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Performance
Forgiveness
Build Quality
Look & Feel
Price
PROS
CONS
A 7-ton log splitter, the Powerhouse XM 380 electric log splitter provides decent value at a mid-level price. While it’s not the absolute best electric log splitter in its size range, it’s still fairly capable of splitting small and medium sized logs with consistency. Characterized by plus portability and heavy-duty construction, it’s a decent log splitter to use around the house periodically.
Here are some of the main features that the Powerhouse XM 380 electric log splitter has to offer:
Performance
Forgiveness
Build Quality
Look & Feel
Price
PROS
CONS
Capable of splitting logs of diameters up to 24 inches, the Kinetic Log Splitter is a mid-level product in its tonnage class. It produces 12 tons of splitting force and typically does a pretty decent job of splitting wood consistently. Though it’s not the top log splitter in its class, it still offers fairly good construction quality, portability, and performance overall.
The Powerhouse 12-ton Kinetic Flywheel electric log splitter offers the following features:
Next in our electric log splitter reviews, we’ll compare our two log splitters: the XM-380 and XM-680. While these two splitters certainly possess some similarities, they are a lot more different than they are the same.
The most obvious difference between the two is in their respective power and cutting capabilities. Whereas the 7-ton XM-380 does a terrific job of splitting small logs, the 12-ton XM-680 does a much better job at splitting medium sized logs. Neither splitter is flawless when it comes to splitting wood, but both are fairly consistent.
Of course, the XM-680 is bigger and more expensive than the XM-380 as well. In order to secure more power, you need to spend more money. That’s just the way it is. The downside to the larger size of the XM-680 is that it can’t be as easily stored away as the XM-380. Not to mention, it weighs around 30 pounds more.
This, however, does little to affect portability. Both splitters are equipped with wheels and handles which make them reasonably easy to move from place to place.
In the end, the XM-380 is best for those who are only looking to split small logs, while the XM-680 is best for those who are looking to split both small and medium sized logs. The XM-680 is more expensive, but if it’s more power and capacity that you need, you’re going to need to cough up the extra dough.
Now that we’ve reviewed the 380 and 680, let’s compare them to some other log splitters on the market. We’ll start with the Boss Electric Log Splitter.
Available in 5, 7, 8, and 10-ton versions, this splitter shares similar power capabilities with the Powerhouses, but is more consistent at splitting overall.
However, the Boss is also a great deal more expensive. In essence, while the Powerhouse is better used as an around-the-house splitter, the Boss is better used as a commercial or industrial splitter.
Overall, the Goplus is most similar to the XM-380. Whereas the 380 possesses 7 tons of splitting force, the Goplus possesses 6 tons of splitting force.
Both splitters do a reasonable job of splitting small and medium sized logs, but neither one truly excels, lacking consistency.
Equipped with wheels and handles, but are very portable. Where the real difference between the two splitters occurs is in their prices. As it stands currently, the Goplus is about half the price of the 380. So, if you’re trying to choose between the two, it’s highly recommended that you go with the Goplus.
Most similar to the XM-680, the YTL International 10-ton possesses very comparable power and splitting capabilities. However, whereas the XM-680 possesses wheels and handles for easy transport, the YTL is designed as a sitting, stationary splitter that can’t be easily moved.
It should be noted though that the YTL International is about ⅓ the price of the XM-680. That’s quite a bit of money to spend for a slight increase in portability. However, if maximum portability is necessary for you, it’s understandable. In essence, you have a decision between price and portability. If you want to save a lot of money, go with the YTL International. If you want more portability, go with the XM-680.