Log splitters

[Amadeus]

Anyone got any advice on electric log splitters?

I've had a load of logs delivered but the seem a little big to burn on my log fire. I'm looking for an electric splitter, under £200. They all look suspiciously alike, but some get brilliant reviews, some get all negative reviews.

Seen this one (http://www.screwfix.com/p/woodstar-ih45-37cm-1500w-log-splitter-230v/71138) on Screwfix but I haven't found a site for Woodstar so I assume they're a Screwfix own brand which makes me question the validity of the reviews.

Does anyone have a log splitter that they would recommend (or otherwise)?

thanks

[Spank86]

I'd recommend either a hatchet or wood axe and a cup of MTFU but that's just me.


Cutting wood warms you twice. (In the immortal words of Clive king)

[Stephen McG]

Screwfix do a small splitter, - looks like an axe head, I went to buy one but none in stock.
I then thought, if I use small axe to make a start (one good hit end on) then use heavy hammer to hit axe.
It worked a treat.
With a thick log, it got a liitle stuck, but all I needed to do was hit the axe handle, it rotated and came out.
I turned log upside down and hit from other end and it split after 2 hits.
Wear a check shirt and sing a certain song and you will be quids in.
SMcG in Glasgow

[Bibio]

I'd recommend either a hatchet or wood axe and a cup of MTFU but that's just me.


Cutting wood warms you twice. (In the immortal words of Clive king)

+1

there is something satisfying about splitting logs with an axe and when you get used to it it becomes very easy.

[maviczap]

Machine mart has loads of options

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/search/filter/log-splitters--saws/type/any/module/shopcategory/page/1?da=1&TC=SRC-AUTO-log%20splitter

[BBadger]

+1

there is something satisfying about splitting logs with an axe and when you get used to it it becomes very easy.

+1 outside in the nice cold air working away for a few hours makes the beer at the end in front of said burning logs all the more satisfying.

you will wake up abit sore though if you havent done it for a while.:smt064

[Dave20046]

You can get a draper metal handled hatchet off amazon for not much more than a fiver

[Amadeus]

Thanks all
I has thought about getting an axe etc but decided life is too short - I already need more time to do the things I want to do rather than the things I need to do! :-)

[yorkie_chris]

I reckon an axe and a bit of technique is fast enough.

Pick log up... Put on stump ... swing... thwack... split.
Get a decent log splitting maul with some good weight to it.

Only time you save time is if there is knots or something... in which case the cheap option is the back of the maul to drive in some steel wedges.

[Dipper]

Thanks all
I has thought about getting an axe etc but decided life is too short - I already need more time to do the things I want to do rather than the things I need to do! :-)

This.

I used to split with a maul then bought one of these http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-log-buster-7 and wish I'd got it years ago.

[Spank86]

I can see it now, you buy an ele tric splitter to save time that you can use to lift weights at the gym.


Build some upper body muscles, it won't hurt your riding.

[Amadeus]

This.

I used to split with a maul then bought one of these http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-log-buster-7 and wish I'd got it years ago.

Thanks Dipper. It looks very similar to the Screwfix one tho it is more expensive. First hand experience counts for a lot tho - I'll do some more in depth comparisons.

[DanSp]

I had one of these (with a big hammer) http://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-wood-grenade-log-splitter/51334

[Amadeus]

Thanks Dan.
The problem is that the logs have been split (into about 1/4s or 1/3s) but these are still too big. I'm not sure how well these would work on logs which have been split but need to be split more.
Another thing to compound the problem is that I don't have a large log (or anything) that I can use as an anvil - either with this or with an axe.

[Fruity-ya-ya]

I use a maul but tbf I don't split tonnes of logs.

[Amadeus]

My log shed is about 2.5m square and is now about 5 feet deep!

[Biker Biggles]

Im sure there must be a childish lavatory type joke to be had out of this thread,but Ill try to resist ---------:D

[Luckypants]

Ready split logs from a supplier? I would have refused the delivery if the majority of the logs are too big, but then I do specify a 4" maximum split log size from any supplier. you pay to have the wood split, so have it done by your supplier to your specs.

Having said that, some will slip through and for those I use a splitting maul. If you really have loads of them to split again, why not just hire a splitter to do this load and then have the next load split to your specification?

[Amadeus]

Indeed, I'll specify the size when I get another load.

