Crane and loader mounted log splitter

[Tom at Heartwood]

I was looking at the options for a new log splitter a couple of years ago and ideally wanted something that I could attach to a timber crane (Patruuna 860) to operate remotely.  I needed to split 1m lengths into billets and settled on a design involving a 1.2m stroke ram (sourced from Italy) mounted in an inverted horizontal orientation, i.e. it can be placed over logs that are lying on the ground.  The crane rotator is retained and the crane grab service is piped to the splitter ram.  Swapping from grab to splitter takes a couple of minutes and involves two quick release hose couplings and a pin in and out. A trusted local fabricator/engineer worked on this and I am pleased with the result.

 

I considered cone splitters such as the Lasco and Blacks but I don't think that the crane would have taken the twisting torque very well and I haven't got a big enough digger to put one on satisfactorily.

 

As well as having the option to mount the splitter on the crane I also wanted to be able to operate it on the front of the Schaffer loader and so made  and adaptor for it to fit.  I have actually used the splitter more on the loader than the timber crane as it needs less overall operating area and I find it handier to maneuver the split logs around with the loader, plus the loader is usually around the yard and the crane is out on site.

 

Here's a photo of it the splitter on the crane.

 

Tom.

 

 

[Rwhiteheadfirewood]

Looking good. Does the idea work well ? So do you cut billets and dry/ season them like that then sawbench into delivery vehicle? Rob