The Lockdown Firewood Splitter

[Billhook]

Here at last is the video of taking a tall wind blown Ash tree from the woods to the stove via the new Lockdown Splitter without me lifting any logs apart from the last part of lifting a log from the box to the stove.

My wrists are knackered with osteo arthritis so during Lockdown I decided to build a splitter around the Matbro Teleporter making full use of its lifting and hydraulic power.  The Matbro cost me £7000 in 2010 and had done 11000 hours but the clock was broken so goodness knowshow many hours it has done since then, but together with the Sanderson muck grab it has been a great tool in the woods

Because I was confined to the yard during Lockdown I had to make use of what scrap was lying around  I did ask a local engineer to cut me a knife out of some 30mm plate which he was able to deliver and was very thankful for his help and advice.

I came up with the idea of using the remote control designed for a winch to plug into the Danfoss electric controls on the Matbro

Electric Wireless Winch Remote Control Handset 12V Heavy Duty For Truck Atv Suv

WWW.EBAY.CO.UK

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Specification: Color(remote control): blue Color( controller): black Voltage: 12V Remote Range: about 100'' / 30m Remote...

Some how it cost nearer £30 back in March but still good value as it saved all the expensive pipework and valves as well as being much safer

The teleboom could crowd only to a certain angle so I had to tilt the logs against another log which was not too difficult.

When it was tilted back the log was at a comfortable height for sawing.  Then three or four rounds could be lifted over the box for the split wood to drop in

An improvement would be a processor chainsaw but this will have to do for the time being

 

 

Edited August 15, 2020 by Billhook
spelling

[roys]

Superb, some good engineering going on there.

[muttley9050]

Can't say how awesome that is!
Top job.

[mattyboy]

Love the box splitting wedge

[the village idiot]

Well played that man!

[Billhook]

1 hour ago, mattyboy said:

Love the box splitting wedge

It is adjustable for height in inch increments, but I have it set at four inches.  The arrow shape is so that I have maximum pressure on difficult Elm.  The downside is as you can see on some pieces it leaves a U shape bottom to the log.  Not quite sure why it only happens on some logs, but it may be that the knife angle is too sharp and I need to do some more grinding

[Billhook]

48 minutes ago, the village idiot said:

Well played that man!

Playing around just about sums up my life story!

[Billhook]

2 hours ago, muttley9050 said:

Can't say how awesome that is!
Top job.

Praise indeed from a well respected member of Arbtalk, thank you James

[openspaceman]

Is the ram for the box splitter single acting and returned by the spring or is that something to do with the trigger for the return?

[Billhook]

19 minutes ago, openspaceman said:

Is the ram for the box splitter single acting and returned by the spring or is that something to do with the trigger for the return?

The ram is double acting from a JCB and the spring is solely used with the arm to grip the log till it is clear of the blade so that it should drop cleanly into the chamber,  which it does 90% of the time, but as you know wood being wood it will find a way to be difficult!

if you just use the arm by itself the wood has a tendency to tip back at an angle or fall sideways