In need of a cradle for SpeeCo splitter.

I'm in need of a log cradle for my 22 ton Splitmaster splitter (identical to the Husky 22 ton and other brands made by SpeeCo) and thought I'd ask here first for some ideas. What I'm looking for is a small cradle I can attach to the operator's side to keep splits from falling on the motor and on my feet (one purple toe is one too many). Not looking for something too big and obtrusive, just big enough to keep the splits on the beam and still allow plenty of room to operate the splitter. I load the rounds with my tractor bucket on the opposite side which keeps splits from falling that direction. Thanks for any help.

velvetfoot said:

How about something like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Diamond-Log-Splitter-Cradle-YTL24412-/381330492509?hash=item58c9118c5d

I bought something similar from ebay from a guy that made them, and that worked well on my HF beam splitter. This isn't the same one though.

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Thanks, yeah I saw that one on ebay too but I think it mounts too low and is 3" or 4" deeper than I'm looking for. It might work if I can bolt it up higher and I cut it down from 4 slats to 3.

Dmitry said:

How about this
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/speeco-log-catcher?cm_vc=-10005
<I got it even cheaper somewhere online. Works good . OEM part

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The problem with the speeco cradle is it only bolts to the left side, not the operator side. There's no holes tapped on the operator side to mount it. Saw a Boss splitter in person this weekend and I like the way they designed their cradles, one on each side. Maybe I could buy one of their cradles and make it work.

VAfarmer38 said:

Following this thread as I'm looking for the exact same thing. I thought about just trying to fabricate one myself. Seems nothing you buy these days is made the way you'd hope it to be.

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Just bought a cradle from a Boss splitter dealer near me, $34 bucks. Gonna bolt it on tonight and then post a pic. I think it's going to work great for those large stringy rounds where my hands are too busy working the splitter handle and hatchet to catch the half round that wants to fall off the beam and onto my feet and motor.

TreePointer said:

Sorry for coming late to this discussion, but I was thinking that commercially available cradles would be too big to put on the operator's side, and that it would likely need to be something specially fabricated.

Cradle or not, I recommend wearing steel toe boots.

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Just finished bolting the cradle on the splitter and I think it's perfect, it's about 23" long and sticks out from the top of the beam about 7-1/2" so it's not taking up too much room on the working side. It's designed nice too, round bars and no sharp corners on the support brackets. Plus it has a nice gentle angle that won't crowd big rounds when splitting vertical. Total cost including nuts, bolts washers and drill bit- about $48. Should help save my feet, back, knees and the motor from tumbling splits. I agree though, I should invest in some steel toe boots for more protection.

TreePointer said:

Bigsby, that looks great!

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Yeah, I think it's going to help save my body and my soul (less taking the lords name in vain because no more big splits hitting my feet)

Thought I'd share my idea for a hatchet holder that should make splitting wood a little easier.

sportbikerider78 said:

You attached a wood splitter to a wood splitter!

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Yeah it works good too, always lost track of my hatchet when the splitting area got messy. Been brainstorming ideas for another much needed attachment-a beer can holder.