I disagree with Computeruser's statement that you need a 9+ horsepower splitter with a 16gpm pump and 4.5" cyclinder, this is way overkill in machine and money for splitting firewood unless you are consistently splitting something very hard and dense like madrone. It will cost more to buy the machine and operate it than a smaller machine and it will be noisier, but the wood won`t be any more split. Modern splitters use a two stage pump. The first stage is the high flow/lower pressure stage which quickly moves the cylinder and splits most wood, including most of the beech and hard maple that I commonly split. On occassion the pump kicks down in speed(flow)but jacks up the pressure to split the gnarly stuff and there are extremely few pieces of wood that a 5hp 4" ram machine won`t split. A friend of mine put a pressure gauge on his splitter and found that most hardwood will split with only 600 psi output pressure from the pump. Those pieces that my machine can`t split get ripped in half with a chainsaw. My splitter has literally split hundreds of face cord between my kids and I with hardly any that it won`t split. It`s a lowly old MTD with a 5hp Briggs and a 4" ram and initially I felt like I was cheaping out when I bought it but it was all I could afford, now I realize that I purchased an extremely capable machine.

Yes I have and I'm not too happy! I have a 6 ton 2 speed DR I purchased back in October of '06. Very limited use. This last week I needed to re-split 3 cord I finally found from a cutter for my stove. Chunks were to large for this stove. About a 1/2 cord into this pile my splitter flat lost its best busting pressure. The slower speed is its higher pressure. I go on-line and Chat twice, then called to speak to someone who might assist with knowledge about the problem and a corrective action. Well parts, like seals and gaskets are not even available! And, DR doesn't even have a 6 ton anymore. A small, low sitting 5 or a trailerable 10 ton...yes. Big bucks for the latter ones, Not to be discouraged I went on-line and spent 12 hours over a 2 days period looking for parts to this model/ design. The closest looking design was a Ryobi where the fluid resevoir is in the main body. The pump and valve are all part of this certain configuration and I could not locate ANYTHING! It's possible one option would be to buy the whole 'Main body' separately. But, this idea, along with horrendous freight charges I'm not considering! It still works if I fiddle with the faster speed/ lower pressure right close the piece. But that old, once impressive and worth bragging about busting ability is gone! I even spoke with a DR mechanic from a distributor and he admitted DR was terrible about not stocking parts...least wise for splitters. I went looking for another one splitter but I'm pretty bummed about these electrics if you can't repair the hydraulics with the things. Since '06 Ive purchased a couple skid steers for my snow removal business. I have an order in for a skid steer mounted splitter. I know, not everyone has this option and they still burn expensive fuel. But, it's simpler with just a ram, a valve and the equipments hydraulics. But, I'm staying away from the electrics. They do work, though...for awhile. Then you have nothing but a big piece of iron laying around. Repair stations will tell you the cost to repair a hydraulic issue isn't worth the money! That's what I was told!

Dimplex makes a nice insert. I'd forget the logs bit though. To make it look right you need it right to begin with. We have a Desa insert as well and it's nowhere near as nice as the Dimplex (Lowe's)

All electric heating devices put out the same amount of heat. At 110 volts, the maximum is 5k+ btus per hour at 1500 watts. Exposed, behind glass doesn't change heat output at all.