Mowdirect Blog

Firstly a few simple questions and answers as the subject of log splitters - and what they are intended for - can cause some confusion. What is a log splitter? If you’re unfamiliar with this type of device a log splitter is essentially a mechanical axe, or, more precisely a mechanical safety axe which is designed to split logs faster and easier and than a traditional axe but also to provide a safer environment in which to do this. How does a log splitter work? Essentially log splitters work through employing a motor powered hydraulic pump to exert pressure against the log by means of a metal wedge, forcing the log to split open. Log splitters are incredibly safe to use and extremely straight forward to operate: simply press a button or pull a lever and watch as the splitting wedge slowly works it way towards the log which is placed safely in-situ on the log splitter. The log is split by the sheer force of pressure applied by the wedge and does not require a build up of speed or momentum as is the case with a traditional axe. So, who would own a log splitter? Anyone with an open fire or wood burner might use one of these devices. If you have logs delivered, you’ll find log splitters great for chopping them into suitable size pieces of wood for each fire or wood burner in your home. Best of all, what once would have been seen as a tiresome chore chopping up a pile of wood with an axe, becomes a quick and easy task. If you intend to saw up logs with a chainsaw do you need a log splitter as well? Probably yes as chainsaws are great for sawing up wood into logs but less practical for producing smaller, fire-sized pieces of wood. Log splitters are used for splitting sections of log that have already been sawn up with a chainsaw. How big a log can I split? You’ll be surprised actually of the size of log a log splitter will cope with and we’ll cover this more in the log splitter review below as it does depend on the power and design of the individual log splitter. Our review of log splitters will also look at what types of wood can be split with these devices. Read more »