Black Diamond 25-tonne wood splitter review

If you’re thinking of hanging the old axe up and purchasing a new hydraulic wood splitter, one question you might be asking is what size machine is right for you. Most folks believe they require more tonnage than they actually need.

Consider this interesting fact - most hire companies around the country only stock machines up to 25 tonnes, mostly because that size machine is suitable for all non-commercial applications.

Given this information, I went in search of a 25-tonne wood splitter of sturdy construction with an affordable price.

My searched ended at Australian Chainsaw Products, in Launceston, Tasmania, which stocks a wide range of wood splitters in store.

Its Black Diamond 25-tonne wood splitter is a mid-range model that’s more than capable of splitting most kind of wood including white gum and other knotty timber. But what sets this particular model apart is its reliable 6.5hp Honda GX200 engine which Australian Chainsaw Products installs on the unit to replace the not so reliable engine it ships with. The Honda engine greatly improves the wood splitter’s efficiency and reliability.

Price wise, the Black Diamond 25-tonne unit has a RRP of $1950, which is good value for a machine of this size plus the engine upgrade.

Features

This 25-tonne wood splitter is very versatile, as it can split logs both horizontally and vertically. The wedge has a sharp axe-like face that widens considerably at the rear which helps split open the toughest blocks and prevents the head from jamming in the block.

There is a tray or a log cradle that slides into slots on the left side of the machine with a 20kg capacity for placing blocks on to. This is handy when you have two people working together, as one can stack blocks onto the tray while the other operates the splitter.

There are two guides on either side of the wedge’s slide that also act as stops for the split blocks when the wedge is on the return stroke. In the event that a wedge becomes jammed in a tight piece of wood, these stops hold the wood while the wedge retracts out of the timber.

The front trailer jockey wheel has a brake that is operated by foot and the wheel will rotate 90 degrees to stow out of the way for towing.

There is a stand at the rear of the wood splitter chassis that folds down to prevent the machine from rear ending when heavy wooden blocks are placed on the machine for splitting.

The ram can be lifted into the vertical position simply by pulling a pin at the front of the chassis, which is handy for splitting large, heavy blocks.

While it does have a 50mm tow ball hitch, and has a maximum towing speed of 72km/h, it’s not recommended for road use, but ideal to be towed around paddocks at a slower pace.

The hydraulic tank also forms the main axle for the road wheels.

How it works

Typically, I use the vertical option for larger blocks that are over 20kg in weight. However, in the vertical position, I did find that the standard footplate was very narrow and big blocks were hard to hold in place.

To overcome this problem, I manufactured a larger base plate from treated timber and this has made it far easier to place big blocks on and move them into position.

Normally, I wheel in the heavier blocks with a trolley and place them on to the base plate and they can be slid up into position without much effort. Once I’ve split the larger blocks into smaller pieces, I then return the machine to the horizontal position.

The horizontal position offers a better ergonomic stance and a more efficient throughput of wood.

Performance

A two-triangle head on this splitting wedge, which some people refer to as a pre-cut head, helps keep the blocks from ‘jumping’ out if the wedge’s blade hits a knot.

When splitting extremely knotty pieces, the wedge moves at its normal steady pace through the block before it suddenly begins to whine and almost stops as the full 25-tonne ram pressure takes up the strain against the knots. Then, the knot suddenly gives way with a loud popping sound and the block splits in two.

Talking to other firewood gatherers, I discovered that wood splitters of other brands don’t always cut through knotty spots smoothly. In fact, one farmer said he’d seen a piece of timber jump out of a smaller splitter from another brand when the wedge hit the knot. He was more than impressed with how the 25-tonne Black Diamond wedge pushed through the knotty pieces.

If you’re in the market for a wood splitter, it’s probably worth considering a ‘pre-cut’ style wedge not only for improved cutting efficiency but safety as well.

During the course of this review, I split 12 tonnes of firewood, consisting of Peppermint, Stringy and White Gum and the little Honda GX200 only used 9.5 litres of fuel, which is three tank fills.

If there is one criticism I have, it’s with the hydraulic lines especially the one on the left next to the engine. It came from the shop with no protection and immediately began rubbing on the fuel tank during operation.

Consequently, I put some spiral wrap around the hose to protect it while conducting the review. I’m currently in the process of removing the straight fitting in the control valve and replacing it with a 90 degree elbow which will re-route the hydraulic hose away from the engine.

What I liked about the 25-tonne Black Diamond block splitter:

Black Diamond 25 Ton Wood Splitter Specifications

Wedge Height: 203 mm

Engine Make: 6.5HP Honda GX200

Maximum Splitting Force: 25 tonnes

Pump GPM: 14 gpm, 2-stage

Hydraulic Cylinder: 4-1/8 inches x 24-1/2 inches

Hydraulic Capacity: 24 litres

Maximum Pressure: 3,500 PSI

Maximum Log Length: 610 mm (24-inches)

Maximum Towing Speed: 72 km/h

Tire Size: 4-4/5 inches x 8 inches

Cycle Time: 14 seconds

Hitch:50mm ball hitch

Splitting Direction: Both vertical and horizontal directions

Log Cradle: 20kg - removable

RRP: $1950