Note: since publishing this video, the price of this unit has fluctuated. I doubt it'll ever be available again at $219. At one point it was listed at over $400 but has come back down since. Currently, as of February 2023, it is listed for $334 on Amazon and availability is spotty. I think it is still worth it at that price, but that's the high end. There are two other 6.5 ton models available now on Amazon as well: Wen 6.5 shown in this video: amzn.to/3DpP48A Bilt-Hard 6.5 ton splitter looks to be the exact product but different branding, currently about $349. amzn.to/3VOz4Ue Yardmax 6.5 ton splitter than is very similar and looks to have the same drive system as the Wen and Bilt-Hard models: amzn.to/3JxIr7Q Ordering via the above affiliate links may earn the channel a small commission. There is no upcharge when purchasing through and affiliate URL. Thank you for your support.
I used mine all summer. split 7 cords with no problems except a screw came out of the orange shield on the right side, but screwed it back in and everything is fine. Now it is in the garage making some of that wood a little smaller for my stove.
The giant out-of-spec round that was far too big for the splitter and you still put it on the splitter at 2:20 didn't have anything to do with the unit not functioning properly? ;) I think you actually comment "...here you go void the warranty..." just before placing wood that was too big for the unit.
I bought the Harbor Freight similar unit but 5 ton several years back. Best investment I ever made. Still running strong and it allows me at 73 to keep splitting around 2 cords a year. I have a stand so I mounted it on that, and built a small table to be on the side of it. So no matter what size log I split, one of the pieces can drop onto the table. I just bought the clamp and keep the button depressed with it, using the cord as the switch. When I start using it, I have a wheel barrow of rounds next to me, turn the unit on by plugging in, then pull from the wheelbarrow, and stack on the table the split pieces...when the wheelbarrow is 1/2 empty of rounds, I start putting the splits into it. Once done, I unplug the unit, move the wheelbarrow a few feet and stack my wood. I try to stay 2 cords ahead of anticipated use for the coming year. I guess I am lucky as I never had a problem like you had, but Harbor Freight has a full lifetime return policy....so if it conks out I will just take it back and get a new one! HA HA
Great video. I have the same model which I have used to split about 4 cords over the past year. I've had a few small issues, but overall the unit has been great and for the price it has paid for itself already. Two recommendations though. First, do not try too hard to split tough pieces. I didn't see that in your video but wanted to mention it anyway as an FYI. If the ram doesn't crack it on the first try, give up. Pushing the unit too hard caused a hydraulic issue on mine that required minor discovery/disassembly to fix. Second is that if your friend helps you again, keep him out of the danger zone. The ram will launch some pieces several feet. The manual explains where the danger zone is, and I've had pieces shoot out over every bit of that zone. Again, great video and thanks for posting.
Thanks for the feedback. I have since experienced the "danger zone" as some pieces can fly a good distance once all that energy lets go. That's why I don't split on the tailgate of my truck any longer as once piece came flew dangerously close to the back window. I had replied to this comment a couple days previous but somehow it didn't show up, thus there is a rogue reply floating around cyberspace somewhere.
@@thecountrylivingproject3263Great video. Had one of these for over 10 years. Worked great. Lifted it to the tailgate of my Ranger. Never had a piece fly anywhere near the window though. Guess I was just lucky.
I like the footswitch Idea, I need to guide some of the pieces and have always been used to using one hand on the lever and the other hand to guide the wood. Thankfully I have three screens on my computer setup and several browsers, so while I was watching your video on one screen I was on the Habor Freight website ordering the footswitch and a clamp. This should solve my problem, sometimes they just put too many safety features on them for people like us who have been doing this for almost 20 years..73 years old and still cutting splitting and stacking my own firewood...
@@thecountrylivingproject3263 And to top it off, I built the whole system myself...5 Hard drives with about 10TB of storage and room for one more 24" screen...LOL....I actually have a hard time working on a one-screen computer anymore..just not enough room to move around....
@@StudCity718 The button is the power switch, the C-clamp holds down the button so it stays on all the time and the power cut off is moved over to the footswitch, operated by your foot, freeing up that hand to guide the wood through the splitter, for the ram to return to its starting point, this splitter requires the hydraulic lever and the power to be turned off. Without the footswitch, it takes both hands to make it work, leaving no hand free to guide the wood safely.
