Quality Craft Foot-Operated Log Splitter - 1.5-Ton, Model# LSF-001
3.9
5
52
52
Workable Foot Operated Log Splitter
I have several physical problems so purchasing this was a shot in the dark. However, I am pleased to report that other than not reading the instructions first I have had no problems using it. I have split logs with knots, twisted, forks, bowed, whatever... it may take me a minute or two to figure out how to place the strange logs in the splitter so it will work but work it does. I am extremely pleased with it. I thought I was going to have to fight my brother to keep it. It works and that is all that counts. Excellent purchase especially since I bought it on sale and had it delivered to the local store to avoid shipping costs.
April 26, 2013
You Get What You Pay For
This splitter is a great idea, but poor quality control makes it useless. The ratchet system to keep tension on the log is designed to work like a car jack, but does not hold in the slots, so you can step on the pedal all day long with no results. I bent down to hold the piece in place and managed to split one 5 in. log...after 5 minutes of trying. Returning it in the morning for a refund!
January 19, 2012
Great Product
I purchased one of these wood splitters, two years ago and it is still like I just got it, I have bad migrains and splitting wood would kill my head and when I got this splitter, I can split the wood and not get a headache from hitting the wood with an axe. GREAT PRODUCT GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 13, 2011
Works for kindling, could use more oomph
Bought the foot-powered splitter to supplement our woodcutting tools. It does work as advertised to split kindling. I agree with the earlier reviewer who indicated that it requires more of an angle than indicated to achieve the right racheting action of the backstop. For splitting cedar and aspen it works like a charm. For oak it required all my weight on the foot pedal, but it did split. The only times it's failed completely is when there is an awkward angle of the log which happens to fall between one of the backstop positions, making it impossible for the backstop to lock on firmly and exert the necessary pressure to move the log against the blade. Oh, and the first several uses left green streaks on all my kindling.
So, overall, functional, but would be better if there were a little more oomph to the lever action, so that it split the denser firewood with a little less effort. Still, it's portable and non-powered, so it does do the job.
June 13, 2011
1 rick is all I got
It worked good for awhile. The first thing to break was the foot pedal. so I started using the bar. Later the tension spring holders broke. I was down to 7 logs left. Basically it split 1 rick and that was it. When it worked it worked good, its durability is not. But for this price I should be happy.
June 6, 2011
Foot operated splitter that works
I have owned this small splitter for several months. I use it to re-split pieces of stove wood that are too large for use on a relatively warm day. The pieces I "re-split" are similar in size to the piece displayed in the picture on the Northern website. I have not yet found a piece it won't split...even those with knots, etc. It is not meant to be your primary splitter unless your logs are 8" to 10" in width and 16" in length or less.
My wife uses it to split the smaller logs when I am splitting the 15" to 20" with my 14 lb maul.
Works great. I have recommended it to my friends and relatives who also burn wood.
March 21, 2011
Doesn't work
This "log splitter" simply does not work at all. I should have purchased a more expensive model.
March 14, 2011
easy to use!
The splitter was easy to assemble and easy to use. It allows us to split larger pieces of wood that would otherwise not burn well. It stores well out of the way for the off season. The price was really right!
March 14, 2011
Pretty good
I have used this product for a day and wish to offer a few thoughts. If my impression changes, I will re-post.
Overall, the log splitter is pretty good. As others have mentioned, it really does not work consistently on logs at the maximum rated dimensions, and tight grained logs with knots can be difficult to split (as they are with any tool).
My main point to those purchasing or considering purchasing this item is that I belive the instructions are incorrect on one point. One is instructed to adjust the pedal height to 12-13" off the ground. At this height, my unit did not work. That is because that height did not produce enough travel of the splitting blade into the wood to move the black back-stop at the opposite end of the log on to the next ratchet stop point. Thus the next step on the pedal did not advance the blade any farther into the log.
But when I increased the pedal height to about 15", I did get sufficient blade penatration so that on each step down on the pedal, the blade advanced into the log and the back-stop caught on the next ratchet point and I got more splitting. Of course, a higher pedal height makes the splitter a bit less stable, so it really helps to use it next to a shelving unit or a work bench that one can hold onto as he steps on the pedal.
Once I figured all this out, the unit worked fine and I expect to get a lot of use out of it.
February 14, 2011
Great Little Splitter
This unit is exactly what it is. Don't buy it if you're trying to split huge pieces of wood. Don't expect it to power through knotted and extremely dense or gnarled wood. It's foot operated, people. It's limited by your own strength and weight.
What it IS good for is splitting kindling. I split straight grained small to average sized lightweight (think Cottonwood or Poplar) logs into kindling with the unit, and it does it with minimal effort. I can split a month's worth of kindling for daily burning in 20 minutes. I've tried splitting a relatively larger oak log, and no surprise, it was really hard.
Buy this unit with realistic expectations, and it will fulfill them. Buy it because you're trying to avoid dropping dime on a powered splitter, and you'll end up dropping additional dime to buy another splitter anyway. It is what it is, and it does it's limited workload very well.
On that basis, I would highly recommend this unit over a hatchet or axe for splitting kindling, but nothing more.
February 2, 2011