Does building log splitter make $ sense

[Scooby074]

The 22 GPM from Surplus has a 3000 psi rating, and if you are using the full 7 GPM at 3000, it will take all of the 14 HP to run it. The relief on that valve should be set about 2900 to 2950 psi.

For a 30 ton splitter, you will need a 5 in cyl and 2 in shaft, and at 3000 psi, you will have about a 29.45 ton splitter.

Of course the 4 in cyl will be faster, but less tons, about 18 ton.

Not only will it take all the 14 Hp, it really needs 16 GAS Hp

 

[MAYTAG MAN]

When you purchase an item, you have to pay income taxes on the money you earn to buy the item. Usually 20-30% for Federal, 10% for State, 2% for SS, and 3% for Medicare. Then you may have to pay a sales tax. The total taxes comes to about 45%. Unless I am wrong, an item costing $900 actually costs $1305 plus the time you spend to earn the money. That includes travel time to and from work and the travel expense. Then you can also figure another 1-2% of the cost for shopping time, travel to stores, amenities, research, etc. The hidden costs that we overlook can sometimes be surprising. The other advantage of BIY is the satisfaction and challenge of being a self-employed engineer. If you make 2 or 3 and sell them as custom-made items, you can establish a part-time business with the profit and write off your tools, parts, etc the year you put them into service. You may lose money but you will have more fun. This same logic goes for DIY (that is if you have the ability). Otherwise DIY can cost more, a lot more. The wisdom is: if you can, do it. If you can't, don't. Just be careful, don't get hurt and have a lot of fun.:thumbsup:

 

[MAYTAG MAN]

I must also add that, as an avid recycler, the word scrounge has a rather unappealing ring to it. I would rather call it APPRECIATION for, in fact, one who reuses, reconditions, finds alternative uses for items is, in fact, appreciating the item. You can depreciate you tools, buildings, etc BUT you can also appreciate them at the same time. Never throw something of value across the pond and then complain because it came back.

 

[me0418840987]

well... theres always those nutjobs LOLOLOL :laughing:

Yes, and I'm one of them:

 

[Oliver1655]

I am a fan of the dedicated horizontal splitters where every thing is at waist height & the wedge is fixed to the beam. Where I am in mid Missouri, the only splitters available were horizontal/vertical, (the wedge is on the ram), within the 16 - 30 ton range. This ruled them out for me.

I chose to build my own. I added a log lift, out feed tables, a wider axle, & a hitch on the back I can pull a trailer with. I am using a 11hp Greyhound (Harbor Freight) engine at 1/2 throttle to run a 16 gpm Haldex 2 stage pump. I have never had it stall out & once I sharpened the wedge it has been able to split anything I want it to. (Elm, hedge, ..) (My valve's pressure release is set at 2,500 psi & use a 4" x 24" cylinder.)

On your oil reservoir; make sure the suction port size is at least as large as the inlet on your hydraulic pump & the return port is 3/4".

*** NOTE ** Please disregard the filter in the suction circuit as shown in the pictures attached. It has been moved after being educated by fellow TBN members and placed in the return circuit.


A few of tips:
#1 - If you should get a piece of wood stuck on your wedge, DO NOT try to beat it of with a Hammer/maul/ax/... instead keep an 8' length of 1/4" chain on hand and with the push plate positioned next to the wood, wrap the chain around the wood & push plate the retract the cylinder & it will pull the wood right off the wedge.
#2 - Sharpen your wedge, it will GREATLY reduce the effort required to split the wood.
#3 - If you normally split wood lengths several inches shorter than the travel of your cylinder, make a cylinder stop to go between the cylinder body & the yoke on the ram to prevent the ram from fully retracting. This will shorten you cycle time. Make it removable so when you are through splitting for the day, you are able to fully retract the ram to help protect it. (You can make it from 2 pieces of angle iron with hinges, 3 pieces of wood fastened into a "U" shape, ... or your can purchase spring loaded "stop collars" from tractor supply stores which can snap over the ram shaft. I make mine with hinged angle iron & weld a couple of short pieces of flat metal with a hole in them so they over lap & I can hold the angle iron closed with a linchpin. The picture shows one fastened on a hose so I don't lose it. I use it as my transport cylinder lock for the log lift when I am going down the road.

I have a little less than $1,200 in making my splitter. :thumbsup:

 

[davygp38]

Of course you can't make a splitter from scratch cheaper than you can buy. However you can find a use for some of those old parts, and scraps of steel you might have laying around. For myself it is just fun to make/modify something, and get some gratification, on doing it yourself.

