In this article, we will cover the fundamentals of wood splitters and advise you on how to carefully select the best product for you. You can view our full selection of log splitters including manual, electric and petrol options by heading to our log splitter category page.

This articles covers:

• Why do I need a wood splitter?
• What are the different types of wood splitter?
• Which wood splitter is best for me?
• What are some recommended log splitter accessories?

Why do you need a wood splitter?

Log Splitters provide a safe, easy and efficient method of splitting wood. It eliminates the hard work of creating firewood or kindling, leaving you able to heat your home without the exhausting and time-consuming work of splitting wood with an axe. If you regularly split wood, then a log splitter is essential.

A number of dangers come with manually splitting logs with an axe, which you must devote constant attention to. As well as the downside of the unfortunate general wear and tear effect that splitting with an axe naturally has on your body.

Another downside of splitting with an axe is the recurring issue of having to pull the axe out of the wood after you’ve struck it if you don’t split the wood the first time. This wastes both time and energy. The Forest Master Manual Smart Splitter ensures that you’re hitting the same point of contact in the wood every time, so you don’t require the physical strength or stamina it would typically require to split with an axe.

This article further outlines the risks involved. Find out more about the dangers of splitting with an axe by clicking here.

What are the different types of wood splitters?

First, let’s cover the different variety of log splitters. We have Electric, Petrol and Manual Splitters for sale.

Electric Wood Splitters

Electric Log Splitters provide fast, powerful and long-lasting use with minimal maintenance required. They are incredibly straightforward and easy to use, and you can get started almost straight away with little or no guidance. It’s as simple as a push of a button.

A major benefit of Electric Wood Splitters is the low-maintenance requirements. You don’t need to worry about refilling the petrol and the hydraulic oil we provide with each splitter will supply you with an estimated 150 hours of effective use, a refill is only required when you start to feel the power has dropped. This typically depends on how hard the logs are that you’re splitting.

You can operate an electric log splitter anywhere you find a suitable outlet, meaning you can even operate the machine indoors without worrying about fumes. The electric motors are also relatively quiet, so you don’t need to worry about disturbing the neighbours! If you live in a suburban area then an electric log splitter is more than likely the ideal choice for you.

You can find a full side-by-side comparison of our electric log splitter range by clicking here.

Petrol Wood Splitters

Petrol Log Splitters are incredibly powerful but are also typically heavier machines than manual or electric splitters. If you don’t have access to a power source, then it’s worth looking at investing in a petrol log splitter.

The benefit of not having to be plugged in means you can transport and operate your splitter wherever your wood is stored, rather than having to haul your logs to the splitter.

If you want to read a more detailed and in-depth comparison of petrol vs electric splitters, check out this linked article.

Manual Wood Splitters

Typically, Manual Log Splitters are easier to conveniently store and are more lightweight than petrol and electric log splitting options.

Manual splitters are more physically demanding but are still significantly safer and more efficient than splitting wood with a standard axe.

The manual splitter also requires no fuel or power, so it’s also the most environmental and economically friendly of the three possible options.

Manual Splitters do not lack power, our DUO10T efficiently generates up to 10 tonnes of splitting power as well providing a rapid jack for fast splitting.

Kinetic Wood Splitter

New to 2021, our kinetic splitters use kinetic energy rather than hydraulics to split the logs. This is based upon a flywheel system that builds up the energy as it spins. Once the lever is engaged it is transferred to the splitting wedge and splits the log in one quick motion

This cutting-edge way of splitting utilizes a 2200w motor and makes easy work of both hard and softwood. It’s fast, reliable, and efficient – designed to dramatically reduce splitting to only 3 seconds per cycle!

Without hydraulic systems, there is less need for maintenance. Likewise, it’s less likely to get a leak or require constant

Not only does it split wood as fast as you can load it, but you don’t tension the belts. Why? Because it features an automatic belt tension system.

Moreover, it features wheels at the rear of the machine and lockable castors to the front.

Due to its burst of power, there aren’t many types of wood that a kinetic splitter cannot handle. If you’re looking for a quick and efficient way to split wood, a kinetic log splitter may just be the one for you.

Which Wood Splitter is best for me?

This varies depending on several factors; the types of logs you’re going to be splitting, how often you’re going to be splitting wood, where you want to use your machine and the design or style of splitter you want to use.