I have an older WEN, 5-6 years back, Here in Montana we have soft wood, but a larch butt full of pitch can get hard. I had one two foot diameter round that I had to roll off and hand split, once back on the splitter and it was firewood. The poor thing has been left in the rain, snow and sun uncovered at times but it still serves me well. Throw it on a four wheel cart to get the right height and do your favorite control fix and you will wear out before it will in a day. I know it is getting tired and I can rebuild it, but I think I need to buy a another one, leave it in the box in the back corner of the shop. Five Stars.
I bought my unit about 4 months ago but used for the first time today. I used the foot switch and clamp from HF. The day went well and as expected thanks to your review and input. Thank you for the time you spent to put your video together. I appreciate the information. Best regards.
Love electric splitters. I bought the DR 6 Ton about 12 years ago with the stand and tray. It's been awesome! Last year I bought the DR Rapid Splitter and it splits 10 times faster and is much stronger! Love splitting indoors and listening to the radio while doing it. Kept the 6 ton just in case, but now it's not needed.
I have had one for three years, split black jack, ash red oak and hickory never a problem, took me an hour to set up, I have two TKR hard to get up and down
I’m pretty sure it’s intended to only work when using both the lever and the button. It’s a dumb safety feature. There’s not anything wrong with it though.
Bought one last fall. Like he says read the manual. Worked great as advertised for about a cord of normal wood until the splitting wedge actually broke off the base. Fortunately still under 1 yr warranty so called and they sent a replacement unit in less than 2 weeks, good quick phone service in actual English. Replacement unit motor sounded rough from the beginning and faltered when hitting the start button. Checked fluid level, was low, not too low, and added 1/3 - 1/2 qt ATF to bring up level to within 1/4" of top mark. I found same solution as on video - run the forward handle, then hit the run motor button. Motor stalls out, sounds rough. I'm using 10 ft, 12 gauge ext. cord on 15 amp circuit. Brought inside to warm up and seems to work better but still not right. Will change out to auto trans fluid. But going to call WEN tomorrow, fortunately bought the 3 year warranty. WARNING - do not let anyone stand on the business end, split logs sometimes go flying with enough force to knock balls off or your dogs head! I think the wedge should be narrower?
i brought one in australia from aldi same machine 200 aust dollars about 140 us does the job if the wood won't split cut the top with the chainsaw split 4 tonnes of and on over the last few years.
Bought this exact splitter last March for $230. Split some monster pine logs, hemlock, oak and ash. It struggles a bit with the hard wood. I've found it goes better if you oil the wedge. The splitter sat outside uncovered all winter and is covered in rust but it still splits like a champ! Highly impressed by this thing and definitely recommend at the price point. I think at 400 you're better off spending the extra for a gas unit, but for what I paid I'm really happy!
I have not seen any decent gas units in my area/online under $800.. :/ I wanted a gas powered one, but this electric one is about $300 on Amazon right now. is it worth the $300?
I got 2 electric spitters and just love them I use the hell out of the stand unit the other just sits no problem with the stand unit it beats killing my self.
I just sold my old Ryobi 4 ton electric log splitter. Only reason was I got a deal at Lowes. They were selling their 13 ton Performance built gas splitter for $433.00 on clearance. I couldn't pass it up for that price. Anyway, I couldn't tell you how many cords of wood I've split with the little Ryobi. Depending upon the type of wood, those little electric splitters can split pretty decent size rounds.
You live in Kansas? Thats my weather pattern Lol. -15 at night, 65 during the day, 20 at night, 33 during the day, -25 wind chill, 77 during the day lol :D
Log diameter isn't really a good metric. I've found it depends more on the type and age of the wood. This machine has split plenty larger than 10 inches, and stalled on some as small as eight inches.
The real bottom line is you get what you pay for. Nothing wrong with being frugal but just be prepared for inconveniences. But I’m with ya. I try cheep and about 35 to 40 percent of the time it backfires on me. Do whatever just be mindful. End of story.
If you made the board that you fit the switch to bigger your foot at rest would keep it stable. I don’t use the ring that stops the slider from returning, I put a small log between the slider and the log you’re cutting so it doesn’t have to travel so far.
Good idea on getting a bigger board. I'll need to dig through my scrap pile and see what I can find. I also, on occasion, put a small log in to take up space as that ring never seems to stay in place for too long. Thanks for the comment.
