Rather than exerting yourself to exhaustion with an axe, a log splitter (Australia) allows you to split more wood with significantly less effort. Log splitters use a large amount of pressure applied to a tiny surface area. The question is, how do you know how much pressure you require?
The density of the wood, or its hardness, is measured in pounds per square inch. It’s irrelevant whether the wood is green or seasoned. Use this handy chart for an initial sense of how much force you’ll want from your wood splitter. Then continue reading to find out more!
What is the size of your logs?
Something you might not have realised about the wood: some of the most critical cells inside a living tree are long and fibre-like, running up and down the length of the tree’s trunk or branches. When we look at a piece of cut wood, we see this arrangement as the grain of the wood.
Log splitters function by providing pressure to the wood, which causes it to split down the grain rather than shortening the grains. Splitting wood along the grain is more manageable than cutting it short, requiring specialist tools such as chainsaws.The greater the thickness of a log, the more the amount of wood there is to force apart on either grain side. Logs with a broader diameter require more force to split than smaller logs.
A 4-ton log splitter will work well for limbs 2-3 metres in length, but a tree trunk that is 8 metres in length will require at least the force of a 20-ton splitter.
Seasoned Wood vs. Unseasoned Wood
Green logs are logs that have been newly cut. They’ll have a faint green or yellow tint to their appearance. Most of the moisture they held while the stumps retained part of a living tree.
As wood ages, its moisture gradually evaporates, causing it to become increasingly brittle. As a result, older firewood splits and burns considerably faster than younger wood. Several names know this procedure:
- Reached its prime
- Cured wood
- Has been seasoned
Properly seasoned wood, which has been allowed to cure for at least six months, will have a colour closer to brown than greenwood.
Whether you plan to split green wood or not, you’ll need a more powerful log splitter or some old-fashioned, inexpensive patience. Professionals advise waiting until your wood has had time to cure before splitting it. Thus, more tonnage may be applied to split fallen wood successfully.
Guide To Log Splitting in Australia
| Name: | Air-dry Density (kg/m3) | Splitting | Prefered Log Splitter (Tonnes) |
| Mallee Roots | Difficult | 55 (T) or above | |
| Grey Box | 1121 | Difficult | 33 (T) or above |
| Yellow Box | 1090 | Difficult | 33 (T) or above |
| Red Gum | 915 | Difficult | 20 (T) or above* |
| Stringy Bark | 890 | Good | 8 (T) or above |
| Messmate | 771 | Good | 8 (T) or above |
| Wattle | 705 | Excellent | 6 (T) or above |
* Note: Some redgum logs (those with many knots) may struggle with a 20-tonne log splitter. It is always advisable to discuss the local options with your wood merchant.
Hardness and Density of the Wood
If you know how thick your logs are and whether or not they’re seasoned, you can make better decisions about the tonnage you need in a log splitter. However, if you want to go any farther, you can consider the type of wood you intend to split and its hardness. Remember those long, fibrous cells that we talked about before? Different kinds of trees have varying amounts of space between their fibres.
Hardwoods are dense woods with minimal space between the fibres of the wood. Softwoods are woods that are lighter in weight and have much space between their fibres. Hardwoods, such as oak and hickory, are distinguished from softwoods produced by pine and other cone-bearing trees. Looking up the Janka hardness value of the wood you intend to split might help. You evaluate whether or not you require a splitter that employs greater power to do the task.
As soon as you’ve decided how much tonnage you’ll require from your log splitter, you can select the type of log splitter that will meet your requirements.
Naturally, the higher-grade machines split wood faster than the lower-grade machines.
There are two grades of petrol-powered splitters according to our classification:
- DIY’er
- Professional
Consumer-Grade (DIY) Log Splitters Powered by Petrol
Consumer-grade, petrol-powered log splitters are suitable for the weekend warrior who regularly splits logs for their usage.
They can split logs up to 53cm in length and have a breaking force of 8-16 tonnes, making them stronger than most electric log splitters. Before, many consumer-grade models lacked the strength to split large logs in a vertical posture. Before breaking a log, you had to lift it onto the splitter bed and place it there.
These days, many horizontal and vertical log splitters are available at affordable prices for the average consumer.
