Log Splitters: Electric vs. Gas

If you’re considering buying a new log splitter, you may have begun to debate whether you want an electric log splitter or a gas-powered model. What’s the difference? What are the benefits of each? Here at DR Power Equipment, we spend a heck of a lot of time designing, manufacturing, and talking about log splitters, and we think we have some useful insight for you.

Electric log splitters are functionally the same as gas-powered log splitters, they just use an electric motor to power the hydraulics (or kinetic flywheels) rather than a gas-powered combustion engine. They plug into any standard household outlet.

Gas log splitters are ideal for the tougher, larger logs that many who heat with wood fuel need to split. They come in many styles: traditional hydraulic models, those with a two-way splitting ram, horizontal-vertical models, and super-fast kinetic models.

Overall, electric log splitters and gas-powered log splitters are each well suited to a specific type of user. The electric splitter is ideal for those who like to split close to home (in their barn, garage, or on a porch) and have mostly small- to medium-sized logs. Many people enjoy having an electric splitter for splitting kindling on an as-needed basis. The gas log splitter is better suited to users who know they will need to split bigger, tougher logs and may want to split far from an electrical outlet. Some people even like having one of each, a larger gas unit for the splitting the bulk of their wood, then a smaller electric log splitter for splitting kindling and other odd logs throughout the winter.

Think you know which one’s best for you? If electric power is for you, check out the DR 10-Ton Electric log splitterwith Dual-Action splitting wedge or theDR 5-Ton Electric Wood Splitterfor lightweight, portable splitting. Looking for gas power? TheDR RapidFire log splitters are the fastest splitters on the market! Or, check out the rest of the DR line-up.