Splitting the wood outside just creates more work for yourself. Keep the wood in rounds, its easier and less mess to take a couple rounds inside each day than lots of split pieces. The beauty of the electric splitter is that you can put it right next to your stove and just split it right before you stick it in the stove.
I've split 5 cords through it so far. Does what I need it to. ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxUyQswtttSffRMblGbrhCvZn7JkhtG1-7 I scrounge all my firewood and am not equipped to handle big wood, but for logs up to 24 inch diameter or so, it works great. I've been amazed by some of the gnarly bur oak and elm crotches it has split. For the tougher stuff within it's size range, you might have to study the piece a bit to decide the best attack, but if you split smart it's up to the job. It did arrive low on oil, and I was would have nicked it half a star for that, but it has regained my full confidence. UPDATE NOVEMBER 2021: Still going strong after all these years. I love the one-handed operation. Hope it's still in production if I ever need to replace it
Hydraulic fluid reservoir vent open? Did you also check the hydrolic fluid level as well. may be low & if your vent isn't open, the fluid may not return to the reservaur.
Is that wood dry or wet? Dry wood splits easily with a small sledge and an ax but wet wood on the other hand is a different story altogether so I'm curious.
Much of the wood in the video was dry ash, which could have easily been split with a maul. There were other woods that would have been much more difficult that were much easier with the machine.
Makes sense as you don't need to change to different transmission fluid in your car as the temperature changes, so why would it be needed for a log splitter. Thanks for the tip.
I don't know my woods very well, but I'm pretty sure most of it was Ash. Wood type definitely makes a difference. I've split 30-inch rounds in half with this machine and had it stall on a 8-inch log.
I'm not an affiliate partner with Amazon so no affiliate link, but here is a regular link: www.amazon.com/WEN-56207-6-5-Ton-Electric-Splitter/dp/B074H739NS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2YDGSOX1HII7L&dchild=1&keywords=wen+electric+log+splitter+6.5&qid=1589586490&sprefix=wen+eectric+log+splitter%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-1 It appears the price went up $53 for some reason since I posted this video. I know the prices of items on Amazon can fluctuate but 25% seems like a drastic change.
No, just release the handle on the side and the ram retracts while the motor is running. The first unit I received had a spool valve fail and after that the operation wasn't correct. Amazon replaced the whole splitter no problem and the new unit has been operating perfectly ever since (2+ years).
@@thecountrylivingproject3263 Trying to hook up the Stand to see if it would help things go quicker. Directions are sketchy in the manual, and haven’t been able to find a video on UA-cam. Any suggestion ? Thnx…
@@mikemccormick3764 It's been a couple years since I put the stand together so I don't remember much. I do remember that the short foot on the right side had to be removed, though. Sorry I can't be of more help.
@@thecountrylivingproject3263 Yup, that part was clear. Some of the holes in the stand aren’t actually meant for bolts to go thru, just to have the bolt touch them and create pressure on the adjoining piece. Took me awhile to figure that out, but got it done. Feels pretty sturdy. We’ll see. Still can’t get the Ram to retract back with the power left on, after releasing the Ram lever 🤷🏼♂️
I kind of wished you would have rigged it up with duct tape better cuz I just couldnt shake the picture in my head of a red green presentation (no offense)
Sounds like whatever valve is supposed to open to allow the fluid to flow back into the reservoir is stuck. Not sure if that's the problem, but also not sure how to fix it. Sorry.
I don't know my woods too well so I don't usually know what I'm splitting. I probably ran into some Black Locust somewhere along the line. Is that the wood you can hit with an 8lb maul as hard as you can and it'll just bounce right off without barely putting a dent in it?
@@thecountrylivingproject3263 That's the stuff. You can take an axe in the face trying to split the stuff. Burns hot and forever, so a great wood. Plus if you get limbs early, they make fantastic hammer, tool handles etc. But dear God, do not try to split it when it's even 1/3rd dry! And completely dry, not gonna happen!
Some big box stores such as Lowe's and Wal-Mart carry this but rarely in stock and usually a special order. Right now Amazon has it available. Affiliate link is here: amzn.to/3PpChr3 Ordering via the above URL may earn the channel a commission. Thanks for your support.
I'm so pissed. Got mine from Amazon yesterday the damn motor just hums, dims the lights in the garage and pops the breaker in the panel. Ordered a replacement last night.
