Any process that people do is now trying to automate. An example of one of the devices for this purpose is a splitter. With it, you can chop wood into small fractions, which are suitable for kindling a fireplace or stove in a country house. But in order to choose the right splitter, you need to consider at least five characteristics.
What is a wood splitter, its effectiveness
Wood splitter is an automated machine that allows you to make workpieces of the right size. In addition to splitting, they can also trim.
From the summer resident will only be required:
- bring blanks to be cut;
- put them in the hole;
- pick up the logs received;
- fold the logs neatly.
The power of a wood splitter determines what size blanks it can handle and what time it will take for it. Low-power models are suitable for your own suburban residence or summer cottage. But large, with high power indicators are used even in woodworking plants, industrial facilities.
Types of wood splitters
The first difference between wood splitters is their principle of operation. Distinguish:
- mechanical, at the base of which is a conical screw - it is screwed into the workpiece and splits it;
- screw-shaped, which are equipped with a bed on which the engine is mounted - it is he who drives the cone for cutting;
- hydraulic, the principle of which is that the hydraulic cylinder pushes knives that split logs.
Depending on the volume of work performed, the splitter is divided into:
- household;
- industrial.
The first ones are suitable for a summer house. They are not designed for large volumes of work, in the process of splitting, they must be given rest (the time and intervals of breaks are written in the instructions for a particular device). Industrial wood splitters are used in large enterprises. Their design features and high power allow you to work with minimal pauses, or even without them.
Also, devices are distinguished by how the logs are laid in them. The most popular are horizontal models. The workpiece is immersed in the gutter, cutting occurs with a knife also in the horizontal plane. Vertical models are distinguished by the fact that the blades move from above, the work is done by pressing. There are also related to the vertical-horizontal type. They can work in any position. Typically, these have considerable cost in the market, as they are able to cope with a large amount of work.
How to choose
The first thing you should pay attention to when purchasing a wood splitter is the type of operation and power. It is clear that mechanical ones will have the smallest capacity, but at the same time they don’t need another one if they cut logs for a small summer house. If you need to carry out colossal work daily, it is better to focus on the hydraulic type model.
There are options that run on electricity or gasoline. The former must be connected, the latter are not. But the minus of gasoline is that the fuel charge is higher. Also, when buying a wood splitter, it is recommended to evaluate the following characteristics:
- power - depending on needs;
- number of speeds - optimally 2-4;
- a way of movement - stationary or mobile.
Using a wood splitter does not require skills and knowledge. Used outdoors or indoors. Of the minuses, it can be noted that not all models will cope with thick and strong logs. In addition, the large dimensions do not allow us to call wood splitters practical and convenient.
