Comparison SKIF 8T vs Iron Angel ELS 3000

The type determines the design of the working mechanism of the wood splitter.

— Hydraulic. In this type of log splitter, the engine drives a pump that pressurizes the hydraulic system; this pressure provides the necessary force on the working nozzle or movable stop. The hydraulic drive is capable of delivering very high splitting forces — on the order of several tons — and can be used with both a working tip and a 4-piece splitter (see below). At the same time, the movement occurs smoothly, without jerks and tremors, and the units themselves are quite durable. Their main disadvantages are the complexity of the design and high cost compared to rack and screw (see below), as well as relatively high energy consumption, because. To maintain operating pressure, the engine must be constantly running under load.

— Rack. Wood splitters, in which the movement of the log to the working nozzle is carried out due to the rack and pinion mechanism: the engine rotates the gear, and it drives the rack and pinion. Such designs are much simpler and cheaper than hydraulic ones, consume less energy, while they can develop a fairly high force, and they work faster — after splitting the next log, the emphasis returns to its original position with a special spring in just a split second. At the same time, rack-mounted wood splitters are designed more for domestic use and simple professional tasks; for industri...al scales, this type of mechanism is poorly suited.

— Screw. The working tool of a screw wood splitter is a conical nozzle with a screw thread, driven by a motor. In fact, such a nozzle works on the principle of a drill — screwing into the wood. The design of screw wood splitters is extremely simple and reliable; in addition, the wood does not need to be pressed against the nozzle with great force — some models do not have movable stops and other special material supply systems at all, the user himself pushes the log manually. Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting somewhat less accuracy than other types — in particular, nozzles for splitting into 4 parts are incompatible with such models — as well as poor suitability for long and/or thick logs.

The position in which the log must be when working with a log splitter. Usually, the axis of the working nozzle of the unit is in the same position.

— Horizontal. The horizontal arrangement is considered the safest: the log is located in a special chute, the probability of falling out of which is minimal. Also, this arrangement is considered more convenient for transportation, because. it is very difficult to overturn the unit. On the other hand, the chute is located at a certain height above the ground, and it can be very difficult to lift large, heavy workpieces to it. In addition, the maximum length of a log in such log splitters is usually less than in vertical ones. Therefore, the horizontal working position is found mainly in household models that are not designed for serious tasks.

— Vertical. The vertical working position allows you to achieve greater force when splitting. In addition, in many models, the log platform is located quite low (noticeably below the chute of the horizontal splitter), which makes it easier to work with heavy workpieces. Also note that such units take up somewhat less space than horizontal ones. But in transportation they are less convenient and require special care, because. the vertical structure is relatively easy to tip over.

— Universal. Wood splitters capable of working both horizontally and vertically. In such devices, the main unit (chu...te, stop, working nozzle) is mounted on a swivel mount and is located horizontally during transportation, and can be rotated vertically at the workplace, depending on which option is more convenient at the moment. In addition to the ability to choose the position itself, the advantage of universal wood splitters is the convenience when working with thick heavy logs: in the vertical position, the "seat" for the log is almost at ground level, and the workpiece can simply be rolled to the wood splitter without holding on weight. On the other hand, versatility increases the price of the design. Therefore, this arrangement is found mainly in professional-level units.

The longest log that a log splitter can handle. In fact, this is the largest distance that the stop and working nozzle can be spread; if the workpiece is longer than this distance, it will have to be sawn.

Note that this indicator significantly affects the dimensions (especially in a horizontal working position), and the force required to split a long log is quite high. Therefore, for small volumes of work (for example, when harvesting firewood for a private house), a wood splitter with a relatively small maximum length is often the best choice — up to 60 cm ; longer workpieces can be sawn. But models of more than 60 cm are intended mainly for work on a large scale.

The largest log diameter that a log splitter can handle.

This parameter depends both on the size of the working nozzle and the “seat” for the workpiece, and on the splitting force. Usually, it is indicated per log of maximum length (see above). However, this does not mean that with a shorter length of the workpiece, it can be thicker than stated in the specifications — anyway, it is not recommended to work with too thick logs, i.e. the tool may experience undesirable loads. As for specific values, the maximum thickness of up to 30 cm is typical for wood splitters mainly for domestic purposes, more than 30 cm for powerful professional units.

The time during which the moving element of the wood splitter (stop or working nozzle) passes from the starting point to the end position and back. In fact, this is the shortest time spent by the unit to split one log. Note that when working with solid wood, the stroke may be slightly larger than stated, although often this difference is practically not noticeable.

The total amount of oil that can fit into the hydraulic system of the respective log splitter (see "Type"). This parameter allows you to estimate how much oil is required for one refueling or refilling of the unit.

Wood splitter motor power in watts. The designation in watts is used for all types of engines, which allows you to compare units with different types of motors.

A powerful motor is needed above all in order to provide a high splitting force (see above). However, when choosing, it is worth focus not so much on power, but on the force stated in the characteristics and the length / thickness of the logs. In addition, in the case of electric motors (see "Motor type"), the power directly determines the energy consumption, which is important in some situations (when running from a generator, with weak wiring, etc.)

The presence of high legs (stands) for a horizontal wood splitter will allow you to use it when it is installed immediately on the ground, floor. There is no need to make an additional elevation in the form of a table, a workbench for more convenient feeding and chopping of small logs. But compact models of horizontal wood splitters without a stand are of two types. The first includes ground models for chopping powerful logs, which it makes no sense to raise to a height. The second type provides wood splitters for installation on a hill, which, due to the lack of a stand, must be provided in advance. In both cases, the absence of a stand (high legs) makes the model more compact and more mobile.

Country of origin of the brand under which the log splitter is presented on the market. This country does not necessarily coincide with the place of actual production — on the contrary, it is not uncommon for individual parts to be produced in one state, assembled in another, and the brand generally comes from a third.

Also note that the country of origin itself does not affect the quality of the goods — a lot depends on the specific brand and even specific models. So it makes sense to pay attention to this information mainly in those cases when you fundamentally want (or do not want) to support a manufacturer from a certain country. Among the countries producing wood splitters are: Austria, Belarus, Germany, Denmark, China, Poland, Russia, USA, Slovenia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Japan.