The best log splitter for each person will differ – for example, are you just trying to split some kindle for firewood, or do you want to split a whole cord or several cords in one day?
When looking for the best wood splitter, there are several types of log splitters to consider:
Electric Log Splitter
Gas Log Splitter
Manual Hydraulic Log Splitter
Manual Hand Log Splitter
One of the main factors that determines which wood splitter is best for you is the size, quantity and type of wood you are looking to split.
This guide is intended to basically make it super easy for you to choose the best log splitter for your home, work, or both.
If you’re running a little short on time, you can check out the top rated log splitter list immediately below.
Otherwise, you can read the guide and reviews in full.
(*Friendly Disclosure – links to retailers or brands on this page may include affiliate links, and we may receive a commission when you purchase through these links)
Top Rated Log Splitter & Wood Splitter List
Electric
Best Cheap Electric Log Splitter/Wood Splitter – – WEN 56206 (on Amazon)
Best Electric Log Splitter & Wood Splitter For The Money – – Boss Industrial ES7T20 (on Amazon)
Most Powerful Electric Log Splitter (22 Ton Splitting Pressure) – – Swisher LS22E (on Amazon)
Gas
Best Small Gas Log Splitter (7 Ton) – Champion Power Equipment 90720 7 Ton (on Amazon)
Best 22 Ton Gas Log Splitter – Dirty Hand Tools 100171 (on Amazon)
Best 25 Ton Gas Log Splitter – Champion Power Equipment 100251 (on Amazon)
Best 27 Ton Gas Log Splitter – Dirty Hand Tools 100408 27 Ton (on Amazon)
Best 35 Ton Gas Log Splitter – Dirty Hand Tools 100466 35 Ton (on Amazon)
Best Gas Log Splitter For Cold Weather – Swisher LSRB11534 34 ton splitter (on Amazon)
Manual
Best Manual Firewood Splitter – – Kindling Cracker Firewood Kindling Splitter (on Amazon)
Best Hydraulic Manual Log Splitter (For Bigger Logs and Wood) – – Sun Joe LJ10M Logger Joe (on Amazon)
Best Splitting Wedge – – Ludell 11605 High Grade Steel Splitting Wedge, 5lb (on Amazon)
Best Grenade Splitting Wedge – Collins Wood Splitting Wedge, Diamond Shape, 4 LBS (on Amazon)
Best Log Splitter & Wood Splitter Reviews
You can find log splitter and wood splitter reviews in the following articles:
Best Electric Log Splitter & Wood Splitter: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews
Best Gas Log Splitter & Wood Splitter: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews
Best Manual Hand Log Splitter: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews
Best Log Splitter & Wood Splitter: Buyer’s Guide & FAQ
Other Names For A Log Splitter
Log Splitter
Wood Splitter
Electric Log Splitter
Hydraulic Log Splitter
Manual Log Splitter
Manual Hand Log Splitter
Manual Foot Log Splitter
Gas Log Splitter
Petrol Log Splitter
Firewood Processor
Firewood Splitter
Block Splitter
Kindle Cracker
What Is A Log Splitter/Wood Splitter?
A log splitter/wood splitter is a tool or machine that splits different sizes, amounts and types of wood into smaller pieces.
A log splitter can be operated with gas/petrol, electric/corded, manual with hydraulics, or completely manual.
All log splitters function with hydraulics except the purely manual wood splitters.
What Is A Log Splitter/Wood Splitter Used For, and What Does A Log Splitter/Wood Splitter Do?
A log splitter is used to split wood of different types, sizes and quantities down into smaller pieces.
Hydraulic log splitters do this by driving a rod with a wedge on the end into a piece of wood that is then split.
Manual hand log splitters require you to drive the wood into a splitting wedge yourself, or vice versa.
A log splitter can perform tasks from splitting several cords of wood, all the way down to splitting a single round for a fireplace or camp fire.
Manual Log Splitter/Wood Splitter
For one off, casual wood splitting. For splitting very low sizes and quantities of wood. Not for splitting tough wood like green wood. Are hand/arm operated and powered. Requires you to apply your own force into a wedge or piece of wood to split it.
