When you use wood to heat your home and keep your family comfortable during those long winter months, you need a log splitter that will help you cut those logs faster. Using an and other similar tools can put a lot of pressure on your back and leave you feeling so exhausted that you head to be instead of spending time with your family. Our list of the top wood splitters includes those that use electric power as well as those powered by gasoline.
While any of the splitters on our list can help you during all the seasons of the year, we highly recommend the Swisher LSRB67522 22-Ton 6.75 Gross Torque Log Splitter (Check Price on Amazon.com). It features a Briggs & Stratton engine that reduces splitting time and rugged wheels for more easily moving the splitter across all the terrain that surrounds your home.
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Top 12 Log Splitters Comparison Chart
12 Best Log Splitters - Reviews
1. Swisher LSRB67522 22-Ton 6.75 Gross Torque Log Splitter
No matter how or why you need to cut wood, this Swisher LSRB67522 22-Ton 6.75 Gross Torque Log Splitter is the best log splitter for getting the job done because it can work with both smaller tree branches as well as larger logs, and you’ll find that it is nearly as effective with green wood as it is with seasoned wood. The rugged wheels on the bottom make this log splitter for all applications and for use in all terrains. If you need to work further away from your home, you can hook it up and tow it to a new location.
The 22-ton engine runs fast and decreases the cycle time of this log splitter down to just 13 seconds, and you’ll love knowing just how quickly to can chop through even the thickest of logs. A 25-inch opening can accommodate logs of up to that width, and it has a vertical beam design. This beam creates a cradle that actually holds and supports the log to keep it from rolling away and to ensure that you get the cut logs you need.
2. NorthStar 1118 Deluxe Horizontal/Vertical Log Splitter
With a Honda GX390 engine inside, this NorthStar Deluxe Horizontal/Vertical Log Splitter ranks among the fastest and most powerful log splitters that you can use around your property. As it comes with a tow hitch that will work with the tow bar you already own, you can hook this up to an ATV or another vehicle that you own to quickly and effortlessly move the splitter anywhere you need to use it, and it even comes with a chain that you can use for towing too. One smaller wheel on the front adjusts up and down as you tow it, and two other wheels can keep the splitter from rocking as you split logs while adding stability during tows.
An I-beam inside will keep the log from moving as you split it, and this beam has a steel reinforcement that adds to its life and ensures that it won’t split or break. A hydraulic system more effectively cuts through larger pieces of wood and works with an oil reservoir inside that cools down this system to keep it from overheating.
3. Troy-Bilt TB33LS 277cc Log Splitter
You can’t think of heavy-duty equipment without thinking of the name Troy-Bilt, which is why this TB33LS 277cc Log Splitter found its way onto our list. It comes with a 277cc OHV engine that produces 23 tons of force to bring its cycle time down to 15 seconds, and it can actually split a log of up to 25-inches long within this time frame. The hoses inside have coils wrapped around the sides to both protect those hoses and to extend the overall lifespan of the log splitter.
The reservoir inside, which powers the hydraulic system, holds five full gallons and makes the log splitter ready for use as soon as it arrives, and you can use the splitter in a horizontal or vertical orientation. To ensure that you can tow this log splitter to any location, Troy-Bilt added a two hitch on the front that works with or without the attached chain. Its rugged wheels with a thick tread help you maneuver this splitter to the right spot, and it comes with a stand that drops down for added stability.
4. DirtyHandTools 28-Ton Log Splitter w/Kohler 277cc
This DirtyHandTools 28-Ton Log Splitter w/Kohler 277cc comes with a 9.5-horsepower engine that lowers its cycle time down to just over 10 seconds, and this engine also reduces the wait time that other splitters have between logs. A two-stage pump keeps the splitter running like a well-oiled machine and uses 17.5 gallons per pump to make it run more effectively than some of its competitors. An automatic return system helps you more quickly split and cut your logs without making a number of adjustments ahead of time. Dirty Hands Tools added a number of towing features that help you tow this splitter to different locations while also ensuring that both you and the splitter remain safe during longer and shorter trips. Those features include a two-inch coupler that will work with matching hitches, including those found on utility and all terrain vehicles, and safety chains that keep the splitter attached to your vehicle. Also included is a stability stand that keeps the splitter at the right height and angle and wheels placed near the center for extra stability.
