My woodsplitter build from scratch and scrounge.

I started out by buying the beam, 4" x 24" cylinder and a new 6hp Honda GC190 motor and 11 GPM 2 stage pump. Also included was an old tractor loader valve block with 2 work ports. The beam was built to the point you see here:



I picked up the axle/tires from a buddies scrapped lawn trailer and the tank was scrapped from an old hydraulic test stand from work. Best part was it was 1/2 full of AW46 hydraulic oil.



It took some moving and test fitting to figure out where to mount things...





I ended up with this first edition and split the first 6.5 cords this way:



It worked pretty good except for the valve which was restricting flow and had no return detent position. The cheap Honda motor was loud and vibrated something fierce. Time for a change.

Since I am thinking of building a wood processor down the road I figured I would modify the splitter for more speed and ease of use. The buddy I got the axle/tires from built me a 12hp/5 gpm fixed displacement power unit and we installed that. It was slow being a single stage pump so I went ahead an bought a 22 GPM Barnes-Haldex 2 stage pump and a couple of Prince valves. One valve is for the splitter and the other is for the log lift. We also switched the wedge and foot around so the wedge is fixed and we push the rounds through.

Note: the battery is temporarily there...stole it from the camper!

Last pics for now...







I have since added a second lever to control the splitter valve from the other side and will get pics soon.

The log lift works AWESOME! I set the relief to 500 psi in that valve and the splitter valve is set to 2500 psi due to the cylinder only being rated to 2500. The log lift will easily throw 200# plus blocks up on the beam.

There are a few things I need to change. One is that I should have left the wedge on the cylinder because I am having to handle the split halves on the opposite side an extra time when the fall off. I will either switch it back or add a catch pan. We also tried a 4-way wedge and the little 4" cylinder simple didn't have enough grunt to split everything. I found the wood was getting wedged under the wings and stopping the cylinder dead. Then I spent a bunch of time pounding the pieces off. We also need to lower the mount location for the cylinder. I am finding the beam is getting bent slightly due to pushing too high on the wood. Many times the cylinder push point is above the blocks being split. Just for reference, the wedge is 12.5" tall. Overall I am very pleased with the way it performs. At some point I will go to a 5" cylinder to get more grunt.

Here is the breakdown of costs:
Beam with wedge and foot, cylinder, 6hp engine and 11 GPM pump and dual valves - $400
22 GPM pump, 2 prince valves and 4 gallons AW32 hyd oil - $650
Hoses and fitting were sourced for free ;-) We seem to scrap a lot of this stuff out at work...hehehe

It'll split 24" pieces. I cut all mine this year to 20" No video of the lift in action...will see about getting some.

Thanks guys.

I bet if I upped the line size from 3/8" to 3/4".... :lol: I bet it would toss a block of wood a ways!