6 Best Electric Log Splitters For Your Money Reviewed

Gone are the days of immense back and joint aches that came with slicing up logs!

Today powerful log splitters have totally replaced axes and have become an indispensable tool in households as well as work stations.

Lumber factories are always on the lookout for some high-quality log splitters that also offer outstanding value for money. But great features within a decent budget are so rare to find, and those that you find fail to meet quality standards.

So, to give you a safer and easier way to split logs, and also save you a ton of internet scouting time, we have come up with a list of 6 best electric log splitters that are also great value for money.

Therefore, without any delay, let’s get to splitting right away!

Best Electric Log Splitters

1. Boss Industrial ES7T20 Electric Log Splitter

Boss Industrial, as the name suggests, is truly the ‘boss’ of electric log splitters. Or it would be better to say it excels in the arena of tools extensively required in the field of lumbering. The company also comes with excellent customer support apart from extremely durable products, not to mention their wonderful features of convenience.

Why did we like it?

We would like to start with the unique features that are usually absent in log splitters of other companies in this price range. The one-handed operation of this splitter is clearly a woodcutter’s dream, and Boss does it with perfect ease. This is definitely a huge advantage as it leads to less hand strain, but it also means you gotta be more careful with this beast so that your hand doesn’t come in its way while splitting the thicker logs.

Coming to its features, the splitter boasts of a 2 HP motor that can deliver a massive 7 tons of splitting force. It gives you enough torque for slicing up logs of 10 inches diameter (which is the company’s claims), but with a little bit of effort and maneuvering the wood, you can easily cut the thicker pieces of 16-inch diameter.

Moreover, the hydraulic system ensures your cutting force doesn’t fluctuate randomly, although that doesn’t mean you can be less careful with the machine. And on top of that, the automatic ram return allows you to quickly set up the next log for cutting, which forms a great combo coupled with the one-handed operation.

What could have been better?

Although this is a great splitter, its position is too near the ground, and you need to bend down for any cutting operation. This isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker considering the rest of its features and the price.

2. Southland SELS60 6 Ton Electric Log Splitter

Southland Outdoor is another renowned company in this field that specializes in outdoor equipment such as lawn edgers, earth augers, trimmers, etc. As most of their log splitting models have got a decent following, we thought to give the SELS60 model a try.

Why did we like it?

The splitter comes with a 1.75 HP engine that delivers up to 6 tonnes of cutting force, which is enough for cutting through the usual 10-inch diameter logs. Although many users said they pushed the machine to cut 12-inch logs and it worked just fine, we’d suggest not to go much further as after all it’s a mid-range log splitter.

One additional feature of this product that we liked is its integrated smoke limiter. What it does is, it limits the striking radius of the splitter that comes to great use when you’re cutting the smaller logs. This is a feature that increases the versatility of the device manifold, and we’d love to see it in more log splitters.

And the best part of working with this machine is you can configure it to a vertical position for easier maneuverability. At the same time, its 7-inch durable wheels make it all the more portable. Finally, the total setup time of this device is nil as you just gotta fit in the wheels, and you’re good to go!

What could have been better?

Some users commented that the start button of the device gets stuck at times, and therefore, it’s a hassle to switch off the splitter after use. We hope Southland fixes this issue soon and makes this otherwise great log splitter a superb one!

3. WEN 56207 6.5-Ton Electric Log Splitter

For all the people with a concern for the environment, here’s a log splitter for you with no carbon emissions. And what’s more, its performance is one of the best in the industry as Wen comes with a massive experience of delivering some of the best home and outdoor care products. And this log splitter only proves Wen’s excellence.

Why did we like it?

Let’s start with the unique feature we mentioned before. This is an electricity-based log splitter, which means, unlike other models, this one requires no gasoline, and therefore no carbon monoxide emissions as well as minimum maintenance. Just plug it in, and you’re good to go!

Coming to its features, the splitter boasts of a powerful 15-amp motor that can deliver up to 13000 pounds of pressure, much more than all the machines we’ve reviewed thus far. With this massive force, it can easily split logs of over 10 inches in diameter without getting jammed. And the specialty of the splitter lies in cutting through longer wood pieces of about 20 inches, which others in that price range won’t be able to master.

