Best Log Splitter to Buy for a Cabin
A log splitter makes life a lot easier at the cottage. Cutting wood with a maul or an axe is only fun for the first few logs. When you plan to use the cabin through the winter and need to split a lot of wood, the novelty wears off quickly.
It is important to buy a log splitter that suits your situation. A machine that is too small will leave you frustrated. One that is too large is probably a waste of money.
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Log splitter types and sizes
The size and power of the wood splitter that is needed for a cottage depends on the type and diameter of the trees, the volume of wood you need to split, and whether your cottage is along a road. Access to electricity (on the grid or a generator) is also a consideration.
When you have a forest on your cottage lot it is common to find dead trees that have trunk diameters of up to 12 inches. These are easy to split after cutting them into logs using your chainsaw. In this situation a basic log splitter is likely all you require.
On the other hand, if you are splitting green (not dried out) hardwood logs with larger diameters or plan to burn a lot of wood regularly throughout the year it might make sense to get a log splitter that is faster and more powerful.
Difference between hardwood and softwood trees
Softwood trees like poplar, aspen, spruce, pine, and hemlock are easier to split than hardwoods such as oak, ash, beech, birch, and maple. When the logs are larger, an entry-level splitter might not have the power needed to get through the hardwoods, especially if the wood is not completely dry.
Log splitter tonnage
The tonnage of a log splitter refers to the amount of power the machine produces to split the logs. Starter splitters can be as small as four-ton and are normally electric. They use hydraulic pressure to split the log.
This type of log splitter is probably all you would require for basic needs at a cottage. The machine is easy to move around and can be plugged into the outlet at the cabin or into a generator if you don’t have electricity.
As the power of the log splitter increases, the units get heavier. They also come with a variety of options, and are more expensive. The more powerful log splitters use gas engines. They come as horizontal or vertical splitters and can split much larger and heavier logs of all types. These machines are normally fitted with a trailer hitch so they can be towed.
Safety
Log splitters have safety features, but you still need to be careful. All log splitter are powerful and can do real damage to fingers if you do not use them properly.
Always wear safety glasses, work gloves, and work boots with steel toes when splitting wood. In addition, make sure you are in an open area and that no spectators are standing near the machine while you are working. Logs sometimes fly off the sides of the splitter and can cause serious damage.
Best log splitter for your cottage
Most cottage owners can probably get by with a basic five-ton or nine-ton log splitter. In situations where you have large hardwood trees and need to split high volumes of wood it makes sense to buy a unit that is more powerful.
Check them out: Gas Powered Log Splitters for a Cabin
Check them out: Electric Log Splitters for a Cottage
Going the cheap route when you need the extra power won’t save money in the long run. Smaller units will eventually fail if they are worked too hard. The best log splitter to buy is one that will alway meet your needs.
