There's nothing better than cozying up to the warmth of a roaring fire, be it if it's your fireplace or sitting around a campfire.
It can be costly buying firewood; that's why investing in the best log splitter can come in handy. If you have access to cut logs or fallen trees, you can make your own customized, perfectly sized own firewood with the best log splitters.
In this article, we'll outline the best log splitters and features to consider when buying them.
Best Log Splitters
1. Boss Industrial ES7T20 Electric Log Splitter
- Powerful 2 HP electric motor
- 7 tons of splitting force
- Dimensions: 13.5" W x 20" H x 39.5" D | Weight: 121 lb
- Automatic ram return
- Convenient one-Handed operation
The Boss Industrial ES7T20 is the best log splitter if you're looking for something heavy-duty or require a log splitter that will tackle logs on the spot. Since it's electrical, you can expect that there will be no fumes. All you need to do is connect it to an outlet and start splitting.
The Boss Industrial ES7T20 is powered by a 2HP electric motor and is designed for home use on smaller logs that you would ideally use for wood-burning purposes. The log splitter has 7 tons of splitting force that can handle logs of up to 10 inches in diameter.
The Boss industrial can be used indoors when it's cold or wet outside since the ton electric log splitter is quiet and clean.
The electric log splitter is covered by a 2-year warranty.
Pros
2. Champion Power Equipment 100251 Gas Log Splitter
- Powerful – 25 tons of splitting capacity with a large 224 cc Champion single-cylinder OHV engine
- Versatile – Converts from horizontal to vertical in seconds, allowing you to handle large, heavy...
- Efficient – 12-second cycle time, expanded operator area and dependable auto-return valve capable...
- Portable – Towable up to 45 mph and fits most ATV/UTV towing applications with an extended tongue,...
- Reliable – Champion Support includes 2-year limited warranty with FREE lifetime technical support...
What makes this a great log splitter is that it's a vertical/horizontal splitter; hence, it can change the loading orientation swiftly. This can come in handy, especially when weight prevents you from lifting a log into the preferred horizontal position. Having a vertical splitter can make work much easier.
The Champion Power Equipment 25-Ton Gas Splitter allows for quick vertical to horizontal conversions. It is equipped with a large 224 cc Champion single-cylinder OHV engine capable of 25 tons of splitting capacity.
The 25-ton log splitter is super efficient with a 12-second cycle time, expanded operator area, and dependable auto-return valve capable of 300 cycles per hour. In addition, the horizontal and vertical gas-powered splitter can split logs of up to 24 inches in diameter.
The Gas powered log splitter is portable as it features 16-inch tires. It's also towable up to 45 mph and fits most ATV/UTV towing applications with an extended tongue and 2-inch ball hitch coupler.
The Champion Power Equipment Horizontal/Vertical Full Beam Gas Log Splitter is covered by a 2-year limited warranty.
Pros
3. Sun Joe LJ10M 10-Ton Hydraulic Log Splitter
- Powerful: hydraulic RAM Builds up to 10 tons of driving force
- Large capacity: splits logs up to 18 in. Long x 8 in. Wide
- Efficient: RAM return spring for quick resets
- Durable: Steel frame construction with wheels for easy portability
- Easy to use: No gas, oil or cords
If you enjoy getting your hands down and dirty, then this is the best log splitter. The manual splitter will definitely save you from the whole ax business, which can be absolutely exhausting. However, you will still require some muscle power when dealing with this log splitter.
Its manually operated and powered by a hydraulic ram; no gas or electricity is needed. The Sun Joe Lj10m builds up to 10 tons of driving force and can easily split logs up to 18 in. long x 8 in. wide.
The Sun Joe Lj10m hydraulic log splitter features a piston rod that quickly resets with the turn of a knob.
The hydraulic log splitter also features long handles for maximum leverage and is made of durable steel. In addition, it has two wheels, affording you portability.
Pros
4. WEN 56207 6.5-Ton Electric Log Splitter
- Powerful 15A motor provides over 13,000 pounds of log cracking pressure
- Use the log splitter with or without the 34-inch stand depending on user preferences
- Included pull handle and 5.5-inch never-flat wheels make for easy transportation between jobs
- Electric power means no gasoline, no carbon monoxide emissions, and limited maintenance
- Split logs up to 10 inches in diameter and 20.5 inches in length
The Wen 6.5 ton wood splitter boasts several great features that make it the best log splitter.
The log splitter is super spacious in that it takes on logs up to 20.5 inches in length and 10 inches in diameter with side-mounted support wings to prevent your log from rolling away during operation.
The 6.5-ton log splitter is powered by a 15-amp motor resulting in 13,000 pounds of cracking pressure. In addition, it features a 20-second cycle time and can handle over 120 logs an hour.
The log splitter is portable as its equipped with 5.5-inch never-flat wheels that make it easy to move around.
Pros
5. Kindling Cracker XL Wood Splitter
- Powerful – 25 tons of splitting capacity with a large 224 cc Champion single-cylinder OHV engine
- Versatile – Converts from horizontal to vertical in seconds, allowing you to handle large, heavy...
