If you are going to buy a log splitter for home use, you can choose a machine that has a rating of about ten tons or more. If you need a pressure of twenty five tons or more, you need to purchase the professional models that are hydraulic. If you prefer, you could also avail of a manual model which uses mechanical leverage in forcing wood into an assembly composed of a sharpened blade and corkscrew which is directly powered by an agricultural tractor.

A simple machine can be driven by an electric motor that is used for driving the hydraulic pump. A diesel or gasoline engine with or without a tractor can also be used. It has the advantage of being able to be moved into the site of work so that you do not have to transport the logs to the location of the machine. The split logs can then be moved more easily by trailers, trucks or bulk bags. But no matter what kind of power you use, there are always two methods that are utilized by the splitter. One is a hydraulic piston that is used in driving the wood into a stationary blade, and the other is a corkscrew mandrel that carries the wood into a wedge. There can be attachments to the log splitter that can be used to prevent the split woods from falling directly into the ground.