Never heard of it, although I'm not much of an arborist. I can recognize Red Oak just because it's red, and also Ash because it all has the tracks from the Ash Borer beetle, and Birch if the bark is still on. After that I'm clueless.
"13,000 pounds" could NEVER be a measure of "pressure," since no unit of area is specified. That would be FORCE. Simple enough, but routinely fuzzified by the unthinking.
Thanks for the update. The price of this has been all over the place in the past year. Lower now than it was recently. I changed the pinned comment to reflect that.
Agreed! Since posting I've witnessed how far a half a log can fly (almost put out the rear window of my pickup). I now employ more PPE when splitting wood.
Ergonomically that has to be one of the worst machines I've ever seen. If I kneeled down and had to reach under it to split more than a couple of pieces of wood, I'd have a wrecked back and knees. Plus you'd have to get up off the ground every time you needed a new log. Horrid design.
I've had flying split wood crack an oak plank (pallet wood) from about 6 feet. Ryobi 5 ton from HD (I think it's the same as the Homelite, different color). Still working on how to reliably place a chronograph for accurate velocity readings. I'm a sucker for ballistics.
Note: since publishing this video, the price of this unit has fluctuated. I doubt it'll ever be available again at $219. At one point it was listed at over $400 but has come back down since. Currently, as of February 2023, it is listed for $334 on Amazon and availability is spotty. I think it is still worth it at that price, but that's the high end. There are two other 6.5 ton models available now on Amazon as well:
Wen 6.5 shown in this video:
amzn.to/3DpP48A
Bilt-Hard 6.5 ton splitter looks to be the exact product but different branding, currently about $349.
amzn.to/3VOz4Ue
Yardmax 6.5 ton splitter than is very similar and looks to have the same drive system as the Wen and Bilt-Hard models:
amzn.to/3JxIr7Q
Ordering via the above affiliate links may earn the channel a small commission. There is no upcharge when purchasing through and affiliate URL. Thank you for your support.
I used mine all summer. split 7 cords with no problems except a screw came out of the orange shield on the right side, but screwed it back in and everything is fine. Now it is in the garage making some of that wood a little smaller for my stove.
The giant out-of-spec round that was far too big for the splitter and you still put it on the splitter at 2:20 didn't have anything to do with the unit not functioning properly? ;) I think you actually comment "...here you go void the warranty..." just before placing wood that was too big for the unit.
Still working OK?
@@brich2929 Split about 4 cords since making this video and still working great.
shipping $178
I bought the Harbor Freight similar unit but 5 ton several years back. Best investment I ever made. Still running strong and it allows me at 73 to keep splitting around 2 cords a year. I have a stand so I mounted it on that, and built a small table to be on the side of it. So no matter what size log I split, one of the pieces can drop onto the table. I just bought the clamp and keep the button depressed with it, using the cord as the switch. When I start using it, I have a wheel barrow of rounds next to me, turn the unit on by plugging in, then pull from the wheelbarrow, and stack on the table the split pieces...when the wheelbarrow is 1/2 empty of rounds, I start putting the splits into it. Once done, I unplug the unit, move the wheelbarrow a few feet and stack my wood. I try to stay 2 cords ahead of anticipated use for the coming year. I guess I am lucky as I never had a problem like you had, but Harbor Freight has a full lifetime return policy....so if it conks out I will just take it back and get a new one! HA HA
OMG! I almost fell out of my chair laughing at 2:03 when you put that monster long on there, ha ha.
Just Another ! Running ! Commentary ! Show !
Great video. I have the same model which I have used to split about 4 cords over the past year. I've had a few small issues, but overall the unit has been great and for the price it has paid for itself already. Two recommendations though. First, do not try too hard to split tough pieces. I didn't see that in your video but wanted to mention it anyway as an FYI. If the ram doesn't crack it on the first try, give up. Pushing the unit too hard caused a hydraulic issue on mine that required minor discovery/disassembly to fix. Second is that if your friend helps you again, keep him out of the danger zone. The ram will launch some pieces several feet. The manual explains where the danger zone is, and I've had pieces shoot out over every bit of that zone. Again, great video and thanks for posting.
Thanks for the feedback. I have since experienced the "danger zone" as some pieces can fly a good distance once all that energy lets go. That's why I don't split on the tailgate of my truck any longer as once piece came flew dangerously close to the back window.
I had replied to this comment a couple days previous but somehow it didn't show up, thus there is a rogue reply floating around cyberspace somewhere.
