Are you in the market for a new log splitter and are wondering if electric log splitters are any good? If so, then you’re definitely in the right place.
Are electric log splitters any good is a question that most homeowners have. The answer to that is a resounding yes. Electric log splitters are definitely great for both homeowners and professional foresters. All you’ve to take care of is choosing the right type of log splitter that’s convenient and efficient to use.
In this article, you’ll get to know all about electric log splitters, are electric log splitters any good, the advantages of using an electric log splitter, who uses electric log splitters, and more. Stick around to get all the answers that you’re looking for.
Are electric log splitters any good?
It’s common to wonder are electric log splitters any good, especially if you’re a beginner. Electric log splitters are extremely popular with both professional foresters and homeowners who have to burn wood for the winter. If you’re purchasing the right type of log splitter, they’ll be convenient and highly efficient to use.
Often, electric log splitters get a bad rap compared to other types of splitters. This is a bit unfair as electric log splitters do their job pretty well and even have a few advantages over their gas counterparts. When electric log splitters started, they weren’t as popular as they are today. Years later and these log splitters have come a long way from their simple beginnings. A big reason for that is the steep increase in gas prices, which makes it comparatively harder to use a gas log splitter. When they originally came out, there was a major power difference between gas and electric-powered log splitters. Although there’s still a slight difference in power now, the gap is closer now than ever before.
Advantages of using an electric log splitter
Using an electric log splitter will be one of the best decisions that you make. Not only will the log splitter do most of the work, but it can be used easily in both indoor and outdoor spaces. As you gain experience, you’ll find that the manual splitting you did previously hurts a lot more.
One of the biggest advantages of using an electric log splitter is that it’s significantly quieter than a gas-powered splitter. This makes it perfect for use in a suburban area.
Another key advantage of using an electric log splitter will be that there’s little maintenance involved in the operation of the machine. You won’t need to worry about changing the oil or servicing the machine’s engine.
If you strive to be as environmentally friendly as possible, an electric log splitter will be a great choice. Being low-maintenance, these do not release unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide buildup. Further, the splitter will do most of the work for you. It means that you’ll be spending a lot of time and energy and most likely will not be tired out by the end of your splitting session. Electric log splitters are extremely portable and very easy to store.
How do electric log splitters work?
An electric log splitter works similarly to the way that someone would while cutting using an axe. There are two types of motions that log splitters use. Which one you’re going to use will depend on the model that you’re choosing. The first type pushes the log into and through the blade. Meanwhile, the second type swings a blade at the log and splits it into two pieces.
Using an electrical log splitter will mean that almost anyone, irrespective of size or gender, will be able to cut wood easily. It is just a matter of positioning it onto the splitter and turning on the machine. The machine does almost all the work itself. The only possible exertion that an individual has to make is picking up and placing wood logs onto the machine. The only difference here is that the cutting action will be powered by electricity instead of a person’s physical exertion.
The working mechanism of a typical electric log splitter
This type of log splitter comes with a 24-inch long hydraulic cylinder that’s 4-inches in diameter. It’ll usually come with a three-and-a-half gallon hydraulic oil tank and a 2-stage hydraulic oil pump. Typically, it’ll be rated for 11 gallons per minute and come powered by a 5 HP electric motor.
If you have got a 2-stage hydraulic pump, it’ll be great for saving time. It has got an internal pressure valve and multiple pumping sections. One of the sections will be used for pumping at low pressure, which will pull the piston back after the log is split. This action doesn’t actually need a tremendous amount of force. It is when the piston starts pushing the log through the blade for splitting it that it’ll use the most force. Since the flow rate isn’t much of a concern during the action, the pump will simply switch to high pressure for splitting the log.
Electric horizontal log splitters
For an average homeowner, a horizontal splitter will work perfectly fine. These are far less expensive compared to other types of splitters. In most situations for homeowners, the logs aren’t that huge, which means they’ll do the job nicely. They’ll give you smaller pieces, which are ideal for burning in the fireplace.
Electric vertical log splitters
This type of log splitter is more suited for logs of different sizes, especially large knots-fitted logs. If you’ve got a situation where you’re cutting small, medium, or large logs then this will be the right choice. This type of log splitter costs more than horizontal log splitters and is used commonly by professional loggers.
The vertical mode in this splitter is when a log splitter can be transformed into an up and down machine instead of the left or right scenario. You need to put the log on the base of the splitter, which will be on the ground. Force down with the electric blade for splitting the wood. If you’ve got a small tree removal service, and you’re removing trees and debris, then it’ll be a great choice.
Who uses electric log splitters?
There are three categories of electric log splitter and each one comes with its own level of durability. Select the right type of design and construction to get the best use out of the log splitter you’re choosing.
The first one is the consumer grade. Just as the name suggests, these tools are geared toward folks who are splitting logs for woodpiles, either at home or when they’re camping outdoors. The consumer-grade models are rather inexpensive and come with small wheels. This means that they can be easily relocated. If you are a camping enthusiast or a homeowner with a fireplace, it’s probably a tool that you must have.
The next grade is Prosumer. These log splitters are designed to be much more durable and can handle larger splitting jobs. In fact, these models can exert up to 22 tons of force for heavy-duty jobs. Moreover, these models have pivoting frames, which enable them to be easily towed between indoor and outdoor work sites.
The target audience for these type of electric log splitters come in two different categories. They’re either for homeowners who split and burn wood for winters or DIY/handyman types who are working on home projects.
Lastly, there are also professional-grade splitters. If you’re a forestry professional, there’s a great chance you already have one of these in your arsenal of tools. These units don’t actually come cheap. Moreover, they’re difficult to find at your local neighborhood hardware store.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading. Hopefully, now you know a lot more about electric log splitters, are electric log splitters any good, the advantages of using an electric log splitter, who uses electric log splitters, and more. Stick around to get all the answers that you’re looking for. The answer to be electric log splitters good is a resounding yes. Electric log splitters are definitely great for both homeowners and professional foresters. All you’ve to take care of is choosing the right type of log splitter that’s convenient and efficient to use.
