Winter coming around means one thing – cold weather. The thought of your family huddled around the fireplace can be a warming thought. Unfortunately, there is a cold realization that comes along with it. In order to keep your home sufficiently heated, you need an cost effective fuel source. A popular approach in heating is burning firewood in a fireplace.
Firewood: To Buy or to Chop?
Burning wood is a great option for heating your home, and one with benefits. Not only can it be a cost-effective heating method, but it also does not hurt the environment the way fossil fuels and other heat sources do. Burning firewood is carbon-neutral and does not release any dangerous toxins or pollution into the air as a result. Many of the people who choose to go this path make the decision to purchase cords of firewood from a vendor. This can get expensive depending on your heating needs.
Alternatively, some choose to chop firewood themselves. However, anyone who has chopped wood before knows that it is not a fun task. It requires a sizable time and energy investment. Thankfully, there is a third option that the savvy buyer can take advantage of.
The best and most cost-effective long-term solution for getting wood to burn is by investing in one of the best kinetic log splitter options available. You will cut out the middleman to save yourself tons of money. You’ll save your back from the hundreds of axe swings you would have suffered through. And most importantly, you’ll have more time to sit with your family around the fire.
What is a kinetic log splitter?
A kinetic log splitter is a piece of machinery or equipment that is used to split logs into firewood. Firewood is made from splitting softwood or hardwood logs that have already been cut into small slabs or rounds of wood into pieces small enough that they can be burned in a fireplace.
Best Kinetic Log Splitter Options Reviewed
Generac K22, 22-Ton Kinetic Flywheel Gas Powered Log Splitter
A pricier option for somebody who has a bigger project in mnd. This 22-ton kinetic log splitter comes packed with an auto retracting ram and a 99cc OHV Generac engine and can split logs up to 18″ long and 30″ in diameter.
Generac K10, 10-Ton Kinetic Electric Log Splitter
This model will give you the most bang for your buck. Being a more compact unit, it will be very simple to store in smaller spaces. Containing twin 12.5lbs. flywheels and being able to split logs up to 16″ long and 12″ in diameter this is the perfect choice to fuel any home using thinner pieces of wood.
PowerKing 34 Ton Kinetic Log Splitter
The most expensive of the choices, this monster of a kinetic log splitter is perfect for any massive project. With the flywheel spinning at a stunning 450 RPM this log splitter will have no issues splitting any logs up to 21″ long and 30″ in diameter. If you’re looking to get a top of the line product, this is your choice!
US Patent for Kinetic Log Splitter
The way a kinetic log splitter works is by spinning the twin flywheels rapidly to produce the force required to split the logs. Once the operator of the kinetic log splitter pulls on the lever, all the stored force from the flywheels is thrust forward in a single motion, splitting the log as required.
Now that you know what a log splitter is and what they are used for let’s talk about all the different kinds of log splitters and which is one the right one for you.
Kinetic vs Hydraulic Log Splitters
When you’re trying to decide the type of log splitter will be choosing, it helps to first know what options are available to you and the differences between them.
The most common type of log splitter you will come across will most likely be the hydraulic log splitter. What this means is that they are powered by an electric or gas engine and the machine creates a line of pressured oil when pumped, which builds and then pushes the splitting wedge through the log, splitting it in two.
The log splitter that we’ve been talking the most about is the kinetic log splitter. The kinetic log splitter is similar to the hydraulic model. The main difference is that instead of using oil and hydraulics to push the log through and split the log it uses something called kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is energy that something maintains by being constantly in motion. A kinetic log splitter contains two flywheels that are constantly in motion. Once the operator switches the lever the log is pushed towards a wedge which splits the log in two.
Which Log Splitter Type to Choose? The Main Factors
Speed of the Log Splitters
Now that you understand the differences between each log splitter, it’s time to find out which is the superior of the two. A kinetic log splitter is up to four times as efficient as a hydraulic log splitter. The reason a kinetic log splitter is so much better than the hydraulic is simply because it is immensely faster at splitting logs.
With a hydraulic log splitter, it can take as much as 13-20 seconds to split a single log. A kinetic log splitter will split a log in 3 seconds. That’s up to 6 times as fast! The main reason for being so much faster is because a hydraulic log splitter can range from 8 to 34 tons and a kinetic log splitter will always split with the force of 34 tons. Not only does the kinetic model split at least four times as fast, it also uses 25% of the fuel that you would use from splitting with a hydraulic log splitter.
Log Splitter Maintenance
Other than speed, a significant difference in the models is the maintenance requirements. When you’re working with a hydraulic log splitter you need to worry about messy oil, leaky valves, and more. Since no pump or oil is involved with a kinetic log splitter, all you need to worry about is the occasional engine tune up. Now that you know what a log splitter is and the differences between the different types, it’s time to think about what you should be looking for when making your first kinetic log splitter purchase.
Kinetic Log Splitter Buying Guide – What To Look For
When choosing the correct log splitter for your project, there are some important things you’ll want to consider:
Your Needs
Before considering the size or model of your kinetic log splitter, you’ll want to consider your project and what you need to do with it. What works best for someone else may not necessarily be the best for you! Your specific power requirements and storage space are some factors to evaluate before continuing your search to refine your search.
Size
It is crucial to make sure that the area in which you are working around is sizable enough for your kinetic log splitter, and that your log splitter is large enough to handle your wood requirements.
Cycle Time
When choosing a kinetic log splitter, it will already have a fast cycle time. But you still want to compare the cycle times of the options available. It never hurts to get the most efficient system possible. Especially if you need to process a lot of wood quickly.
Design
There are many log splitters ranging in many designs, sizes and shapes. Be cautious that the kinetic log splitter you choose contains the correct configurations, height, length, weight, and ease of use that you desire.
Log Cutting Capacity
Make sure that your kinetic log splitter has the correct log cutting capacity for the size of the logs that you need to cut. If the wood is not the right size, your splitter will not be as efficient as it could be.
Power
Carefully consider how powerful you need your log splitter to be before purchase. It is also important to note that you don’t purchase a log splitter with way more power than you need as it can have you spending way more than necessary.
Leave a Reply