@@thecountrylivingproject3263Great video. Had one of these for over 10 years. Worked great. Lifted it to the tailgate of my Ranger. Never had a piece fly anywhere near the window though. Guess I was just lucky.
Mine comes today. Bought for just under 250. Will go out and get a foot switch as well--wasn't born with 3 hands. Thanks for the great video!
You bet. Thanks for the comment.
I like the footswitch Idea, I need to guide some of the pieces and have always been used to using one hand on the lever and the other hand to guide the wood. Thankfully I have three screens on my computer setup and several browsers, so while I was watching your video on one screen I was on the Habor Freight website ordering the footswitch and a clamp. This should solve my problem, sometimes they just put too many safety features on them for people like us who have been doing this for almost 20 years..73 years old and still cutting splitting and stacking my own firewood...
So your work station looks like mission control at NASA. Excellent!
@@thecountrylivingproject3263 And to top it off, I built the whole system myself...5 Hard drives with about 10TB of storage and room for one more 24" screen...LOL....I actually have a hard time working on a one-screen computer anymore..just not enough room to move around....
Just received the footswitch and clamp today and looks like it is going to do exactly what I want, Thank you.
So what does the foot switch actually do if you need the clamp also? Is it for the ram?
@@StudCity718 The button is the power switch, the C-clamp holds down the button so it stays on all the time and the power cut off is moved over to the footswitch, operated by your foot, freeing up that hand to guide the wood through the splitter, for the ram to return to its starting point, this splitter requires the hydraulic lever and the power to be turned off. Without the footswitch, it takes both hands to make it work, leaving no hand free to guide the wood safely.
I have an older WEN, 5-6 years back, Here in Montana we have soft wood, but a larch butt full of pitch can get hard. I had one two foot diameter round that I had to roll off and hand split, once back on the splitter and it was firewood. The poor thing has been left in the rain, snow and sun uncovered at times but it still serves me well. Throw it on a four wheel cart to get the right height and do your favorite control fix and you will wear out before it will in a day. I know it is getting tired and I can rebuild it, but I think I need to buy a another one, leave it in the box in the back corner of the shop. Five Stars.
I bought one for our family to use and bought a foot pedal for it. We haven't used it yet, but your video is getting me excited!
I bought my unit about 4 months ago but used for the first time today. I used the foot switch and clamp from HF. The day went well and as expected thanks to your review and input. Thank you for the time you spent to put your video together. I appreciate the information. Best regards.
Great to hear! Thanks for the comment.
Love electric splitters. I bought the DR 6 Ton about 12 years ago with the stand and tray. It's been awesome! Last year I bought the DR Rapid Splitter and it splits 10 times faster and is much stronger! Love splitting indoors and listening to the radio while doing it. Kept the 6 ton just in case, but now it's not needed.
I've used mine a couple of years now with no problems.
Pretty awesome little unit there. You did great going with the foot switch. Good video !!!
Bought one, it works better then expected!
Excellent!
I have had one for three years, split black jack, ash red oak and hickory never a problem, took me an hour to set up, I have two TKR hard to get up and down
I’m pretty sure it’s intended to only work when using both the lever and the button. It’s a dumb safety feature. There’s not anything wrong with it though.
Bought one last fall. Like he says read the manual. Worked great as advertised for about a cord of normal wood until the splitting wedge actually broke off the base. Fortunately still under 1 yr warranty so called and they sent a replacement unit in less than 2 weeks, good quick phone service in actual English. Replacement unit motor sounded rough from the beginning and faltered when hitting the start button. Checked fluid level, was low, not too low, and added 1/3 - 1/2 qt ATF to bring up level to within 1/4" of top mark. I found same solution as on video - run the forward handle, then hit the run motor button.
Motor stalls out, sounds rough. I'm using 10 ft, 12 gauge ext. cord on 15 amp circuit. Brought inside to warm up and seems to work better but still not right. Will change out to auto trans fluid. But going to call WEN tomorrow, fortunately bought the 3 year warranty. WARNING - do not let anyone stand on the business end, split logs sometimes go flying with enough force to knock balls off or your dogs head! I think the wedge should be narrower?
Just bought one from Amazon. Thanks for the video. It was extremely helpful.
i brought one in australia from aldi same machine 200 aust dollars about 140 us does the job if the wood won't split cut the top with the chainsaw split 4 tonnes of and on over the last few years.
