4 Homemade Log Splitters That Actually Work

If you are lucky enough to have a wood-burning stove or fireplace in your home this winter, you get to enjoy the cozy and festive atmosphere of crackling fire, the smell of wood smoke outside, and the pleasant pop of flames consuming wood logs. Many people would love to have their own real fireplace inside on cold winter nights! However, the downside to having a wood-burning fireplace is the constant need for firewood and kindling. Using an axe or saw to chop wood is hard work. However, using a chainsaw is noisy and can be dangerous. Instead, one of the easiest ways to split logs for firewood is by using a log splitter. 

Log splitters come in a variety of sizes and types, with special models made to handle logs of different sizes. However, buying a heavy-duty, high-powered log splitter can cost hundreds of dollars. In fact, some models cost over $1,400 or $1,500 when purchased at a traditional retailer. That hefty price tag motivates many people to seek an alternative – such as creating their own log splitter at home! However, not every homemade contraption is created equal. This article rounds up a list of homemade log splitters that actually work – so you can learn from others’ efforts and maybe even find a good “DIY” solution for yourself! Looking at log splitter kits is a great place to start. That way, you will know you are getting good parts in a proven assembly model.

Build Your Own Log Splitter: All Miscellaneous Parts from Northern Hydraulics

First on the list of homemade log splitters is a log splitter kit with all miscellaneous parts from the company Northern Hydraulics. The experts at Northern Hydraulics put together an easy-to-use web shopping experience that allows you to choose each part from a range of options, mixing and matching until you achieve a kit with all of the necessary parts of your choice. The price for your log splitter kit will vary based on the specific parts you choose as you build a homemade log splitter to your own specifications. The cost of the assembly kit will range from $1,000 to well over $3,000 depending on the parts you choose.

Users may choose individual log splitter parts online using the drop-down table or can call Northern Hydraulics’ specialists to get one-on-one support and answers to questions about how to build a custom log splitter.

Log Splitter Build Kit from Tooltuff Direct

Tooltuff Direct has multiple Log Splitter Build Kits, which offer you options for your own “DIY” log splitter build. These range in cost from less than $200 to around $1,000. Even more helpful may be their “Log Splitter Support” webpage. This section of their website seeks to answer questions about log splitter design, the speed of a log splitter cycle time, how big of an engine you should use for your given pump, and much more. Their interactive log splitter app offers estimates, links to a log splitter parts kit assembly guide, and helpful YouTube video tutorials on various stages of assembling a log splitter. 

Everything You Need from Log Splitter Plans

Log Splitter Plans is a thorough website for the true “DIY-er.” According to the website, “building your own log splitter from scratch can be a fun, educational, and money-saving project.” The website offers a complete list of log splitter parts to buy at their most affordable on websites like Amazon and eBay, a variety of plans to build a variety of log splitters, and suggestions for a range of log-related tools and accessories (such as firewood storage racks and log bins). 

This website also offers a range of firewood tips, such as how to store wood during the winter, where to buy firewood, and guides on how to dry and stack firewood after it has been cut and split. You can also find suggestions about how to determine which type of firewood is best for burning in a home fireplace and learn about the different kinds of soft and hardwoods. Log Splitter Plans is something of a “one-stop-shop” for everything you need to build your own log splitter, get and keep the wood, and use it all winter long! 

Walmart Log Splitter Build Kit

Even Walmart has a log splitter build kit! There are a few different options, mostly on the lower-end of the cost spectrum. One option, the 16 GPM Pump, Coupler, mount, Bolts, Huskee, Speeco, and other materials for a 1” Engine Crankshaft is an affordable and easy way to get started building your own log splitter at a cost of just $295.60. This log splitter is probably one of the most affordable out there. However, if you want to ensure you use the highest-quality parts or a more sophisticated build plan, you may want to compare this kit to others on the market.