DIY log-splitter using hydraulic car jack

[neiln]

If your generally fit and healthy then working smart and an as axe can be great, exercise, reasonably quick, cheap.  That said, £150 gets an electric log splitter which works well if a bit slow, and I've spent they and more on axes now!

There's plenty of technique and tips that you can learn for hand splitting, here or YouTube.  I've been at it 7 years now, so fairly practised, know the different wood and what it needs, know a few tricks for awkward bits, have multiple different axes that helps a bit, and know when to just noodle a lump with the saw!  I enjoy it though, done about 32 M3 over the last 2 years, not bad for a home owner non pro.

[scbk]

Don't bother with a bottle jack type splitter, it will be painfully slow.

 

If you want to make one yourself for home use, have a look at electric cone/screw splitters. You can usually get the cone part on ebay, then maybe a 2nd hand motor locally, and a few other bits