5. Ariens Company 917001 27-Ton Log Splitter
This Ariens unit is a 27-Ton Log Splitter comes loaded with features designed for cutting branches and wood logs down in 15 to 20 seconds or less, though its cycle time can vary based on the size of the wood that you have. Its six-horsepower engine features Subaru technology to ensure that the engine lasts as long as you need it to last, and a two-stage hydraulic pump has a rating of 11 gallons per minute. Ariens fills the tank with 4.5 gallons of hydraulic fluid that lets you start splitting logs as soon as you set it up.
This log splitter comes with a 90-day commercial warranty and a warranty that lasts for up to three years when purchased by consumers. Ariens provides you with a two-inch coupler for more convenient towing but recommends that you drive no faster than 45 miles per hour when towing it, but you can actually tow this log splitter with smaller recreational vehicles. You’ll also get safety chains that you can use when towing the log splitter.
6. Titan LSWX350 3 Point Cat 1 Hydraulic Log Splitter
The splitting blade that comes with the Titan LSWX350 3 Point Cat 1 Hydraulic Log Splitter gives ease and efficiency in splitting lumber into firewood pieces. The Category 1, 3 point attachment system helps you more quickly to steer the log splitter to exactly where you want it to go. It uses 20 tons of splitting force to cut down on its cycle time.
As this wood splitter weighs 275 pounds and does not come with a tow hitch or wheels, we decided to move it further down on our list of the top log splitters because you cannot easily move it. This is best for those who want one that can permanently install outside of their homes to split branches and logs that they stack nearby. It does come with some nice features though like a design that can accommodate wood of up to 24-inches long and a hydraulic splitting mechanism.
7. Champion Power Equipment 90720 7-Ton Compact Portable Log Splitter
If you want a log splitter that is easy to use and will work as well in the winter as it does in the summer, you might like this Champion Power Equipment 90720 7-Ton Compact Portable Log Splitter, which comes with large wheels that the manufacturer guarantees will never go flat during the life of the splitter. Its portable design includes a small handle on the front that lets you lift the front up to put the weight on the back of the splitter for moving it around your yard, but this handle attaches to a stand that keeps the splitter level before and while you use it.
A built-in control valve automatically returns the settings of the splitter back after you split some logs, and a skewed wedge inside optimizes its cutting power. It has a lower profile that makes it easier to use and log cradles that support the weight of your logs. Those cradles let you use longer and heavier logs with this splitter without stooping or bending over the splitter and without holding those logs yourself.
8. Boss Industrial EC5T20
This Boss Industrial EC5T20 Electric Log Splitter comes with two legs on the front that have a handle across the front for moving the log splitter to different areas of your lawn or property. As you lift it, it pushes the majority of the weight towards the wheels on the back, and those wheels support that weight as you move it to a new spot. Though it only has a 1.8-horsepower motor, this is one of the few electric log splitters we saw that you can operate with just one hand without worrying about injuring yourself.
With a two-year residential warranty and an automatic RAM return, this log splitter is incredibly easy to use, and it weighs so little that you can pick it up on your own and place in your truck bed. Capable of splitting logs that measure 20-inches long or slightly longer, this splitter can also work with logs with a 10-inch diameter.
9. Powerhouse XM-580 Electric Hydraulic Log Splitter
At just over 118 pounds, this Powerhouse XM-580 Electric Hydraulic Log Splitter is a log splitter that you can move all on your own or with some help from a friend. It requires that you use both hands when operating it and comes with safety features that keep your hand from coming into contact with the engine and other parts. Powerhouse added an auto return feature that lets the cradle come back up to the proper position once you push one log through to help you split multiple logs in a minimal amount of time.
When used with logs of up to 12-inches in diameter or up to 20.5-inches log, this splitter will split those logs in only six seconds and then be ready to use again in just five seconds. With a nine-ton capacity, this electric log splitter is best for residential applications, but it does have a longer cord that helps you plug it into any available outlet.
10. Ariens 917002 34-Ton Log Splitter
Another log splitter that you can tow with a vehicle like your pick up truck or an ATV is this Ariens 34-Ton Log Splitter that comes with a two hitch that easily connects to the tow bar and a chain that reduces the risk of the splitter pulling away from your vehicle. Two larger wheels on the back of the log splitter have a thicker tread to help you move it across any of the terrain that you encounter, and a smaller wheel the front adds some stability to the splitter. All of the most important parts are near the front of the machine to keep the logs that you split from damaging any of those components.
Ariens added an open operating zone on the back that creates a cleaner path for your logs to follow and also reduces the need for you to bend over or stretch, which can prevent some common accidents. As a 34-ton log splitter, it comes with a powerful engine that can cut through larger branches and logs in either a vertical or horizontal capacity.
