Abstract: A wood splitter, particularly suited to hydraulic operation, for mechanically splitting sections of wood lengthwise for shakes or for more suitable sizes for burning is provided. In a preferred form the device is mounted on a trailer having a flat working deck. A column, which is lowerable for travel, projects upward out of the deck. A lever arm actuated by a hydraulic cylinder is attached to the column below the deck and upon actuation of the cylinder projects upward through a hole in the deck. A splitting blade is slidably mounted on the column over the lever arm. A piece of wood is placed over the lever arm and the blade which is also actuated by a hydraulic cylinder is lowered, by operation of a foot lever, against the top of the piece of wood. The contact with the wood is sensed by a sequence valve which then causes the lever arm to raise above the deck forcing the wood to be split by the blade.