All about wood splitters

For those who live in a rural area in a house with stove heating, the wood splitter is an indispensable assistant. If earlier, a conventional ax was most often used to process logs, now in stores there is a large selection of domestically produced wood splitters with different capacities and sizes.

Firewood splitter classification by application

The dimensions and principle of operation of the wood splitting device depend on the scope of its application. So, for example, at construction sites and sawmills you can often find a rather bulky but powerful wood splitter machine, and in private houses - a small compact homemade cleaver.

According to the scope of application, cleavers can be classified as follows:

• the log is placed in the chute, which is located opposite the knife, the length and width of the chute can be adjusted depending on the size of the log;
• the main element of the splitter is the piston. He pushes the log and it moves forward;
• the piston pushes the log, after which the knife comes into action, which cuts the log into pieces of the required dimensions;
• the log is fixed in a stationary position, and the knife travels back and forth and cuts the log into pieces.

The wood splitter is an indispensable assistant

The main disadvantage of the so-called household cleaver is that it cannot be used to handle large logs. Before chopping a large log, it needs to be cut into several pieces.

Classification of wood splitters according to the method of laying logs

Mixed cleaver

Each wood splitter has its own way of laying logs. According to this principle, cleavers can be classified as follows:

• the log is placed in a chute located along the horizontal axis;
• the log is placed vertically, the knife is located on top and gradually moves downward, cutting the wood;
• cleaver of mixed type. They combine both vertical and horizontal position of the log.

Household cleavers are only horizontal and vertical. Mixed models are used on construction sites and sawmills, in factories and factories for fast processing of large volumes of wood.

Compared to the horizontal cleaver, the vertical cleaver takes up less space. However, in order to use such a device, a lot of experience is needed, since the log must be held with your hands while the knife is operating and you can easily get serious injury. However, subject to strict adherence to safety regulations, the vertical wood splitter is quite safe.

Firewood splitter classification by engine power source

According to the engine power source, the following classification of wood splitting devices can be provided:

• electrical;
• running on gasoline;
• working on tractor traction;
• with electric motor and tractor drive;
• with a gasoline engine and a tractor drive.

Electric wire breakers

Most often, you can find electric cone breakers in domestic stores.They have their own advantages: great power and speed of work. However, there are also disadvantages: such devices consume a lot of electricity, and it is inconvenient to use them in a large area, since the device is "tied" to a wire, although recently models have appeared on sale that work both from the mains and from batteries.

Also, working with an electric wood splitter can be easily injured. In this regard, rack and pinion electromechanical models are considered the safest. The rack electric drive is distinguished by its reliability and long service life.

Devices that run on liquid fuel (most often gasoline) can process a large number of logs in a short time, but they are quite expensive and break more often than electric ones. The use of low-quality gasoline almost always leads to the failure of the engine of the device. Therefore, a gasoline wood splitter can last less than an electric one.

Practice shows that for those who intend to use a cleaver at home, it is best to purchase a model that runs on gasoline or electricity (possibly with rechargeable batteries). For harvesting wood on an industrial scale, tractor-driven models are suitable.

Electric cleavers are considered the most environmentally friendly models. Unlike devices that run on liquid fuels, they do not pollute the environment. Also, one of the main advantages of electric models is that they are easy to maintain due to their uncomplicated design. Getting them ready for work is also easy. However, electric models also have a serious drawback: if, during the operation of the device at full power, a sudden surge in voltage suddenly occurs, the cleaver may fail, and this happens quite often.

Wood splitter classification according to the principle of operation

Hydraulic wood splitters

Manufacturers also classify firewood choppers according to the principle of operation:

• hydraulic;
• equipped with a screw cone.

Below are the main components of a simple hydraulic splitter:

• bed;
• water pump;
• pressure distribution device;
• knife;
• engine;
• the reservoir into which the oil is poured.

The engine for hydraulic wood splitters is most often electric, sometimes gasoline.

An automatic wood splitter is more powerful than a mechanical one, but a mechanical one is easier to operate and less traumatic.

