Log splitter...manual, electric, gas?

I would also suggest getting a stockpile of wood, then rent one for the weekend.

Do you have a tractor? If so, have you considered a three point hitch splitter?

We harvest and split approximately 3 cords of wood if not more for winter use and split by hand. Neither of us are kids any more but we enjoy the physical exercise that splitting gives us and yes, we both split wood. I'm 5'2 and 130 pounds and can swing a 8 pound maul without any difficulty, It may not be pretty but I get the job done.

IF we were considering a splitter, we would definitely go the three point hitch route and run it off our diesel tractor.

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I have split wood my whole life, I actually like to do it.Dh would cut and I did all of the splitting. Dh bought a splitter form TSC. Now I sit on a chunk of wood,he puts a length of wood on the splitter and I run it. Split in 4's and 6's ,but we have 2 piles going and cookstove wood-I get to split it to My idea of perfection. The best wood gets cut in short lengths for my stove and with the splitter,I can actually take a hunk and split it and keep it all together ,just rolling it in the splitter cradle and split,split,split. Not like splitting with a maul at all.

If you have a tractor a 3pt hitch splitter is nice because your not purchasing and maintaining another engine and hydraulic pump.
I got the one TSC sells:
CountyLine® 3-Point Hitch Log Splitter - 2153304 | Tractor Supply Company
jim

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About 5 years ago I bought a 28-ton gas splitter from Lowe's and surprised DH with it. He has NEVER used it! ThatI's because I beat him to it whenever there's wood to split. It's a Troybilt with a Honda motor and starts on the first or second pull no matter how long it's been sitting, no matter what the weather. Works in either the horizontal or vertical position -- I use it in the vertical. I push and pile the rounds in front of it, then sit on a stump and roll the rounds into position, split and toss the pieces into a pile for DH to stack. Takes some planning, but I have successfully split up rounds that were 30" in diameter. I split oak from our own property, and Douglas fir, black locust and ash from a logging slash site where we have a salvage permit. It was expensive - about $1500 if I recall, but it has allowed us to look forward to firewood cutting with pleasure and a sense of accomplishment instead of dreading the aching muscles and joints. Aside from the tractor, it's probably the most useful and freeing piece of equipment we own.

If I'm splitting good, straight red oak or poplar (not great wood but it splits easy), I can split faster with a maul, at least in cool weather and for a few hours. If I'm splitting "junk wood" like sweet gum or anything gnarly, I'll use the gas powered splitter immediately. I prefer oak/hickory/red maple for firewood, but I'll burn pretty much any dead/fallen tree on the place that is not in the pine family.

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I also have a 22 ton from TSC, bought in 2003. It does about 10 cord a year for me and my sister. It has not giving me any problems and is easy to maintain. Occasionally, I'll still split by hand when the mood strikes me which the older i get is less and less often.

LOL! cause I'd like to get it done in this lifetime at least....besides, I keep him around mostly for the free manual labor

I shared all your info with him (thank you all!) and he wants to go check out TS and N Tool....then he may consider the rental idea. I think that makes the most sense for us.

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As we have gotten older we have done things differently. Splitting a lot of wood all at once is too much to do. My husband got an electric splitter, raised the height and happily splits a lot of wood every week. Everything in moderation makes for a good life.

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+1 on a tractor mounted splitter, if you have the tractor. I have a friend nearby, and we share tractor attachments so we only have to have one of each between us. A splitter is on our short list.

I actually enjoy splitting wood with a maul provided it is clear, straight-grained wood. It splits even better when frozen- oak logs just explode when you hit 'em. When I have a lot of wood to put up all at once, the fun fades pretty quick, though.

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I bought mine from a rental company that was selling out at auction. Paid $1,000 total and it is a COMMERCIAL splitter with a Honda engine. That's an important distinction, especially when it comes to the engine, pump and stoutness of construction. This particular brand and model sells for $2,500 new. Splits horizontally or vertically (I use the vertical).

I used to rent them but I got tired of having to schedule the time and make the trip to go get it, then always feeling like I was "on the clock" when I had it. Now I can pull it out, line up my truck alongside it, and fill up the back of my pickup anytime I want to, then hook it up and pull it back in. That alone to me is worth the price.

A good splitter here rents for $75 a day. I have only had this one a year and already used it 10 times, so by not renting I have "paid for" 3/4 of the purchase price.

As far as getting it running each year, if you store it under cover and you drain the gas and run the engine until it quits before storing, or use Stabil, it will start and run like a champ. Modern small engines just do not require much care other than this, and making sure the oil is full each and every time before you use it.

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Sweetpea Farms
"To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing." -- Robert Gates

We cut and split about 10 cords each year and right now we are in the middle of cutting and splitting (a little earlier than normal) because a local farmer brought down a bunch of oaks for a power line to his barn. We bought a 22 Tonne Husky from TSC for $899.00 three years ago and its been flawless. We can use it vertical or horizontal and it splits some seriously large Oak, Walnut and Hickory rounds.

I have serious back issues and a shoulder that needs to be replaced and its just something we feel we need around the homestead because we heat with wood. I would say that in retrospect I would have considered a 3 pt splitter but at the time we bought we didnt have the big tractor. We have been very happy with ours and good luck in your search.

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No body has mention what type of wood you will split , average diameter of the logs , how many cords of wood or how often . Diesel is way to go if you can afford (for some one who splits a fair amount of wood ) . Electric doesn't have the force to split large diameter logs .

I have a 26 ton gas powered splitter, best thing I ever bought. My mom is using it now that I am no longer using wood to heat, but it is the best thing she has ever had too..

No manual or electric here, you can always get your money out of a gas powered splitter, especially when you reach a "certain" age.

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Currently, I'm using a DR electric I bought from TSC for about $250. Works just fine as a home owner splitter. Slow it's not, nor is it weak. It's small and light enough my wife or boy can handle it just fine, and put it away when it's done. Being electric, there's no muss, no fuss. Just plug it in and go to work.

I've had some interesting tractor attachment types. I'll pass. Especially the pto shaft mounted screws. Gets old dancing around between the tractor tires. The cost of the gas to run the tractor, and the exhaust fumes. Not any more.

Big hydraulic units and the like, I've used them, and they are great for splitting lots of wood. I don't need that capacity. Nor do I want yet another big clonking thing laying around when not in use, waiting for me instead of something smaller and easier for others to handle.

Manual splitters are a joke imo. I'd far prefer to use a maul. Which I sometimes do. Especially if the weather is chilly and my shoulders are feeling good. Sometimes a nice sweat is fun. But, I'm not as young as I used to be, and I can't split up a few cords this way on a weekend.

Same thing I do.

Works well.

I kept messin around and built mine. Got the pump from Northern tool. Found the lever,cylinder and tank at a local gradeing contractors' scrap pile, and went from there. Got my hands on a 10" I-beam and a straight axle with 14" wheels. It is heavy, but it don't bounce on the road when in transit !

I have limited splitting time. I sometimes need to do a years worth over a weekend. I can't keep that pace with a maul, axe, wedges or any combo.


Oak, locust, and ash are my favorite burners. Maple and hickory are great, but I don't have that much growing here. The maples are pretty small; maybe in the future. Pine and cedar have their place as well. I don't buy into the pine issues; that could be a whole separate thread.