Type of Logs

The main thing you must take into consideration is the type of log you are going to be splitting. If you’re going to be splitting hard and knotty woods then we’d recommend looking at a 7-ton log splitter as a starting point. You may require a more powerful splitter if you’re planning on regularly splitting the harder woods such as Elm or Ash.

Take a look at our fuelwood burning guide to explore the different varieties of soft & hardwood, including density properties that indicate how hard a wood is to split. You can also learn about how efficient each wood is for burning and keeping your home warm through the winter months.

The sizes of the logs you’re planning on splitting is also an important factor. Splitters are limited to max log lengths and diameters, so you must be aware of the size of the log you’re going to be splitting when selecting the best log splitter for you.

View our side by side comparison of our range of wood splitters and the log capacity of each splitter by clicking here.

How often do you need to split wood?

You must also consider how often you’re going to be splitting wood. If you’re planning on only splitting softwood a few times a year, then a manual or electric splitter is likely to be the best option for you.

Where are you planning on using the wood splitter?

If you live in a suburban area, then you may want to opt for an electric log splitter in an attempt to reduce noise pollution. If you split logs in a rural area, a petrol splitter will allow you to go directly to the logs to split your wood. You won’t need to worry about connecting your machine to a power source.

In the case that you want to operate your splitter indoors and out of the unpredictable weather, then take a closer look at Manual and Electric options.

Design of the Log Splitter (Horizontal & Vertical)

You will also want to consider the design of the wood splitter and how you’re going to store it.

Our range of splitters is available in either vertical or horizontal arrangements.

If you’re splitting logs for a log burner or fire then a horizontal splitter is likely the more appropriate option for you. Horizontal splitters typically allow you to cut a larger log diameter but are limited to a smaller log length.

Vertical splitters offer a larger maximum log length but can be limited to the diameter of the log.

Wood Splitter Accessories

There are a number of log splitting accessories available to further improve the efficiency, safety and power of your log splitter.

Log Splitter Stands

Wood Splitter Stand (T Stand)

The Forest Master Log Splitter Stand (or T Stand) is a two-wheeled support stand which raises your machine to a comfortable working height without the need to place it on an unsecured table. The front of the stand features a plate foot for support and the rear provides two wheels for transporting and manoeuvring your machine.

Wood Splitter Trolley (TW Stand)

The Forest Master Log Splitter Trolley (or TW Stand) offers the same benefits as the T Stand but provides much-improved manoeuvrability. The stand features wheels on all corners, meaning it’s fully supported and you’re able to move it with ease. The T stand only supports the rear of the machine with wheels, meaning you still have to lift part of the weight of the splitter in order to move it.

Work Benches and Safety Guards

A Work Bench and Safety Guard Log Catcher is provided with every purchase of a Forest Master Log Splitter. The workbench eliminates the need for you to bend down to pick up logs as they’re caught after being split. The bench also provides improved safety as the logs aren’t able to fall freely to the floor after they’re split.

The safety guard is a community registered design that allows you to split much larger logs than cages from other manufacturers. It provides a maximum log diameter of 400mm whereas the industry standard for cages only allow 250mm diameter.

Another feature of the guard is that the vertical sides do not feature any holes, this prevents logs from being trapped when you’re splitting them. Often cages are designed with holes or sides which traps logs as they are split.

Power and Efficiency

DuoCut Blade

The patented DUOCUT blade replaces the standard pusher block and increases the splitting efficiency by having two opposing contact points. This allows the splitter to easily cope with knotty wood as when one blade encounters a knot, the other blade continues splitting.

This blade is pre-installed on Forest Master FM10 Series log splitters.

HYD46+ Electric Log Splitter Hydraulic Fluid

HYD46+ Hydraulic fluid has been specially formulated by Forest Master with leading hydraulic oil manufacturers to greatly enhance the performance of electric log splitters. This hydraulic fluid is superior to others on the market due to its uniquely tailored design towards electric splitters. Only virgin oils are used in blending HYD46+, which allows it to last much longer without degrading, compared to cheaper oils which are blended from recycled oil.

You will see up to a 30% increase in log splitting power when switching to HYD46+ hydraulic fluid.

Moisture Meter

While it doesn’t directly affect the performance of the wood splitter, it’s very useful and handy to have a moisture meter lying around. The pocket-sized device is used to detect moisture levels in a log, sawn timber and hardened materials. The device is very simple to use and only required one button to operate. It’s an essential tool as any wood you burn must be below 20% moisture content – read more about the need for a moisture meter and the risks of burning moist wood in our guide.

As you’re probably well aware, here at Forest Master we’re passionate about log splitters. Likewise, we equally obsess over delivering the best service for our customers. Why does this matter? Because you know anything from Forest Master is cutting edge, market-leading, and built to last – with service to match. So, meet our new kinetic log splitter. Head over to this link if you want to see our range of available Forest Master Log Splitters.

This article covers:

• What is a kinetic log splitter?
• What type of kinetic log splitter machines are available?
• What are the differences between kinetic and hydraulic log splitters?
• How much do kinetic log splitters cost?

What is a Kinetic Log splitter?

Your first question is what makes a log splitter kinetic? I wondered this too. Well, it first removes all the hydraulics which in itself alleviates problems – I’ll come back to this. Instead, it uses kinetic energy via a flywheel system that stores energy as it spins. Then, you engage the lever which then transfers the energy to split the log. (here’s a handy wiki page to explain more)

Speed-wise, our kinetic log splitter is unmatched. Their cycle time is usually around 3 seconds – quick right! Typical hydraulic fluid cycle times are 15-30 seconds, imagine how much more wood you can get through. Moreover, the splitting wedge returns to the starting position automatically.

As mentioned earlier, the kinetic log splitter cuts out the hydraulic fluid, and as such removes the wiring. So, as you can imagine, this dramatically reduces the need for maintenance. Likewise, there’s no fluid, so there are fewer opportunities for leaks. The only area that would require maintenance is a typical petrol engine.

Reliable, cheaper to run but incredibly quick – you need a kinetic log splitter. Why? Well, despite this you don’t lose any performance. In fact, because of the “burst of power” system – there are few logs it can’t split. It makes light work of soft, hard, and knotted wood.

What types of machines are available?

These machines are ideal for both domestic and commercial use, big or small jobs! It’ll do them all. With 5 tons of splitting power and a capacity of up to 520mm (length) & 400mm (width). Our electric kinetic log splitter utilizes the last technology to produce a Fastfire 3 second cycle time.

Featuring a whopping 2200w electric motor and a convenient automatic belt tension system, split wood as fast as you can load it. No more avoiding your huge log pile, this beauty will cut through it in seconds.

Prefer your machine to have a bit more bite? We’ve got you covered, our petrol engines offer a vast array of machines to match your individual needs. They begin on our entry-level 129 cc petrol engine and advance through to our Honda-approved Honda petrol engines on our best kinetic log splitter. Better yet, with a Honda engine, you can get it serviced at any Honda-approved outlet & offer ultimate flexibility and power!

Moreover, they have both 6 Ton & 8 Ton models available catering to any of your individual needs. How is this achieved? It’s the size of the flywheel, the bigger the flywheel, the bigger the ton.

Our splitters feature trolleys with rear and front lockable caster wheels. More your splitter with ease, no more back-breaking wood chopping or tedious lifting. Better yet, the stand is adjustable, so you can raise and lower it as you so wish. Moreover, our safety cage comes as standard, it keeps both you and your splitter safe.

Kinetic vs Hydraulic Log Splitter

Typically, the argument of which type of log splitter to choose will largely vary from person to person, depending on their needs and requirements. It’s not so much of a question of which is better.

What kind of wood are you going to be splitting?

This is the main question in the argument. If you’re splitting softer or greener woods then I would recommend opting for a hydraulic log splitter. This is because a kinetic log splitter will require more than one cycle with greenwood, a hydraulic log splitter in this instance will slowly split the wood apart through the middle. If you’re splitting hardened or seasoned wood then a kinetic log splitter is probably for you.

A kinetic log splitter operates with utilises inertia and raw power & speed to split logs. This is more similar to an axe splitting wood. If you wish to use a hydraulic splitter to use on your seasoned wood, then you will require a larger ton model such as a 7 ton or 8-ton electric log splitter. This brings us on to the next point, cost.

Cost of kinetic vs hydraulic

While Kinetic log splitters are more expensive in general, we go back to the age-old saying of ‘time is money’. While a standard hydraulic log splitter will take around 12 seconds travel time, a forest master fast fire kinetic splitter will take just 3 seconds. If you’re looking to split for commercial business purposes, then a kinetic log splitter will definitely save you time and money in the long run. Additionally, if you’re splitting harder woods and need to upgrade to a higher tonnage model of a hydraulic splitter, then this will start to cost around the same price.