Manual wood splitters are inexpensive, have a simple design, and it is easy to find spare parts for them to carry out repairs at home.

Classification of wood splitters by mode of travel

According to the method of movement, wood splitters are divided into several groups:

• stationary, that is, stationary models. They are usually used in factories, factories, sawmills;
• mobile cleavers are devices that can be carried and moved. Compared to stationary ones, they are more compact and small in size.

Mobile cleavers

Stationary devices are most often electrical. Their mobile counterparts can operate on rechargeable batteries. It is these devices that are most often used in everyday life, because they are safe and easy to operate. You can design a mobile wood splitter yourself using diagrams and drawings.

Technical characteristics of any type of wood splitter

Any cleaver (both a purchased electric one and a home-made wood splitter from a gearbox) has a certain set of technical characteristics.Below is a list of these parameters:

• log cutting power;
• distance separating wedge and piston;
• diameter of a log suitable for cutting;
• the length of the distance traveled by the piston at a time;
• the speed at which the piston moves;
• dimensions and dimensions of the device.

Homemade wood splitter from a gearbox

As a rule, all these parameters are indicated in the operating instructions. If there is not enough firewood, there is no point in buying the most powerful cleaver. If the main thing is the speed of processing logs, you should choose a model with a high speed of work, in which the wedge and piston are as close to each other as possible. If the logs are large, it is worth purchasing a device designed for a large log diameter.

What to look for when buying a wood splitter: an overview of the best models

The last few years, in the review of the best devices for splitting firewood, the first place has been taken by the Gorynych wood splitter - a hydraulic splitter model. Its homemade counterpart is the simplest wood splitter from a jack. Some modifications are equipped with an electric drive, a regular 220 V socket is required for operation. This type of device is inexpensive and available in many specialized stores, it can be ordered via the Internet.

The Al-Ko vertical log splitter has also proven itself well. The power of its work can be adjusted depending on the number of logs that need processing. It is well suited for splitting large diameter logs, and the high speed of the piston allows you to work quickly and efficiently.

Vertical wood splitter Al-Ko

Also, this model is compact in size and is suitable for indoor use (for example, in a barn or in a garage). The Alco company is well known, so if the device breaks down, it will not be difficult to find spare parts for it. You can buy them at service centers or company stores of the Alco company.

When purchasing a household cleaver, you need to keep in mind the following:

• the presence of the nozzle. If the device is equipped with an attachment with 4 cutters, such a wood splitter will work faster and more efficiently. However, such models are more expensive than others;
• the ability to adjust the height of the device depending on the height of the user;
• the material from which the knife blade is made. The best are steel;
• the presence of special levers that hold the log during splitting. In this case, the user does not have to hold the log with his hands, and the likelihood of injury is significantly reduced.

How and from what to make a wood splitter with your own hands: drawings and instructions for making

The simplest cleaver can be made with your own hands at home, using the materials at hand. You can make it using ready-made drawings. Sizes and dimensions can be changed, depending on the situation. This homemade product will last longer than store-bought appliances. Moreover, homemade wood splitters are very popular among summer residents.

The easiest way to construct a spring log splitter. Any man can handle the job, even an inexperienced one. The main thing is to have before your eyes a simple and understandable drawing of a wood splitter. Also, many craftsmen independently design devices with a screw cone. Both splitter designs are extremely simple and eliminate the risk of injury during operation, unlike gasoline and electric counterparts.

Here's how to build a basic square log splitter:

1. make a frame;
2. attach a hydraulic device to the frame;
3. cut a wedge in the form of a cone, which acts as a knife;
4. place the screw in the center.

As the screw rotates, the tapered wedge is directed towards the log and cuts it.

Before purchasing a firewood splitter, you need to decide on the model. The choice depends on how often you have to chop wood. If there is not much firewood, and the stove is heated infrequently, the best option is to make a wood splitter with your own hands. However, with a large number of logs, it will be easier to purchase a ready-made industrial device in the store. The main thing is to follow safety precautions and follow the instructions exactly during operation.