Bought this exact splitter last March for $230. Split some monster pine logs, hemlock, oak and ash. It struggles a bit with the hard wood. I've found it goes better if you oil the wedge. The splitter sat outside uncovered all winter and is covered in rust but it still splits like a champ! Highly impressed by this thing and definitely recommend at the price point. I think at 400 you're better off spending the extra for a gas unit, but for what I paid I'm really happy!
I have not seen any decent gas units in my area/online under $800.. :/ I wanted a gas powered one, but this electric one is about $300 on Amazon right now. is it worth the $300?
@@longdonggaming6152 upper midwest you can't touch a smaller gas unit for less than $1300.....
If it won’t split just turn the wood around works every time
I got 2 electric spitters and just love them I use the hell out of the stand unit the other just sits no problem with the stand unit it beats killing my self.
I just sold my old Ryobi 4 ton electric log splitter. Only reason was I got a deal at Lowes. They were selling their 13 ton Performance built gas splitter for $433.00 on clearance. I couldn't pass it up for that price. Anyway, I couldn't tell you how many cords of wood I've split with the little Ryobi. Depending upon the type of wood, those little electric splitters can split pretty decent size rounds.
13-ton gas for $433? I wouldn't be able to pass that up, either.
LOOK AT THE DIAGRAM.. THERE IS A SPRING CONTROLED PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE. VENT MUST BE OPEN, AND FLUID LEVEL MUST BE CORRECT.
You live in Kansas? Thats my weather pattern Lol. -15 at night, 65 during the day, 20 at night, 33 during the day, -25 wind chill, 77 during the day lol :D
Looks like your bypass valve is plugged. The motor should come on as soon as you press the button without pressing the lever.
It seemed to be working great despite clearly exceeded specs (way over 10 inch logs)
Log diameter isn't really a good metric. I've found it depends more on the type and age of the wood. This machine has split plenty larger than 10 inches, and stalled on some as small as eight inches.
I think this is the one I'm buying. Thanks for the video.
You bet, and good luck with your wood splitting.
It won't last , had the same problem. Bought then the 9 ton Yard Max at Tractor Supply for $440 and works great plus has a 2 year warranty.
The real bottom line is you get what you pay for. Nothing wrong with being frugal but just be prepared for inconveniences. But I’m with ya. I try cheep and about 35 to 40 percent of the time it backfires on me. Do whatever just be mindful. End of story.
I’m so buying one but they’re up to ~$325. I keep waiting for them to drop back down 😔
Theres a weep hole in the front of it to fix the flow issue your having unscrew it a little 😊
With a name like WEN, you are always asking, when will it work, when will it die
I have split 14 cords so far with no problem.
If you made the board that you fit the switch to bigger your foot at rest would keep it stable.
I don’t use the ring that stops the slider from returning, I put a small log between the slider and the log you’re cutting so it doesn’t have to travel so far.
Good idea on getting a bigger board. I'll need to dig through my scrap pile and see what I can find. I also, on occasion, put a small log in to take up space as that ring never seems to stay in place for too long. Thanks for the comment.
The darn thing is $319 today
Splitting the wood outside just creates more work for yourself. Keep the wood in rounds, its easier and less mess to take a couple rounds inside each day than lots of split pieces. The beauty of the electric splitter is that you can put it right next to your stove and just split it right before you stick it in the stove.
In your case, you need to make certain your wood is well aged and not green....that is why one splits wood, so it will dry better and faster.
It's faster using an axe on the logs that split easy. For the dense logs .weld an axe head to the wedge and it'll split them everytime
Shouldn't be surprised if something breaks when you stress test it past the limits
I've split 5 cords through it so far. Does what I need it to. ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxUyQswtttSffRMblGbrhCvZn7JkhtG1-7 I scrounge all my firewood and am not equipped to handle big wood, but for logs up to 24 inch diameter or so, it works great. I've been amazed by some of the gnarly bur oak and elm crotches it has split. For the tougher stuff within it's size range, you might have to study the piece a bit to decide the best attack, but if you split smart it's up to the job. It did arrive low on oil, and I was would have nicked it half a star for that, but it has regained my full confidence. UPDATE NOVEMBER 2021: Still going strong after all these years. I love the one-handed operation. Hope it's still in production if I ever need to replace it
Great review. Thank you
That must be dry seasoned wood.
I have one.... it’s great if you use it for what it’s made for.