 

[LD1]

When you purchase an item, you have to pay income taxes on the money you earn to buy the item. Usually 20-30% for Federal, 10% for State, 2% for SS, and 3% for Medicare. Then you may have to pay a sales tax. The total taxes comes to about 45%. Unless I am wrong, an item costing $900 actually costs $1305 plus the time you spend to earn the money. That includes travel time to and from work and the travel expense. Then you can also figure another 1-2% of the cost for shopping time, travel to stores, amenities, research, etc. The hidden costs that we overlook can sometimes be surprising. The other advantage of BIY is the satisfaction and challenge of being a self-employed engineer. If you make 2 or 3 and sell them as custom-made items, you can establish a part-time business with the profit and write off your tools, parts, etc the year you put them into service. You may lose money but you will have more fun. This same logic goes for DIY (that is if you have the ability). Otherwise DIY can cost more, a lot more. The wisdom is: if you can, do it. If you can't, don't. Just be careful, don't get hurt and have a lot of fun.:thumbsup:

How does this have anything to do with building a splitter?????

It doesnt matter wether he spends $900 on a splitter (or as you say...$1305), or wether he spends that much on parts. The tax would be the same wouldnt it??? So that is a wash. And the "shopping around" time, he will also have when shopping for parts for a BIY unit.

So your "tax savings" and being an "advantage" of BIY has absolutly NO merit whatsoever

 

[weesa20]

How does this have anything to do with building a splitter?????

It doesnt matter wether he spends $900 on a splitter (or as you say...$1305), or wether he spends that much on parts. The tax would be the same wouldnt it??? So that is a wash. And the "shopping around" time, he will also have when shopping for parts for a BIY unit.

So your "tax savings" and being an "advantage" of BIY has absolutly NO merit whatsoever

I agree- I was trying to reconcile these thoughts- I can see the logic if I have compatible parts lying around but I don't. I would argue that I would spend more time designing it and building it than I would just going out and buying it from a store- same taxes regardless if I am buying pieces or a complete unit.

 

[muddstopper]

To the question of whether or not its cheaper to build than buy, I say if you are a resourceful person, you can certainly build cheaper than you can buy. A few trips to the local scrap yard recently has yeilded me a 4 1/2 inch boreX 28inx 2inch cylinder for $20bucks. ($.16 a lb). They have a prentice knuckleboom loader they are scrapping that will produce 6 or 7 other rather large cylinders for $.16 a lb. Need Hbeam, $.16lb. Flat plate, $.16lb, a verygood 300 6cyl, (I'm building a processor) again $.16lb. My point, There is no rule that says you have to buy new parts to build your splitter, the scrap yards are full of very usable parts for scrap prices. If you dont care to get your hands a little dirty, you can build a splitter pretty darn cheap, including any and all options you can think of.
The 42ton splitter at Northern is $6400something and weighs 2400 or so lbs. at $0.16lb thats $384. I can invest a lot of time to save $6000.

The real question shouldnt be, can You build cheaper than you can buy?, Instead, Why buy when you can rent for $50 a day. Now if you are just wanting to split firewood for your own use, renting can be a very viable option. My local rental places keep pretty new and reliable splitters, rent it, use it and take it back, no need to worry about storage or the durn thing always being in the way taking up space.

 

[grsthegreat]

To the question of whether or not its cheaper to build than buy, I say if you are a resourceful person, you can certainly build cheaper than you can buy. A few trips to the local scrap yard recently has yeilded me a 4 1/2 inch boreX 28inx 2inch cylinder for $20bucks. ($.16 a lb). They have a prentice knuckleboom loader they are scrapping that will produce 6 or 7 other rather large cylinders for $.16 a lb. Need Hbeam, $.16lb. Flat plate, $.16lb, a verygood 300 6cyl, (I'm building a processor) again $.16lb. My point, There is no rule that says you have to buy new parts to build your splitter, the scrap yards are full of very usable parts for scrap prices. If you dont care to get your hands a little dirty, you can build a splitter pretty darn cheap, including any and all options you can think of.
The 42ton splitter at Northern is $6400something and weighs 2400 or so lbs. at $0.16lb thats $384. I can invest a lot of time to save $6000.

The real question shouldnt be, can You build cheaper than you can buy?, Instead, Why buy when you can rent for $50 a day. Now if you are just wanting to split firewood for your own use, renting can be a very viable option. My local rental places keep pretty new and reliable splitters, rent it, use it and take it back, no need to worry about storage or the durn thing always being in the way taking up space.

I rented for a few years when i first moved to my property. And true, it isnt expensive per day. the only thing was i HAD to split a winters worth of wood in 1 day...cause im cheap... and man was that back breaking. I much prefer my "ill split a few hours today.....and maybe a few hours tomorrow...or next week"... Oh, diod i mention, im also LAZY

Im a big fat cheap lazy bas^%$# HEHE