These logs are the first ones I've bought for the new house. I had no idea what size would work and what size wouldn't. I phoned a few places for quotes on log supplies and no helpful information was given.
So I have now got enough logs to last me a few years I should imagine, but from the first fire I had on Friday, they seem too big to burn well. TBH I don't really understand why they won't - they're on a grate so air can curculate, they're seasoned (more more than a year apparently), I bought a big basket of logs in from outside (where they were under a tarpaulin) a couple of weeks ago and that had been near a radiator and they feel bone dry - the moisture detector shows they're < 20% moisture which I understand is fine.
I put down a load of scrumpled paper
and then some firelighters
then a load of kindling (which caught very well)
The some mf my logs - these never really caught that well - needed lots of TLC - blowing etc.
So I came to the conclusion that if the logs were smaller, they'd burn better.
Feel free to give me pointers, however obvious they may be to you.

rgds

[Spank86]

Smaller logs do burn better, but quicker.

Best way to do it is to build gradually. Start with kindling, then smaller logs and build to the biggest ones when the heat gets great enough.

Just burning. A big log on wont get you anywhere. Fire is not just fire, you need a lot of heat. You also won't get that heat at the edges, the big logs need to be where it's greatest. High in the middle.

[Luckypants]

You are right that they may be too big to burn well, a 4" width is a good rule of thumb. You can burn bigger logs on a bed of coal, so start off with a coal fire if that's what you want to do.

You mention that your logs are on a grate. Is this a wood burner or an open fire? Most wood burners wont have a full grate, but a burning 'platform' with air being circulated from the sides by means of the air control system. So I suspect you have an open fire if you have a grate...

A wood fire needs a bed of hot ash to burn well, hence why wood burners have the 'platform' arrangement. Air for burning comes from the sides of a wood fire, not from below like coal. If you have a wood burner, allow the ash to build up a little so when you like your fire the ash heats and keeps everything going. If you have an open grate, start with a coal fire and bun the logs on the hot fire bed.

Finally, it may be you have species of wood that wont burn readily and needs a faster burning species mixed in to achieve a good fire. Any idea what kind of wood you have in the log basket?

[Amadeus]

That's good info - thanks. I'll get me some coal. Now idea where from tho! :-)
I believe that the wood is beech (the back looks like it to me).

Yes, it's an open fire in my lving room. The grate has gaps about 1cm wide from front to back so I'm not sure how I'll be able to stop everything from falling down the gaps. certainly the coal will be fine initially but once it's burned a little surely it'll just fall down the gaps?

Oh, when I was in a shop which sells mantlepieces (we're looking to change ours but it's bigger than normal), they sell these blocks which look like a sanding block - about 2cm thick, 6cm deep and 10cm wide - do you think these would be ok to put on to the kindling and be hot enough to burn real logs?

[Amadeus]

Oh, I'm pretty sure the previous occupants used logs (as opposed to coal) as they had the log shed built and there were a few logs in it when they left the house. That's not to say that they didn't also have coal which they used as a base tho

[Luckypants]

You have a coal grate by the sound of it, so start your fire with coal then use your logs. You are right about the ash falling through, so you will need to top up with a little coal from time to time to keep a good fire bed for the logs to burn on.

Beech is great firewood as it burns slow and hot, but it does need something else faster burning mixed in to keep it going such as pine, hazel, birch etc. Splitting the logs smaller will also help. However, if you use coal to make a fire bed then the beech should burn nicely.

Look up coal merchants online to find one local to buy coal. Never buy coal from a shop or garage, it is expensive and poor quality.

[Amadeus]

Super - thanks for all the advice. Just looked onlike for a coal merchant and it seems pretty cheap.

thanks

[yorkie_chris]

About £10 a bag here last lot I bought for smokeless briquettes.

[Luckypants]

How big a bag Chris? That's well cheap if a 50Kg bag and expensive if a 25Kg bag.... I'm paying about £18 for a 50kg bag of SupaTherm, delivered.

[yorkie_chris]

25 I think. It was only 4 bags which does my folks for a winter though I know they give a bit of discount for bulk.

[Amadeus]

you've got your own pit pony tho haven't you?

[yorkie_chris]

Nah, I send our lass down tha nos.

[Amadeus]

And you're being very generous in giving her a (possibly already dead tho maybe just stunned) canary for her own safety.