as on that style (i.e conventional exposed cylinder cutting on the push stroke) it would require this, to be fully compliant.

 

if it's just for your own use then the above may do all you want - but I'd always suggest buying the best you can afford and buy once.

Edited November 11, 2010 by Chris Sheppard

[georgejones]

Thank you, Chris.

 

That is very informative! I think I understand now.

 

I haven't been able to find a machine that has a cycle of less than 16 secs (presumably that's sharedbetween the forward and reverse movement?). What do you think about 16 secs? The Timberwolf (USA) video seems faster than that, but I can't buy one in the UK.

 

George

[Chris Sheppard]

Depends on the manufacturer, but usually cycle times quoted are for the time to go fully out and fully back, and if two speed then it is usually relating to the fast speed.

 

Depends on what sort of thing you are looking for - generally petrol or electric are quite slow as from a small engine you can either have good pressure but low flow or good flow and low pressure (unless you start getting more complex). For the cost and spec - 16 sec is probably not bad, though it's certainly not quick.

[georgejones]

Thank you, Chris. Sorry for delay, I was in the woods. George