- Efficient – 12-second cycle time, expanded operator area and dependable auto-return valve capable...
- Portable – Towable up to 45 mph and fits most ATV/UTV towing applications with an extended tongue,...
- Reliable – Champion Support includes 2-year limited warranty with FREE lifetime technical support...
This is ideal for when you want to get your fireplace going, or maybe you're out camping and need to get that campfire started to roast those marshmallows.
This allows for a safe and easy way to make kindling with no moving blade or sharpened object passing by your hands. The Kindling Cracker is 17 inches in height, thus allowing you to split long pieces of firewood. It features a 9 inch inside diameter top ring with sufficient space to handle large pieces of firewood. In addition, the Kindling Cracker is equipped with a base with square feet that keep it steady during use.
It splits firewood with less force than an ax. So you'll only need to brush it off in terms of maintenance and give it a touch-up of paint from time to time to look like new for generations.
Pros
Factors To Consider When Buying Best Log Splitters
a) Source of Power
Generally, log splitting machines come in three types:
- Gas Powered Log Splitter: These tend to be the most powerful. Most gas log splitters will let you alternate between vertical or horizontal splitting. This can be an issue if you mostly work with very large have. However, this is the best log splitter if you expect to be splitting very hard or large wood regularly.
- Electric Splitters: These tend to generally powerful enough to handle mid-size logs of light-to-moderate hardness. You, however, require to be connected to a power source; hence they are not the best choice for splitting wood on the go. On the other hand, electric splitters are the best choice when you're searching for something lightweight, with no fumes and quiet performance.
- Manual Log Splitter: These are the ideal choice as they don't require anything else but human strength. However, this can be a downside as you need to have the muscle power to get them going. Depending on the type, some will require to pump levers that work up enough pressure to drive the splitter through the log, while others hold the log in place while you do all of the heavy work. With a manual splitter, you don't have to work your way through a lot of wood, nor will you cut through very large or hardwood. However, if you only expect to use the tool occasionally to produce kindling or very small firewood pieces, this is the best log splitter.
b) Types of Log Splitters
i) Vertical Log Splitting Tool
These have been designed such that all you need to do is place a log beneath the ram and then activate the splitter to split the wood. Generally, no heavy lifting is required hence making them ideal for heavy, bulky logs. Once the logs are split, you can easily throw the chunks into a wood bin or a pile.
ii) Horizontal Log Splitting Tool
These come with a splitting bed that the logs must be lifted onto before being split. Though they can handle thick and heavy logs, the weight limitation of the log size should always depend on how much you can lift. This is because your back will definitely be put to work when lifting the logs, but it's easier to maneuver once up on the bed than with a vertical splitter.
iii) Combination Vertical/Horizontal Splitters
Horizontal or Vertical Splitters offer the best of both worlds. These are hybrid splitters that normally involve removing a couple of hitch pins that allow a hinged bed to convert from horizontal to vertical. Hence, larger logs can be split at ground level, making it easier on your back, while smaller logs can be split on a horizontal bed for easier handling.
b) Driving Force
When searching for the best log splitters, it's essential to pay attention to the driving force.
This is because it takes quite a lot of force to push a blade through a log; hence you need a log splitter that can handle the type of logs you want to split.
Splitting force is measured in tons.
Generally, gas log splitters tend to be more powerful compared to electric log splitters. You'll often find gas log splitters with over 30 tons of driving force, but 25 tons is normally the average. This enough to split logs up to around 24 inches in diameter.
Electric log splitters normally range between 6 and 10 tons of driving force enough to split logs up to around 12 inches in diameter.
Pump-style manual log splitters can ideally handle logs up to around 10 inches in diameter. However, they rarely go past 10 tons and are slower compared to gas or electric log splitters. The slowness of a manual log splitter is usually due to its reliance on human strength.
c) Cycle Time
While searching for the best log splitters, you'll come across the cycle time, also referred to as "return cycle time". This is the amount of time the splitter takes to fully extend the ram and retract it back to its starting position.
Most log splitters tend to feature 10 - 20 cycle times. Something worth noting is that a machine can have cycle times that vary. This is based on the wood hardness and whether the logs being split have a lot of knots.
Generally, a faster cycle time means you're able to split more logs in less time. However, if you're not in a hurry, buying a machine with a slower cycle time is acceptable.
d) Auto Return Feature
Some of the best log splitters have this feature. This allows you to position a log, as all you need to do is lower a single lever, and when you release it, the ram returns to its the retracted position. Thus, the feature allows you to swiftly remove a split log and place a new one on the machine while the ram retracts to its starting position.
You'll generally have to pull one lever on other log splitting machines, hold it down to extend the ram, then pull a second lever to continue to hold it to retract the ram.
e) Portability of Log Splitter
If you value portability and convenience, searching for the best log splitters with wheels would be ideal. Most splitters feature two back wheels that can come in handy when you need to move the splitter from one position to another. Larger, commercial-type splitters are usually built onto a trailer base that can be connected to the back of a pickup truck and towed into the woods for splitting logs on site.