You’ll need an ATV or golf cart to move smaller gas log splitters (Australia) around your yard. They are not permitted to travel on public roadways.
Petrol Log Splitters Designed for the Homeowners: You might consider upgrading to a speedier and more durable prosumer-grade device if you split logs more than once a year. More powerful engines generate 20-29 tons of force, allowing them to split longer, broader, and more detailed logs (they are also more expensive).
When lifting massive logs, the horizontal beam on prosumer-grade models relieves some strain, which may switch to a vertical position. It is, therefore, possible to slide more giant trees beneath the wedge without needing to lift them.
Most consumer-grade models may be towed directly to your woodpile if you take the back roads instead of the main ones. It is not the norm for log splitters to travel at high speeds on the highway.
Petrol log splitters of the highest quality for professional use
An authentic log-splitting professional understands that quality does not come at a low price.
If you are splitting logs for a living, you do not require a weak wood splitter. You’re going to need a speed demon. After all, time is a valuable commodity. Models of professional-grade log splitters are substantially identical to consumer-grade models with the best petrol log splitter in Australia. They come with more powerful and pricey engines capable of increasing the force above 30 tonnes.
Both grades are capable of splitting logs up to 66cm in length. You can get through them even quicker with the professional-grade version, converting trees into cold, hard cash faster.
Electric log splitters require electricity, of course. They may also demand that the electrical circuit be rated for a specific amount of amperage to function correctly. Thus, the sole drawback of owning and operating a log splitter (Australia) is for a property owner who does not require splitting large logs or large quantities of firewood.
The following are some advantages of petrol-less log splitters:
Low maintenance requirements: there is no need to refuel or change the engine oil.
User-friendliness: it all starts with a simple push of a button.
No exhaust emissions exist, so using them indoors can be generally achieved (only if safe).
Tonnage rating is that which separates one model from another and will set it apart from the rest. Choose the features and benefits that are most important to you, and use an electric wood splitter to keep warm and clean this winter.
The tonnage of an Electric Log Splitter
Tonnage Splitter with Electric Motor
A tonnage is a unit of measurement for the force required to split logs.
Electric log splitters are an excellent option for splitting logs that are less than 24 inches in length and 12 inches in diameter. It’s normal to see models with a 5 to 10 tonnes force rating. At the same time, more powerful splitters are also available on the market.
Several factors influence the tonnage you’ll require for an electric log splitter. These include:
Log length & diameter Dimensions
Wood hardness is a measure of how hard a wood is.
Consider the size and density of the logs you intend to split. Then, select a cargo appropriate for your logs and your budget requirements. Generally speaking, the higher the tonnage rating of a log splitter, the more expensive the log splitter will be.
Electric Log Splitter Performance Specifications
When shopping for log splitters (electric), you’ll most likely find a rating for the time it takes to split a log—cycle time measured in seconds rather than minutes. The cycle time is when it takes for the ram to extend and then return to its starting position fully.
The shorter the cycle time, the more quickly your log splitter can split logs on the job site. Some electric log splitters, on the other hand, are equipped with additional features that can help you split logs even more swiftly, such as:
This feature breaks a single log into four pieces.
Prevent shorter logs from being split completely using a technique known as stroke limiting or log reduction. They result in double the splitting capacity of the previous model. A two-way splitting wedge can split logs when the extended ram returns to its starting position. The option to utilise a four-way wedge: This feature breaks a single log into four pieces.
To split your firewood efficiently (which may be necessary if you’re working in the winter! ), seek an electric log splitter with some or all of the above qualities.
Electric Log Splitter Positioning Features Another advantage of electric log splitters is that they are lightweight and portable. Despite more significant, robust variants mounted on tow-behind trailers, most smaller models can be carried and pushed by hand. They are helping to make them simple to transport and set up in various locations.
Look for the following features to assist you in placing your electric log splitter in the most convenient location for you to use it.
Wheels:
These are attached to the frame to make towing more accessible and often come made of plastic (which is more economical) or high-density rubber (which is more durable) (more durable)
Log cradles or trays:
With built-in catches will catch logs after they’ve been split, saving you the trouble of bending over to see them.
Full-length stand: detachable; allows you to operate with the splitter at waist height without the splitter taking up valuable workspace on a work surface. Electric log splitters with such features are convenient but also comfortable.
