As often happens in the early New Year the wind has started blowing from the north and east and temperatures have plummeted.
This is the time of year when you are grateful for a wood-burning stove or fireplace, for there is nothing to beat a comfy armchair in front of a log fire while the winds wail and sleet raps at the windows.
If you have an old pile of branches or logs which have lain undisturbed though the summer, now is a good time to saw and split them.
Even if a bit wet on the surface they will always burn well if seasoned, and remember that logs with a split face will always burn much better than sawn ones.
So time to don the old weathered jacket and get to work and to help you here are five log splitters and three chainsaws.
And we’ve include a couple of items which will prove invaluable if the snow does set in.
We’ve extolled the virtues of this great little splitter before, and my mate Drew wrote about it here, because it’s an ideal domestic machine, safe, simple and very effective.
The MD 4-Ton Electric Horizontal Log-Splitter, on special offer, is great value for money and can split logs up to 25cm in diameter and 37cm long.
It uses four tons of splitting power generated by a 1500W electric motor which needs no maintenance, and it has wheels built into it so it is easy to move around.
Above all, it’s safe as both hands are needed to operate, thus keeping them away from the splitting mechanism. And don’t take our word for it, see what other customers think of it by clicking here.
It costs £179.95, £70 off the recommended price. Delivery is free and the next working day following receipt of your order and it has a two-year warranty.
This splitter is mounted on a stand which obviates the need to do so much bending.
The Mitox LS55X Multisplit Electric Log-Splitter will split logs into four and also has a control which lets you match the distance the splitting ram moves to the length of the log – a great time saver.
It is based on a 2200W electric motor which develops 5.5 tons of splitting power and it can deal with logs up to 52cm in length.
Again it has a handle and wheels so you can move the machine around without undue effort, and it has a five-metre power cable.
This one costs £249, £40 less than the recommended price, has a two-year warranty and is delivered free the next working day.
This next one is more powerful still and from a company with a reputation for making top notch garden machinery.
The Lawnflite LS2300 7-Ton Electric Log-Splitter has a 2300W electric motor and can split twisted hard woods which would defeat a well-swung garden axe.
It has two speeds, faster when dealing with smaller logs and slower for the heavier-grained wood.
It can split logs up to 52cm long and has a transport handle and wheels to enable you to move it around with ease.
Again, both hands are needed to operate the machine, keeping them away from the splitting mechanism.
A stand can be bought for an extra £59 if you prefer to worm this way.
It costs £429, £50 less than the price recommended, and we deliver it free the next working day. There is a one-year warranty.
If you have a large house with old fireplaces that need a lot of wood to keep the house warm, this machine will do the trick.
The Mitox LS700BS Multisplit Petrol Log-Splitter, an upright machine which makes it easier on the back, has seven tons of splitting power generated by a Briggs & Stratton engine.
And as no power supply is needed it is far more convenient on a larger property.
This has a Multisplit capability so even thick logs can be split into manageable logs with one operation, a useful timesaver when dealing with large quantities.
You can also adjust the distance the push block needs to travel, another time saver – it can handle logs up to 104cm long.
This splitter costs £899, a £70 saving on the recommended price, we deliver it free within two to three working days and it has a two-year warranty.
And the final splitter is a professional machine to deal with large quantities of all manner of logs, even the thick and difficult ones like twisted oak.
The MTD-Lawnflite LS550 25-Ton Log-Splitter exerts 25 tons of splitting force and can tackle logs up to 53.5cm in length.
The hydraulic power is generated by a Briggs & Stratton engine and it is mounted on large pneumatic tyres so it can be towed, but please note it is not road legal.
It can also split wood in either the horizontal or vertical position and can handle all manner of logs both large and small and the splitting block returns to the starting position automatically – the full splitting cycle last just 19 seconds.
The recommended price for this splitter is £2299, but we are selling it for £2099 complete with £100-worth of hydraulic oil – totally FREE.
Delivery is free within four to five working days and it has a one year warranty.
Now some chainsaws suitable for cutting logs, lopping branches of small scale felling.
And first is one we helped to develop which uses the latest battery technology with cells produced in Japan.
