There are 4 different types of log splitters & wood splitters you can buy, but which is best for you?
You may have had a quick look and noticed these types:
Electric Log Splitter (medium sized splitting jobs)
Gas Log Splitter (large sized splitting jobs – best for splitting cords)
Manual Hydraulic Hand Log Splitter (small splitting jobs)
Manual Hand Log Splitter (small splitting jobs)
Each log splitter/wood splitter has it’s own pros and cons, and depending on your intended use and criteria, one or several might be right for you.
Below we outline:
What each type of wood splitter is
What each log splitter is used for
Which people should get each wood splitter
Which people should NOT get each wood splitter
Who makes the best of each type of log splitter
1. Electric Log Splitter & Wood Splitter
- What is an electric wood splitter?
Electric log splitters and wood splitters are powered by an electrical cord, as opposed to manual or gas log splitters.
They are machines that are generally low to the ground, contain a base plate and cradle that the wood is held in, and have a rod with a wedge on the end that is driven via hydraulics into the wood to be split.
- What is an electric log splitter used for?
Electric log splitters fit between manual log splitters/manual hydraulic log splitters, and gas log splitters, in terms force generated for splitting and size of tasks you can perform.
They range between 4-10 tons of splitting pressure generally (but there is a 22 ton electric splitter available), and are used for medium sized tasks.
Electric log splitters mainly function horizontally.
Like gas log splitters, they automatically generate force to split, so all you have to do is place the log on the machine to be split and activate the drive rod.
They are probably more suited to a home setting, but the bigger electric splitters can be used at work too.
- Should I get an electric log splitter?
– Yes, if you want something in between a gas and manual log splitter in terms of performance and price, and you want a splitter that is fairly easy on you physically.
- Who shouldn’t get an electric log splitter?
– Those who want the most powerful log splitter for the biggest tasks i.e. a gas log splitter
– Those who want to save money on a manual log splitter
– Those who don’t want to pay for hydraulic oil
- Who makes the best electric log splitter?
You can read more in Best Electric Log Splitter & Wood Splitter: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews.
2. Gas Log Splitter & Wood Splitter
- What is a gas wood splitter?
Gas log splitters and wood splitters are powered by gas or petrol with a cc engine, as opposed to manual or electrical corded log splitters.
They are machines that are generally very heavy, the biggest and sturdiest of the splitters, very powerful, contain a base plate and cradle that the wood is held in, and have a rod with a large wedge on the end that is driven via hydraulics into the wood to be split.
- What is a gas log splitter used for?
Gas log splitters are the highest performing of all the types of wood splitters in terms force generated for splitting, and size of tasks you can perform.
They range between 7-35 tons of splitting pressure generally (but there is a 60 ton gas log splitter available), and are used for large sized tasks – like splitting cords.
Most gas splitters function both horizontally, and vertically (so you don’t have to keep lifting heavy pieces of wood.
Like electric log splitters, they automatically generate force to split, so all you have to do is place the log on the machine to be split and activate the drive rod.
They are probably are best suited to both home and work settings.
Many of them are towable on the road – which is great for towing between sites, or to home and work.
- Should I get a gas log splitter?
– Yes, if you want a log splitter on the highest end of the scale for performance and price, and you want a splitter that you are OK with assembling.
– Yes, if you want a log splitter you can use for work, and tow around on the roads.
- Who shouldn’t get a gas log splitter?
– Those who don’t want to pay for gas/petrol and hydraulic oil
– Those who want a light log splitter
– Those who want a cheap log splitter
- Who makes the best gas log splitter?
You can read more in Best Gas Log Splitter & Wood Splitter: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews.
3. Manual Hydraulic Hand Log Splitter & Wood Splitter
- What is a manual hydraulic wood splitter?
A manual hydraulic log splitter is just a splitter made of steel and a hydraulic press with a wedge/rod, that you activate with your hands.
It is not powered by gas/petrol, or electricity.
- What is a manual hydraulic log splitter used for?
Manual hydraulic log splitters are used mainly by those with physical limitations that want a light and portable splitter that can split small-medium sized wood.
They produce around 10 tons of splitting force.
- Should I get a manual hydraulic log splitter?
– Yes, if you don’t want to pay for an electric splitter
– Yes, if you want a light splitter that doesn’t require much physical exertion
- Who shouldn’t get a manual hydraulic log splitter?
– Those who want the capability to perform medium to large tasks – like splitting whole cords
- Who makes the best manual hydraulic log splitter?
You can read more in Best Manual Hand Log Splitter: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews.
4. Manual Hand Log Splitter & Wood Splitter
- What is a manual hand wood splitter?
Manual hand wood splitters come in a few different forms – from sliding hammers, to kindling crackers, to standard wedges and wood grenades.
They are no powered by hydraulics, gas/petrol or electricity.
- What is a manual hand log splitter used for?
Manual hand splitters are best used for 10-12 inch diameter logs – splitting a small number of logs at a time for say a fireplace or camp fire.
- Should I get a manual hand log splitter?
– Yes, if you are OK with some physical exertion
– Yes, if you want the cheapest log splitters on the market that are easy to transport, light and for the smallest tasks
- Who shouldn’t get a manual hand log splitter?
Those who want to perform medium to heavy duty wood splitting.
- Who makes the best manual hand log splitter?
You can read more in Best Manual Hand Log Splitter: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews.