Building a hydraulic log lift for splitter

[montanaman]

I have to say that you do some really nice fabrication work and came up with a really nice design! What part of PA are you from?

I have a friend who might sell me a really nice home made splitter and I'd like to add a lift like that. He's been a close friend for years but he's having some rough medical problem and just can't get around much. Can't remember but I think he came down with Johntitus?

 

[Pete Surette]

Hi,
Do you have any photos of your log splitter? My back has seen several operations and I believe that the description of your lifter would be just what the doctor ordered.

Thanks,
Pete

I have log lifter on my splitter, but it is a swiveling boom that I use with log tongs. It is able to lift logs as large as 60" diameter and swing them on to the beam to split. It pretty well eliminates any bending and stooping to get the logs and it makes splitting easy on my old back.
What I used was the front spindle from a large truck to make a pivot. On this I mounted a vertical 3" pipe and attached a piece of 2" square tubing at the top on a pin to act as a lifting arm. I mounted a hydraulic cylinder between the post and the arm and it is a small rotating derrick that I hang a set of log tongs by a short chain to lift the logs. It works extremely well and I have never had a block of wood that I could not handle by myself.
I built it several years ago when oil and gas prices began to rise and wood burning was becoming popular. Fire wood was hard to get, but there was a good supply of extremely large wood, because few people were willing or able to handle wood over 36 inches in diameter. With my splitter it was quite easy and I found lots of wood free for the lifting.

What will you need to add the second cylinder? You will need one more hand valve just like the one have (or similar) and of course the hoses to connect it. Place in in line behind the first cylinder (on the return line from the first valve) and mount it in a convenient location to operate the lift (this may be on the cylinder itself, but not necessarily). Run the line to the cylinder and return it to the tank if it is a single acting cylinder or back thru the valve if it is a double acting cylinder and then to the tank. In other words, the flow is thru the first cylinder system and then thru the second cylinder system and back to the tank.
On the hand valve itself, you will have a small pressure control (covered by a cup with 2 screws) that will control the pressure that will go to the cylinder. You do not need to control the flow volume only the pressure. You probably don't need to control the pressure on that cylinder either. When you are not engaging a cylinder the oil flows straight thru the valve and there is little or not restriction.

 

[tiger9297]

many years ago my dad built us a log splitter. I have it now, and am in the process of adding quick-connect hoses so i can run it off my tractor. My question is, why build a log splitter that "lies down" (horizontal)? This splitter my dad built will lie horizontal for transporting, but when you split, you raise the boom to a vertical position so the base sits on the ground. No need for lifts, just roll the log under the ram and split it. MUCH easier.

 

[ovrszd]

many years ago my dad built us a log splitter. I have it now, and am in the process of adding quick-connect hoses so i can run it off my tractor. My question is, why build a log splitter that "lies down" (horizontal)? This splitter my dad built will lie horizontal for transporting, but when you split, you raise the boom to a vertical position so the base sits on the ground. No need for lifts, just roll the log under the ram and split it. MUCH easier.

And then you bend over and pick your split wood up off the ground...... Hmmmmmm...... Doesn't sound easier to me. I'd prefer a horizontal beam with a lifter to handle the big ones. then all the split wood ends up on the catch table as working height. MUCH easier.

 

[ovrszd]

1962, great job of fabricating. Tough as a boot

Good idea on the stop block on the opposing side. Makes the big ones a lot safer.

I often leave my lift table in a horizontal position and stack it full of wood, then split, when working by myself. Or if I have help, leave it horizontal and someone is carrying everything that's able to be lifted by hand and stacking on the lift for me to split.

Now ya need to build yourself a catch table so you don't drop split ones on the ground!!! I built one, then modified it a little bigger, then modified it again with round rod railings to catch the really big ones that need split again. Anything to avoid another bend over!!!

 

[tiger9297]

And then you bend over and pick your split wood up off the ground...... Hmmmmmm...... Doesn't sound easier to me. I'd prefer a horizontal beam with a lifter to handle the big ones. then all the split wood ends up on the catch table as working height. MUCH easier.

you WILL handle the wood at some point. easier to handle in small pieces than large.

 

[sizzami]

I have to agree that horizontal splitters are alot better I usually park the tractor in front of mine and split right into the bucket, have you ever tried to maneuver a 36 inch round standing on its end? no fun, horizontal with log lift is the way to go.

 

[Wayne_H]

Sorry I did not catch this thread sooner. I am just finishing my splitter with a lift and a four way wedge. I actually used a calculator and math to determine where to put the attachment points and and what length cylinder to use for the lift. I ended up with an 8" cylinder and the math worked.

It needs painting, but here it is as of today. I copied most of it from Timberwolf, but used a W8x40 beam and looked hard at the Rayco splitters.

Here are the first test runs.


YouTube - Knotty Oak Test.AVI


YouTube - MVI_4479.AVI


YouTube - MVI_4481.AVI


YouTube - MVI_4493.AVI


Wayne

 

[JuHaa]

You guys have quite big logs In Finland we don't have logs that big.

Here are some pictures about my logsplitter. It is made for logs up to 1100 millimeters. I have planned many years some kind of log lifter for it. Now when I found this discussion, I think I am going to build it too.

I made rough 3d model about my plannings. There is picture about it too. On the top of the grane there would bee steel cable. And on the end of the cable I would put some kind of hook with I could catch the logs

http://picasaweb.google.com/juhaalajarvi/PuunHalkaisija#5107087661492756754

http://picasaweb.google.com/juhaalajarvi/PuunHalkaisija#5107087717327331618

http://picasaweb.google.com/juhaalajarvi/PuunHalkaisija#5189851665524713554

http://picasaweb.google.com/juhaalajarvi/PuunHalkaisija#5436614562950048178

And on the last pictures there are 3d models about bogie that I designed for forest trailer. Its capacity is 14 tons. I have also drawings about it if somebody needs...

http://picasaweb.google.com/juhaalajarvi/Teleja#5436617905119463330

http://picasaweb.google.com/juhaalajarvi/Teleja#5436617903499876114

 

[Suz]

Here are a couple of pictures of a log lift that I put on our splitter this past fall.
I use a 3000# winch instead of hydraulics because of two reasons. One with a winch I have a lot more flexibility on picking up the rounds and second it was cheaper. With a cable I can run it out and drag the round to the splitter.

This shows the winch that I use for the lifting. (Now the cable is wound the correct way on the winch!)

Another view of the lift.

One of the ugly chunks that we split last fall. BTW, this was a crotch.

This shows the lift holding one half while we split the other.

A half day's work.