The Redback E216C Cordless Chainsaw (Tool Only) uses either 2Ah, 4Ah or 6Ah batteries, although we recommend with 4Ah or 6Ah with this machine.
These batteries, which need to be bought separately as well as the charger, can be used with any of the other garden equipment in the range.
The 40cm chain is from market leaders Oregon and the device has an inertia-operated chain brake which can also be activated manually.
It has automatic chain lubrication and an extra-large switch and handle make it easier to use when wearing gloves in the winter.
It costs £149, £30 less than the recommended price, has a three-year warranty and is delivered free the next working day.
If you prefer a petrol-powered machine, then this exclusive special offer might well take your fancy.
The Oleo-Mac GS-350 Pro Petrol Chainsaw with Free Starter-Pack is made with homeowners in mind who have small trees to cut down, branches to lop and logs to saw.
A 38.9cc engine powers the saw along a 35cm guide bar and if you’re not used to chain saws this one has a users’ guide printed on the body of the machine.
Transparent tanks make it easy to keep an eye on fuel and chain oil levels and the saw is very comfortable to use with an extensive vibration damping system.
It weighs 4.4kg and has a chain brake should the machine kick back.
Also with this machine is a package of accessories including chainsaw gloves and a safety helmet with a visor and ear muffs.
The package also includes 100ml of two-stroke oil, a litre of chain oil and a fuel mixing bottle. These accessories are worth £70.
The whole package costs £195, a huge saving on the recommended price and it has a five-year warranty and free next working day delivery.
Here’s a light and powerful machine from a Japanese manufacturer whose equipment is often used by professional gardeners.
Sold with a five-year warranty, the Tanaka ECS 3351 Petrol Chainsaw has a 35cm guide bar and a 33cc engine and has been built with the discerning homeowner in mind.
It has a really efficient vibration-damping system and a chain and bar from industry leaders Oregon.
A 1.6hp engine has been engineered for a long, demanding life and starts very easily.
The regular price is £299, but in our sale it is just £249. And as well as the five-year warranty it has free next working day delivery.
With this one you also receive free a helmet plus visor and ear muffs which normally costs £24.95.
Garden paths and drives were pretty lethal this morning after a harsh frost overnight and this package we have put together is just ticket for making them safe.
The Winter Snow & Ice Treatment Package is made with owners of larger houses and small business in mind and includes a spreader and 10 bags of Ice Melt.
The spreader is from Agri-Fab and has a hopper capacity of 38.5kg and a spread of three metres so you clear large areas very quickly.
The spreader has a durable poly hopper to resist corrosion and can be used for spreading weed killer and fertiliser once the frost and snow have disappeared.
The ice melt is very effective, much more so than conventional rock salt, and it won’t kill plants or harm cars or surfaces and is often used on airports.
You receive 10 bags with 10kg per bag, and each one will clear an area of 2000m2.
You also receive in the package a large Canadian snow shovel for the really thick areas.
The total recommended price for the whole package is £369 but we have it on sale for £299. There are also special prices on extra spreaders, Ice Melt and snow shovels.
Delivery is free within two to three working days.
And finally a machine which will prove invaluable and could well keep businesses going in the event of a heavy snow fall.
Made in Italy, the Oleo-Mac Artik 56 EL Dual-Stage Snow Blower with an electric start is a powerful machine with an engine manufactured especially for the harsh weather.
The electric start is a great help as there will be no tugging on frozen starter cords.
And it has two clearing stages. First the snow is dragged into the body of the machine by mean blades with heavy teeth and then it is blow away by an impeller up to 15 metres.
The exit chute can be adjusted so you can dump it just where you want it.
The blower has a seven speed gear box, five forward and two reverse and special Snow Hog tyres give excellent traction.
A pair of sliders prevent damage to the surface and are adjustable so you can clear gravel paths as well as hard surfaces.
This is now available at the special price of £499, £100 off the regular price. We deliver it free within two to three working days and it has a five-year warranty.
You can find a wide range of snow clearance equipment on these pages and log splitters here.
And if you have and queries or anything you want to check out before ordering please give us a ring on 020 3026 8712.
