Can you split wood with wedge on FEL?

[hz293]

Might be a silly question but with the downward power of a FEL, is it possible, if you attatched a wedge to the bucket, to split firewood? Yes, I'm always looking for an inexpensive (cheap) way to accomplish things without abusing my equipment.

Harris

 

[MrJimi]

Your question can't be that silly, I tried it and the front end came right off the ground. Try it with just the bucket edge and be prepared to go up.
Now I know why log splitters come measured in tons.
Jim

 

[mchasal]

Yeah, it's going to be more about the weight of the front end of your tractor than the power of the hydraulics. It's just too easy to lift the tractor, especially when you're pushing that far out from the front. If you could somehow fasten the front end down, you could at least put all the hydro power into the log, but that just sounds like a supremely bad idea. If you do try that, you might want to pre dial "91" on your phone.

Mike

 

[john_bud]

The FEL will only be able to provide a few hundred pounds of force from the weight of the bucket and 4-500 more from the weight of the front end.

A log splitter will give 20x that force or more.

Now if you somehow held the log horizontally, set the wedge on it then drove the tractor into the wedge really really fast....uh, maybe you should have 911 on speed dial ...

 

[fishpick]

If we are getting really creative - save the tractor - drill a 1/2" hole in the end - fill it with a couple muzzleloader chargers - add a wick - top with epoxy - and light it off... Just have someone press dial on the 911 button - when you strike the match.

 

[GeneD14]

If we are getting really creative - save the tractor - drill a 1/2" hole in the end - fill it with a couple muzzleloader chargers - add a wick - top with epoxy - and light it off... Just have someone press dial on the 911 button - when you strike the match.

That is much to dangerous. I would mount a steel wedge on the front bumper of an old car and ram the log head on.

 

[turnkey4099]

If we are getting really creative - save the tractor - drill a 1/2" hole in the end - fill it with a couple muzzleloader chargers - add a wick - top with epoxy - and light it off... Just have someone press dial on the 911 button - when you strike the match.

There actually was a splitting wedge where you drove it in, filled a cavity with black powder and touched it off. I saw a picture of one way back when and can't even recall where. Wouldn't even have a clue as to what to enter for a search criteria.

Harry K

 

[hz293]

OK, OK. I got the Idea. I'm suppose to buy an old car (I prefer Packards), weld a big wedge on the bumper, take a running start and you say this will work? Should I have someone hold the piece or will the firewood impale itself on the wedge? Should I hit it on the side or the top? How far back should I start? What year Packard should I buy? Now you've got me wondering if I really even need a tractor.

Harris

 

[dfkrug]

All but he easiest pieces of softwood would hardly dent with your
loader.

However.....I use my loader to break beads when changing tires. Often
it will take the whole weight of the front of the tractor and loader (maybe
2000 lb) to do this. I can not break the beads of modern low-profile
car tires this way. Not enough pressure for their very stiff beads. Works
great on other tires/wheels, including tractor tires.

 

[Highbeam]

My logger used his 300 class excavator to split several very large stumps with his bucket edge once they were out of the ground. He would power down from several feet above the stump and split the stump up nicely. This let the dirt fall out and made burning easier. If you want to abuse your equipment I am pretty confident that a backhoe could split some wood that way.