Manual Hydraulic Log Splitter
For casual wood splitting. For splitting low to medium sizes, and low quantities of wood. Not for splitting tough wood like green wood. Are hand/arm operated, but use the leverage of hydraulics without gas or electricity. Requires you to pull levers to engage the hydraulic rod and wedge into the wood.
Electric Log Splitter/Wood Splitter
Corded log splitters that are powered with electricity. For splitting medium sizes and medium quantities of wood. Some can split tougher wood like green wood. Are automated and powered with electricity. Requires you to operate a mechanism to automatically engage the rod and wedge. Automatically retracts back to position for you.
Gas Log Splitter/Wood Splitter
Powered with gas/petrol and a cc engine. Usually the most powerful and quickest log splitters. Can do one 100lb sized log every 13 seconds. For splitting the highest quantities, sizes and toughest types of woods. Automated wedge drive like the electric log splitters.
Types of Log Splitters & Wood Splitters
Overall, log splitters and wood splitters can be split into casual log spitters for home use, and commercial log splitters made for splitting bigger pieces of wood quickly.
Manual and manual hydraulic splitters are home and camping type splitters.
Gas log splitter are the more commercial heavy duty type log splitter.
Electric log splitters fit somewhere in between.
They can be divided into the following types based on how they are powered:
Manual Log Splitter/Wood Splitter
Are tools like a kindling cracker, a sliding hammer, wood wedge and wood grenades. For wood around 6 inches to 12 inches in diameter.
Manual Hydraulic Log Splitter/Wood Splitter
Splitter like the Sun Joe 10 ton manual hydraulic splitter. For logs 18 in. long x 8 in. wide.
Electric Log Splitter/Wood Splitter
Have anywhere from 4-10 tonnes of splitting pressure, with one 22 ton force model. Are automated. Most electric log splitters will be ok for 5-10 inch diameter wood, that is anywhere from 10-20 inches long. Because they are automated, you should be able to get a larger quantity of wood split.
Gas Log Splitter/Wood Splitter
Powered with gas/petrol. Usually the most powerful and quickest log splitters. Gas log splitters range anywhere from 7 tons of splitting force for the smallest gas log splitter, up to 35 tons of splitting pressure for most gas log splitters. On average, can do one 100lb sized log every 13 seconds. GREAT for splitting cords and green wood.
Log Splitter & Wood Splitter Bits & Accessories
Some of the main additional
Hydraulic Oil – lubricant for lubricating, sealing and cooling the working components of the splitter > check the hydraulic tank capacity for the splitter you buy
Gas/petrol – for gas splitters > check how many gallons or litres per minute your
4 way wedge – some prefer these to the two sided split wedge that comes standard with most splitters
Splitter cover – a cover for mainly gas and electric splitters to protect them from the elements
Extension cord – for electric splitters with small standard cords
How To Choose A Log Splitter or Wood Splitter
Choosing the best log splitter for you requires you to take into account the following considerations:
1. What size wood do you want to split?
For smaller firewood, a manual splitter will be fine.
For large 100lb logs and rounds, a gas splitter is better. Gas splitters also have the benefit of being able to operate vertically so you don’t have to lift heavy wood around constantly.
2. What quantity of wood do you want to split?
To split one or a couple small logs – get a manual wood splitter.
For splitting entire cords – an electric or gas splitter.
3. What type of wood do you want to split?
For mainly pine and hardwood – get a manual log splitter.
For different types of wood, and particularly green and knotty wood, an electric or gas log splitter will work better.
4. How quickly (how many splits per hour) do you want to split?
For entire cords, gas splitters can do hundreds of splits an hour.
Electric splitters can do up to about 100 splits an hour.
Manual splitters are much slower.
5. Are you ok with using your own force and energy, or do you want a powered an automated log splitter?
Any splitter with a hydraulic lever will require much less energy to operate than a manual log splitter.
If you have physical limitations, pay attention to this.
6. What are you using the wood splitter for, and how often?
Are you mainly using the log splitter professionally, at work or for heavy duty tasks – then get a gas log splitter.
For casual use and light tasks, a manual splitter is better.
