CHOPPING wood can often be backbreaking work, and the physical strain involved means that it can be difficult to do the job effectively, before being forced to stop.
Fortunately, log splitters are a simple, easy-to-use tool that reduces the strain placed on the back and arms, making the task at hand much easier.
Put simply, a log splitter works in the same way as a mechanical saw. Using a petrol engine or electricity as power, the log splitter uses hydraulics to exert pressure on the log and split it open easily and safely. While it doesn't exactly saw the log in two like a circular saw, the pressure and force applied by the splitter is used to drive the log apart, with minimal effort on your part.
There are a number of different log splitters on the market at the moment, each suited for a different task or quantity of wood. The main two categories are the horizontal and vertical log splitter; horizontal is for smaller amounts of wood, and is generally suitable for household tasks and small building projects, while a vertical log splitter is much larger, and can handle much larger pieces of wood in terms of width and length; these would generally be used in a more industrial setting.
The other main difference between types of log splitters is the type of engine that the machine has. Generally, a log splitter will either have a petrol engine or be powered by electricity, and the type you buy depends upon the tasks you'll be using the machine for. Electric splitters have significantly less power but are also easier to handle, especially if you are unfamiliar with the machine. They are also better at cutting and shaping smaller pieces of wood. However, the main drawback of the electric log splitter is that their reduced power means they can struggle on particularly large or thick pieces of wood, or on close-grain wood such as cherry. Similarly, petrol log splitters are more powerful but also less delicate on the wood, meaning that shaping the logs may prove difficult; however, combined with an angle grinder, a petrol log splitter could save plenty of time on larger jobs.
The main benefits of the log splitter, aside from reducing the physical work you have to do, is that it makes the task much quicker and easier, meaning you can take on larger projects. Log splitters are also generally more robust than the average axe or saw, resulting in less wear and tear on your tools and less need for maintenance work. They can also perform tasks that other tools, such as chainsaws, can't, including chopping wood into smaller shapes and sizes.
Of course, the log splitter isn't suitable for cutting every type of wood; however, the ease and speed with which it can chop is certainly an advantage, as well as providing you with reduced risk of injury or muscle strain associated with prolonged physical exertion.
