Your body gets tired rather quickly when chopping wood by hand. The more tired you are, the higher the chances of hurting yourself with that axe. A wood splitter is much safer and requires significantly less effort to use that you will wonder how you ever survived without it. Having the right tool for a challenging task always makes things much better. You will find yourself enjoying wood splitting so much that you might even help out your neighbours with this task. A gas log splitter is an ideal tool for the job.
You can buy a large commercial hydraulic style log splitter that you can tow behind your car or truck, or you can buy a small electric log splitter. Once you have settled on the type you need, don’t forget to read the instructions to learn how to operate it the right way. If you buy at your local hardware store, the staff can provide a demonstration. You will not have any problems running the machine once you see it in action.
Just take your log and set it into the splitter’s cradle. Ensure that you have fastened the wood securely so that it does not move or fall out of the cradle. Push the lever or button, and you are good to go. A very sharp bladed ram or wedge is pressed against the log with a lot of force provided by the pump or motor to break the log into lovely even pieces. Finally, you can remove the log pieces and set a new log into the cradle. It is significantly quicker than splitting by hand that you will be glad to use it.
The log splitter is fast with a resetting cycle of between 8 and 20 seconds. It does the work of almost 5 people at one time by hand and you will be surprised at how quickly you complete your chores. Wedges are of two types, vertical and horizontal. The horizontal type is typically used for regular home use. If you plan to take the splitter off property, the vertical type is safer for uneven terrain.
When looking for a gas log splitter to buy, ensure that you shop around. You will find them being sold in many places and prices vary significantly. You can save a bit more money if you buy it in the summer since most people will not be scrambling to buy one. Big improvement stores offer many log splitter models and have trained personnel on hand to answer your questions. It can also be a good idea to look online too since you can find some amazing deals with free shipping.
Electric wood splitters are not as expensive as the gas-powered splitters. The higher price of the gas-powered splitter is attributed to the additional horsepower as well as the portability. You can carry a gas splitter with you anywhere, but an electric splitter is limited to areas with electricity. Gas-powered log splitters are also more durable.
If you have the budget for it, you can buy a log splitter that hooks to the back of your truck or car with a 2-inch towing ball and you can take the splitter anywhere you want. Average users typically stick to the smaller type that you can push around yourself, but either way, investing in a gas-powered log splitter will make your winter much less work.
Whether you decide to buy a small splitter that you can push yourself or a great big pull-behind style, investing in a gas log splitter is an excellent option for your winter chores. If you live in the northern climates where wood splitting is something you never look forward to each year, this machine will make all the difference for you.