I had a 5-ton electric splitter. It worked really well. Then I got about 7 cords worth of huge (20-36 inch) oak rounds. My wife saw the county line 25=ton at TSC, and said get it. She didn't have to tell me twice. I love this machine. It has split everything I've put in front of its wedge. I bought the drop-on four-way wedge and the "log catcher" too (well worth it at $70 each). The first thing I did was sharpen the wedges to knife sharpness. Do yourself a favor, sharpen your wedges, no matter what machine you have. On my County Line, whatever it can't seem to split, it just plain slices through instead.

This wasn’t a review, he just found a way to get his firewood cut up! 🤪 I think I’ll organize a “review” and have all my neighbors come over with their splitters

Rachel, you have the sweetest and most genuine laugh I've heard in a long time. You are one of the reasons I enjoy the videos. Of course, for Heath, too. Chip

Nice descriptions at the beginning. Thanks for taking the time to go over all that stuff

Binge watching HWM all night!!!! Really like the spec sheet you do at the end of the splitter wars. That’s big time! Thanks for spending the time and doing that.

I bought a country pro 25-ton splitter on Friday, 4/7/23. It is virtually identical to your county line splitter here. The difference, I bought it at Runnings instead of TSC. The black diamond 27-ton they had is the same as the champion in this video. What I learned was by accident when I was talking to another salesman about the Oregon 25-ton they sold. That’s when I learned they all are sold by YTL international and it comes down to which has the lowest price or color you wish to have. In my case, Runnings was $999 vs TSC at $1450 for exactly the same splitter. Look at the model numbers. They all start with YTL-###-###. What follows is for what store you get them from so you get the correct colors.

What an awesome video. I’ve been shopping hard for a new residential splitter, and I’ve just about gone blind. The County Line 25 ton keeps rising to the top of my list. Thanks guys!!

Well all 3 splitters performed and did there job as they should have. It looked like fun😊 Great video

I love how fast you are pumping out informative videos!

Fantastic video! Shows everything you need to know! Thanks so much!

Very good box store splitter war. Good informative video to help viewers see them in action if they are deciding on which direction to go with a purchase. So glad I used my 25 ton Black Diamond for three years before getting the Wolfe Ridge pro 28c.

Great comparison guys! Looks like you all had a blast doing it👍👍

We have 1 year on our Countyline 25 ton. It has split everything we have thrown at it. Love it. There is an optional 4 way adapter that slides right on. Very happy!

This has been a great series of comparison videos. You guys went above and beyond to make them as fair as possible. An awesome set of vids to watch before pulling the trigger on a splitter. Thank you.

I'm happy with the county line one. It splits about 24 to 30 cord every season and nothing has stopped it yet. We cut tamarack(western larch), Doug Fir, and a little lodgepole. Only thing i don't like is that stupid kick stand sprigloaded front foot thing. Just put a regular hand crank one on it for Pete's sake!

Great video!! It's obvious the Northstar is built much better, Honda engine, but is way slower on cycle times. But....the trade off is that i'm sure it runs much cooler than the others. That's a common complaint i've heard about the other countyline reviews is that they get really hot!! Very well done! Thank you!

This was great! The nice thing about this is that it provides the average consumer with some reference points for splitters. For the average homeowner, these are the splitters they are likely to consider.

I’ve got a 25-ton Country Tuff splitter (it’s the County Line but with a different sticker and paint job). Got it three years ago for $800. Glad I got it then!

I LOVE these videos. Makes me want to go outside and Kiss my Eastonmade 22/28 :) . I've used box store in the beginning of my years, them moved to Timberwolf, and last year Eastommade 22/28. Great video, thanks for doing this !

Great big box store splitter wars . I really like my county line . This April , I will have had it for 2 years .

I had never seen a north star, I was hoping it would perform a little better. County line for the win in my opinion. Cheap and every tractor supply has them and several replacement parts in stock.

Good comparison and love that it's real ..no sponsored BS. The champion 27 tonne is on sale at Canadian Tire this week for $1999 (Honda GX200 model) so I'm probably picking it up.

That was a good box store splitter war loved that little battle

It maybe wasn't talked about, but the NorthStar was much quieter than the other two splitters. That's a win in my book.

Nice review. Your Splitter Wars videos are providing great information across the spectrum, from homeowners to professionals. Good job!

Box store splitter wars are great to see as well,however they're totally different than the commercial units

I have the same Northstar 30-ton splitter and love it. I think it has more features than the others and it's a very reliable brand. One thing I do wish it had is a faster cycle time. I have developed a system to account for that by not letting the wedge go all the way back. But it would be nice to have a faster cycle time.

It was fun watching you guys. They all look like okay Splitters to me, now the Northstar has the Honda and the 4 way would be my choice for home owner..

Wow Heath is a competitor! He is in it to win it every time. Great job on the video.

