The Best Log Splitters & Wood Splitters

Power Source

• There are five different types of wood and log splitters differentiated according to the power source each uses. For manual wood splitters, you guessed it -- the power source is you. People looking for a wood splitter seek to reduce the work required to chop wood rather than keep it the same; this makes manual wood splitters not a popular choice, though they are the cheapest. For electric wood splitters, you need access to electricity. You'll either have to bring the wood closer to your house -- an arduous chore in itself -- or use hundreds of feet of extension cords to bring the splitter to the wood. Gas-powered splitters aren't limited in the same way, though you will need to refuel the tank with petroleum, which is increasingly expensive. If you have a tractor, a heavy-duty 3-point splitter may work for you. It attaches to the tractor for its power source. Finally, skid steer splitters have their own engine, making them the most powerful choice, but also the most expensive.

Force in Tons

• Select a wood splitter based on the cost, type and size of your woodpile, because different splitters exert different amounts of force suited to certain types of wood. For old, dry wood that's about 6 inches in diameter, you will need a minimum force of 4 tons. For logs with a 1-foot diameter, look for a splitter that exerts a minimum of 7 tons of force. You'll need a splitter with at least 16 tons of force for young, or green, wood that's about 12 inches in diameter. For 2-foot diameter dry wood -- also known as seasoned wood -- you will need 20 tons of force, and 30 or more tons of force for young or recently felled wood of similar diameter.

Portability

• You might have a landscaping business that requires you to haul your tools and machines with you in a pickup or trailer. Or perhaps you're just looking for the best wood splitter in terms of its weight and portability. If either of these is the case, manual, gas, 3-point, and skid steer wood splitters are good choices -- any type of splitter except electric, which is generally acknowledged to be a stationary machine.

Expense

• Your budget is the last criterion in your decision-making process when choosing your new wood splitter. Manual splitters are cheapest, starting at about $200. Electric splitters go for about $350, and gas-powered and 3-point splitters start at around $800. Skid steer splitters, arguably the most serious splitters with their industrial-strength power and speed, are the most expensive models. Prices begin at around $1,500.