Let's build the biggest non commercial splitter ever!

muddstopper · Apr 11, 2017

cost is going to add up very fast on this splitter. I do think you are going about the hyd all wrong. Instead of looking for a single big flow pump, I think I would use a double pump setup. This would allow you to pump the 60gpm at high pressure and power, and then another 60gpm at a low pressure for speed. Using a unloader valve you can dump one pump back to tank as soon as your low pressure setting is reached. This would be a good way to run high splitting tonnage and high speed with such a large cyl. Not sure what you plan on splitting, but I can split a 30in round on my spliitter, 6 ways in one pass and I am just using a 5in bore cyl. Unless you plan on making some sort of cookie cutter wedge, your cyl is way overkill for just about any size wood. I will also agree with others, re-sawing long splits is a real pain and more work than sawing to length and then splitting. Also even with a 6way wedge, if you have large dia wood, you would need to do a lot of resplitting of you splits. a 24in dia log split 6 ways will still give you 6 splits that are 12 inches wide.

2458n · Apr 11, 2017

Scrap prices are down so the pieces you need can be had reasonable again. Many see this as a high dollar operation, but I agree that there is a low budget method if you have the right connections. Makes a great read.

arrow · Apr 11, 2017

2458n said:
Scrap prices are down so the pieces you need can be had reasonable again. Many see this as a high dollar operation, but I agree that there is a low budget method if you have the right connections. Makes a great read.

I agree. It is a show. But it sorta reminds me of ink jet printers. They just about give the printers away. Then you spend about a thousand bucks for ink over the life of the printer.

4570Man · Apr 11, 2017

I'd build the wedge like this

Instead of like this

IMO it's far more useful to make a big pile of finished wood in a hurry than to make a big pile of more manageable chunks that requires a second splitter to handle. I also think cycle time is being over hyped. Even at half your specified pump GPM you'd have a slow cycle time, but are doing WAY more splitting per stroke than a regular splitter. This is like comparing a 48" mower at 15 mph or a 20' batwing mower at 3mph to cut a 100 acre field.

dragoneggs · Apr 12, 2017

I have absolutely no practical reason to follow this thread. But don't try to talk me into unsubscribing.

piercedtiger · Apr 12, 2017

dragoneggs said:
I have absolutely no practical reason to follow this thread. But don't try to talk me into unsubscribing.

Same. LOL

LD1 · Apr 12, 2017

With a budget no where near $10k, you are gonna be at the mercy of whatever you can find used. Don't know what things are like around you, but around here 60+GPM hydraulic stuff just don't come up that often. Have you enev tried to source a pump or valve? Have you priced 2" hydraulic fittings? 100gallon of oil?

The big beam and cylinder is the easy part. Find the pump and valve before going forward. Be prepared for sticker shock.

Oldpath05 · Apr 12, 2017

4570Man said:
I'd build the wedge like this View attachment 505545 Instead of like this View attachment 505546 IMO it's far more useful to make a big pile of finished wood in a hurry than to make a big pile of more manageable chunks that requires a second splitter to handle. I also think cycle time is being over hyped. Even at half your specified pump GPM you'd have a slow cycle time, but are doing WAY more splitting per stroke than a regular splitter. This is like comparing a 48" mower at 15 mph or a 20' batwing mower at 3mph to cut a 100 acre field.

Yea I like the first wedge design, but have it so it can be add on and taken off so the spliter can be used like the second picture if that's possible, maybe just have to settle for a re-cut and running the split pieces threw another spliter.

For me with a 22 ton spliter, those big logs would a lot of, too much work at 16-18" long. If I was buying firewood to cut up and those pre-split pieces at 8' long were cheaper than tree length, I'd try em, might even dry quicker that way, but to me I'm thinking tree length will be easier to work with than splintery pre-split wood.

Luke'sScreenName · Apr 12, 2017

Just a general question:
If you have a long four way spilter, can you split a big log part of the way through, then use a chainsaw to cut into stove length pieces while it hangs in the air?

If you use machines to place the log in the splitter and cut right 'post-split' seem like a time saver? Especially if you cut so the pieces fall into a bin for a fork lift or onto a conveyer. I know nothing about firewood processors.