We've recently been running demos of the Westtech Woodcracker W1350 Log Splitter across the South Island, and the footage coming back has
been nothing short of impressive. Check out the video above showing the W1350 tearing through old man pine, macrocarpa, and blue
gum — three of the toughest, most gnarly timbers you'll encounter in New Zealand — and making it look effortless.
Watching this machine work through dense, knotty hardwood at speed really puts the W1350's capability into perspective.
1,400mm Opening — Split Massive Logs in a Single Pass
The W1350 features a jaw opening of 1,400mm, which means it can split anything up to that diameter in a single pass. That covers the vast majority of logs you'll encounter in land-clearing, arborist, and firewood operations across New Zealand. For anything larger, the technique is straightforward: pull the top of the log off first, then roll it over and split the remainder. No repositioning the machine, no wasted time — just practical, no-nonsense engineering that keeps the job moving.
Speed That Other Methods Can't Match
What really stands out in the demo footage is the sheer speed of the W1350. Compared to other methods the Woodcracker operates on a completely different level. Cycle times are dramatically faster, and the excavator-mounted setup means the operator can grab, position, split, and move on to the next log without leaving the cab. There's no handling logs by hand, no feeding a separate machine, and no bottlenecks. It turns what used to be a slow, labour-intensive process into a continuous, high-output operation.
Why Split Before Chipping?
For operators running chipping operations, the W1350 solves one of the biggest productivity bottlenecks in the workflow. Large-diameter logs are the enemy of chipper throughput — they jam infeed systems, slow cycle times, and force the chipper to work harder for longer on each piece. By splitting oversized rounds down to size before they hit the chipper, the W1350 keeps your chipper running at peak capacity. The chipper spends less time struggling with large pieces and more time doing what it does best: producing chip at volume. The result is a measurable increase in tonnes per hour and a smoother, more consistent operation from start to finish.
Interested in the Westtech W1350 or the wider Woodcracker range for your operation? Get in touch with the Fennex team — we're here to help you find the right fit.