Electric splitters are good for automation and medium level tasks.
7. Are you ok with paying for gas/fuel and hydraulic oil?
For the bigger gas log splitters, they can really use a decent amount of fuel and oil.
Even electric splitters need the hydraulic oil filled from time to time.
Manual wood splitters require little to no maintenance or extras.
8. What level of portability do you want with your splitter?
Manual splitters are very light, and highly portable by hand or wheels.
Electric splitters can weigh anywhere from around 70lbs up to around 150lbs on average (depends on the model).
Gas log splitters are very heavy – up to 700 or 800 lbs. They can usually be towed on the road at speeds of up to 45mph if they are roadworthy.
9. Do you want a vertical or horizontal log splitter?
Gas log splitters mostly have the operation for both horizontal and vertical operation.
Electric splitters are mainly horizontal.
10. Are you comfortable with assembling a log splitter?
Gas log splitters often require a few hours of assembly.
Best Log Splitter or Wood Splitter For…
- Best Small Gas Log Splitter (7 Ton)
Champion Power Equipment 90720 7 Ton Compact Portable Log Splitter
- Best 22 Ton Gas Log Splitter
Dirty Hand Tools 100171, 22 Ton Horizontal/Vertical Gas Log Splitter
- Best 25 Ton Gas Log Splitter
Champion Power Equipment 100251 25 Ton Full Beam Towable Log Splitter
- Best 27 Ton Gas Log Splitter
Dirty Hand Tools 100408, 27 Ton Horizontal/Vertical Gas Log Splitter
- Best 35 Ton Gas Log Splitter
Dirty Hand Tools 100466, 35 Ton Horizontal/Vertical Gas Log Splitter
- Best Gas Log Splitter For Cold Weather
Swisher LSRB11534 11.5 HP 34-Ton Log Splitter
- Best Cheap Electric Log Splitter/Wood Splitter
WEN 56206 6-Ton Electric Log Splitter
- Best Electric Log Splitter & Wood Splitter For The Money
Boss Industrial ES7T20 Electric Log Splitter, 7-Ton
- Most Powerful Electric Log Splitter (22 Ton Splitting Pressure)
Swisher LS22E 120V Timber Brute Eco Split Electric Log Splitter, 22 Ton
- Best Manual Firewood Splitter
Kindling Cracker Firewood Kindling Splitter
- Best Hydraulic Manual Log Splitter (For Bigger Logs and Wood)
Sun Joe LJ10M Logger Joe 10 Ton Hydraulic Log Splitter
- Best Splitting Wedge
Ludell 11605 High Grade Steel Splitting Wedge, 5lb
- Best Grenade Splitting Wedge
Collins Wood Splitting Wedge, Diamond Shape, 4 LBS
Features To Look For In A Log Splitter or Wood Splitter
It really does depend what features to look for, depending specifically what type of log splitter you are looking at purchasing.
We have listed the features to look for, for each specific type of log splitter:
Best Electric Log Splitter & Wood Splitter: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews
Best Gas Log Splitter & Wood Splitter: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews
Best Manual Hand Log Splitter: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews
Safety Tips For Using A Log Splitter/Wood Splitter
Wear safety glasses when dealing with flying wood from manual splitting
Wear gloves for rough wood – especially when lifting constantly
Operate the splitter in a vertical position for heavy wood
Some gas and electric splitters have an inbuilt design that requires both hands to operate. Removal of a hand returns the ram to its starting position, decreasing the chance of bodily injury.
How To Use A Log Splitter/Wood Splitter
Manual log splitters are used in a number of ways that relies on you applying force to a wedge or the wood itself.
Electric and gas log splitters automatically split the wood and return back to the ‘ready’ position once you activate the splitting mechanism – which is often a lever.
Best Log Splitter & Wood Splitter Resources
1. https://tooljuice.com/best-electric-log-splitter-wood-splitter-buyers-guide-reviews/
2. https://tooljuice.com/best-gas-log-splitter-wood-splitter-buyers-guide-reviews/
3. https://tooljuice.com/best-manual-hand-log-splitter-buyers-guide-reviews/
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