Very well done with the comparison video. I am sure that will be very useful to a lot of people when making a purchasing decision. Nice job with the filming, Rachel. I own the 27-ton champion, and the cylinder went out on it after 6 months. Champion says they will replace the cylinder, but I have been waiting for quite a while for them to send it to me. In the meantime, I bought a 37 ton Black Dimond splitter and it is working well so far. Thanks for all your hard work! Take care 👍

Looks like a fun way to get some friends to come over and split your firewood for you!

Really enjoyed that video that was a riot good job everybody next time we'll have a contest at my log pile. Thank you stay safe

Nice comparisons. Fairly similar outcomes. Like the Northstar 4way though. Thank your friends for contributing for the results. Hope Dan didn't mind having to clean the bathroom at work for the week with the trouncing he took.lolol🙂

Great challenge. I was considering all of these some time back, but worried the less tonnage wouldn’t be enough. By this, I can see that they may have actually been. Your measurements at the end was priceless. Dan had a rough day and you piled on him where it hurts a man most lol

Great Video Y'all 👍

I bought a 37 ton Lumber Jack splitter, which is similar in design to the Champion. Nice comparison series!

Great real world comparison of less expensive box store splitters. I love comparisons so these videos are fantastic! It would be great so see some mid grade splitters like the Rugged Split and the bigger Northstar with log lifts. Thanks for another great video!

Rachel & Heath...Great video. It appears that Northern Tool has changed the pump on their splitter even though in an answer to a question they state it is a two-speed pump. That pump on the machine you tested is not two-speed; it was only operating at low speed The 20+ year old North Star we use has a two speed pump with a Honda GX 160 and it would walk away from the other two you tested. That pump moves the wedge twice as fast as the wedge on your machine when it is not going through really knotty wood. You can hear it switch into high pressure and the wedge slow when it hits a knot or high resistance. We only use ours vertical as we get tree service wood up to 48" diameter for our firewood mission. I'd have whoever owns that machine return it and get the pump replaced. That machine was not operating at two speeds. But then again, ours was made in the USA and the newer ones are coming from China!

The champion won. There was a nug sticking out on the last piece. But it was close with the Coubtry Line

I had a 26 ton Brave for 16 years. The old Briggs and Scratchum 5 HP got tired and smoky so I sold it. It was a great splitter for sure. I bought a 37 ton NorthStar about 4 years ago. It’s very powerful but big and heavy. The Honda engine and auto idle are great. The NorthStar in the video seemed to stumble on acceleration, maybe the carburetor need’s adjusted

I bought my northstar 20 ton over 20 years ago. Still going strong with the Honda gx engine.

Great, unbiased comparison of the three splitters. Was the splitting stroke the same length on each of the splitters?

Now this is the splitter war that i was waiting for , being that I'm old and on a fixed income (meaning broke) I could never afford a commercial splitter but have been thinking about a better box store splitter

Great video but a question regarding the big box units. I own one of the Countyline 25 ton units and after continuously running it for 2-3 hours the cylinder gets really hot. Is that normal and did you happen to notice it on your Countyline or the others in the splitter wars?

County line and the champion are better than other splitter ❤😊

Great video. I like the comparisons. I’m kinda late in the game here, but any idea on the pump flow gpm on each one and if the pump flow could be in creased on the North Star, that would be my choice. Looks cold. Great way to get the wood all split up. Having fun doing it. DONE 🤭

Nice comparison video. They all have there place Denton how much wood you need to split. If you have fewer than 7 or 8 cords a year it’s fine. Obviously you can’t produce more time. You can only save it. Faster production from machinery is one way.

Cool kids run the County Line 25T! 👍🏻👍🏻. It takes one Jason Power to move my CL around. 💪🏻

I just bought the 32 Ton Champion CrimsonForce Log Splitter. Picked it up at Rural King. I split about 10 20”-24” Red Oak rounds that were up to 2’ wide. So far, I really like it. It’s powered by a 7hp Kohler Command Engine. I hope it’s as dependable as the Kohler Command Engines that came on Toro 54” Walk Behind Mowers.

I have the 37 Ton Champion because I split mostly oak but wish I had gotten the 27 ton for the lighter weight. It is hard to move around and I could have spent the $400 difference on a bigger chipper. Great video, Thanks!

My splitter is over 50 yrs old. I bought it from my friend who moved from OR to AZ. for $500 It had a Briggs 12 hp with rope start. and a 5 inch CAT cylinder. It has a gear pump, probably from a Case back hoe. I recently got a Duro Max.15 hp. and elect start. ($425), It has a 3:1 V belt to jack shaft that drives the pump. It is a 2000 psi system. I ordered him a new pump about 15 years ago. It had no filter. I guessed the pump size and was a little over on the volume so instead of going over the relief it kills the engine, even the new larger one. Bui cycle time is faster. My 5" cylinder has a piston that is 19.6 square inches so that's close to 40K pounds or 20 ton. Your cylinders look smaller than mine but if the same, that means 40 ton means you have 4000 psi at the pump? That is really high pressure even for a two stage gear pump. I buy three cord of rounds which becomes about 5 cord of split wood. If the rounds are bigger than two feet I bring them into the barn on a hand truck, smaller, I use a double wheeled barrow. I sit down on a short stool and use my shoulders and knees instead of my back. i have a small shelf to protect my toes and a big plywood table on the outside to store pieces, especially kindling. I throw the split wood in a pile. We have a wood box at the house but I mostly use the big wheel barrow to cut down on handling. At 88 I need to conserve my energy. My wood is; fir, spruce, hemlock or alder and a few blocks of cedar for kindling.

