We did not buy a Commercial splitter here, but then we don't do fire wood for a living. Just bought a Yard Machines 25 ton for under 1400.00 with tax at home depot. We had considered commercial and were looking at the 30 ton through harbor freight with the Subaru engine as we had heard good things about it. We also priced one locally here. Both seemed a bit much for what we do. The one local had a Briggs engine. Support and service is also what we considered. Briggs is bullet proof and easily serviced and we can get parts. Honda etc driven would be a problem in parts and service.
Other selling point of the smaller 25 ton was portability. 1 - 2 guys can about place the thing anywhere, quad can pull it into rough areas, and two guys can also load it into a truck or trailer for transport if you need the trailer too. We split about 8 cord a year total for some of our customers and our home. Like I said, not high volume. Funny thing was we did not think it was going to make a whole lot of money, just make our job easier. At 200-225 a cord of oak delivered, you aint gettin rich buy selling fire wood. But.... we had a large elderly client base that don't split their own wood any more. We make more money getting paid to take their trees down, cut and split and stack it for them. Who wudda figured?? Nice thing about a splitter though, it is generally a one time investment. Not much ever goes wrong with it and requires very little service. Having the 6 hp briggs on it was great as I can get even the air filters from hardware stores here. Let alone warranty service and such. Pricing the motor too, much cheaper replacement if anything does go wrong. But I have never had a Briggs motor that has been properly cared for go bad until they are just plain wore out.
Sorry this is so long ... but you know me... the paragraph guy .. LOL
