log splitter project

[testcricket01]

over the last month i have been having a laugh in the evening messing about, making my own log splitter. we have 2 log splitters which we bought they are vertical and painfully slow to use.

 

with this project my main aim was to make it towable and fast.

 

started by buying a RSJ and started welding up the brackets etc. made my self a box section frame to fit in a little trailer i had in my shed doing nothing. bought all new hydraulics.

 

was going to use a briggs 12HP motor i had out of a 30yr old lawn tractor got it all ready to test, the motor ran but it really wasnt up to the task anymore, so ordered in a new honda GX390 13HP so basically its a little beast of a machine now tested it out on a 2ft main union ring of euc and 4 way split that no issues.

 

only issue ive had so far is the pusher plate needs a brace to the very top of it as that is starting to bend as i was planning on trimming it down so never braced it high up.

 

im pretty chuffed really what a few hours with hardly any tools on my own can make up.

 

just need to finish it off, just need to finish priming it and then final coat of paint, and build a table to catch the split logs.

 

 

in the vid this was just a test run hence it wobbling around, that was before i drilled and bolted the brackets that ride around the RSJ to keep it from moving side to side and up an down. its not the prettiest splitter you will see but im pleased with it.

[dig-dug-dan]

what kind of tonnage is this? i admire anyone with the skill to do this sort of thing. Would a gasless mig be man enough to weld something like this?

[testcricket01]

what kind of tonnage is this? i admire anyone with the skill to do this sort of thing. Would a gasless mig be man enough to weld something like this?

 

Not to sure on the tonnage, my old splitter was 7 ton that never didnt split anything, speed is more what i was after. I mig welded it all with my clarke 160turbo i could have used gas but i didnt so its all gasless welds im far from a decent welder etc i just love tinkering and seeing what i come out with. You will never no if you dont try i say give it ago

[dig-dug-dan]

great. I would make one for the tractor. Ideally one that can do 2-3' logs. How do i source the ram and components may i ask and what sort of cost did you have to stump up? how did you make the splitting wedge?

[testcricket01]

great. I would make one for the tractor. Ideally one that can do 2-3' logs. How do i source the ram and components may i ask and what sort of cost did you have to stump up? how did you make the splitting wedge?

 

I used flowfit they have a website, cost wise wouldnt be huge if you have a tractor to hook up to rams are pretty cheap really, get in contact with flowfit they will sort you out brill service

Flowfit the leading worldwide suppliers of hydraulic components

[treequip]

great. I would make one for the tractor. Ideally one that can do 2-3' logs. How do i source the ram and components may i ask and what sort of cost did you have to stump up? how did you make the splitting wedge?

 

Steerforth rams

 

Hydraulic Cylinder, Hydraulic Jack, Hydraulic Rams supplier. Hydraulic parts and cylinder supplier

 

Make the blade out of digger bucket edge material. Find someone who refurbs the and get an off cut

[Stephen Blair]

Good job on the construction:thumbup1:

My concerns are the controls.

It won't take long for the operator to just knock that lever forward and do something else, most folk try and be as efficient as they can and standing waiting for a ram can get boring after a few hours of splitting in a cold shed:001_rolleyes:

If you slip or trip or a jacket gets caught on that control it could be very messy!

[testcricket01]

Good job on the construction:thumbup1:

My concerns are the controls.

It won't take long for the operator to just knock that lever forward and do something else, most folk try and be as efficient as they can and standing waiting for a ram can get boring after a few hours of splitting in a cold shed:001_rolleyes:

If you slip or trip or a jacket gets caught on that control it could be very messy!

 

I tryed to think long and hard where do i want the control for the least effort, its quite a stiff action to move the lever so i cant imagine acidently moving it. But worth remembering though

[Stephen Blair]

Secret is too keep your feet clear, log splitting is a minotinous job andif you are working with a table to catch the splt part of the log on the opposite side then you will have to lean over to get them.

I'd put a bungee on it so it always pulls back when let go.

[slasherscot]

looking at the video, the pushing plate seems to move around a lot on splitting, it needs to connected to the H beam to keep in place or it will bend the ram when splitting.