Forest Master FM8D-TC 5 Ton Electric Log Splitter Review

I'll start with the uncomfortable bit, because most reviews of this machine skip it: the Forest Master FM8D-TC is a good little splitter that sits in an awkward spot in its own family. It costs more than Forest Master's FM5D-TC, which has the same 5 tons and the same 2200W motor, and the maker itself steers seasoned oak towards the bigger FM10 series. So the real question isn't "is the FM8 any good?" It's "are the extra 70mm of log length and the beefier pusher carriage worth paying for?" For a lot of stove owners, the answer is yes. For some, it's a clear no.

Forest Master FM8D-TC at a glance

What I like about it

The 370mm capacity is the whole point, and it's genuinely useful. Most budget electric splitters, Forest Master's own FM5 included, stop at around 300mm. If you buy firewood in "rings" from a tree surgeon, or you're cutting your own with a chainsaw that doesn't always land a neat 25cm round, that extra 70mm means fewer pieces going back on the sawhorse. That's the single best reason to buy this over the FM5.

The guard is better designed than most. Plenty of cheap splitters ship with a wire cage that a split half can wedge into. Forest Master's guard has solid sides, so there's nothing for a log to snag on, and it takes rounds up to the full 300mm diameter. That's a small detail that makes a difference on a cold Saturday when you're trying to get through a pile.

Owners rate it highly. On Forest Master's own site it averages 4.9 out of 5 from 51 reviews at the time of writing. I'd always treat manufacturer-hosted reviews with a pinch of salt, but the comments that stood out to me were specific ones, including an owner who split semi-seasoned oak with it straight out of the box (with the sensible caveat that the ends need cutting square).

Setup is minimal. It arrives pre-filled with hydraulic oil, so you're bolting on the bench and guard rather than faffing with fluids. Do check the oil level and bleed screw per the manual before first use, though. "Ready to use" on any hydraulic splitter still means a five-minute check.

Where it falls short

A 12-month warranty is thin at this price. Forest Master gives its larger FM16D-TC a three-year warranty. On a £340 machine with a hydraulic pump and seals, one year feels stingy, and it's the first thing I'd weigh against rivals.

It isn't really a seasoned-oak machine. Five tons is five tons, whatever the carriage. Forest Master's own product copy for the battery FM8 points buyers wanting to split hard wood like seasoned oak towards the FM10D-TC instead. That tells you where the maker thinks the FM8's limits are. Straight-grained ash, birch, softwoods and greenish hardwood are fine. Big, knotty, bone-dry oak rounds are where you'll start hearing the motor labour.

No published cycle time. The FM5 is sold on a 9-second cycle. The FM8 doesn't quote one at all, which makes it hard to judge how quickly you'll get through a bag. It's a strange omission for a machine pitched on doing more work.

It's floor-height and heavy. At around 52kg, you won't be lifting it on and off a bench on your own. The FM8D-TC is the base model; a stand (FM8T-TC) or trolley with lockable castors (FM8TW-TC) costs extra. If your back is the reason you're buying a splitter, budget for the stand. Bending to floor level all afternoon undoes a lot of the benefit.

Two-handed operation means vibration through your hand. The button-and-lever control keeps both hands clear of the wedge, which is exactly what you want. But one owner reported real discomfort from the vibration through the "on" button after a full day's splitting. If you have joint or nerve issues in your hands, wear decent gloves and take breaks.

Watch your extension lead. Forest Master asks you to contact them before running it on a lead longer than 10 metres. Long, thin leads starve 2200W motors of voltage and make them struggle. Use a short, heavy-gauge lead, and keep it out of standing water: IP54 is splash protection, not a licence to work in the rain.

FM8D-TC vs FM5D-TC: which Forest Master should you buy?

This is the comparison that matters, because the two machines share the same headline force and motor.

My take: if you mostly split softwood or green logs already cut to stove length, the FM5 is the better buy. It's cheaper and faster. Pay the extra for the FM8 only if you regularly deal with rounds between 300mm and 370mm long, or a fair amount of part-seasoned hardwood. If it's mainly seasoned oak, skip both and look at a 7-ton machine. Our log splitter tonnage guide walks through how to size it properly.

Who should buy the FM8D-TC?

• Good fit: households running one small or medium wood burner, buying or cutting mixed logs that often come in a bit long, and wanting to stop swinging an axe.
• Good fit: anyone who values a well-designed guard and a two-handed control over raw speed.
• Look elsewhere: if you split mostly seasoned oak, elm or knotty hardwood, or process several tonnes a winter. You'll want more tonnage and a longer warranty.
• Look elsewhere: if your logs are already under 300mm. The FM5D-TC saves you money.

Remember that splitting green wood quickly doesn't make it burnable. It still needs to dry to below 20% moisture before it goes in the stove. For power and lead planning, see our electric log splitter guide, and for alternatives, our best log splitters UK roundup and more log splitter reviews.

Pros and cons

My verdict: 4.0 / 5

The Forest Master FM8D-TC is a solid, sensibly guarded 5-ton splitter that earns its place on a shortlist for one specific reason: it takes longer logs than almost anything else at this tonnage. If that matches your wood supply, it's a good buy, and owners clearly like it. But I can't ignore that the FM5 offers the same force for less, that the warranty is only a year, and that Forest Master itself suggests a bigger machine for proper seasoned hardwood. Measure your logs first. If they're long, buy the FM8, ideally with the stand. If they're not, save your money.