Can you guys post some pics of home made splitters. I would love to see some of the innovative ideas that haved served users well.
Thanks
Thanks
Home Made Splitters
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'bert
Minister of Fire
triptester
Feeling the Heat
SolarAndWood
Minister of Fire
Jim E
Member
This is a splitter I built with some help from friends. I pull it around with my mower and the hydraulics are powered by my larger tractor. I simply disconnect hydraulic lines to backhoe and connect lines to the splitter. Everything was surplus except for cyliner, control valve, and lines.
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Sorry it took so long getting back. I wanted to have a pic of my splitter.... along with a little backlog of Ash to split.
I need to cut down about 15 more Ash trees so the backlog may grow.
There are some great home builds here! I really like the John Deere green splitter Jim.
I need to cut down about 15 more Ash trees so the backlog may grow.
There are some great home builds here! I really like the John Deere green splitter Jim.
Cowboy Billy
Minister of Fire
My Grandpa and Brother built this one 20+ years ago. It was a good design when it was built it is way behind the times now. While I still use it it is definitely a pain in the back. It is too low so I am always bent over. It throughs all the wood infront of the axle so you can only split a few logs then have through them out of the way. If it kicked the wood out the back you could just pull the splitter forward from time to time and keep splitting.
Billy
Billy
tiber
Feeling the Heat
tiber said:
What Plans??
This goes here, that needs to be "this" long. Oooh - a little welding there, cutting here, etc. Or at least that is how I did it. But it wasn't my first rodeo either.
tiber
Feeling the Heat
Alright, I'm comfortable with cars and engines - but I'm looking for a howto on making the hydraulics do work. I have zip in the hydraulic experience, so what's the basics of that whole thing? What actually pumps the piston? (I know you're going to say "A pump, silly!" - I'm looking at building one from junkyard goodies, so play along with me).
The simple way to get the "basics" is to look at one at the store. Engine runs a pump (2 stage that your probably not gonna find in the junk yard - and YES - without using BIG HP your gonna need a 2 stage). Tank full of oil supplies engine driven pump (pump is connected to engine via a lovejoy connector). Outbound from the pump to the control valve (the lever you push forward and reverse). This valve needs to be an open center valve. What that means is that unless the lever is in a forward or backward position, the oil flows through it - no pressure (or little) and returns to the tank. This valve will have 4 holes. input - output (to tank) - one to the back of the cylinder to push forward, and one to the front to push it back when the valve handle is moved from the center position.
tiber
Feeling the Heat
tiber
Feeling the Heat
Jags said:
Sorry I misread. Stupid question time: I googled for hydraulic piston to try to figure out what I'm looking for. The answer is that there's a million of them all of differing specs.
What should I be looking for?
tiber said:
How big of a splitter are you trying to make?? You can consider the components a "matched set". As an example 4" cylinder/ 5hp engine/11 gpm 2 stage pump...or..... 5" cylinder/ 8hp engine/16 gpm 2 stage pump, etc.
For the cylinder you should first decide what kind of pressure you want to create. A splitter for 14" lodge pole pine can be built different than a splitter for 48" elm. Then length - although 24" stroke is probably the most common. And you will more than likely want the clevis type connector on each end (think draw bar on a yard wagon)
This might help get you started:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/shopping/detail.aspx?ItemNumber=3599
Edit: naaa...never mind - its $30.
Use your google-fu. I am sure some plans exist somewhere online.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/shopping/detail.aspx?ItemNumber=3599
Edit: naaa...never mind - its $30.
Use your google-fu. I am sure some plans exist somewhere online.
tiber
Feeling the Heat
Thanks for the link, I'm probably going to make something which is driven off one of the cars. My wife will object, but the jeep cherokee she dearly loves has mechanical pulleys for all the accessories so it's a reasonable candidate for MORE BELTS
(Then again I just finally got the woodstove settled...)
Anyway if I'm going to make a splitter I'm going to set it up to destroy the world. What's it take to split elm?
(Then again I just finally got the woodstove settled...)Anyway if I'm going to make a splitter I'm going to set it up to destroy the world. What's it take to split elm?
tiber said:
I would recommend a 5" ram for elm. It won't stop and if built properly, you could put a 4 way wedge for the less nasty stuff. I don't suggest using the wifes jeep for the power plant. Running a large and more expensive engine to run a splitter is probably not the best bet. A $25 used 8hp briggs from an old lawn mower will work just fine.
tiber
Feeling the Heat
How do you feel about electric log splitters with four tons of pressure? How many tons of pressure are we talking?
SolarAndWood
Minister of Fire
Jags said:
+1, I replaced a 4 cylinder gas motor out of a bobcat with a 5hp electric off a rotted compressor and am much happier.
lazeedan
Feeling the Heat
If you don't have a few of the major parts, such as motor, pump, cylinder, valve, and reservoir. It may be cheaper to buy a used one than to build your own.
tiber said:
4 tons, USELESS! Don't waste your time or money on it. 15 tons minimum.
Forget the idea of powering a splitter off a vehicle. Take the advise above and find a cheap used engine if you're on a budget. Mine is now powered by a 5.5 hp honda and it sips gas. Takes well over an hour of splitting to go thru a tank of fuel. Seems like the tank is the size of a shot glass. The initial expense of the engine will be paid back quickly in fuel savings when compared to what you'll spend running the jeep engine.
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