Do you need a small amount of logs to build furniture or use for firewood, you may want to consider getting a wood splitter. There are several kinds of wood splitters an you should learn about them before you purchase one.

Wood splitters, or log splitters, usually consist of a hydraulic or electric rod and piston set-up which pushes the log through a stationary blade. They’re generally used for high-quantity logging work where it wouldn’t be viable to use manual labour, and can save a lot of time and effort.

If the supply of logs that you need is small, you can still find a suitable splitter. Every log splitter, no matter how small, is powerful. A small splitter can create a pressure of more than 10 tons and an industrial splitter can create pressures twice that.

Log splitters are powered by gasoline or diesel engines. These are best for remote work site locations. Electric powered splitters would not necessarily be suited for that type of location, but would be usable near a source of power. Unfortunately, if there is a power outage and you are relying on an electric splitter, you would need to turn to an axe or another manual form of log splitting, such as a mechanical log splitter that uses leverage to do the work.

Processing logs for your own use, whether it’s for a campfire, heat from a fireplace or making furniture, you will need at least a chain saw. The chain saw is needed to cut down a tree and prepare it for processing.

Another factor you need to consider is safety. Wood splitters exert a tremendous amount of pressure, even those intended for home use, and anything caught between the log and the splitting blade can be subject to at least 10 tons of pressure.

Whenever a log splitter is in operation, the operator must exercise extreme caution and alertness. Only trained adults should operate splitters. Not only should children not be allowed to operate splitters, they should be nowhere near the splitter. Splitters kick out flying debris. As a result, a safe perimeter should be defined. Protective program and gear should be used and the operator should read and understand the manual and all appropriate safety precautions.

Log splitters are useful machines. They can process logs at a constant rate, much more quickly and faster than can be done by hand. They are, however, dangerous. Used properly and with safety precautions, they are an efficient tool for log processing.