Talking about convenience and ease of use, the product comes with a 34-inch detachable stand. This is of great help for people with arthritis or any other bone-degenerative disease as it prevents any kind of bending down throughout the cutting time. Also, its pull handle and 5.5-inch sturdy wheels help you to move the little beast around with perfect ease.

What could have been better?

Well, everything’s fine with this splitter after it’s assembled. But before that, it’s a bit of a hassle. Getting it up on the stand is a 2-person job, and fitting the nuts and screws also seems quite a challenge. We hope Wen makes this assembling process a bit smoother in the future, and that’d make it one of the best log splitters in the price range.

4. Powerhouse XM-380 Electric Hydraulic Log Splitter

Well, everything’s there in the name of this product, and after our hands-on experience with this splitter, it gave us no chance to complain. And we trust Powerhouse with its long line of excellent products because their USP lies in an eye for detail. And XM-380 has also been made with that USP in mind. Let’s see how.

Why did we like it?

Its 3 HP motor gives an output equal to the product from Boss Industrial that we mentioned above, which is 7 tons. This means it can handle some of the hardest woods such as cedar, birch, pine, and fir, as well as the thicker logs of wood of up to 12 inches in diameter. While this is the advertised diameter, most users have commented they can easily push it up to 20-inch logs with ease.

Also, like the Wen model, it can cut through the longer logs of 20 inches, and this is an impressive feat to pull for the price range. And an electric-powered splitter means no hassle of maintaining a separate gas tank for the device; just plug-in and vroom!

Moreover, the hydraulic ram keeps the pressure controlled and works with the 2-hand operation system to minimize any chance of an accident. It ensures no extra ax or hammer is required for splitting, and also keeps your hands away from the device while it’s cutting through the thick logs. So, you see Powerhouse does a great job with providing extra safety features, conforming to their USP of meticulous designs.

What could have been better?

What troubled us about this log splitter is its instruction manual. There are many spelling errors in the manual, which makes the assembling process a bit difficult. Also, its low, near-to-the-ground position makes it a bit uncomfortable for long hours of use, but that’s not necessarily a dealbreaker.

5. Goplus 6 Ton Hydraulic Electric Log Splitter

Honestly, this is the best looking log splitter we’ve ever reviewed, and that’s what caught our eye in the first place. But once we tried it out, we wanted to include it in our list of 6 best log splitters for more than one reason. And the very first is, Goplus is an absolutely trustworthy brand with its extensive range of home products.

Why did we like it?

Well, it’s not just about looks! This log splitter uses 1500 W motor to give you a massive force of 6 tons, which can make cutting 10-inch logs a complete cakewalk. And if you’re worried about what’s the maximum length of the logs that you can cut with it, Goplus has got you covered here as well with its seamless performance. While the company claims it’s less than 20 inches, we found we could push it a bit more, up to 23 inches, and that’s great for the budget!

One of the best reasons to choose this model is its space-saving design and ease of transport. Its 6-inch wheels are durable and will last you for years, whereas its ergonomic handle allows you to hold the device during heavy log-cutting without any hand strain. Also, the built-in log cradle minimizes the mess after extensive cutting, and with the space-saving design, you can use it both indoors and outdoors.

What could have been better?

With this splitter, we have two complaints. One, the machine shakes a whole lot while splitting the logs, and we were scared whether the entire thing would fall apart. And second, we have doubts about its build material as many users have commented about the screws and nuts falling off at times.

6. YARDMAX YS0552 5 Ton Electric Log Splitter

There’s no doubt about Yardmax’s quality as they have consistently built excellent homecare, lifestyle, and outdoor products throughout the last decade. The YS0552 splitter conforms to this reputation, and we included it on our list because it’s one of the best budget options out there.

Why did we like it?

Frankly, it’s a log splitter that comes with fewer superb features than the ones we’ve talked about till now. The YS0552 model is a splitter of 5-ton force that can cut through 10-inch logs quite smoothly. However, we don’t advise you to push its limits any more than 12-inch logs, although people have come out with decent results.

