How Exactly Do Log Splitter Hydraulics Work?

Hydraulic log splitters are among the best pieces of landscaping equipment to own. Whether you’re a professional landscaper or a homeowner with a large property, these devices allow you to chop logs with ease and make yard debris more manageable. However, if you’re going to use these pieces of equipment, it’s vital that you first understand how they work. Read on to learn how exactly log splitter hydraulics work and what you can do to keep them performing at their best.

What Are Hydraulic Systems?

To fully grasp the engineering behind your hydraulic log splitter, you need to first brush up on what a hydraulic system is. A fundamental hydraulic system consists of several cylinder shafts and a pump that pushes hydraulic fluid into them. This produces large amounts of pressure, which then provides a mechanism with enough power to lift heavy items or, in this case, cut through thick logs. Hydraulics are one of the most popular components of any working machine as they reduce the need for manual labor and improve jobsite efficiency. Because of this, you can find them in almost any high-powered piece of equipment for a diverse range of industries.

How Log Splitter Hydraulics Function

Now, when it comes to learning how exactly log splitter hydraulics work, it’s important to know the different functions of each component. This way, you can clearly identify their performance and properly gauge how they operate together to help you finish your job. These are the core parts and functions to keep in mind.

Hydraulic Fluid Reservoir

The hydraulic fluid reservoir is the first part of these systems to take note of. This tank holds your machine’s supply of hydraulic fluid and releases it into the attached tubing when the motor starts running. Reservoirs can hold varying amounts of hydraulic fluid depending on the size of your system. So, it’s crucial that you know how much your equipment holds to ensure it’s functioning at an optimal level every time.

Pumping System and Tubing

After starting up your log splitter’s engine, the reservoir releases the hydraulic fluid into the attached tubing where it enters the pump for further distribution. This provides superior control over the system’s functions and allows you to identify how much pressure you’re using at a given time. Once the hydraulic fluid has been used, it’s pumped back into the return valve and through a filter, which deposits it back into the reservoir for future use. Swisher’s log splitters use a unique two-stage pumping system to help maximize cycle time and ensure you get the most possible use out of each liter of hydraulic fluid.

Directional Valves

After leaving the pump, the hydraulic fluid encounters two directional valves. One valve connects the tubing to the back of a cylinder and the other pushes the liquid into the front of the shaft. This is what allows you to control the forward and backward movement of the splitting platform. By directing the hydraulic liquid to the front of the cylinder, the mechanism pushes back; while applying pressure to the back pushes it forward for use.

Cylinders

With the fluid applying pressure, the cylinders within the main shafts move back and forth to make room for it. This is what ultimately generates the power required to cut through logs with ease. It’s important to note that these cylinders are heavy, which is why moving them takes so much force.

Why Use a Hydraulic Log Splitter?

Due to the versatility of the basic hydraulic system, even the landscaping industry finds a regular use for them in the form of log splitters. While there are several different types of these products on the market, such as manual varieties, their hydraulic versions come with several additional benefits to consider. Here are a few reasons why hydraulic log splitters make a worthwhile investment.

Faster Splitting

Since hydraulics don’t require manual labor to snap through logs, one of their primary advantages is that they make for faster splitting times. This is especially true after the system is warmed up and performing at peak efficiency. The faster you can work through logs, the more time you have to devote to other areas of your landscaping project. Just make sure you give the hydraulic fluid time to cool to prevent the machine from overheating.

Cleaner Cuts

Since hydraulic wood splitters cut logs by forcing a sharp edge through it with extreme pressure, this automatically makes for much more defined cuts. Having equal and clean splits makes these pieces of wood easier to stack, and therefore helps you get the most out of storing them for long periods of time. These machines also allow you to lock logs in place before cutting, further ensuring perfect symmetry every time, all while keeping your hands out of the way.

Project Diversity

From cutting wood for winter fires to simply chopping down yard debris for easier removal, hydraulic log splitters can handle a diverse range of projects and accommodate each specific need. This way, you can use the same equipment for a myriad of jobs and only need to change a few key settings to do so.

Protects Your Health

Above all though, hydraulic log splitters are generally better for protecting your personal health. Chopping up wood is physically taxing no matter your level of fitness. As such, even those experienced in this task can suffer from back pain and subsequent injuries later in life. However, splitting logs automatically eliminates a great deal of the physical stress. This protects your back, legs, and neck areas while helping you retain some of that energy for other parts of the job.

When you’re looking to purchase a hydraulic log splitter, you want to know you’re getting a product you can trust. This is why you should turn to our experts at Swisher and allow us to accommodate your needs. With 120-volt electric engines and 2.5-gallon hydraulic tanks, our heavy-duty wood splitters for sale cut through thick logs in seconds. They also accommodate both vertical and horizontal cutting positions, ensuring that you’re able to split logs exactly how you need to. For more information about our equipment and how it can get you splitting logs with ease, give us at Swisher a call or visit our website.