Huwebes, Enero 19, 2012

What To Look For When Buying A Log Splitter

Ready to fill that firewood rack? You could go out there with the mallet and wedge and split those logs by hand. After all, doesn’t the old saying about cutting your own fire wood warming you twice ring true? If you would rather be warmed by burning the wood instead of the exertion of cutting it, then a log splitter is a tool that should be at the top of your list.

How Many Tons?

Ton size is a question that is two fold. Log splitters are measured in ton capacity. A professional grade splitter is at least 20 tons, and those for home and personal use generally are in the 2-5 ton range. This also determines the horsepower of the engine. A much stronger engine is needed in order to not burn out after hundreds of logs.

The first question then to address is will your log splitter be used for personal firewood consumption or furniture making, or are you splitting logs for commercial building or firewood sales. That will determine the horsepower and ton size you need.

What Else Can I Do With A Log Splitter?

A log splitter makes the job of splitting firewood easier. That’s quite obvious. But log splitters have more uses than just getting firewood ready.

Forestry suppliers for example will use the log splitter as the first step into making wood planking or even getting logs ready for paper making. This kind of logging equipment can be used right at the forest site to manage trees for transport and prepare the wood for specific end uses. Following log splitter plans, this on site step is an important time saver – which translates into monetary savings, of course.

So other than stocking your firewood rack, a hydraulic log splitter can become an important log furniture tool. There is a high demand for the rustic look of “cabin” furnishings and back-to-nature décor.

Log splitters, even a used log splitter can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars. So the next determination is how valuable is your time? If you can split 10 logs an hour the old fashioned way and your time at your “day job” is paid at a rate of $50 per hour, you have just “hired” yourself a very well paid log splitter! On the other hand, a hydraulic log splitter in the 4 ton range is capable of splitting ten times the number of logs per hour. Now that’s what I’d call “cheap help!”

Then there is the issue of safety. The self lubricating and maintaining capabilities of these log splitters keep them operating safely. An axe needs regular sharpening as it can get dull hitting the dirt, or get dangerously close to hitting legs!

What it all comes down to it that safety, time, and convenience are all worth more than a stoic attempt to warm yourself the old fashioned way. Even the average homeowner who lights a fire in the fireplace for aesthetics more than heat, will benefit from quickly stocking the wood pile using a gas powered hydraulic log splitter.

For more info:
Iron Oak Wood Splitter

Splitting Firewood Faster, Easier And Safer

Does your firewood rack need filled? You could, of course, split the logs by hand with a mallet and wedge. Isn’t the old saying true that cutting your own fire wood warms you twice? But, if you would rather be warmed by the wood burning rather than the work of cutting it, a log splitter is a tool that you definitely want to consider.

Log splitters are measured in ton capacity. The question of how many tons is a two-fold question. A professional grade splitter is at least twenty tons and those for personal, home use range from two to five tons. The ton size also determines the engine’s horsepower. Keep in mind that a stronger engine is needed to not burn out after hundreds of logs. The first thing to consider in determining the best size for you is whether it is for personal firewood consumption, furniture making, or commercial building or firewood sales.

Obviously, the main benefit of a log splitter is that it makes the job of splitting firewood so much easier and less time consuming. However, log splitters have more uses than just cutting firewood. For example, forestry suppliers use log splitters as the first step in making wood planking or preparing logs for paper making. This king of logging equipment can be used at the forest site to manage trees for transport and prepare wood for particular uses. Following log splitter plans, this step is an important step as it save time and money.

A hydraulic log splitter can not only stock you firewood rack, but it can also be used as valuable log furniture tool. There is quite a high demand for the rustic look for cabin and outdoor, nature décor.

Log splitters range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars, even including used splitters. Thus, the next thing to consider is how valuable your time is. If you can manually split ten logs per hour and you earn fifty dollars per hour at your “day job,” you have hired yourself an extremely well paid log splitter. On the contrary, a hydraulic log splitter of approximately four tons can split ten times the number of logs per hour which results in much cheaper help.

Finally, the issue of safety must also be considered. Self-lubricating and maintaning capabilities of log splitters keep them operating as safely as possible. An axe needs regular sharpening since it becomes dull when it hits the dirt.

The three main things to consider are safety, time and convenience. They are all worth more than any attempt to warm yourself the old fashioned way by splitting the logs yourself. Even a homeowner who lights a fire in the fireplace for effect more than heat will benefit from the ability to quickly stock the firewood rack using a gas powered hydraulic log splitter.

For more info:
Iron Oak Wood Splitter

How To Use An Electric Log Splitter

Cutting down trees for either commercial or home use is often a complicated endeavor, since you need to bring the tree down safely, use a chainsaw to trim away the branches, and then cut the trunk into sections. In the past, something called a maul has been used, which resembles a cross between a sledgehammer and a hatchet.

The woodsman drives the sharp end of the maul through the middle of the trunk. The trunk would then be sliced into halves, then quartered, and then stacked and allowed to dry for before being used as firewood.

There is, however, a much better way to chop down trees. An electric log splitter is a piece of heavy-duty equipment that replaces the maul and does the job in much less time. Most electric splitters utilize a rod and piston assembly, often exerting more than 10 tons of pressure

Gasoline-powered log splitters are useful for logging work that’s far from a power source. The log splitter can be taken to the site and the logs thrown into a truck for transport. There are also models advertised as being "all season," usually electric, so that it can be used outdoors in even the worst weather.

All models use a piston to drive the log through a stationary blade. Some models of log splitters that have additional features that prevent the just-split tree parts from falling away, allowing the operator to move the logs around speedily, if necessary, for a second pass.

Although a log splitter is very useful, none are completely safe. Only people with the right training should operate a log splitter, since any object unlucky enough to be between the blade and the log will be hit with 10 tons of force. You can’t predict how each log will behave, so there should be a safety zone around the splitter. Helpers can retrieve the individual pieces, but they should stay clear of the log splitter while it is still in operation.

For more info:
Iron Oak Wood Splitter