Choosing a Log Splitter
Choosing a log splitter or a wood splitter can be a chore.
With many different types and different sizes available, how do you know exactly which is right for you? A few things to consider when shopping for a log splitter are what size and type of wood will you be splitting? How long has the wood been sitting around and waiting to be split? What are the number of knots in the wood that will have to dealt with? Thickness and type of wood are also important to think about when shopping for a wood splitter.
For jobs that are smaller, such as camping or a small amount to be used at home, the small compact units may be ideal.
These are available in small compact manual or electric versions.
The manual splitters are great for those who use less than a cord of wood.
They are incredibly portable and are 6 ton and 8 ton.
The electric units are ideal for homeowners who use less than 1 - 2 cords a year and are available in 4 and 7 ton models.
These units are very quiet and give off no fumes or gas.
A generator can also be used, if desired.
Homeowners who have larger projects on their plate may wish to go with a Residential log splitter.
These are horizontal 15 and 16 ton or horizontal vertical 16 ton, available in electric or gas.
This size of wood splitter is ideal for homeowners who are planning to split less than 10 cords a year.
The residential log splitter can easily handle logs 20 inches long and 24 inches in diameter.
These particular units weigh 250 lbs for the horizontal and 300 lbs for the horizontal vertical.
Though labeled as residential splitters, these units can handle many commercial jobs as well.
For heavier duty wood and log splitting jobs, the heavy duty residential/commercial grade units may be desired.
These range 20 and 22 ton horizontal and horizontal vertical and have 26 inch log openings.
This wood splitter is able to split a wide range of woods and can split logs up to 30 inches in diameter.
These particular units also come with a slanted wedge design which enables the tip of the wedge to penetrate the wood, thus allowing larger logs to be split.
This design also helps the log to remain on the main rail by pushing the log along it.
These units are also highly tow able and come with high speed trailer tires and a 2 inch coupler to make towing simple and easy.
Commercial log splitters are ideal for large projects.
The 25 and 26 ton horizontal and horizontal vertical are designed much the same as the 20 ton units.
The main difference is the larger engine and faster hydraulic pump.
The standard cycle time for a log splitter, or a wood splitter, is 12 - 14 seconds, however faster cycle splitters are also available which cycle through in less than 10 seconds.
With many different types and different sizes available, how do you know exactly which is right for you? A few things to consider when shopping for a log splitter are what size and type of wood will you be splitting? How long has the wood been sitting around and waiting to be split? What are the number of knots in the wood that will have to dealt with? Thickness and type of wood are also important to think about when shopping for a wood splitter.
For jobs that are smaller, such as camping or a small amount to be used at home, the small compact units may be ideal.
These are available in small compact manual or electric versions.
The manual splitters are great for those who use less than a cord of wood.
They are incredibly portable and are 6 ton and 8 ton.
The electric units are ideal for homeowners who use less than 1 - 2 cords a year and are available in 4 and 7 ton models.
These units are very quiet and give off no fumes or gas.
A generator can also be used, if desired.
Homeowners who have larger projects on their plate may wish to go with a Residential log splitter.
These are horizontal 15 and 16 ton or horizontal vertical 16 ton, available in electric or gas.
This size of wood splitter is ideal for homeowners who are planning to split less than 10 cords a year.
The residential log splitter can easily handle logs 20 inches long and 24 inches in diameter.
These particular units weigh 250 lbs for the horizontal and 300 lbs for the horizontal vertical.
Though labeled as residential splitters, these units can handle many commercial jobs as well.
For heavier duty wood and log splitting jobs, the heavy duty residential/commercial grade units may be desired.
These range 20 and 22 ton horizontal and horizontal vertical and have 26 inch log openings.
This wood splitter is able to split a wide range of woods and can split logs up to 30 inches in diameter.
These particular units also come with a slanted wedge design which enables the tip of the wedge to penetrate the wood, thus allowing larger logs to be split.
This design also helps the log to remain on the main rail by pushing the log along it.
These units are also highly tow able and come with high speed trailer tires and a 2 inch coupler to make towing simple and easy.
Commercial log splitters are ideal for large projects.
The 25 and 26 ton horizontal and horizontal vertical are designed much the same as the 20 ton units.
The main difference is the larger engine and faster hydraulic pump.
The standard cycle time for a log splitter, or a wood splitter, is 12 - 14 seconds, however faster cycle splitters are also available which cycle through in less than 10 seconds.
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