My husband loves splitting wood. That may be an understatement. After her suffered a stroke six years ago, he was not able to saw or split wood like he use to. He finally found this tool and he loves it. Splits wood with minimal effort. Wood definitely purchase again.

OK, first off: If you CAN swing an axe or maul, that will work faster than this. But if you're like me and for whatever reason can't/don't want to go that route, this is a GREAT option. We had a bunch of trees taken down and are chopping them up for firewood. My husband does the first round with an axe, then I do the splitting with the Logosol, and we both have been very pleased with it so far. We wanted something that could handle fairly large logs, and this does the job.

A few things to know: (1) You need a good-size, heavy log or stump to operate this splitter on. You can put it on/take it off said log/stump easily, but can't really work it without that. (2) If you've seen the videos where every piece splits with like two "drops" of the weight onto the blade, know that it can take a dozen or more drops to get through a large piece -- but it has eventually split every piece I've tried, some quite large.

I especially like how I can position the blade exactly where I want it and can keep it safely out of the way while positioning the log. Also, some of the reviews I read before purchasing noted a plastic part that eventually broke, and the company must've taken that into consideration because ours came with a spare of that part, although the original one has so far held up. Very happy with our Logosol splitter!

This is the most amazing device that I have come across in many years. Whoever thought this up should get an award for invention of the year. The Smart Splitter works perfectly. It is well made and strong. I am 70 years old and have been splitting fire wood all of my life. This is a great improvement over all the methods I used to use. It takes all of the awkwardness out of handling odd shapes and cuts. You can do more in a shorter period of time. You can use 2-hands to throw the hammer down with maximum force. It works very well on logs up to about 8 - 9" in diameter. It does require physical effort to use, but your effort seems to produce more results. It excels at making kindling wood. The axe blade on the inside allows you to slice a log up into small pieces very quickly. I have found this type of kindling makes starting fires a lot easier. In the case of larger logs: if you can split them in half with wedges and a hammer, then they will work in the Smart Splitter. I keep the splitter set up in my garage, next to my inside wood pile. I have a 2nd base log setup near my outside wood pile and just move the splitter to that base when I want to work outside. The inside setup is great for making kindling and reducing the size of split wood as you go along. This is so good that I have mostly given up on the idea of getting a power splitter. After storm Sandy, I have so much wood I don't think I will ever be able to use it all. I will probably rent a power splitter to take care of the big wood; some logs are 20" in dia.!

This device certainly makes splitting wood easier, if it is the right wood. If the log is more than 8 inches thick, this thing will have a problem easily splitting it. For smaller logs it works well, but I have yet to split a log where the wedge busts one in half on the first drop of the weight. All that to say, it will split larger logs, but the larger they are, the more you will have to work. As I said in the title, this work is easier than swinging a maul, but overall slower. I think it would be great if you were physically unable to swing a maul.

Another thing that others have noted is the white plastic washer? that separates the weight from the wedge. I don't fully understand its function except maybe to protect the metal from warping from repeated strikes. It also works as a noise buffer. Anyway, it completely tore up after about six hours of use. Mine literally melted due to the heat that built up from being repeatedly hit.

Finally, you will need a large log for a base. I guess you could build a platform for it, but using a giant log is really what it was designed for, and if you don't have access to one, then don't get this product.

Final note, this lasted about 2 seasons before the maul broke off of the metal cylinder. To be honest, I would usually slam the weight onto the wedge instead of letting it fall, because it was a more efficient way to split the wood. However, I think it should have withstood the slamming, it is steel...

I did not buy another one.

This product is even better than described. Hubby loves it.