I tend to be a "buy once, cry once" guy with tools. For my chainsaw and backpack blower, I went to the local power equipment store (not hardware store), and bought Stihl. For my leaf vacuum, I stalked Craigslist until I could get myself a Billy Goat with a commercial-grade engine and all-steel construction. I tend to avoid cheap tools, not just because the landfills are already overflowing with Chinese crap, but because often times they are not that much of a cost savings. That backpack blower? Maybe $150 more than the one at the big box store, but it's the same thing landscapers use professionally. That leaf vacuum? Cheaper, since I bought one on the secondary market, and way higher quality than Crapsman or whatever Lowes/Home Depot are selling. I had my eye on a log splitter for a while. Moving to 2/3 of an acre with a dozen Tulip Poplar trees means landscaping isn't a hobby, it's a requirement. Tulip Poplars live fast and die hard - casually dropping huge limbs, because they grow so darn fast and large (mine are all over 125' tall). So, my arborist is out at least once every two years to reduce weight and catch problems before the problem lands on my house. That means I have a pretty decent backlog of wood. First, came the axe... dad's 70's 'Chopper.' Then, I realized you can't split a 24" round with an axe, so out came a maul and chainsaw. This gets old... fast. Over coffee and complaints at work, my colleague mentioned the WEN log splitter. Said he and his kids split two cords in a weekend. He bought it with the notion of "if it makes it a year, it's still cheaper than a rental." Not great for the environment, but intriguing logic. My colleague also told me that he beats the hell out of it - leaves it under a tarp in the woods (not a surprise, it's super-heavy), and lives dangerously by running it on an orange 18/2 power cord (yikes!). My colleague and I discussed the perils of trying to go "buy once, cry once" with log splitters. The "really good ones" are gas, and are massive. We agreed that while our yards were large, we weren't "outbuilding people" with a quonset hut and farm-grade equipment, which seemed to be the market for the gas splitters. On the other hand, the reviews on the electric ones aren't confidence-inducing. Since he had already taken the plunge and was satisfied, I figured I'd give it a go - I paid just under $250 for it, as had he. I also bought the "USA-Made" 12ga power cord, which wasn't actually made in the USA, but was Southwire (a reputable brand) and fairly priced... some kind of bundle I think you can still get. The WEN arrived in a beat-up box... end was crushed, but contents were fine. Two Advil later, having gotten it downstairs to my walk-out basement, I put it together, opting for the "comfort height" option. Assembly requires two people, because it's so damn heavy, and the screw tolerances and such were typical Chinese, so it took some patience. You do need to remove parts to use it at "comfort height." Put newspaper down if you are working on a carpet - tool grease abounds... you've been warned. First, some important CAVEATS: (1) My wood is very light, so I exceed the manufacturer's spec for log diameter. This also might be why I'm having so much success with it - Tulip Poplar wood is one step away from Balsa. On the Janka wood rating scale, you see this. (2) My wood is very straight-grained, so it's easy to split. Whenever I get to a limb-knotted log, things get tougher I think it's important for reviewers to discuss their wood's hardness, as pictures show others clearly violating the manufacturer's spec for log diameter... with soft wood, you can do that, but harder wood could be a different story. Look up the Janka scale if you have no idea what I'm talking about. Here's my operational experience: - The process is a little slow compared with axe-splitting until you get the hang of it and use all the features of the tool. Most of the time is waiting for the splitter to travel the distance to split the log, so WEN conveniently adds a stop-adjustment to expedite splitting of shorter logs. THIS IS A TWO-PERSON JOB since the splitter requires two-hand operation, and travels backwards far faster than forwards during splitting operation. - The splitter gets hot, so keep cords, kids hands and other things away from the motor's aluminum fins. - The splitter requires a different hydraulic fluid in colder weather, and routine checks of the hydraulic fluid. I suspect this - alongside wood beyond the limits of the splitter in hardness plus diameter - is the leading cause of failure. - The splitter is really heavy. I know I keep mentioning this, but it's inconveniently heavy, and the wheels only help if you are moving across level surfaces. Plus, as others mention in their reviews, the wheel cotter pins are absolute crap. That's not integral to the operation of the equipment so I'm not deducting any stars, especially as the stand component is somewhat unique to this splitter. I use mine right next to where I keep it, but the weight does make storage a challenge. ALSO - the weight is concentrated in a somewhat unstable way, meaning that moving it across sloped areas is challenging. Work in teams and be careful! Others have mentioned, but it's worth saying again -- don't do what my colleague does with cords! Play it safe and use the correct-gauge cord - it's not just about fire safety! The resistance of the undersized wire will create a voltage drop that could run the motor at levels it wasn't designed for, which could cause premature motor failure. The added benefit? Use that same heavy-duty cord with your corded chainsaw in your splitting area. Safer all-around and helps your equipment run at the correct voltages/currents. I'm only down a cord of wood, but so far so good! The biggest advantage for me is splitting down 15-24" rounds into halfs and quarters. From there, I could finish with the Chopper or just keep on going with the splitter, but getting to avoid breaking out the maul for those awkward, huge rounds is just fantastic. For its performance-to-price ratio, this splitter is my favorite purchase of 2021. I don't know that I'm a convert to the WEN brand or anything - certainly the fit/finish tolerances don't induce me to want to buy a WEN saw or WEN drill, but this particular piece of equipment is pretty limited in terms of mechanical components such that I suspect if I keep an eye on temperatures and fluid levels, and don't run the motor too hot (e.g. split for more than an hour or so at a time), I should be fine. It's by no means the best equipment one could get, and certainly won't do if you're trying to split down old-growth oak or something like that, but for the Northern VA area where tulip trees and other light wood abound, and you need a homeowner-grade/sized tool that won't break the bank, it's a great buy.
