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The first wood splitters appeared around the end of the 19th century. Such devices were powered by steam and required human intervention. They were used only in large industries, since their use was unprofitable for people collecting firewood for their own needs. Now you can purchase ready-made wood splitters of various capacities. If you wish, you can independently assemble a structure that runs on electricity. Such mechanisms are also called hydraulic.
Advantages and disadvantages of electric wood splitters
All electric wood splitters can be divided into the following types:
- Horizontal. In such devices, the log lies horizontally. After this, a cleaver is inserted into the wood, which breaks the log into several parts.
- Vertical wood splitters. Such mechanisms are practically no different from horizontal ones. The only difference is that the log is positioned vertically. It is worth noting that the quality of work of this type of device is higher, but they have a higher cost.
Both types of mechanisms may have different designs. For example, many vertical log splitters are a mechanism with a small platform for placing a log and an element located on top that splits the wood when a lever is pressed.Other devices have a stabbing element that works automatically and drops onto the log after a specified period of time. Such models are less safe.
Before purchasing a wood splitter, you should familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of such devices. The advantages include:
- No need to use gasoline, diesel fuel or diesel. That is why many owners of suburban areas for firewood preparation purchase electrical mechanisms.
- Relatively low cost when comparing the described wood splitters with models that run on combustion fuel.
- The ability to assemble an electrical device with your own hands. If desired, you can create a simple and effective design from scrap materials. For example, many people use an engine from an old car for this.
- No maintenance required. There is no need to lubricate its components or replace fuel while using the device.
- Absence of any waste generated during use.
But the described type of wood splitter also has disadvantages. These include the need to connect to a three-phase 320 volt network. This means that the electrical system at the site will have to be upgraded. If desired, you can find devices that operate on a 220 volt network.
Another disadvantage is the need for a nearby electrical network. While diesel models can be used anywhere and far from home, electric models are used only a short distance from the power grid. In addition, on some models of electrical devices it is difficult to replace the motor, since such units are not common in Russia.
When purchasing an electric wood splitter, you should remember that even the most powerful household devices are not intended for industrial harvesting of logs.
general description
If a horizontal wood splitter is used to split logs, they must be lifted. Vertical devices do not require lifting logs. It is worth noting that wood splitters are divided according to the volume of firewood that they can chop. The division also occurs according to the width and length of the firewood.
Many models are designed for splitting firewood no more than 50 cm in height and 30 cm in diameter. Industrial electric wood splitters can handle logs with a length of about 120 cm and a diameter of about 70 cm.
Before choosing a specific device, it is important to determine exactly what it will be used for. If you need a wood splitter to prepare a small amount of firewood, you should take a closer look at the cheapest models. In the case where it will be used every year to prepare firewood for the winter, it is necessary to choose a device with a vertical frame and a durable machine.
The standard cutting force of the described wood splitters is from 5 to 10 tons if they are intended for domestic use. Models used in production have a cutting force from 10 to 30 tons. The standard engine power of a mechanism used in everyday life varies from 2 to 10 kW. In addition, when choosing, you should pay attention to the presence of wheels.
Industrial electric wood splitters
A special feature of industrial wood splitting stations is the ability to prepare a large amount of firewood in a short period of time. Such stations not only separate the log into separate logs, but also saw it.
They are rarely purchased for household use, as they are expensive. Such stations can have different sizes. If necessary, a large number of attachments are installed on them, allowing you to split logs of various diameters. At the same time, during operation, you can select the required length of firewood.
Features of household electric wood splitters
When planning to purchase simple electric wood splitters with a power of about 3 kW, it is worth remembering that they work quite slowly. Moreover, when using such devices, it is necessary to constantly turn the split logs so that they split into logs of the same size.
Such devices are worth purchasing in cases where a person does not want or is unable to waste energy on splitting firewood using a cleaver. If you want to quickly deal with a large number of logs, you should purchase more powerful and expensive wood splitters.
Recommendations
To avoid problems when using a wood splitter, you should listen to the advice of people who have extensive experience working with such devices:
- If the cleaver is made on the basis of an electric motor, it is necessary to take into account the power of the device. This figure should be from 3 kW.
- If the power of the mechanism is good, the engine will be able to quickly drive the hydraulic pump, spinning the cone. Thanks to this, splitting the logs will happen quickly and easily. That is why it is important to consider the power of the purchased mechanism.
- When working with a wood splitter, you must follow safety rules. For example, when working with a cone mechanism, you should not work with gloves, which can wrap around it upon contact.It is also important to carefully monitor each movement, since the knives that split the logs into logs are quite sharp.
- It is worth installing a protective agent on the cleaver that will prevent unexpected startup of the mechanism.
Having considered the various types of wood splitters, you can assemble your own mechanism with your own hands. This will save you a lot of money. Also, thanks to such mechanisms, you can easily prepare firewood with virtually no effort.
Having made an electric wood splitter with your own hands, you need to check its performance and make sure that it is safe for the person who will use it.
