Can your wood splitter split any wood if it is frozen solid? If the splitter’s hydraulics are frozen, you are not going to be splitting any wood at all.
There is a reason why people split firewood during the fall. It is just too cold to do so in the winter.
Some folks will get away with splitting all their wood during fall as they prepare for winter; however, if your wood supply is running low during the coldest days of the year, it is possible to breathe some life into your frozen wood splitter by taking several precautions.
Precaution 1: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Own a gas wood splitter? Be careful where and when you use it. Sure, you could drag it into your garage or barn to stay dry and warm; however, you will also be breathing in some deadly exhaust fumes.
Working your gas log splitter in a closed space is like running a car in your garage with the door closed. It will emit carbon monoxide, which is odorless and capable of silently and slowly killing you.
Who is going to stack your firewood if you are all a bunch of stiffs?
If you want to split some wood indoors wearing your favorite camo pajamas, then consider purchasing an electric wood splitter.
With electric wood splitters, you never have to worry about gasoline or fumes, making it a cleaner and safer alternative to splitting woods indoors.
Precaution 2: Hydraulic Oil
If you keep your wood splitter outside in freezing weather, do not expect it to work as it should when spring comes.
Doing so will lead to the machine’s hydraulic oil turning to a jelly-like slush when temperatures plunge below 40 degrees.
You could be tempted to switch thinner oil, but doing so will lead to your log splitter overheating the next time you use it.
If you want your splitter to start and run as it should, consider installing a magnetic block heater before storing it. If it will not stay warm enough when you start it, then just leave the heater on as you use the splitter.
The next time you are running low on firewood during winter, remember to bring out your wood splitter before braving the cold winter weather with an axe.
It is a lot easier to split and stack some firewood using a splitter without having to brave frostbit fingertips.
