Log Splitter Reviews and Buying Guide:

Each winter millions of us go outside for our favorite chore - chopping wood so we have a nice supply for the cold season. Depending on how much wood you need to chop or split, it could take hours or even days. Using an axe or a sledge hammer and wedge to split a cord of wood is not only tiring, but it can be dangerous as you get more tired. Is there a better way to split logs? You bet. A log splitter will do the work of 5 men and there are no aches or pains at the end of the day to complain about. The 2 most popular types of log splitters are the hydraulic log splitter and the electric log splitter. Hydraulic log splitters come in vertical or horizontal models and they both do an excellent job of splitting timber for fireplaces or woodstoves. Most people buy horizontal splitters for home use but those out in the forest or on uneven slopes should consider a vertical log splitter for safety concerns.

log splitter

A power log splitter is powered by gas or electric motors and are really easy to use once you have read over the manual or had someone show you the working parts of the machine. You place the log/wood in a cradle so that it is secure. A ram with a sharp blade that has a wedge shape is then driven into the log with enough pressure from the hydraulic pump or the electric motor eventually causing the log to split into 2 pieces. Making firewood has never been easier with modern log splitters. The best woods to burn are straight grained hardwoods like walnut, hickory, pecan, locust or oak. Believe it or not, one of the most search for terms associated with log splitters is "build" and "plan" which tells us that many woodworking and professional firewood sellers are looking to make their own log splitters and save money (we will discuss this down below). We researched consumer sites like Amazon.com and Epinions.com to see what customers say about their log splitter purchases and we also read countless reviews in online forums at Gardenweb.com, Firewoodcenter.com, Arboristsite.com and Motherearthnews.com. One of the most in depth and comparative log splitter reviews we found was at Popular Mechanics website with quite a few models tested and compared head to head. A new hydraulic log splitter will cost between $1500 and $4000 but if you are a handyman you can make one yourself for under $500. The top brands are Troy-Bilt, Timberwolf, Huskee, Ryobi, MTD, Northstar, Yard Machines, Fisch, and Swisher. Please see below for our findings on the best log and wood splitters on the market today. RECOMMENDED - We suggest shopping online at Amazon.com since they carry many of the leading brands and usually have some of the lowest prices on the Internet. You can browse their most popular log splitters online here.

Best Hydraulic Log Splitter:

The one company that consistently came in with great ratings on their log splitters was Timberwolf. The Timberwolf TW-P1 ($1900) is the most popular hydraulic log splitter. It's powered by a Honda 5.5 HP OHV engine and a Barnes 11 GPM pump. Standard features include the bolt-on log cradles and 2-way wedge (there is an optional 4-way wedge). This hydraulic wood splitter is the "Cadillac of splitters" says one owner. The Timberwolf firewood splitter can handle logs up to 26 inches and the RAM is 20 tons/13-second splitting cycle. The trailer is rugged and the machine is heavy duty for a horizontal splitter. If almost $2000 is too much to spend on a reliable log splitter, consider the Brave EZ Split ($900) which received excellent reviews from users who don't need to split or burn that much wood each year. The 3.5 HP Briggs & Stratton engine handles plenty of work without slowing down and it delivers 8 tons/18-second splitting cycle. Owners say the Brave log splitter is perfect for the occasional fireplace user and it's light enough that you can pick up the front end and pull it by the wheels.

Top Electric Log Splitter:

The Fisch LS-8000 II 4-Ton Electric Log Splitter ($430) receives high marks from owners and experts alike. It's an excellent, affordable log splitter for homeowners with a 2 HP motor that delivers 3400 RPM and 4 tons of RAM power. Splits logs up to 20 inches long and 12 inches in diameter. Many consumers say they love the portability of this smaller log splitter that can fit in almost any trunk. Users say the Fisch log splitter is "surpisingly quiet" and they comment that the splitting carriage at shin level makes it easy to load/unload logs. It's easy to operate with one hand on the hydraulic lever and the other on the safety button (helps eliminate injuries). If used properly, you can split up to 100 logs an hour. Lastly, owners say the self-lubricating machine helps keep blades from dulling and your motor from burning out. At the time of this article I could not find the Fisch on Amazon, but we did see the Mantis SwiftSplit Electric Log Splitter #5005 which gets good reviews as an electric log splitter. Probably meant for lighter loads - the Mantis log splitter will handle quite a bit. One owner left several comments on Amazon and he thinks a 14 gauge heavy duty extension cord is a must in order to operate this splitter efficiently. Amazon.com is one of the most trusted merchants online -- and yes, they even sell a full line of log splitter in their Home Improvement department. Stop by and take a look at their selection of Log Splitters.

Professional Log Splitter:
The Troy-Bilt 27 Ton Log Splitter ($1600) is an incredibly well built piece of machinery that offers an electronic ignition, low oil alert, and dual element air cleaner with a 5.5 HP Honda engine. It has 27 tons of RAM pressure for quick, effortless splitting. The 14-second cycle time w/ automatic cylinder return really increases productivity and you can split logs up to 25". The Troy-Bilt log splitter will operate in either the horizontal or vertical positions giving you the ultimate in versatility. There is a replaceable cast-iron cutting wedge, a 1 7/8 inch universal size locking ball trailer hitch and jack stand, steel fenders, 16-inch pneumatic tires, and tail lights. It weighs in over 600 lbs and you get a 2-year warranty. Many reviews we read mentioned how quiet the Honda engine is and owners say if you want to split firewood, stop renting for $100's/day and buy the Troy-Bilt. If you plan on splitting more than 3 cords a year, then experts agree you should consider a higher performance log splitter - those from Swisher, Steele Products, NorthStar and Troy-Bilt. BEST - The Swisher 34-Ton 12.5 HP Log Splitter with Electric Start LS12534H12V gets excellent reviews for durability, performance, cycle time, capacity, and power. The Swisher operates both horizontally and has a 12.5 HP engine with 34 tons of RAM and a 12-second splitting cycle

Build a Log Splitter:

With all the talk in forums and message boards about building your own log splitter, we decided to do some research on just how you would do it. There were 2 sites that offered plenty of information on the subject and one even offers a DVD on the topic. They are Buildlogsplitter.com and Log-splitter.com - each has a slightly different approach. Buildlogsplitter.com has the step by step DVD on how to make a log splitter for just under $24. The Log-splitter.com site sells log splitter plans for about $13 plus shipping and handling on 20-ton and 30-ton splitters. Many postings in forums on this topic mention that you can build your own log splitter for around $500.

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