Anything else I should know about kinetic log splitters?

With a cycle time of 3 seconds, mass tons of power and a 2200w engine – our kinetic log splitter is market-leading. Better yet, with a full warranty, lifetime technical support, and world-renowned service, there’s no reason not to shop with Forest Master!

Before you go, make sure you check out the Fast Fire Kinetic Log Splitter in action below.

As you probably already know, wood kindling is an essential element of starting an efficient fire. The main job of kindling is to burn the main source of fuel (wood) and to ensure that the fire keeps going after it’s started. If you didn’t already know, you can also use your Forest Master kindling log splitter to split the wood kindling to the right size.

If you have already split and seasoned your logs ready for your log burner this winter, then you probably want to split your kindling as well ahead of time. The last thing you want to be doing is slugging around outside in the snow looking for suitable kindling. Lucky for you, we’re going to teach you the best ways to easily split kindling and the best wood to use.

What wood is best for kindling?

As a general rule, dry softwood timber is the best kind of wood to use for kindling. Pine or Cedar is amongst the best to use as wood kindling because they will easily catch fire, due to their resinous and fibrous character.

You will also want a variety of different sized kindling. Small pieces of kindling will burn very quickly, it’s a good idea to have an assortment of different sizes to add to your fire while it’s underway.

How to split wood into kindling

There are a number of different tools and methods you can use to split kindling. You could choose to either split with an axe or you could opt for a tool or machine which specialises in splitting kindling.

Our range of log splitters, both manual and electric, are able to perform effective kindling splitting tasks while also providing you with incredibly useful and time effective log splitting functions. Split your hardwood fuel for your log burner in just a few seconds without causing any body aches or pains. We like to help you as much as we can through every step of your forestry journey, this is why we’ve also written a blog post guide on effectively cutting firewood from start to finish.

Any of our DuoCut® log splitters are able to efficiently split kindling, simply utilise the ram stop feature of the log splitter to set the pusher blade to a short distance and then tie your wood together using an elastic band or sellotape to split the wood into small wedges. Watch the video below for a demonstration of this technique.

Using an electric log splitter

Not all electric log splitters are capable of performing this task effectively. An important part of splitting kindling effectively is the use of the duocut blade and the ram stop. The ram stop lets you set the ram further forward, this means you’re not waiting the full travel time for the wood to split. I’d recommend also taking a look at our guide for selecting the right power tonnage on your electric log splitter.

The duocut blade also shortens this process by splitting the kindling from both sides at the same time.

If you want to look at a cheaper or manual log splitting option for making your kindling, then look take a look at our smart splitter.

Using a manual log splitter

The Forest Master FMSS Smart Splitter is a manual log splitter which is an easy to use ergonomic alternative to a wood splitting axe that uses a drop weight on a guide pol to impart the force to the splitting blade. The manual splitter comes complete with the ultimate splitting base blade which is the perfect tool for splitting wood kindling and knotty logs.

Troubleshooting your log splitter really isn’t as daunting a task as you’d think it’d be. Thanks to the great design of our log splitters, pretty much nothing can go wrong which is unfixable. We stock all the spare parts you could ever need, but first, we need to work out the problem.

Before diving into how to fix your log splitter issues, let’s cover the different ways can fail.

There are four main categories of troubleshooting; power issues, log splitter ram failing to move correctly, oil leakage or the log splitter failing to split logs.

If your log splitter is much like triggers broom and you want to upgrade – you can find our selection of award-winning log splitters on our website.

What this article covers:

• Is my log splitter broken?
• Is my log splitter suffering from power issues?
• My log splitter is tripping the RCD
• Why isn’t my log splitter ram returning?

Is my log splitter broken?

It may often appear as though something critical has affected your log splitter, such as the ram failing to move or it appears as though there’s no power getting to the log splitter. More often than not, there are small errors that can be easily fixed.

Let’s look into some quick fixes which will quickly tell us if the log splitter is indeed broken.

If you’re not comfortable playing around with your log splitter – let us take a look for you. We offer a log splitter repair service, no matter the brand. We offer a full repair of your log splitter. This includes collecting your machine, repairing it in our workshop and delivery back to yourself. The repair may include a full strip-down, rebuild or fitting of replacement parts.

