While I'm new to this forum, I have spent some time looking around, and there's obviously lots of great, very experienced woodsmen lurking in these parts!
I am in the process of planning my own hydraulic wood splitter build, and have been researching this for a while now. I have decided upon a Horizontal-Only machine, as my bad back just can't deal with the stooped-over posture necessary for working a vertical arrangement. Sitting down on the job is of no use either as this further aggravates my back because of the leaning forward issue. Plus, once split in the vertical position, the splits are in the way! I've worked with a few custom designed horizontal units, and a Speeco "22 Ton" horizontal/vertical machine using both positions (I love the false advertizing on their tonnage rating! - The math calculates out to about 18 tons at best!), and at the risk of sounding rude, my preference is horizontal! (Just a little bit of inuendo humor there!). :red:
So, anyway horizontal, with a log lift is the way I will roll.
That said, the plan is to go with a 4-4.5" X 24 cylinder, with a 16 GPM 2-Stage pump and probably a 12 HP engine. (I want to keep the cycle times down as low as I can reasonably get them without taking the huge jump in price to a 22 GPM pump). I know only 8HP is necessary for the 16 GPM pump, but I'm of the school that says if 8HP will do, go larger and therefore don't work the engine as hard - yea the fuel consumption will be a bit greater, but it won't be working quite as hard, and therefore the added longevity of the engine should be a big plus also.
Definitely will go with a larger hydraulic tank, around 25 gal or so. This should help with better cooling, and it will definitely be a dedicated tank - one that doesn't try to be the axle also - axle tanks are a nice idea to save space and cost, but not the best design hydraulically - With respect to vortex flow, cleanliness and cooling, dedicated tanks are preferable. I've thought of possibly adding an external oil cooler, but I'll monitor hydraulic oil temp during operation first to see if it's really necessary.
The splitting wedge will be at the foot of the beam, the cylinder will have the push block on the end of its rod, and the use of tables to catch the splits will definitely be employed. One thing that I also want to do, that I have not seen on too many commercially available machines if any, is to have the tow hitch on the opposite end of the beam (engine end versus the wedge end). By doing this I may have to make the beam longer to obtain the proper weight bias for towing, but I can then leave the splitter hitched to the tow vehicle when splitting, which to me is a big plus.
I have not decided on exactly what approach I'm going to use on the log lift (hydraulic, electric linear actuator, or winch lift), so this is still up for debate, but as all these ideas are rolling around in the gray matter, any additional input on all areas of the design would be very much appreciated.
So, I guess what I'm saying is: In all the vast experience out there, if you could have all your favorite/ideal features built into one splitter with the above mentioned cylinder/pump combo, what would they be?
I am in the process of planning my own hydraulic wood splitter build, and have been researching this for a while now. I have decided upon a Horizontal-Only machine, as my bad back just can't deal with the stooped-over posture necessary for working a vertical arrangement. Sitting down on the job is of no use either as this further aggravates my back because of the leaning forward issue. Plus, once split in the vertical position, the splits are in the way! I've worked with a few custom designed horizontal units, and a Speeco "22 Ton" horizontal/vertical machine using both positions (I love the false advertizing on their tonnage rating! - The math calculates out to about 18 tons at best!), and at the risk of sounding rude, my preference is horizontal! (Just a little bit of inuendo humor there!). :red:
So, anyway horizontal, with a log lift is the way I will roll.
That said, the plan is to go with a 4-4.5" X 24 cylinder, with a 16 GPM 2-Stage pump and probably a 12 HP engine. (I want to keep the cycle times down as low as I can reasonably get them without taking the huge jump in price to a 22 GPM pump). I know only 8HP is necessary for the 16 GPM pump, but I'm of the school that says if 8HP will do, go larger and therefore don't work the engine as hard - yea the fuel consumption will be a bit greater, but it won't be working quite as hard, and therefore the added longevity of the engine should be a big plus also.
Definitely will go with a larger hydraulic tank, around 25 gal or so. This should help with better cooling, and it will definitely be a dedicated tank - one that doesn't try to be the axle also - axle tanks are a nice idea to save space and cost, but not the best design hydraulically - With respect to vortex flow, cleanliness and cooling, dedicated tanks are preferable. I've thought of possibly adding an external oil cooler, but I'll monitor hydraulic oil temp during operation first to see if it's really necessary.
The splitting wedge will be at the foot of the beam, the cylinder will have the push block on the end of its rod, and the use of tables to catch the splits will definitely be employed. One thing that I also want to do, that I have not seen on too many commercially available machines if any, is to have the tow hitch on the opposite end of the beam (engine end versus the wedge end). By doing this I may have to make the beam longer to obtain the proper weight bias for towing, but I can then leave the splitter hitched to the tow vehicle when splitting, which to me is a big plus.
I have not decided on exactly what approach I'm going to use on the log lift (hydraulic, electric linear actuator, or winch lift), so this is still up for debate, but as all these ideas are rolling around in the gray matter, any additional input on all areas of the design would be very much appreciated.
So, I guess what I'm saying is: In all the vast experience out there, if you could have all your favorite/ideal features built into one splitter with the above mentioned cylinder/pump combo, what would they be?