3pt. hitch woodsplitter

[SPYDERLK]

One thing to watch in all of this (my opinion) is to push with a flat and split on teh end so the wood keeps moving rearward and out of the way to load etc. Just keep inching the tractor fwd to extend the pile. I see a lot of splitters that have the wedge on the ram. That just looks like a mis engineered toe smasher and trip hazzard to me.

You work them differently. When large, you let the far large piece drop onto a catch platform and split small finished pieces off the large half still on the rail, throwing each to the pile. Its very nice not having the workpiece move.
larry

 

[LD1]

You work them differently. When large, you let the far large piece drop onto a catch platform and split small finished pieces off the large half still on the rail, throwing each to the pile. Its very nice not having the workpiece move.
larry

The MAIN reason to have the wedge on the ram instead of the beam is so you cah split vertically when you get the real big stuff.

Having a wedge on the beam and pushing with a flat plate would cause the wood to hit the ground and make the splitter lift into the air.

Almost EVERY splitter I have seen with the wedge on the ram is a horizontal AND vertical unit.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Yeah, not having the workpiece move opens up lots of good possibilities. ... like convenience when the log gets stuck on the wedge.
larry

 

[Dead Horse]

I agree, Larry.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

Can you use a 4 way wedge on a moving wedge splitter?

 

[SPYDERLK]

Can you use a 4 way wedge on a moving wedge splitter?

A moving wedge would not be as well suited to it since forces are higher and reaction to the downward split parts would multiply stress. A fixed wedge assembly can more easily be designed with downward cutaways around the wedge on the rail to allow the wood to escape without interference. The slider platform mounting a moving wedge would have to be cut some to similarly relieve pinching and this would weaken it unacceptably in my estimation. A different rail design from a standard I Beam could be used to get by this issue.
larry

 

[KennedyDiesel]

That's why I like my setup. A 3pt pusher with simple drop on 4 way wedge. Pushed wood away from the tractor. I can catch the wood if necessary for a resplit and only need to shift back a little bit. Stuff that is sized I just let drop and nudge the tractor forward as the pile builds.

 

[Machold]

LD1 says: "I am jsut stating the obvious facts that
1. on a 20-35HP tractor they ARE slower
2. They do consume more fuel
3. You are putting hours on a much more expensive machine"

He's right; you need a tractor that exceeds 35HP for full benefit of 3pt splitter; yes, they drink more; not too many hours in my case. I'm happy with the SplitFire; it's bi-directional, so the 14 sec run doesn't bother me. It's VERY well made; it's local, and it was delivered, free. Can't do better than that.