If you like to tinker and fix with your own hands – let’s move on with our top troubleshooting tips.

Quick Fix #1: Handle Issue

This may sound silly or obvious, but trust us when we say that this is actually a common error when operating the log splitter.

Check that the plastic knob of the lever is screwed on fully. If this becomes unscrewed it then prevents the lever from being pushed right down, and this prevents the log splitter from operating.

Quick Fix #2: Low Oil

The oil level in your log splitter may be running low, you can check this by using the dipstick. You can also run a quick test by raising the front end of the log splitter on a block of wood or something similar. If you raise the front of the log splitter and the log splitter then starts operating as normal, then this is a clear sign that you are low on oil.

Quick Fix #3: Log Splitter Pointing Downhill

This is similar to the last, but when the log splitter is pointing downhill it struggles to circulate the fluid right around the machine. This causes it to fail when operating.

The log splitter should always be operated on level ground or pointing uphill. If your log splitter is failing to split any logs, 90% of the time this will be the issue. If the log splitter is not pointing downhill then it’s likely low oil.

Log Splitter Power Issues

Now that we’ve covered the most common issues and quick fixes. Let’s look at some of the rare problems which can affect the performance of the log splitter.

Gentle Humming Noise (non-operational)

A humming noise will result in the log splitter blowing a fuse and typically means that the motor is tight.

First, turn the log splitter over and close off the air vent, remove the motor and pump 3 x 13mm headed bolts and 1 x support bolt.

Place the log splitter back upright and try the splitter again, if it produces the same noise then loosen the bolts a little from the end of the pump (13mm) and try again.

No power to the motor

Fuse has blown or RCD Tripped

First, check the fuse in the plug. If this is blown then replace it with a working 13 amp fuse, we also recommend installing a 13 amp slow blow fuse which you can purchase directly from our website.

You should also check the RCD for the ring main has not tripped. If the RCD has tripped, try the machine on a separate ring main.

If the RCD repeatedly trips then unplug all other equipment from socks on the ring main and switch these sockets off. You can then try to start the motor.

Capacitor Failure

Another possibility is that the capacitor in the electric motor has failed from misuse over time.

The capacitor in the electric motor can fail from misuse over time. When operating the log splitter, we strongly advise that you press the power button before operating the lever, this allows time for the motor to gather speed before attempting to split logs.

Pressing the lever before the button can also often result in blown fuses.

There are many different reasons why there may not be any power to your log splitter:

If you’re using an extension lead, ensure that the extension cable itself is a wider diameter than the power lead of the electric log splitter.

As stated previously, the capacitor failing will also stop the motor from starting up. After you have checked the previous solutions, unplug the log splitter from the mains. Then remove the six screws on the outside of the switch cover, take the switch cover off and you will then see the capacitor.

If the capacitor has failed, you will sometimes see burn marks on the capacitor itself.

Replacement capacitors are available on our website – Click here to purchase.

Log Splitter consistently trips RCD or blows a fuse

There are a few different fixes to this;

It’s possible that the motor is jammed. First, check that the motor turns freely. You can do this by removing the black fan cover, then it should be possible to turn the fan with slight pressure from one finger. If this isn’t possible, check for obstructions of the fan.

Another possibility is that the operating lever is loose or not bent correctly, this would prevent the valve from operating correctly. To fix this, check that the face of the lever that operates the valve is bent through a full 90 degrees in relation to the mounting face. If not, remove the lever and correct the bend in a vice.

Pump gears binding is an issue that can sometimes present itself within a log splitter which would cause a trip. This is easily fixed by loosening each of the 6 bolts on the back of the pump by ¼ of a turn and then checking to see if the motor turns freely.

Pump gears can also get jammed. To fix this you should remove the 6 bolts from the pump and separate the motor and pump. You can then check the gears for any silicone sealant or other material. When you’re reassembling, the torque for the bolts is 12 ft-lb, 16 N m.

Log Splitter Ram

If the ram of the log splitter is not returning fully or is jerking upon return, there are a couple of fixes you can perform to get it back up and running smoothly.

First, check that the moving carriage isn’t obstructed. You can do this by checking underneath the blade/pusher and down the sides of the carriage for any splinters of wood that may be obstructing the carriage.

Also check that the plastic spacers underneath the blade, between the carriage and the underside of the splitter, have not been dislodged.

