Best Manual Log Splitters for 2019 Reviewed

ComparisonManual log splitters do not offer as much power as their motorized siblings but still give you some leverage and make the process easier. But their biggest advantage is the lower price.

Here are our most recommended models – with ratings, prices and reviews:

Sun Joe LJ10M

Sun Joe LJ10M

Our rating: 4.5 stars Very good  

Customer rating: 0 reviews

Price: $249.00

Hydraulic: A piston at your service – this manual wood splitter is easy to use, doesn’t require much labor but still offers a solid power. And it’s not overly expensive.

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Logosol Smart-Splitter

Logosol Smart-Splitter

Our rating: 4.5 stars Very good  

Customer rating: 0 reviews

Price: $165.33

Smart Splitter: An interesting concept – great for small to medium logs or for making kindling. It’s safe, easy to use, only requires a large log as a base.

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Kindling Cracker

Kindling Cracker

Our rating: 5 stars Excellent!  

Customer rating: 0 reviews

Price: $69.99

For kindling: The best tool for making kindling you can find – safe, easy to use and fast. But not for pieces thicker than 6″.

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Manual splitters lie somewhere in-between motorized units and basic tools like a splitting axe or sledge and wedge. They are a lot cheaper than those electric or gas powered models but still give you some leverage and make splitting wood easier.

Also, they are mostly compact and lightweight, ideal for camping for example.

They come in several types, there are simple (but effective) tools for making kindling, foot-operated devices or tools that use a sliding weight to push a wedge through the wood (slide-hammers or the Smart-Splitter).

And we reviewed even a manual hydraulic log splitter which doesn’t have any engine but still employs a piston to press the log onto a blade.

Comparison with other models:

Model Price Our rating   Splitting force For Operation Weight Max log length Cycle time (approx.)
Sun Joe LJ10M $249.00 4.5 stars up to 10 tons manual 87 lbs 18″ 20-40 seconds
Logosol Smart-Splitter $165.33 4.5 stars manual 19.84 lbs depends on user
Kindling Cracker $69.99 5.0 stars manual 10 lbs up to 14″ approx. depends on user
Quality Craft Foot-Operated Log Splitter 4.0 stars 1.5 tons foot-operated 23 lbs 18″
Anaconda 878 Slide-Hammer Check here: 3.5 stars manual 13.9 lbs depends on user

 

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