From Firewood to Site Work: What I Found Browsing Hartnett’s Four Main Ranges

If you’re anything like me, you probably spend half your week looking at a piece of machinery and thinking, “Sure, she’s doing the job, but she’s on her last legs.” Or maybe you’re starting a new project—like actually clearing that overgrown half-acre at the back of the house—and you realise you don’t own the right gear for it. I’ve been there. It’s frustrating. That’s where having a reliable local supplier makes all the difference. I’ve been keeping an eye on what Hartnett Products have been stocking lately, and honestly, it’s a good mix of heavy-duty stuff that won’t quit and more compact options if you don’t have acres of storage space. They’ve got four main buckets that cover most of what we’d need on a farm, a small holding, or even just a big, ambitious domestic project: Trailers, Log Splitters, Wood Chippers, and Wheel Loaders. I spent a while digging through their site to see what actually stands out. Here’s the breakdown—no fluff, just the real talk on what you can expect if you go for a browse.

1. Trailers: More Than Just a Flatbed

Right, let’s start with the backbone of any decent yard: the trailer. You can have all the fancy machinery in the world, but if you can’t get the timber, the muck, or the materials to where they need to go, you’re stuck. I’ve had a look at the trailer range over at Hartnett’s, and the two that jumped out at me are the New Single Axle 7×4 and the New Single Axle 8 x 5. The 7×4 is what I’d call the perfect “first proper trailer”. It’s not so big that you need a tank to tow it, but it’s a real step up from those little mesh-sided jobs you’d throw a few bags of sand in. It’s brilliant for garden waste, collecting firewood, or even just doing a run to the recycling centre. It feels solid without being overkill. If you need to step it up, that 8×5 model is the sweet spot. I was talking to a farmer friend last week who said his 8×5 is the most used piece of equipment he owns—more than the tractor sometimes. It’s wide enough to take a standard pallet, which is a game-changer for moving feed or blocks. It’s not flashy, but it’s honest work. What I like about the look of these is that they aren’t these massively over-engineered things that cost the earth. They’re straightforward, galvanised looking, and built to take a few knocks. If you’re in the market, don’t overlook the basics. A good trailer pays for itself in saved time and aching backs.

2. Log Splitters: Taking the Grunt Work Out of It

Okay, I’m going to be honest here. I used to split logs the old-fashioned way with a maul and a wedge. I told myself it was “good exercise” and “character building”. Then I turned forty, hit one knot too many, and decided my character was built enough. If you’re still swinging a axe at knotted elm, do yourself a favour and look at the log splitter section. You’ll thank me later. Hartnett’s have a serious selection here. It’s not just one or two models; they have electric, petrol, and even a massive 40-ton industrial beast.

The Electric Options (7, 8, 9, 10, 12 & 16 Ton)

The electric splitters are flying out the door lately. They have everything from the NEW 7 Ton Electric right up to the NEW 16 Ton Electric – Single Phase. The 7-ton is deadly for anyone with a modest fireplace. It plugs into a standard household socket, it’s quiet, and you can use it in the shed without gassing yourself. It’s one of those machines that makes you wonder why you didn’t buy it years ago. But the one I have my eye on? The NEW 12 Ton Electric. That’s the Goldilocks model. It’s got enough tonnage to handle the gnarly bits of oak and ash, but it’s still on wheels and runs off a standard 13-amp supply. I’ve seen lads processing a full winter’s worth of firewood in a weekend with one of these. It’s just pure efficiency.

Petrol & Heavy-Duty Models

For anyone working commercially, or if you’re dealing with big diameters, the New 12 Ton Heavy Duty Petrol Log Splitter is worth a look. No extension leads, no worrying about power cuts—just start it up and go. And then there’s the 40 Ton S-MODEL. That thing is an animal. That’s not for the domestic user; that’s for the person selling logs by the truckload. If you’re splitting timber that needs 40 tons of force, you’re not messing about.

3. Wood Chippers: From Branches to Mulch in Seconds

Right, this is another category where the right machine saves you a mountain of time. Burning brash is grand if you want to stand around tending a fire all day, but chipping it turns a problem into a resource. Mulch for paths, mulch for the garden, or just reducing a massive pile of sticks into something you can actually handle. I took a close look at the wood chipper range they have up at the moment.

