France in Focus

Has anyone got a log splitter?
Are they worth buying - if so can anyone give me any recommendations of what to look for please.

Thanks

I got one from Bricodepot a couple of years back, not something for everyday use but it did what I wanted, we normally have a corde at 50 cm but some of them are too heavy for OH, so we would have a few hrs splitting, think i was just over 200€.

Are you in with local farmers? They usually have them.
I always get one to do any log splitting with a large tractor one.
Back in the Lot I was able to use it myself.
Of course there's always my trusted axe for lighter logs, but the back always comes of worse these days.
A bottle of scotch usually does wonders in payement.

Char, I'm loyal to my hache de fendage. type Merlin éclateur. Too many tools already, so I only did some window shopping In the past, looking at what the brico sheds had to offer. I've seen several recalls for the high-power log-splitters here in France, safety problems, so a recent consumer test would be helpful. And hands-on experience of the forum members of course. I was surprised to see that even Système-D keeps talking about 220 V mains (twenty-five years ago we made the switch to 230 V in continental Europe), but this is one of the many tests on the French side of the internet. I'll have a look what the Germans and Nordics have to say about the quality and reliability of log-splitters.

This is one of the many German tests: 15 compared. See the test results = zum Test. Now direction of my online Swedish language training course....

For me well worth the money Char.

We have 3 log burners but, in addition, our central heating is wood/pellet fueled. We have the usual 1 meter logs which we cut and store each year. Inevitably, some are cut a tad short and others long because of knots, bends, etc. The chaudier takes up to 55 cms logs and the burners vary but require shorter cut logs.

So, you need to decide:-
1. what size of logs do you want to split,
2. how thick will the logs be (the wider the more power you need)
3.how mobile/manoeuvrable do you want it to be (eg weight and wheels) ?

The splitters come in two types - those that lay on the ground and split logs horizontally and upright ones that split them stood-up. I went for the upright style as I decided there was less back strain to be had that way. Some argue that horizontal is safer.

I tend to leave logs in big chunky bits to dry as i) I'm in no forced hurry to use them and ii) bigger burns more slowly in the chaudier, so I needed a splitter that could manage a fairly wide girth of log and apply a good ton force down onto the logs.

In terms of height of log I decided on a 1.10 meter capacity to accommodate those logs cut slightly longer.

Our splitter is heavy, stand alone, big electric motor and hydraulics and has two wheels to manhandle it around but, in truth, it stands where it is and does not move about to be stored out of the way.

I hope that helps.

I've got a powerfull hydraulic splitter which attaches to my tractor. It's a fabulous machine but necessary to couple it up to the tractor when needed so a faff when only a few logs need splitting & can't be used indoors for obvious reasons.
Because of this I bought one of these https://www.dema-france.com/articles/fe ... -4374.html
It's an absolute gem of a machine & for this season I've not used the tractor jobby this season.
I've split about 4 cords of wood so far with absolutely no problems although I do confess to a simple modification to the anoying safety system to make it foot operated.
The machine is used in the barn where I bring in small trailer loads of unsplit logs (about 1 M3), to the machine & split 'em where I stack 'em so the handling is greatly reduced.
Modified it'll handle logs of about 450 mm dia. (300mm as supplied) x 500mm long (high).
The machine is extremely well built & has taken anything I've asked it to split without problems.
Definately a machine I'd recommend
This is machine with modification

For anyone logging this tool is brilliant. Rolls big trunks & keeps 'em off the ground for cutting thus avoiding hitting ground with chain whic always happens no matter how carefull you are https://www.fuxtec.fr/detail/0d96f10721 ... gL0CvD_BwE

I had this one :
https://www.manomano.fr/p/fendeur-de-bu ... d=33942221
No more having the use of it, I gave it to my son who cuts his wood himself in the forest.
It's a good machine and quite cheap.
We managed to split logs up to 30 cm diam with no effort.
The only drawback is the length : 52 cm. And it's even worse if you use the "split in 4" supplied accessory.
Not a problem for my son as he is careful not to cut too long, because he knows. But when I used to buy firewood from local guys, quite often we had some longer logs that I had to re-cut. (our fire place takes up to 56)
So, my advice is to check the length carefully if you purchase one !

Now having to buy in wood [mention]Biloute[/mention] we have the same problem of some logs being to long for our wood burner 50c being the max.
Back in the Lot when I was in with local farmers and each winter cut all I could cut lengths exactly, usually about 100 stere at a time.

Wow, thanks everyone you've given us lots of food for thought.

We've always used a wedge and either lump hammer or sledge hammer to split with, but I'm not allowed to do too much repetitive work with my right arm and using my left arm to swing a lump hammer is just dangerous and my OH has developed some form of arthritis in his neck, which if he tries splitting too much wood like that he gets really bad migraines.

We've somehow managed to end up with 20 odd steres of wood mainly oak so there's a lot of splitting that needs doing and I thought you lovely people would be able to point us in the right direction.

I'll read through everything when I've got time to take it all in properly.

Thanks ever so much everyone once again - have a lovely evening,
Char