^ The rental stores I've spoken with base their rental discount on the basis of multiple days. Example 4 days rental (at $80 per day) is the cost of a week rental. 3 weeks rental is the equal of a month rental. So if I wanted to rent for a month it would be around a kilobuck, tax included. For about $600 more I can buy. Then I can use it for the roughly month or so it will take me and I can sell it for a little less than I paid. It’s the best value.

The problem with most of the web based vendors (harbor freight, northern tool, home despot and lowes online) is that shipping is about $500. That added cost kills the value.

I think I'm gonna get one at Sears or at a place I found called www.woodsplittersdirect.com - they offer what appears a good value (honda engine) 5 gallon hydrolic reservoir, and no shipping costs.