Splitting force
The greatest force that the wood splitter is able to apply to the workpiece in the process of splitting.
This parameter is relevant for hydraulic and rack units (see "Type"). Even in the simplest such devices, the splitting force reaches several tons. In general, high force allows you to cope with hard and thick workpieces, however, it requires high power and strength, which significantly affects the price and weight of the entire unit. Therefore, it is worth choosing a model according to this characteristic, taking into account the specifics of the work.
So, for use in the private sector, a wood splitter with a splitting force of up
to 5 tons is considered quite sufficient, for boiler rooms and other relatively large consumers —
5-8 tons (up to 10 tons), and
more powerful devices are intended mainly for industrial use.
Cylinder stroke
The distance between the two extreme points of piston movement in the hydraulic log splitter (see "Type"). The greater this distance, the greater, usually, the maximum log length can be (see above). In addition, knowing the stroke of the piston, you can approximately estimate the smallest length of the log that the wood splitter can handle. For example, if the stroke is 60 cm, and the maximum log length is 80 cm, then the minimum distance between the nozzle and the stop will be 80 — 60 = 20 cm. For a guaranteed split in such a wood splitter, the log must be no shorter than 25 — 30 cm.
Working stroke (split/return)
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.
Oil volume (hydraulic system)
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.
Voltage
The nominal mains voltage for which the wood splitter with an electric motor is designed (see "Motor type"). This parameter can also be called "Network type", because. The two main options differ not only in voltage:
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230 V. Ordinary household networks, available almost everywhere where there is electricity at all. Most log splitters with this power supply can be connected to a regular outlet, except that for the most powerful models (3.5 kW or more) it may be necessary to connect directly to the shield. However, units with similar power belong mainly to the industrial class, and in them manufacturers prefer to use three-phase 400 V power supply.
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400 V. Three-phase networks used primarily to power heavy industrial equipment. At home, it is far from always possible to connect to such networks, but in workshops, sawmills, etc., usually, there are no problems with it. Thus, such a power supply is mainly used in high-power wood splitters, for which 230 V networks are poorly suited. However, there are exceptions: on the market you can find three-phase units of 3.5 kW and even less. This is due to the fact that three-phase networks have a number of common advantages over single-phase ones: in particular, they better tolerate loads while operating numerous connected equipment, and also allow you to more accurately keep records of electricity consumption. So if you have to use the wood sp
...litter often, in large quantities and/or simultaneously with other “gluttonous” power tools, and there is a 400 V connection at the place of its use, you should pay attention to three-phase models, even if high power is not needed.Max. power
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.)