Harbor Freight dual direction splitter

[andym]

If you get a piece stuck on the wedge, put a piece of wood on the other side, next to wedge and run the wedge back.

You are correct. I was not thinking too clearly in my above post. I actually meant to say stationary wedge.

 

[Gearhead660]

It has arrived. Some assembly required.

 

[Gearhead660]

Got it put together and did a bit of splitting. Running at half throttle, it takes 7-8 seconds to travel from one side to the other.
Put it in the shop and started the first phase of modifications. Target- ergonomics. Raised it up 5-6 inches and widened it 8 inches, modified control lever so it was closer when splitting. Have to reach to use while splitting. Also added holders for axe and pickeroon.

 

[Wisco Shepherd]

Got it put together and did a bit of splitting. Running at half throttle, it takes 7-8 seconds to travel from one side to the other.
Put it in the shop and started the first phase of modifications. Target- ergonomics. Raised it up 5-6 inches and widened it 8 inches, modified control lever so it was closer when splitting. Have to reach to use while splitting. Also added holders for axe and pickeroon.
View attachment 338160

Hit us with a video

 

[4x4prepper]

> According to logsplitterplans.com a 3.75" cylinder at 3,650psi makes 20 tons.

The issue is most log splitters run 2000-2200 psi and bypass at 2500 psi or less to protect the equipment and cyl. So, a 3.75 = 11 tons, plus, add on the imaginary eff % of the wedge for a 30-50% gain, and it is a 14 ton log splitter.

> At only 8gpm it would be a good candidate for converting to electric. A 120v motor would easily run that pump.

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Hp to drive hydraulic pump = Psi x GPM / 1714 = 9.33 for an electric motor, figure on 2x that for a ICE (maybe less for a diesel).

1 hp = 746 Watts = 58 amps. Then most pump efficiency is about 85% , so, that is even higher.

8 GPM pump at 2000 psi =-30 amp 240v circuit for the 9-10 HP electric motor.

 

[John Mc]

When it arrives I will try it out and see what I want to modify.
One mod I know of already is the 4 way wedge.

If you are doing a 4 way wedge, consider the geometry carefully. On a one-direction splitter, the horizontal wedge is often angled slightly so the rear edge is a bit higher than the front edge. This creates some clearance, so the pieces passing under the horizontal wedge don't bind up between the wedge and the beam. You can't do that angle on a bi-directional splitter. You might be able to accomplish the same thing by beveling only one side of the horizontal wedge to make the cutting edge. (a large bevel on the top side, but flat on the bottom.)

I would also make the horizontal wedge something that slips on and can "float" rather than fixing it to the vertical wedge. It would need to be supported to sit at the correct height when no log is in it, but allowing it to float to reduce the chance of logs binding underneath.

Remember that a 4 way wedge greatly increases the forces on the splitter. It actually more than double the force required to split a given log, due to how the grain interacts. You'll want to make sure the vertical wedge can withstand that - particularly where it is welded to the base. You'll also want to make sure the frame can take it. I would imagine it would work OK on easy to split species, such as Ash. Not so well on some of the more gnarly stuff.

One suggestion: run the heck out of your splitter during using just the stock wedge for a while first to see how things are holding up. When you do go to the 4-way, if you have problems and something bends or breaks, I would not mention that you were using a 4-way wedge if you have to make a warranty claim. (I'm usually not one to go for HF's extended warranties, but this is one place where I might make an exception.)

 

[brenndatomu]

Hp to drive hydraulic pump = Psi x GPM / 1714 = 9.33 for an electric motor, figure on 2x that for a ICE (maybe less for a diesel).

1 hp = 746 Watts = 58 amps. Then most pump efficiency is about 85% , so, that is even higher.

8 GPM pump at 2000 psi =-30 amp 240v circuit for the 9-10 HP electric motor.

Huh?
9.33 HP to drive what?
1hp is not 58amps, unless maybe you are running low voltage (12?)
Single stage pump? I run a 16gpm 2 stage on 5 HP 220v motor, no problem.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Huh?
9.33 HP to drive what?
1hp is not 58amps, unless maybe you are running low voltage (12?)
Single stage pump? I run a 16gpm 2 stage on 5 HP 220v motor, no problem.

It was 9.33 x 746/120V=58A. This would not take into account power factor ect though.
You can't get a motor like that, it would be 220V so somewhere around 30ish amps for 10HP

 

[John Mc]

This is why log splitters use a 2-stage pump. The pump runs both stages when the load is light. When the load passes a preset lit, the higher-flow stage drops out and only the low flow pump continues. This allow the splitter to run faster under little or no load ("high gear"), but still have the power to split under load, but at a lower speed, to keep the motor/engine from stalling out. The low volume pump is usually just few gallons per minute. For example, an 11 GPM 2-stage pump commonly used on a moderately-sized splitter might have a high flow stage that runs about 8.5 GPM and a low flow stage that runs around 2+ GPM. With both stages running, the total is about 11 GPM. when only the low-flow pump is running, that 2+ GPM flow rate allows it to be run with a more economically sized engine.