Petrol Chippers: HPWC7 & HPWC15

The 7HP Wood Chipper HPWC7-001 is a tidy little machine. It’s perfect for the landscaper or the homeowner with a lot of hedging. It’s compact enough to move around by hand, but it chews through branches without whinging about it. It’s one of those “stick it in the van and go” chippers. If you have bigger stock to clear, the 15HP Wood Chipper HPWC15-002 (and the HPWC15-000 model) is the next step up. 15HP gives you a lot more capacity and speed. I’ve used a similar spec machine before, and the difference is that you stop having to trim branches down to fit; you just feed them in. It turns a two-day job into a morning’s work.

PTO Chippers: HP42s & HP122R

Now, if you have a tractor, you’d be foolish not to look at the PTO driven models. The HP42s PTO Wood Chipper Self-Feed 4″ is a great entry point. It takes the power from your tractor, so you don’t have to maintain a separate engine. The self-feed feature is lovely—it grabs the material and pulls it through, so you’re not fighting it. For serious volume, the HP122R PTO Wood Chipper Roller Feed 12″ is the daddy of the range. 12-inch capacity is not a typo. That means you can put entire limbs through it without cutting them up first. That’s the kind of machine that clears storm damage or does major forestry work. If you see one of these running, it’s a beautiful thing. Just don’t stand in front of the ejection chute!

4. Wheel Loaders: Compact Power

Last, but certainly not least, are the wheel loaders. Specifically, the Mini 780TT Telescopic Wheel Loader. I know a “Mini” sounds small, and it is compact, but don’t let the name fool you. These things are absolute little heroes. What kills me on a building site or a farm is moving materials by hand. Bags of cement, piles of sand, blocks—it all adds up to a sore back. A compact wheel loader changes the game. You can slip through gateways that a big teleporter wouldn’t fit, you can get into tight sheds, and yet you’re lifting serious weight. The “Telescopic” part is the secret sauce. It means you get that extra reach. You’re not just lifting a bucket; you can tip it into the centre of a high-sided muck spreader or load a truck with ease. It’s the ultimate “do-it-all” machine for a busy yard. If you’re hiring labourers just to move stuff around, do the sums on one of these. It pays for itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

I get asked a lot of the same questions whenever I’m talking to people about buying gear like this. Here are the answers I usually give, based on what’s on the Hartnett site right now.

Q: Electric or Petrol log splitter? Which is better?

A: Neither is “better”—they’re just for different people. If you’re working indoors, near the house, or in a residential area where noise matters, get the 12 or 16 Ton Electric. It’s quieter, no fumes, and cheaper to run. If you’re out in a field with no plug socket, or you’re processing timber commercially where speed is money, get the Petrol. You can’t beat the freedom of not having a lead.

Q: I see “PTO” chippers. Do I need a big tractor to run them?

A: Not necessarily. The HP42s is quite forgiving. A 25-30HP compact tractor would drive it fine. It’s all about the PTO horsepower and the flow rate. The HP122R with the 12″ capacity, though—that likes a bit of grunt. You’d want a 50HP+ tractor to do it justice. If you’re unsure, drop Hartnett a message with your tractor model; they’ll know if it’s a match.

Q: Are the electric log saws worth looking at?

A: 100%. I should have mentioned these above. They have the NEW 400mm and the NEW 700mm Electric Log Saws. If you’re cutting logs to length for a woodburner, a saw on a stand is much safer and quicker than balancing a log on a plastic chair and using a chainsaw. The 700mm blade will slice through sleepers and big diameters like butter. They’re a great safety upgrade.

Q: What’s the “Timber Croc Log Holder” I saw on the site?

A: Ah, that little yoke is genius. It’s a simple stand that holds the log steady while you chainsaw it. It stops the saw pinching and it keeps the log off the wet ground. It’s not expensive, but it’s one of those bits that makes a job safer. I’d recommend one to anyone cutting their own firewood.

Q: I’m just a domestic user. Is the Mini Wheel Loader too much for me?

A: It depends on what you’re doing. If you have a big garden, a laneway, or you’re doing a self-build, no, it’s not overkill. It saves your body. You don’t have to be a farmer to appreciate not shovelling 5 tonnes of gravel. It’s an investment in your own health.