The two largest factors, other than perhaps budget, in selecting a log splitter that meets your needs are the volume and size of firewood that you plan to split. To help make your decision you can should read about the 3 most popular types of splitters.
Manual Log Splitter – This is what you want if you can t swing a maul, don’t have much wood to split, have lots of time and don t want to spend more than $300.
Aside from an axe or maul manual log splitters are typically the most inexpensive option for splitting wood. They are essentially a bottle jack set opposite from a splitting beam. Bottle jacks are hydraulic jacks that are typically placed in a horizontal position. Bottle jacks have a longer handle than most hydraulic jacks so its possible to get more lift per stroke with the increased leverage they provide. By cranking the long lever or handle, the jack drives the wood toward the splitting beam and eventually splits the log.
Whats good about manual log splitters:
- Manual log splitters are comparatively cheap to both buy and operate. You don’t need gas or electric as the splitting is done, as they say, with blood sweat and tears.
- As there are no motors or engines, and only a hydraulic jack, manual log splitter are light and do not take up a lot of space. They can easily be moved and easily be stored.
Whats no so great about manual log splitters:
- Manual log splitters are slow – as in molasses in winter slow! If you can swing an axe or maul, your going to get more wood split going that route, but its harder work. If you can swing and axe and need some exercise, and most of us do, then you might as well skip the manual log splitter.
- Short sections of wood cause problems for manual log splitters. Typically the splitting shaft only travels so far. If you have a short sections of wood, then you may need to block it closer to the shaft with another piece of wood.
Electric Log Splitters – Forget the lever and handle attached to the hydraulic pump that comes with the manual log splitter and get a motor on that thing! This solves the speed problem, and you don’t have to deal with noise and fuel of a gas splitter. Your going to have to pay more in the range of $300 to $800 for the luxury, but these splitters can get the job done.
Whats good about electric log splitters:
- Like the manual log splitter the electric log splitter is quite to operate. You won t be pissing off your suburban neighbors with one of these! No fuel to store, and no fumes and pollutants to deal with.
- Manual log splitters are, despite the high purchase cost, cheap to run and maintain. No gasoline fill ups, and no gas engine to service and maintain!
Whats not so great about electric log splitters:
- You get what you pay for, and expect to pay about $500 for a decent electric log splitter.
- While clean and cheap to run, that electric motor will never have the raw splitting power of a maul or gas powered splitter.
- Electric log splitters are for sure lighter than gas powered ones, but don t plan to take one of these into the forest with you. That is unless you have an extension chord long enough to make it back to the house! Your location is going to be limited by your access to a power outlet with a fairly high amperage.
Gas Powered Log Splitters – If you have lots of wood to split, like your heating your house with firewood or thinking about selling the stuff, then this is what you want. Power, speed and the beautiful growl of a gas motor! Get ready to drop $1,500 or more, but perhaps the best money you are going to spend.
Whats good about gas powered log splitters:
- They get the job done quick. The time between logs is going to be significantly less with a gas splitter than manual or electric, hence more logs, and less time.
- Pow, pow, power! You will have a hard time finding a log one of these babies can t split.
- It might be heavy, but you can take it anywhere. No electric needed, just bring the gas can along and you can be splitting wood anywhere your pickup can get you. Some models even come with a trailer hitch.
Whats not so great about gas powered log splitters:
- They make a lot of noise, and a lot of mess. It might not be the king of thing you want to run for hours in the driveway of your ½ acre lot with neighbors fifty feet on either side. Even out in the woods the noise can drive some people crazy.
- They don t come cheap. At around $1,500 your going to need to split a lot of wood to justify the cost. Heck, you know how much wood you can buy already seasoned and split for that much money?
- You cant ignore a gas splitter like you can a manual or electric model. Its going to need service now and again to keep that engine going smooth and strong.
Make sure to read up about types of log splitters on www.resilienttool.com or another dedicated firewood site.
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