Do same test with one of those splitters and a guy with a splitting maul.

I owned the county line & currently own the Northstar. The Northstar is a lot better built. It's also substantially more expensive

Ive had that same Champion for a few years its been great except if you want a 4 way you'll have to custom fab one.

Good video showing all the differences between the splitters. Your right about those slip on 4 way wedges. The North Star looks like it’s built to last.

What a shame you didn't try a kinetic splitter as well

It would be interesting to see what actual operating temps are for the hydraulic oil. Lot of these tanks seem way over sized for what they are doing.

but on the northstar he would have faster if he didn't let it full return, he lost 3-4 seconds per log

If I were designing a machine like that I would have multiple fixing positions for the rear end of the cylinder. That way you could set it for the length of piece you were cutting and it would not be retracting too far.

What brand microphone are you using. Seemed to do well with the wind noise

If I missed it I'm sorry. Which 1 came out the best of the 3 splitters? Chip

26 ton is what I’ve got right now Brave. I just sold it today for $800 getting ready for my Allwood.

I have a champ 34. Great machine. Customer service sucks. Tank went bad. Three hours my lady and I did about 3.2 cord.

If we had one of these splitters, we would ha e split maybe a fifth of the wood we split. Super split is the way to go.

So what machine is the best those machines there running is it with a pump on the machine or kinetic style

What is your opinion of the Northstar 4 way wedge? Does it work good enough to be faster than the 2 way? Does it leave more pieces not fully split? It looks time consuming if you want to take it off and put back on very often. So I would hope I could just leave it on. ?

I have a CL 25T for re-splits and a back up splitter. Works well for the price. Can’t go wrong with the CL.

Automatic idle control would be nice on the commercial splitters, as long as there is a time delay before it idles down. Wonder why none of the commercial grade splitters have that feature?

Great idea.. invite friends over and split your wood!

The north star is by far a better build, and Honda motor. I think it will last longer. The 4way is something to increase the splitting speed. I was disappointed in the notch star overall performance. Great job.

The real winner here is the owner of the fire wood.

The one dimension you left out was the length of stroke or how long a log will fit in the cradle.

Does anyone know if it’s bad for the splitter to go forward again before the wedge fully retracts?

I’ll challenge all three of you to a splitting contest. I have a WoodMax kinetic splitter and can go through more firewood than those three little hydraulic splitters combined. Check them out, I’ve been cutting and splitting firewood all my life and it’s the best thing anyone who burns wood could ever buy.

I like the 27 ton champion more. It holds the woods stable better after splits.

What a great way to get fuel, race your friends

hi well done john

How long does each of them usually last?

I would like to see the battle of the mini-processors myself

Any chance the ruggedmade 37t might make an appearance in the wars??

That North Star is built like a tank. Those big cylinders are so slow though.

I have the champion 34 ton and the oregon 27 ton. In my opinion the oregon wins by far, better design on the butt plate holding the logs, better splitting head design, (taller and straight blade) The champion has also been stopped many times since I've had it(1 yr) and the oregon has only been stopped once(3 years)

I have a 40-ton countyline. The cycle time is less than 10 seconds. I have never had to run it more than 3/4 throttle. It busts a everything a throw at it.

I don’t think the idle is right on the north star. I bet the cable is pinched or the idle cable needs to be adjusted

County Line the best,

How to get all ur buddies to split ur firewood lol

Need to throw in a Yardmax. LOL

👍👍👍

What's price differences?

Which one y’all think is best to start log spitting?

I expected more from the Northstar.

You never did say how heavy your muscle wood is and what the tongue weight is on it

take a heat gun and measure the temp of the cylinder and of the tank to emphasize safety of HOT areas.

Rechel are you taking side bet ? 😊

One word. *Swisher*

Good review but painful to watch how slow all of them are.

You have to take in consideration, looks like everything is frozen?

I've been going back and forth between champion and county line, knowing they are very similar. Watching this video, i noticed you constantly have to lean in and hold the split log from falling with the county line, where that champion has the small tray. That seems like an advantage for champion. The county line log table on other side of machine seems bigger, but it is a separate (additional) purchase. I have big rounds (36 dia) oak to split vertically, and i wonder if the yellow tray on drivers side of champion will get in way kinda make life more difficult with big diameter rounds?

3/1 on champions!!! 😅

1st guy didn't split his all the way.