Log splitters are a kind of power tool. If you are a home or informal wood cutter, you might be wanting to know whether you can live without a log splitter. If you don't have a wood splitter, you are most likely using an axe to chop wood. But that is a bit of a simplication. A double bit axe will probably be used for limbing. Single bit axes can be used for a variety of jobs. Splitting wood is going to be done with either a splitting maul, or a sledge hammer and a wedge.
There are several great benefits I can think of for chopping and splitting wood by hand. I am a traditionalist, and there is something metaphysically satisfying (to me) about these kinds of activities. It's the same with cutting food by hand vs. a food processor. Number two, it is a killer exercise. Chopping wood, splitting logs, or sledgehammers burn up a very high number of calories, at some measurements greater than 500 calories per hour. You're going to get extremely strong forearms, shoulders, and upper back muscles by frequently doing these activities. There are actually people who don't have any real wood to chop, but nonetheless do work outs with sledgehammers. Many martial artists do, and there is even something called a Shovelglove.
Manually splitting wood also permits you to be outdoors more, away from TV and computer. It truly is good to get outside sometimes. Additionally it is tranquil and can be relaxing. You concentrate on one particular task, splitting wood. Last but not least, in terms of the task at hand, you will still from time to time need a splitting maul, or wedge for tasks which a powered splitter is unable to handle.
Not everyone is able to split wood manually though. An injury may be one factor, as is simple lack of time or interest. The sheer volume of wood may be too much to handle. In any case, whatever your reason, a powered splitter is a common power tool.
How much wood will you need in the winter weather? People in the areas of the US will colder winters deal with around 3-8 cords of wood for home heating in the winter. (That's an informal estimate, for example 3 cords in Missouri or Texas, and 6-8 in Montana). A cord of wood measures 4 feet high by 4 feet wide by 8 feet long (128 cubic feet). This is a lot of wood. Based on how much you will need to do, you could get this completely ready in a day or two. It depends how challenging the tree is to fell, how many trees, and so on. Single home heating will require one or two week-ends. You can possibly do 20-30 logs in an hour, depending on the wood, the equipment, and your body.
If you do need a log splitter, you do have a choice of getting a manual splitter, electric powered, or gas powered. A manual splitter will nevertheless give you leverage over the axe just in terms of conserving your energy, but is probably not faster. Electric log splitters will get you power and speed, and the gas powered versions will do the same (even more power and speed). The cycle time normally will be 12-15 seconds. TEN seconds is a good cycle time.
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