Low Production Log Splitters

Low production firewood production involves bucking logs with a chainsaw into predetermined block lengths before being split. Block length is determined by the end users firewood requirements (ie. size of stove, oven, etc).

The traditional log splitters are human powered splitting mauls, splitting axes and splitting wedges. Firewood production speed is dependent on the physical condition of the operator, operator stamina, wood weight, type of wood (some species split easier) and wood quality (knots, grain direction, etc). Blocks must be lifted and placed in the vertical position onto a cutting block to be split. During the splitting process the wood falls off the block and must be lifted again for subsequent swings.

Powered log splitters consist of placing a block against a wedge (2, 4 or 6 way) and activating a ram which applies a force to the the opposite end of the block. The ram pushes the block into wedge which splits it into multiple pieces of firewood. Firewood production speed is dependent on the physical condition of the operator, the cycle time of the ram and the amount of force the ram can exert. Larger machines can exert more force (tons) and thus overcome any splitting difficulty due to wood type and quality. Some machines offer extra options to reduce the effect of the operators physical condition on production speed. These include outfeed conveyor belts, outfeed trays, wedge height adjustment, auto cycling and devices to assist block lifting.

Log splitters are typically hydraulic and powered by small gas/diesel engines or by the Power Take Off (PTO) from a tractor. They come in horizontal and vertical configurations and are usually portable so they can be towed easily behind a pickup truck or ATV. Mechanically driven splitters also exist and tend to have faster ram cycling times than hydraulics.

- Gränsfors Bruks, TimberWolf Corp, Supersplitter Inc. images.