This one is fairly simple to figure out but check the log bed of the splitter for a build-up of sap. You can then also apply a thin layer of workshop grease to the bed to allow it to operate more smoothly. Avoid using WD-40 to grease the bed as this can lead to the log splitter ram ‘juddering’ rather than solving the issue.

In order to fix this issue, use the ram stop to lock the ram in a position about 150mm forward. Remove the 4 bolts holding the DuoCut blade or pusher to the carriage and remove the blade/pusher. Unlock the ram stop, if the carriage returns then the arms are bent.

You can check the amount of bend with a straight edge, if it is less than 5mm then you may be able to straighten them in a vice.

Another possibility is that the ram is bent. Remove the DuoCut blade from the splitter. If the ram does not return after removing the DuoCut blade, loosen the 2 rear lock nuts on the carriage arms and remove the 2 nuts in front of the crosspiece. You can then remove the carriage from the log splitter. If the ram does not return then the next part is a bit tricky so give us a call.

What this article includes:

• What ton log splitter do I need?
• Is a 5 ton log splitter powerful enough?
• Is a 7 ton log splitter powerful enough?
• Is a 8 ton log splitter powerful enough?
• Log splitter comparison chart

How powerful a log splitter do you need?

So you’re looking at purchasing a log splitter, and figured electric is the way to go due to its simplicity? Good choice.

No messing around with petrol, just plug it in and go. If you want to research further into the benefits of electric vs petrol log splitters, check out this post. But now you’re stuck on how powerful do you need your electric log splitter to be?

There is no easy answer unfortunately, it depends on usage, type of wood you’re likely to be splitting most often, how big the wood is etc. etc. However, this article is here to dispel some of the myths you’ve probably been told about log splitters, helping you to make your best purchase. 

I’d like to start off by saying that needing a more powerful log splitter in order to split logs with a larger diameter is a fallacy (*cough* looking at you, log splitters direct).

The hardest part of the log is in the centre, and as your travel outward the log gets “softer”, so when splitting a large log you’re really just carving the softest part of it. Using log splitting best practice, you should try to avoid splitting through the middle of the log. You should be aiming for just off-centre of the log.

In fact, recently we had a 90-year-old lady tell us how good our DUO10T splitter was, and how she was using it to split her logs which were 2 feet (60cm) in diameter. Personally, I think that’s awesome.

So with that out the way, let’s dive right in. 

5-Ton Splitter

A 5-ton splitter, such as our FM5 is what we consider an entry-level electric log splitter. It’s best used for softwood, as when splitting hardwood it becomes a little trickier and requires more planning. That’s not me saying it won’t do it, but inconvenience defeats the purpose of a log splitter surely.

If you’re going to be splitting a small amount of shorter, softer woods, then a 5-ton will do you nicely. If you’re slightly more serious, and I suspect if you’re reading this then you are, then dismiss that 5-ton thought from your mind because you’re gonna want something a little more hardcore.

7-Ton Splitter 

Moving on up to 7-ton electric splitters, this is where the fun starts. Our 7-ton splitter, the FM10 is called the FM10 because it’s a 10/10 splitter. Just kidding. This is the nice, easy middle ground between electric log splitters.

Easy to use, and will split just about every wood you can put in it no problem, so long as the wood is still green. Add in the DuoCut attachment and even knotty wood isn’t a problem. This is by far our most popular product. Another major benefit of the duocut blade is that it enables you to also split wood kindling with ease. Check out our blog post guide on how to split wood kindling with your log splitter to see how easy and convenient it is.

The main problem people encounter when using the FM10 is when splitting bigger diameter logs, the blade can get lost inside the log. The angle of the blade is slightly more acute than that of the FM16 8-ton splitter, so whilst it still splits the log it doesn’t push the two halves far enough apart for it to split the log fully. And there’s nothing more inconvenient than for your log to be stuck on your splitter.

8-Ton Splitter

8-Ton splitters are for the serious, the people who want to be sure their log is gonna split, and those who are splitting wood that is particularly fibrous or tough, such as fruit tree wood. Our model of 8-ton splitter, the FM16 comes with two speeds (which I’ll get onto in a minute), ramstop for quicker splitting cycles to get through that large pile of logs quicker, and obviously our DuoCut attachment. 

