Scratch build log splitter, beginnings and suggestions!

[WeldrDave]

Hi all,

I started this project this past weekend, as some of you know I'm an engineer and a welder by trade, but I "ALWAYS" can learn from all of you. Here's what I got; so far 1 honda power washer motor, $75 on craigslist, bought the beam from local steel supply $50, found the tires in the local dump/recycle center "free", had all the other steel laying around and started welding.

So far things worked out well with placement, exhaust from motor goes back, gas and pull start easy access, pump will be protected under beam, now to build up the ram assembly.
Whattya all think?

 

[bogydave]

Good scrounging.
Looks good to me & the cost is really good

Got the ram already & what size pump ?

 

[hobbyheater]

Looks really good !

 

[Auzzie Gumtree]

sweet

 

[WeldrDave]

Looks good to me & the cost is really good

Not yet Dave, got a good idea what I'm gonna buy but I'm always up for suggestions. I've been hittin the web places pretty hard and getting prices together, I'm guessing I can build it for about $600 said and done. I also just enjoy the challange

 

[WellSeasoned]

Nice work so far. Can't wait till the finished product is here. Custom paint, custom letters, the sky is the limit

 

[f3cbboy]

looks real good..comin out great!

 

[WeldrDave]

Nice work so far. Can't wait till the finished product is here. Custom paint, custom letters, the sky is the limit

My painting, flat out S#CKS... but I'll do the best I can! I think I can get it to look as good as the commercial brands.... Ha! I'll post it.

 

[ScotO]

Looking good, brother! I love a good project! Maybe look around some local equipment scrapyards and possibly ask some local excavators if they have any old rams and/or pumps laying around.

I'd stick with a 3-4" ram, and a 22gpm or smaller pump so your engine can keep up.....

Speaking of projects, we dug out my 1860-1880 era Farriers forge this evening, put it all back together (I tore it apart 8 years ago and it has sat since), repacked new fire clay in the pan and rebuilt the ratchet pump.......gonna start tinkering without iron again.....

Have to get the Amish tack shop to make me a new leather drive belt for it and she'll be ready to fire!!

 

[WeldrDave]

I'd stick with a 3-4" ram,

There's a place on the web that had a 2" x 24" for $159. Do you think I need to go bigger Scotty, This is my first time at this rodeo! The "biggest" I think I'll ever split is maybe 24" round. That's why I ask......

 

[BobUrban]

Nice looking welds - this will be fun to watch. I have access to all the parts to make one but have not been ready to pull the trigger with having a TSC model available any time I need.

Scotty - you know I love the forge!! Heat it and beat it - working steel is a bit of an obsession of mine!!

 

[WeldrDave]

I'd stick with a 3-4" ram, and a 22gpm or smaller pump so your engine can keep up.....

Whats funny is, I can do the math and figure it out, It's just a pain in the A$$..... I have more fun here anyway asking and getting suggestions. It's nice to here what works and what don't you can scribble on paper all day but it's not as good sometimes as hearing it from all the folks

 

[WeldrDave]

Nice looking welds - this will be fun to watch.

Thank you Bob, I'll keep everyone posted. That was my problem, I just had to pull my head out of my A$$ and start it! But no turning back now, besides, at 50+ years old, splittin isn't as much fun as it used to be

 

[ScotO]

There's a place on the web that had a 2" x 24" for $159. Do you think I need to go bigger Scotty, This is my first time at this rodeo! The "biggest" I think I'll ever split is maybe 24" round. That's why I ask......

I'd definitely not use a ram smaller than 3".....I'd be looking more at a 4" ram.

PM Jags.....he's built several splitters and he's a wealth of info on them...

 

[WeldrDave]

PM Jags.....he's built several splitters and he's a wealth of info on them

Thanks, will do....

 

[ScotO]

Scotty - you know I love the forge!! Heat it and beat it - working steel is a bit of an obsession of mine!!

Yes I do, Bob....was wondering what you've been up to as we were putting the clay in this ol' girl this evening....

 

[NortheastAl]

That splitter is coming together really well. Nice welding job. You'll have a killer splitter for half the price of a new factory job.

 

[NortheastAl]

Scott, that is one kick azz forge! Can't wait to see what you turn out with it.

 

[WeldrDave]

we dug out my 1860-1880 era Farriers forge this evening,

I meant to ask ya, That is SWEET!, where didi you find that old girl?

 

[ScotO]

I meant to ask ya, That is SWEET!, where didi you find that old girl?

Up in the Catskills in NY. Found it on the internet, guy I bought it off of found it in an old barn where it sat for decades, it was pretty much a big clump of rust when I bought it. A few hours of sandblasting (mainly the blower fan/tuyere), some new bolts and she's almost ready to rock. Plan on making some hooks and hangers to use on my big mantle for the stone fireplace first, then tinker around with some other smalls for an upcoming fall festival....

 

[swagler85]

Nice splitter! You going to add a tray to the sides or maybe one side? That's a nice feature for splitting on a horizontal splitter. That way you don't have to keep lifting those pieces bake up to the beam after you split in half.

 

[Jags]

Slid this over to the gear forum.

Now - about that cylinder... Don't go less than a 3.5" cylinder. Trust me on this. The little splitter I built (the link is in my signature) is using a 3.5" and I simply would not go any less or your frustration level will increase accordingly. A 3.5 and a 16 gpm pump makes for one dandy of a fast cycle time. To be honest, if this was my "only" splitter, I would work with a 4" cylinder. A 16 gpm pump will still yield a nice cycle time on 4". Any idea what HP that washer motor is? Also - have you taken a good look at the shaft on that motor - many were tapered for that specific application.

Ask away - I have a few splitter builds under my belt.

 

[basod]

Jags looks like a 5.0 Honda OHV, nearly identical to the engine on my Cub tiller.

Curious what the plans are for a hydraulic tank?
You might want to beef up the wheel brackets, when you start dropping logs on that thing they'll start bending.
That is an ingenious tongue support though

 

[Jags]

Jags looks like a 5.0 Honda OHV, nearly identical to the engine on my Cub tiller.

I see that from the pics now.
A 5HP engine will max out at 11 GPM (2 stage). And that is even pushing it a bit. No way will it pull a 16 gpm.

As far as build goes - I also see one other area of concern. The wings on the wedge. Fill the void with something (I used rods of various sizes pounded in place). You will be amazed at how fast you can squish that angle iron.

 

[WeldrDave]

You might want to beef up the wheel brackets, when you start dropping logs on that thing they'll start bending. That is an ingenious tongue support though​

Glad you like the tongue support, although I may change that to something more stylish... As far as the wheel brackets, that is 4"x 4" square 1/4" wall. the material came from an old 3 ton gantry, If I bend that It will take a backhoe to get the log up on the splitter.
I usually don't do anything more than 20" round.