3-Point linkage tractor-mounted Log Splitter (Australia)
Using your tractor, you can move a large log splitter through rugged terrain without pulling a trailer. These wood splitters are attached to your tractor’s 3-point hitch, allowing you to put its hydraulics to work. Why not use it to assist in the operation of the log splitter?
A 3-point log splitter can deliver 13-31 tonnes of force, making it an excellent choice for splitting large logs. Sometimes, a three-point log splitter can be used with Category 1, 2, or 3 hitches, depending on the model.
Below are the characteristics to look for for the ideal model for you.
Log splitters with three points of hydraulic and PTO power
your tractor’s hydraulic system will provide the force that moves the ram of your log splitter. It is critical to ensure that your tractor’s hydraulic system is compatible with your log splitter.
Tumbling Bar for PTO
Suppose you can’t find the information you need in your tractor’s manual. The most crucial measurement on your tractor is the hydraulic oil flow rate, often known as the total flow rate. You’ll find it expressed in gallons per minute, abbreviated as GPM. You might be able to locate it on the TractorData website, which has a wealth of information.
Listed on the device: the minimum suggested flow rate for each 3-point log splitter. Before purchasing a splitter, ensure that your tractor can produce a flow rate at least as high as that of the splitter.
Power for your log splitter’s pump may generally come supplied by your tractor’s power take-off (PTO). A PTO conversion kit – available as an optional purchase, may be accessible in those situations.
3-Point Splitter with Hydraulic Hoses, Tonnage Log Splitter, and Tractor PSI 3-Point Splitter
When it comes to hydraulics, you need to know more than just the flow rate of your tractor’s hydraulic fluid before you can couple it.
With a 3-point linkage log splitter: you also need to know the pressure of the fluid while the tractor is in operation – measured in PSI, which is pounds per square inch.
The hydraulic fluid pressure of your tractor has an impact on two crucial characteristics of your wood-splitter:
The amount of force applied when splitting time, or the quantity of cargo it transports. Cycle time refers to how long a RAM module stretches fully and returns to its original position after being extended (also affected by flow rate).
When browsing for 3-point log splitters, you’ll notice that the manufacturers recommend the PSI range. You may also find an upper restriction, such as a PSI value that your tractor should not surpass when using your log splitter. Make sure that your tractor is capable of operating within the specified parameters.
Additional Three-Point Splitter Characteristics
Three-Point linkage Log Splitter: Once you’ve determined that your hydraulic or PTO log splitter is compatible with your tractor. You can determine whether it has any additional features to make log splitting enjoyable.
One of the most popular features is the ability to split logs in horizontal or vertical positions, depending on preference. A vertical/horizontal splitter that can swap places provides users with two convenient ways to split logs: vertically and horizontally.
Splitting logs vertically eliminates the need to lift and move heavier, larger logs.
Try to get your hands on a model that enables two-way return. It can split a log while the ram is extending and then split another log while returning to the starting position. Particular 3-point splitters can also make splitting more rapid in some cases.
In addition to, tractor owners with vast properties to clear and many logs to split. 3-point linkage log splitters (Australia) are ideal for firewood dealers who need to split larger logs for their customers. Large logs aren’t stood a chance against the force of your tractor.
How to Care for Your Hydraulic Log Splitter in the Correct Way
The pressure generated by a hydraulic log splitter is challenging to match, but what happens if the machine is not properly maintained?
Log Splitter with Hydraulics
The hydraulic hoses may wear out and begin to leak hydraulic fluid. The pressure applied to force the fluid through the leak will be sufficient to remove the skin from your hand.
Can reduce the performance over time if the hydraulic fluid is contaminated. A dried-out hydraulic ram may rust and cause damage to the seal that surrounds the shaft and keeps the hydraulic fluid in place, causing the Ram to fail.
And, perhaps most crucially, if loose elements in the pump or engine are not tightened or repaired immediately, they might cause catastrophic failure.
Having established why it is critical to maintaining your hydraulic log splitter, let’s look at the actions you must take to accomplish this:
- Take a look at the user manual
- Check the hoses for damage.
- Make use of new hydraulic fluid.
- Ensure that the Ram is well lubricated.
- Check the engine’s performance.
- Take a look at the pull cord.
- Inspect the pump for any problems.
