Log Splitters: Uses and Benefits of Log and Wood Splitters
Log splitters are used to split logs into useable firewood without the backbreaking work of using an axe or wood maul. When winter is approaching, it is important to get your firewood ready before the ground is covered in snow, and wood splitters enable you to achieve this rapidly and easily, and also with a high degree of safety.
The way a wood splitter works is that a thick metal wedge is gradually forced into the log by a hydraulic ram (electrically, petrol or manually driven) at high pressure – forces of 4 tons to over 25 tons and more are used. Domestic splitters are rated at around 4 – 10 tons. The machine can operate either horizontally or vertically, and either the log can be forced into the wedge, or the wedge moved into the log.
Log Splitters or Chain Saws?
Many people believe that if they have a chain saw they shouldn’t need a log splitter, but that is not necessarily true. Sure, the chain saw might be able to split logs, but there are two problems. The first is that chain saws are generally more effective when cutting across the grain, and while they will also cut down it, it easier for them to get stuck, particularly with green resinous wood such as fir or pine.
The second is that chain saws are not very convenient for cutting wood into firewood-sized pieces. It can be very dangerous when the width of the log becomes smaller with successive cuttings, and a wood splitter is much more convenient and safer. There is also less mess and loss of wood – chain saws generate a lot of woodchips and sawdust.
Log Splitter Power Sources
When you purchase a splitter, it is important first to establish the type you want. Should it be an electric machine, petrol or a simple manual wood splitter? A lot depends on where you want to use it, and how many logs you would typically have to split at a time. A powered splitter is certainly faster than a manually-operated log splitter, and you have the choice of an electric or petrol engine to drive the hydraulic ram.
There’s not a lot in it regarding performance. Since each is available in a range of forces exerted. A reasonable electric wood splitter or domestic use will cost well under $1,000 and exerts a force of around 4 – 10 tons, while larger petrol versions can exert a force of up to 6 or 7 times that. If you are not using the equipment close to your home or place of work, then you will need a petrol or manual hydraulic log splitter.
These, too, are available in wide range of force ratings, and are more portable. However, there is a price to pay for that portability, and petrol splitters are more expensive than electric for similar force ratings. The manual wood splitter is the most portable since you don’t need a power source at all, except your own muscles – and that involves a loss less work than using a manual maul.
Safety Aspects of Log Splitters
Log splitters are very much safer than chain saws for splitting logs. You simply place the log onto the splitter then press a button or pull a lever in the case of the manual log splitter. The wedge moves into the log and splits it by sheer force. There is no need for speed to increase the force, as is the case with an axe or maul, because the force comes from the hydraulic ram or the engine, whether that is electric or petrol.
However, being safer doesn’t mean that it is without hazards. If any part of the user gets trapped between the wedge and the log, that part will be subject to high pressure, and will be very seriously injured. There is also a risk of splinters – different woods react in different ways, and even the age of the log can be a factor. Some logs will burst open in a splitter, and flying splinters can be very dangerous.
For that reason, keep a good space clear when using a powered hydraulic log splitter and wear safety equipment. At a minimum this should include heavy gloves and safety glasses of goggles. The risk of splinters is less with a manual wood splitter, but increases with the pressure being applied. That said, splitting logs using modern machines is a fairly safe process. Only adults should use the equipment, and they should receive proper training before using it.
Because they are safer than the powered splitters, and also more portable, many opt for manual splitters. Although petrol driven machines are also usable in remote locations, you still need to carry petrol with you. If you decide on a manual log splitter, then make sure it is a double-handed version for safety. These prevent you from catching one hand or arm in the splitter when in use. Unlikely sure, but it has happened!
Benefits of Log Splitters
One of the major benefits of using a log splitter is, of course, the time and effort saved in converting logs to firewood. Most machines designed for domestic use require the logs to be split a number of times to get them down to firewood size. Doing that with an axe or maul is both exhausting and time-consuming.
In this modern era where fuel costs are soaring, many are turning to wood burners as a source of heat and energy. The industrial expansion of Asian countries, particularly China, is placing an increasingly large demand on world fuel supplies. Increasing demand results in increasing prices, and many are turning to the natural fuel on their doorsteps: wood.
By using log splitters, it is possible to turn a time-consuming chore into a fairly easy job without resulting in you exhausting yourself. Wood burners can now be used as fuel source for central heating systems and for cooking, and not only for campfires and open domestic fireplaces. Controllable burning systems now enable a wood burner to make maximum use of the calorific value of the fuel, and to burn all day and night producing maximum energy for minimum wood usage.