Open the bleed screw located at the front!
Hydraulic fluid reservoir vent open? Did you also check the hydrolic fluid level as well. may be low & if your vent isn't open, the fluid may not return to the reservaur.
Would be good if you show us how you connected the switch peddle
Great video. I'm just puzzled why you don't use gloves to protect your hands?
Depending on the type of motor you have turning it off and on that much can cause additional ware.
Informative review thanks for making the video.
No problem! Thanks for watching.
The wedge should be twice the height !
....and about 50% wider
'some real good upgrade ideas
thanks
You bet! Glad I could help.
can that gjy stop putting his foot in the splitter :)
i wish i had bought one for 219! 299 now :(
Take some really long screws and put it into the 4 corners of the board then push it into the snow, problem solved
Is that wood dry or wet? Dry wood splits easily with a small sledge and an ax but wet wood on the other hand is a different story altogether so I'm curious.
I've found the exact opposite. Green Ash is split easily with an axe, while Ash that has been around awhile splits much harder...more stringy.
Much of the wood in the video was dry ash, which could have easily been split with a maul. There were other woods that would have been much more difficult that were much easier with the machine.
Green wood is easier to split
Welcome to Chinese electronics.
no knots. How does it do on knots
Wonder if he told Wen that huge rounds were used !?
Oh dear three-year-old video... Did you open your air vent.. this reminds me of star trek.. when he had the parking brake on..
I know nothing about log splitting but would it help if you struck it with a hatchett to get the split started before trying to split it?
looks like the 5 ton splitter from harbor freight
you can use dexron year round
Makes sense as you don't need to change to different transmission fluid in your car as the temperature changes, so why would it be needed for a log splitter. Thanks for the tip.
What type of wood are you splitting? I’ve split oak on a 25 ton gas powered splitter and have had the splitter stall.
I don't know my woods very well, but I'm pretty sure most of it was Ash. Wood type definitely makes a difference. I've split 30-inch rounds in half with this machine and had it stall on a 8-inch log.
Frozen wood cracks easily. Try this in June...... it won't work so well.
You melted the capacitor in the switch box by overdoing it.
its gone up too $478.
You know, you can buy it directly from Wen for 262$
Where is the amazon affiliate link?
I'm not an affiliate partner with Amazon so no affiliate link, but here is a regular link:
www.amazon.com/WEN-56207-6-5-Ton-Electric-Splitter/dp/B074H739NS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2YDGSOX1HII7L&dchild=1&keywords=wen+electric+log+splitter+6.5&qid=1589586490&sprefix=wen+eectric+log+splitter%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-1
It appears the price went up $53 for some reason since I posted this video. I know the prices of items on Amazon can fluctuate but 25% seems like a drastic change.
@@thecountrylivingproject3263 $478 more than doubl ein price :) not good option for me
@@Chris-me3vu Wow! That's ridiculous how much the price has gone up. I'll need to change the description now.
Does the Power to the splitter have to be turned off for the Ram to retract after splitting a piece ?
Thnx…
No, just release the handle on the side and the ram retracts while the motor is running. The first unit I received had a spool valve fail and after that the operation wasn't correct. Amazon replaced the whole splitter no problem and the new unit has been operating perfectly ever since (2+ years).
@@thecountrylivingproject3263 Trying to hook up the Stand to see if it would help things go quicker.
Directions are sketchy in the manual, and haven’t been able to find a video on UA-cam.
Any suggestion ? Thnx…
@@mikemccormick3764 It's been a couple years since I put the stand together so I don't remember much. I do remember that the short foot on the right side had to be removed, though. Sorry I can't be of more help.
@@thecountrylivingproject3263 Yup, that part was clear.
Some of the holes in the stand aren’t actually meant for bolts to go thru, just to have the bolt touch them and create pressure on the adjoining piece. Took me awhile to figure that out, but got it done. Feels pretty sturdy. We’ll see.
Still can’t get the Ram to retract back with the power left on, after releasing the Ram lever 🤷🏼♂️
Did you open the vent?
I kind of wished you would have rigged it up with duct tape better cuz I just couldnt shake the picture in my head of a red green presentation (no offense)
I have this same splitter and the hydraulic arm is stuck at full extension. Any help would be appreciated. I can’t get it to retract.
Sounds like whatever valve is supposed to open to allow the fluid to flow back into the reservoir is stuck. Not sure if that's the problem, but also not sure how to fix it. Sorry.
