14/8/2017

A Quick Buyer’s Guide to Log Splitters

Rating & reviews (0 reviews)

People need to split logs for a variety of reasons. Some people want to turn logs into planks for construction; some people just want to reduce the amount of debris in the area and get some usable wood in the process; and most importantly, some people need firewood for cooking and heating. If you live in an area with a cold or snowy climate, securing a continuous supply of firewood is important. You have two options to ensure a supply of good firewood: Buy it or make your own.

Of course, buying all your firewood can become expensive really fast, especially if there are few suppliers in the area and good wood is hard to find. Also, you have few assurances that the quality of the firewood will be good. You might end up with a bad supply, or worse, a toxic one. The best option is to source your own supply of firewood from your own trees.

People have felled logs for thousands of years using crude hand tools. This task is almost always time-consuming and laborious. Splitting a log in half requires far more time and work compared to chopping branches. Using manual tools like axes also pose a greater risk of injury, especially if used incorrectly on logs and other tough types of wood.

Enter the log splitter. Log splitters do the grunt work for you, saving you time and effort and freeing you up to do other things. Log splitters are also more powerful and efficient, allowing you to do more in less time using less effort. Most importantly, they take most of the danger out of the work. Using a log splitter to split logs is definitely safer than hacking away at the wood with an axe.

There’s no denying that log splitters are a great help, especially when you need to make your own firewood. There are different kinds of log splitters, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. You have to consider a range of factors so you can choose the right one for your needs. Each kind of log splitter works best under a specific set of conditions. For instance, an outdoor log splitter works differently from an indoor one. You also need to consider your price range and what kind of features you need or want.

KINDS OF LOG SPLITTERS

Log splitters are mainly categorised according to their power source. By this definition, there are three main kinds of log splitters: Manual, Petrol and Electric. Each type of log splitter has their own advantages and disadvantages. You need to carefully consider your needs and wants so you can select the right one for you.

Manual Log Splitter

Manual log splitters rely on sheer human power to operate. While it still entails a lot of manual work, the log splitter will do the bulk of the work for you. However, it is less safe compared to its petrol and electric counterparts.

Its manual nature means there’s no engine or electronics to maintain and replace, making manual log splitters a lot cheaper to buy and maintain compared to the other types. Manual log splitters can also be used anywhere, even indoors, since there are no toxic emissions to worry about.

Petrol Log Splitter

Petrol log splitters are the most popular type of log splitters, and the one used by professionals. This is due to the higher power output and speed compared to manual and electric log splitters. Petrol log splitters can split just about any type of wood, from softwoods to tough hardwoods. This kind of splitter comes in a wide range of sizes to accommodate all log sizes and types.

However, petrol splitters cannot be used indoors due to the engine. The engine produces deadly carbon monoxide gas. Carbon monoxide is a colourless and odourless gas which is deadly in high concentrations. If used indoors, the gas might accumulate and suffocate those near it.

Electric Log Splitter

Electric log splitters are the most common type of splitters for home and personal use. This kind of splitter is probably the easiest to use and maintain and is also the safest. No engine means little maintenance required and no oil and petrol changes. One major drawback, however, is reduced speed and power. While still better than splitting with an axe or with a manual log splitter, electric splitters are considerably less powerful than petrol log splitters. Electric log splitters have difficulty or are simply unable to split some species of tough hardwoods like cherry.

Tags: log splitters / gardening / log splitter / wood splitters / petrol log splitter / electric log splitter / manual log splitter