Also, the cylinder cycle time of the device is 16 seconds, which is much more than the high-end splitters of Boss, whose cycle time is a mere 10 seconds. But in this price range, it’s quite a good deal. And Yardmax included some unique features in this model, such as a stand, a log tray, and a stroke limiter. By unique, we mean those features that don’t usually come within this price range.

A stroke limiter is a great tool for slicing up shorter logs as you can limit the radius of the stroke with this splitter. And the log tray reduces your workspace clutter with arranging the cut pieces in systematic order, while the stand gives you a comfortable working position. So overall, this is quite a good option to consider if you’re short on budget.

What could have been better?

Well, this could be a great bridge product between medium and high-end log splitters, but some users complained about its build material to be flimsy. This is the only aspect that upset us about this splitter, but other than that, it has an outstanding value for money.

Electric Log Splitters Buyer’s Guide

We have listed some of the best log splitters currently available on the market, keeping in mind the various conditions that the job demands. But on the off chance that you don’t find these products appealing enough, or if you’re looking for something even better, we’ve got you covered with our detailed buyer’s guide. Here are a few things that you need to keep in mind to get the most out of your budget.

Keeping in mind the size of logs

For those that don’t know, the most important cells of a tree are quite long and run the entire length of the trunk, which forms the wood’s grain. And log splitters work by cutting through this very grain along its length. So, with the thickness of the log, the amount of wood you gotta force apart on both sides of the grain also increases, and that requires more pressure to split them apart.

That’s why a 7-ton log splitter will work well for even a 16-inch log, but for anything higher than that, let’s say a log of 24-inch diameter, it would take you a 20-ton splitter to force it apart.

Hardness and Density

Understanding the hardness of woods is central to finding the perfect wood splitter of your choice. Here again, the fibrous tissues play a major role. The fact is that different types of trees have varying amounts of space between the fibers. Hardwoods, for instance, have little space between fibers, which is why they are very dense. Softwoods, as the name suggests, have more space in between the fibers, and are lighter woods due to lower density.

Merely knowing how thick your logs are and whether or not they’re seasoned can go a long way in helping you choose the right amount of tonnage in a log splitter.

There are many standard charts available that detail the hardness of woods and the amount of pressure it takes to split each apart. Woods such as oak and balsa are considered hardwoods, while pine and fir are softwoods. The 5-ton or 6-ton splitter can cut through a variety of softwoods, whereas for splitting oak woods, you need something high-end.

And next comes the condition of seasoned woods, which affects the log splitting mechanism.

Let’s find out how.

Seasoned wood and Greenwood

Let’s begin with Greenwood. Greenwood means freshly cut logs that are literally green in color in specific parts and retain a lot of moisture as it’s still living. And after it’s cut, the wood will slowly age to become a piece of seasoned wood. The process has three stages to it:

First, the wood goes through a drying process, and this period is called its aging period. Second, once the drying period is over, the wood slowly gets cured of all its inner adhesiveness, and the fibers begin to come apart slowly. And the third stage is where the piece of log is totally ready to be split apart with a minimum amount of force.

If you want to cut through green wood, you have to select a splitter that has over 8 tons of force, or you’d have to grind through the process slowly. Splitting Greenwood is a heck of a process, and for that, you need something more high-end.

Verdict

We hope we could clear all your doubts today with our selection of the top 6 electric log splitters. All the choices have been made, keeping in mind the varying needs of different people. From the high-end ones like the ES7T20 model from Boss Industrial to the medium-end Yardmax model, we’ve got you covered with everything.

Yet, if you ask us, we’d suggest you go for Wen 56207 when you are looking for the best high-end model within budget. On the other hand, the Yardmax YS0552 is a decent option for all those who have mostly smaller logs to slice up.

But barring the cost, the Southland and Boss Industrial models score the highest in terms of performance. And if you’re looking for convenience, you should definitely buy the model from Powerhouse.

So, choose wisely and stay tuned for more such exciting reviews.

Good luck!

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