Log splitters: the best manual and electronic devices to prepare winter firewood – Gardens Illustrated

By Alice Tuffery

Published: Thursday, 13 October 2022 at 12:00 am

Your mind might automatically jump to axes when you think about chopping wood, but there are plenty of other tools offering an easier and safer way to cut up logs. We’ve rounded up the best splitters on the market, from cast iron splitting heads to electronic machines, which do all the hard work for you.

Whether you’re stocking up on kindling and logs for your fireplace or plan to crack out your pizza oven, barbecue or fire pit, these contraptions should help.

For more advice, check out our guide on how to chop wood and kindling, and the best tools.

The best log splitters for safe, simple wood preparation

Kindling Cracker Firewood Splitter

If you’re nervous about using a blade or just want to make log splitting as stress-free as possible, try this smart tool. Thanks to its central, cast iron head inside a sturdy frame, it eliminates the need for any moving blades.

Just place your log inside the upper ring and hammer it down through the splitting head using a blunt tool or another piece of wood.

Unlike other log splitting devices, this one is made entirely from cast iron, so it’s a solid bit of kit and should last for decades. Just touch it up with a new lick of paint to keep it looking its best.

Forest Master Lightweight Electric Log Splitter