beenthere
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I like that idea. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Full-size electric wood splitter
- Thread starter EdK
- Start date
- Views: 16576
I can't believe that here is so much interest in an electric splitter, I thought I was the only werido out here. I built an electric wood splitter about 15 years ago, for the same reasons you are considering it now, no maintenance. I only use it about 3 hrs/yr and I can't remember the last time it needed anything. I has a 7HP electric motor and a 2 stage pump. It cycles in high speed in about 5 seconds. It requires a 30 amp 240 volt line.
rockinmywaypa
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no sarcasm intended I just got carried away thinking about the possibilities.
rockinmywaypa
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The ironworker I was talking about isn't a person, it's a type of hydraulic press that can shear off steel angle, flats or round rods. It can punch holes and form shapes according to attachments used. [/url] web page This is my first attempt at adding an url so I hope I get it right.
OP
EdK
Silver Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( no sarcasm intended I just got carried away thinking about the possibilities. )</font>
Then in that case I'll admit I've thought of building either a stand-alone power unit as you described or one to be driven from my PTO shaft - complete with quick connects! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Then in that case I'll admit I've thought of building either a stand-alone power unit as you described or one to be driven from my PTO shaft - complete with quick connects! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Oops. Shows you how much I work with steel. I could probably build a garage sized building faster than I could weld 2 pieces of steel together. But I don't bother welding... the guy down the road "was" (he's gotten out of the business) one of the top welders in the country.
RonL
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Ed
I have a 20 foot shipping container on my property that I am using for storage right now. My intent was to use the shipping container as a mechanical building once I built a barn/workshop. This Spring I want to pour footings for the container, put on a sloped roof that extends out to the sides, and run a 100 amp subpanel to it. I want to put my compressor and the hydraulic pump here. One side of the container will have all the electrical and air connections that I need. The other side will be where the splitter will go. My design for the splitter calls for the beam to be cantilevered out to the splitting wedge. The wedge is at the end of the beam. The control lever will be in the middle above so that I can split from either side. I figure that I could put my loader bucket under the wedge and the split wood would fall into the bucket. I'm thinking now that I could put in a drop off at the end of the splitter. That way I could put a bin under the end to catch the falling wood. Pick up the bin with my forks and run it into the woodshed. I figure that I'll be doing all of my cutting to length and splitting in one spot. And I like the idea of just throwing a switch and not having to maintain another gasoline engine.
As others have said, you could build a hydraulic power supply and put on quick connects. Running hydraulics would be as simple as plugging in. If you didn't want to fabricate a splitter you could buy one of the three point splitters and attach it to your pump.
RonL
I have a 20 foot shipping container on my property that I am using for storage right now. My intent was to use the shipping container as a mechanical building once I built a barn/workshop. This Spring I want to pour footings for the container, put on a sloped roof that extends out to the sides, and run a 100 amp subpanel to it. I want to put my compressor and the hydraulic pump here. One side of the container will have all the electrical and air connections that I need. The other side will be where the splitter will go. My design for the splitter calls for the beam to be cantilevered out to the splitting wedge. The wedge is at the end of the beam. The control lever will be in the middle above so that I can split from either side. I figure that I could put my loader bucket under the wedge and the split wood would fall into the bucket. I'm thinking now that I could put in a drop off at the end of the splitter. That way I could put a bin under the end to catch the falling wood. Pick up the bin with my forks and run it into the woodshed. I figure that I'll be doing all of my cutting to length and splitting in one spot. And I like the idea of just throwing a switch and not having to maintain another gasoline engine.
As others have said, you could build a hydraulic power supply and put on quick connects. Running hydraulics would be as simple as plugging in. If you didn't want to fabricate a splitter you could buy one of the three point splitters and attach it to your pump.
RonL
OP
EdK
Silver Member
Sounds like a good "system" you will have for handling your wood. As you know with wood it's all in minimizing the handling.
I have not as yet refined the felling through splitting portion of the process. I am putting together a winch for the rear of my tractor to help with that. I find forks fantastic for handling logs and stacks of 4-5 footers.
What I have thought out well is the handling after the wood is split. I have my 11&13 year old kids stack the split wood on pallets. The pallet is situated at the base of the splitter in a simple wooden u-shaped fixture with 5' high sides. When the kids have one finished I use steel banding to secure the stack to the pallet. Then I use the tractor to move the wood from there on to the drying location. Once dry, I move the stack into my walk-out basement through a pair of doors. I can reach into the basement and place the pallet on a dolly with casters. From there it is a cinch to roll over about 40' to the wood boiler, cut the straps and let rip.
With the help of a little child labor I don't have to even touch the wood coming off the splitter until I'm loading the firebox! A downside is the steel strapping costs which runs about $2/stack - not too bad.
I have not as yet refined the felling through splitting portion of the process. I am putting together a winch for the rear of my tractor to help with that. I find forks fantastic for handling logs and stacks of 4-5 footers.
What I have thought out well is the handling after the wood is split. I have my 11&13 year old kids stack the split wood on pallets. The pallet is situated at the base of the splitter in a simple wooden u-shaped fixture with 5' high sides. When the kids have one finished I use steel banding to secure the stack to the pallet. Then I use the tractor to move the wood from there on to the drying location. Once dry, I move the stack into my walk-out basement through a pair of doors. I can reach into the basement and place the pallet on a dolly with casters. From there it is a cinch to roll over about 40' to the wood boiler, cut the straps and let rip.
With the help of a little child labor I don't have to even touch the wood coming off the splitter until I'm loading the firebox! A downside is the steel strapping costs which runs about $2/stack - not too bad.
RonL
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Now I have a question for those familiar with hydraulics. The Barnes 2 stage pumps are rated to run from 500 to 4000 RPM. Their rated output is at 3600 RPM. Other than cost, is there a difference in running a 11 GPM pump at 3600 RPM and running a 22 GPM pump at 1800 RPM? Is there a loss of efficiency? Would the pump last longer?
RonL
RonL
fractal
Gold Member
Several log splitter manufacturers will sell you an electric version as well as a gas version. I believe I remember reading that a 3hp electric is equivalent to a 5hp gas motor splitter. I have also read a few web sites by people who have taken a gas powered splitter and converted it to electric.
http://www.westpowertools.com/bachtold/ lists a 12 ton electric that uses a 1 hp, 120v electric motor that is comparable to a 3.5 hp gas motor.
The full size models I have seen use 3-5 hp electric motors that are specified to plug in to electric dryer plugs or welder plugs.
Does your genset have a 30-50 amp 220 outlet? If so, you will need 50-100' of 6-8 awg wire to run an electric log splitter. They also tend to cost considerably more than a gas powered splitter.
http://www.westpowertools.com/bachtold/ lists a 12 ton electric that uses a 1 hp, 120v electric motor that is comparable to a 3.5 hp gas motor.
The full size models I have seen use 3-5 hp electric motors that are specified to plug in to electric dryer plugs or welder plugs.
Does your genset have a 30-50 amp 220 outlet? If so, you will need 50-100' of 6-8 awg wire to run an electric log splitter. They also tend to cost considerably more than a gas powered splitter.