The two-speed splitting cycle is important, as obviously you should be splitting freshly chopped wood whilst it’s still green. This is when it’s the easiest to cut before the moisture has evaporated and it becomes denser and thicker. However, if you should happen to be splitting seasoned wood, then rather than a smooth splitting motion all the way through the log, the seasoned wood absorbs the pressure until it pops with an almost explosion-like effect. This is when an injury is most likely to occur. This is why our FM16 electric splitter comes with two speeds, a half-pressed trigger allows the blade to move slowly into the log and prevents the log from shattering.

Additionally, the blade itself is set at a more obtuse angle. This is for the more fibrous woods, in which smaller blades can simply get lost inside. The wider angled blade opens up the log to make sure it splits all the way through. Genius, really. 

Electric log splitter comparison chart

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This article includes:

• A guide to buying your first log splitter
• What are the benefits of an electric log splitter?
• What are the benefits of a petrol log splitter?
• What are the benefits of a kinetic log splitter?

A guide to buying the best log splitter for you

Log splitters turn the dangerous activity of manually splitting a log with an axe, into a quick and easy task, in addition to making it much safer. Utilising either an electric or petrol motor, log splitters drive a blade swiftly through a log with just the push of a button, completely removing the manual effort needed to split a log and for the most part, the time too. And for those who enjoy forestry but may have health problems or a bad back and can’t operate an axe to manually split the logs, they are a complete necessity. Thankfully we have a complete range of log splitters available, suitable for everyone from beginners to experts.

There are limitations with log splitters of course, and most domestic splitters have a cut-off (no pun intended) length or diameter of the log which will fit inside the splitter. This is where a chainsaw comes into play, which is generally necessary to chop up your log into more manageable chunks before splitting them.

This is something saw horses can help with as they allow you to safely hold a large number of logs safely whilst you cut them into sizes that will fit inside your splitter.

Most log splitters cut your log into halves, requiring the halves to be fed through again to get your log into quarters which is generally what is used in log burners or wood stoves. There are attachments available called a cross-wedge which will cleave your log into 4 segments in one go, however, we neither sell nor advise the use of cross-wedges as an increased surface area in contact with the log as it is being split leads to increased friction and therefore reduced performance. Think of it as trying to cut something with a sharp knife vs a blunt knife, it all comes down to the surface area. Should you really wish to use a cross-wedge, we strongly advise only using it with petrol log splitters, and even then only the more powerful ones.

Electric Log Splitters

Electric log splitters are generally regarded as a better choice over petrol for those new to log splitter or for those that value ease and convenience over that little bit more power. They require significantly less set-up and subsequent maintenance, with no spark plugs needing to be replaced, no petrol or oil needing to be topped up or changed, and no smoke produced.

It is much more of a plug-in and go kind of machine, without a doubt the most convenient. This is at the cost of performance, in which petrol splitters take the trophy. They also obviously need a plug socket nearby to plug into meaning, you can’t take them to the wood which I know if a large downside for some people.

They do however make much less noise than a petrol splitter, and due to no fumes being released can be used inside if so desired.

Check out this linked blog post article if you want to find out more about which electric log splitter will be best for you.

Petrol Log Splitters

Rather obviously, contrary to the above statements petrol splitters are for those more advanced with log splitting, or value the higher performance the petrol splitters deliver. Admittedly whilst requiring more upkeep and maintenance than electric splitters, they do have conveniences of their own. They are much more transportable, being a self-contained single unit running on its own power. If you find yourself splitting hardwoods more often than softwood, then it is highly recommended you purchase a petrol log splitter as an electric model may struggle.

Kinetic Log Splitters

Forget what you’ve known about log splitters before, we’re changing the game. This kinetic fast-fire is such a beast! And a speedy one at that with a 3-second cycle time, yes, 3-seconds. It utilizes kinetic technology to make light work of hard or knotted wood in a singular burst of power. Want to learn know, click here to read about Kinetic Technology and why you need it. With 6/8 tons of power and a 2200 w motor, this baby can split wood faster than you can load it. Oh, and did we mention there are options that come with a Hyundai engine? Good right?

If you want a complete overview of all possible log splitting options; check out our complete log splitting guide on our blog page to find out which log splitter is best for you.

I hope this guide has helped you pick which kind of log splitter is a good fit for you. If you are still having some trouble deciding which model to go for, or you have any further questions on the matter our team of experts are always available for you to talk to further. Feel free to contact us, give us a call on 01910 265 5000 or email us at info@forest-master.com