11. Homelite Electric Log Splitter 5-Ton Wood Cutter
Electric log splitters are much more affordable than gas splitters, which is why we looked for some of the top electric log splitters to add to our list like this Electric Log Splitter 5-Ton Wood Cutter from Homelite. Unlike larger models that you must tow, this one is lighter in weight and suitable for transporting on your own, and you can actually lift the handle on one end to more evenly distribute its weight before moving it. A 15 amp motor provides all the splitting power that you need too.
With a 20 second reset time, this splitter will reset itself in the small amount of time that it takes for you to reach over and grab a new log. The RAM splitting force used by this splitter lets you use it with logs of up to 10-inches in diameter and at lengths of up to 20.5 inches. You can use the front legs, which add to its stability, as handles when moving it.
12. TR Industrial TR89130 15 Amp Electric Log Splitter with Ergonomic Stand
One of the most compact log splitters that you’ll find on the market is this TR Industrial TR89130 15 Amp Electric Log Splitter with Ergonomic Stand, which has heavy-duty bolts that connect the stand to the splitter to keep the pieces from coming apart. Despite its small size, this splitter features a two-horsepower, 15 amp motor that splits logs of up to 12-inches in diameter or 20.5-inches long. It also uses five-tons of power and comes with a two-year warranty from the manufacturer.
The attached stand has an ergonomic design that reduces back and shoulder injuries from bending over as you load a log, but that ergonomic design also makes it easier to transport the log splitter anywhere around your home and even to neighboring homes. It features a handle on the front that helps you lift the log splitter and put more of its weight towards the back to let the wheels do all the heavy lifting for you.
Our Log Splitter Winner
Log splitters, also called wood splitters, can make your life a lot easier, and the Swisher LSRB67522 22-Ton 6.75 Gross Torque Log Splitter can actually cut through all the logs you have on hand to make firewood for your home or wood that you can use in other ways. It has a Briggs & Stratton engine that produces 6.75 pounds of torque and a 25-inch opening that can accommodate many of the larger logs that you have. The splitter also comes with a two hitch on one end that you can use for towing behind a golf cart or another vehicle.
With a cycle time of just 13 seconds, this splitter can break those logs down in a faster amount of time than some of its competitors can. It also has a combo design that gives you the option of vertically or horizontally splitting the logs without demanding that you make a number of adjustments first.
How to Choose the Perfect Log Splitter
Hardness Rating
Think about the type of wood logs you work with regularly to get an idea of the hardness rating you need in a log splitter. A hardness rating of up to 600 pounds is suitable for many types of softer woods. The maximum hardness rating is around 2,200 pounds and allows the splitter to break down harder woods like dogwood, elm and hickory.
Branch Diameter
You also need to check the branch diameter with which the splitter will work. If you typically cut branches from your yard and trees, you can opt for a four-ton splitter, but if you need to chop down thicker and larger branches, you need up to a 30-ton splitter. The manufacturer will let you know the maximum branch diameter the splitter can handle.
Green Logs
Always find out ahead of time if the log splitter will work with green logs. Green logs are logs that are newer and may still have some green around the edges, which are usually harder to cut. Seasoned logs are those that had time to dry out.
Horizontal vs. Vertical
A horizontal log splitter requires that you place the logs on a flat surface for cutting, while a vertical splitter will let you push those logs in from the top down. Many manufacturers now make combo splitters that you can use in both ways.
Gas vs. Electric
Gas splitters are usually larger and produce more power, which helps you split logs faster, but these models are also more expensive and are similar to those used by professionals. Electric models are more affordable and can use any standard outlet. If you work further from your home or generator though, you may prefer a gas splitter.
Cycle Time
The cycle time tells you exactly how long it takes for the splitter to complete an entire cycle, which is how long it takes to chop through a log. Larger splitters can take up to 17 seconds but can accommodate larger logs. With smaller splitters that you can use with small branches, the cycle time might be as low as two seconds.
Manual Log Splitters
In addition to electric and gas log splitters, you can also shop for a manual splitter. These splitters do not require gas or electric but do require that you have some upper body strength. While much more affordable, these splitters may not be as effective as the ax or other tools that you already use.
Safety and Security
You’ll want to look at the features on each model that look out for your personal safety and security. These features can include an automatic stop that forces the splitter to come to a stop and a design that lets you use both hands to operate the splitter to get more control over it.
Wheels
When you buy a log splitter, you might plan on using it in various places around your home and property, but unless you want to use it in just one spot, you need to check out the wheels on the bottom. These wheels should glide effortlessly across various surfaces like grass, concrete and stone.
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