Look over the User Manual.
Consult the Owner’s Manual for more information.
When you initially received your log splitter, the first thing you did likely was throw away the instruction manual. Hopefully, this is not the case!
The first step is to locate your log splitter product manual and read through the precise maintenance recommendations for your particular model.
Even though we’ll discuss some generic hydraulic log splitter (Australia) maintenance procedures, each log splitter model has its features and design characteristics.
Something beneficial to one individual may not be advantageous to another. Please make a point to pull out that manual and give it a last once-over before moving on.
2. Check the hoses for damage.
Check the Piping for Damage
Furthermore, in the case of your wood splitter, hoses or pipes will be visible, travelling from the reservoir to the ram cylinder. The hydraulic pressure hoses are responsible for transferring fluid from the reservoir to the cylinder to generate pressure.
There can be several tons of pressure per square inch created by force. If you suspect that you may have a leaky hose, do not look for it. Instead, call for help. Considerable pressures escaping via a bit of hole are enough to shred the skin.
Apply pressure to where you feel there may be a leak with a stiff piece of cardboard or a playing card while moving it carefully over it. Try to determine whether or not a leak exists; the cardboard will rip through or discolour.
If you discover a leak, replace the hoses as soon as possible. You are not required to lose a finger as a result of procrastination.
3. Make use of new hydraulic fluid.
Make Use of New Fluid
Check the water level in your hydraulic fluid reservoir on an annual basis. The milky grey colour noticed you in the hydraulic fluid. Water pollution in your hydraulic fluid can accumulate over time.
The effectiveness of your log splitter (Australia) will progressively decline due to the toxic hydraulic fluid. It happens so gradually that you might not even realise it at first. However, this will result in a log splitter that performs poorly over time.
Drain it and replace it with fresh hydraulic fluid whenever you find milky grey contamination in your hydraulic fluid.
4. Ensure that the Ram is well lubricated.
Grease the RamThe ram of your hydraulic log splitter is another crucial machine component. You must keep the Ram thoroughly oiled at all times. Keep every square inch of it lubricated because a dry ram will quickly turn into a rusted ram if not correctly maintained.
Rusted rams will cause damage to the hydraulic seal, which is something you do not want to happen. You should sand off any rust that has formed, clean it, and reapply grease if you spot it.
5. Inspect the engine oil for leaks.
Suppose a gas engine powers your hydraulic log splitter (Australia). In that case, it will require the same level of maintenance as any other gas engine.
Check the oil to ensure that it is clean and well-stocked. Adequately grease all valves and the crankshaft before starting the engine.
Check the carburettor to ensure that your engine is operating at peak efficiency. Remove the spark plug and inspect the distance between the electrodes and the condition of the electrodes. A healthy engine is just as vital as a healthy hydraulic system in terms of overall performance.
6. Examine the Log Splitter Pull Cord and the Pull Cord.
Pull the pull cord out and examine it along its entire length for signs of wear and tear. When left unattended, cords fray and become weaker, and the last thing you want is for yours to snap when you need it the most.
When you see considerable fraying in the pull cord, purchase a new card to replace the old one. You’ll know it’s ready to go when you need it because it’ll be ready to go again.
7. Check the Pump’s Operation
Check the pump’s condition.
The engine is responsible for driving the pump in your hydraulic system. It is often operated by a power take-off (PTO) connection, thus making sure there is no loose play in the coupling.
If possible, examine your pump’s central spindle to ensure it isn’t becoming excessively loose. Under pressure, the pump may fail if each component has too much play.
While you cannot tighten these components, you can swap out the bearings. Broken bearings typically cause looseness in the coupling and the central spindle, so if you feel that they are becoming a little sloppy, try replacing them as soon as possible.
Indicators of Potential Problems
Keep an ear out for strange sounds or excessive vibration while operating your log splitter. Vibration is an unmistakable sign that something is seriously wrong.
The hydraulic pump and the engine are the sole components that generate considerable vibration. Therefore, one of these two components may malfunction if you hear or feel excessive vibrations from your log splitter.
Finally, although it is possible, it is uncommon that you have to deal with many faults simultaneously. Keep up with your maintenance schedule, and your log splitter (Australia) should serve you for many years with the best electric log splitter in Australia.
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