Did you turn off the power and the hydraulic lever, they both have to be off before it will return, just a thought.
Are you sure there isn't a piece of wood stuck in the mechanism?
As mentioned by somebody else here, did you open the vent ?
That round that wouldn't split... could it have been Black Locust? That wood turns to steel once it dries at all!
I don't know my woods too well so I don't usually know what I'm splitting. I probably ran into some Black Locust somewhere along the line. Is that the wood you can hit with an 8lb maul as hard as you can and it'll just bounce right off without barely putting a dent in it?
@@thecountrylivingproject3263 That's the stuff. You can take an axe in the face trying to split the stuff. Burns hot and forever, so a great wood. Plus if you get limbs early, they make fantastic hammer, tool handles etc. But dear God, do not try to split it when it's even 1/3rd dry! And completely dry, not gonna happen!
Does it still work and get use
How does this compare to the harbor freight version?
Don't know as I haven't used it. However, the HF version is rated at only 5 tons where the Wen is listed at 6.5 tons -- 30% more tonnage.
Are the logs frozen?
How can i purchase this 6.5 ton hydraulic splitter.and where?
Some big box stores such as Lowe's and Wal-Mart carry this but rarely in stock and usually a special order. Right now Amazon has it available. Affiliate link is here:
amzn.to/3PpChr3
Ordering via the above URL may earn the channel a commission. Thanks for your support.
I'm so pissed. Got mine from Amazon yesterday the damn motor just hums, dims the lights in the garage and pops the breaker in the panel. Ordered a replacement last night.
did you open the hydraulic release valve?
Looks really slow
I don't know if you have madrone where you live but it won't split madrone. Splits oak though.
Never heard of it, although I'm not much of an arborist. I can recognize Red Oak just because it's red, and also Ash because it all has the tracks from the Ash Borer beetle, and Birch if the bark is still on. After that I'm clueless.
Holley shit is you crazzy
Jason
C
C
Hola Estoi interesa en esta máquina soi de el estado de México me puede dar información
"13,000 pounds" could NEVER be a measure of "pressure," since no unit of area is specified. That would be FORCE. Simple enough, but routinely fuzzified by the unthinking.
Do you still have it amd use it ?
I still have and and use it regularly to split about a cord of wood per year.
What kind of wood?
Not too good with my wood identification, but I do know much of it was Ash.
mine did the same...just stopped while cutting cherry wood
Takes 2 people. Not for me. I don't have an extra foot of someone else. And bet that part is not in the instructions
$300 now
Thanks for the update. The price of this has been all over the place in the past year. Lower now than it was recently. I changed the pinned comment to reflect that.
@@thecountrylivingproject3263 $478.00 on 12/15/20
Very Good!... 87
Τιμη
logs ride up too much compared to the Harbor Freight unit.
Yes, I think the wedge and the ram could be a bit taller. That would help with certain logs that tend to ride up.
Hey - wear goggles or a facemask otherwise one day you'll find out how much 6.5T is!
Agreed! Since posting I've witnessed how far a half a log can fly (almost put out the rear window of my pickup). I now employ more PPE when splitting wood.
Step 1. Ignore all of the directions in the manual ! Step 2. break it and bitch.
Tests log splitter....brings a tree...
Ergonomically that has to be one of the worst machines I've ever seen. If I kneeled down and had to reach under it to split more than a couple of pieces of wood, I'd have a wrecked back and knees. Plus you'd have to get up off the ground every time you needed a new log. Horrid design.
they make a stand for it that will make it waist high
sit on a chair, doofus.....
@@darrylt1031 Sit on a chair while splitting firewood. You must not split much wood.
@@JohnDoe-df2zz more than YOU, son....I'm just smart enough to get some help while sitting.....
It is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND STUPID.. TO STAND AT THE WEDGE END OF THE SPLITTER. IT CAN SEND WOOD FLYING 10-15 FEET !
10-15 feet? Darn. My best is only about 8-1/2 feet. I'd better step up my game.
I've had flying split wood crack an oak plank (pallet wood) from about 6 feet. Ryobi 5 ton from HD (I think it's the same as the Homelite, different color). Still working on how to reliably place a chronograph for accurate velocity readings. I'm a sucker for ballistics.
Excellent idea with the food pad and push button held in place by clamp..stops any damage or conversion of original features