A log splitter is a machine designed to split pieces of wood into smaller logs. It is a great time and energy saver for anyone who needs large numbers of logs. Log splitters for home use are usually purchased by homeowners who use wood to heat their homes during the winter season, like sitting by the crackling fire around the fireplace or go camping often.

A log splitter is a costly investment though so you should carefully consider your needs before you purchase one. How much wood are you splitting in a year? What kind of wood is it? Are you doing it at home or somewhere else? These are just some of the questions you should ask yourself before going shopping. Here we will take a look at the different power sources.

Hydraulic vs. kinetic

Hydraulic log splitters

There are two main types of log splitters. Hydraulic log splitters are powered by gasoline. They are bulky machines that are able to split the largest logs with no problems. Their splitting ability is measured in tonnage and indicates the size of wood being split. If you use split large logs regularly get something with a tonnage of around 35 tons. For mid-sized logs typical for most home usages a log splitter oscillating around 20 tons should be enough. Remember that if your log splitter won’t be able to split something because it is too large then you will need to first cut it into smaller pieces with a regular ax. So consider this factor carefully and ideally, check the manufacturer’s manual to make sure the log splitter fits your needs.

A nice and relatively inexpensive hydraulic log splitter is the Huskee 22 Ton Log Splitter. This Huskee Log Splitter will take care of all your firewood needs. It can be operated both in the horizontal and vertical positions. Vertical positions are useful for when you don’t want to lift the heavy logs onto the machine like you would with horizontal positioning.

Kinetic log splitters

Kinetic log splitters are powered by electricity which makes them a more eco-friendly solution to the log splitting problem. They tend to be smaller and more compact than their hydraulic counterparts. This makes them portable so they can be set up anywhere they can be connected to an electric socket. Due to their small size, they are preferred by people who don’t have a lot of space available in their workshop or the garage. They are easier to use and maintain because there are no fluids involved in operating a kinetic log splitter. Their main advantage, however, is that they work much faster than hydraulic ones. The cycle time is shorter meaning it takes less time to split one log. The drawback is that kinetic log splitters aren’t able to handle large logs and their splitting ability is limited. If your logs aren’t too large then it shouldn’t be a problem though.

Kinetic log splitters are a relatively recent invention and new models appear regularly. One of the most often recommended ones is the Generac K10 Log Splitter that has a tonnage of 10 tons.