Log splitter build

[deanwerden]

Still have to make some axle stubs but it is good enough to try out for now. I'm very happy with how this turned out. Almost looks like I knew what I was doing

 

[ovrszd]

Looks very good. Use will tell the truth.

Understand that when you elevate the four way knife you also raise the point of maximum pressure. This translates to tremendous pressure on your I-beam and all your support elements of the knife. Did I mention tremendous pressure?? Success is dependent on the cylinder force being less than the breaking point on the knife. :thumbsup:

 

[muddstopper]

I really like The looks of the splitter. Only thing I see that I think is questionable is the edges on the wedges. I personally like for the edges to be a little sharper. On 1 in thick plate, I like to sharpen the edges back about 1-1 1/2 inches on each side. If i am only sharpening one side of the blade, I like to taper it back about 2 inches. This give a much sharper knife edge and it helps slice thru those hard knots and crotches that dont like to just bust. I have used my splitter to shear wood that is to long to fit on the beam and you cant do that with a short, blunt knife edge on the cutting blade.

 

[deanwerden]

I was just thinking that, I think these need to be sharper. I have aboit a 90 degree included angle and wood seems to be just popping and flying everywhere not even getting into the 4 way. I did stall it out on the 4 way tho and nothing seems to have bent or broken, Its getting dark now I will Sharpen these up in the morning and have another go. Also I am splitting wood that we cut last year, does that make it more prone to popping?

 

[ovrszd]

By looking at your pile, I think you've started with very easy to split wood. That's a good thing. Try to find the issues before they explode.

 

[deanwerden]

Its mostly ash and all bush trees so they are pretty straight, I only cut trees that I know will be easy to split and easy to handle, why make more work for yourself haha

 

[murphy1244]

By looking at your pile, I think you've started with very easy to split wood. That's a good thing. Try to find the issues before they explode.

Does look like ash or some other straight grain wood.

 

[LD1]

I like that you tied the top of the wedge in with the 4-way tube, as was suggested earlier. That was another point of concern of mine but didn't mention it since it was already brought up

 

[deanwerden]

The top of the wedge is only 3/16 plate so there's only about 3 threads in it so that might have to change eventually but it is holding for now

 

[muddstopper]

I was just thinking that, I think these need to be sharper. I have aboit a 90 degree included angle and wood seems to be just popping and flying everywhere not even getting into the 4 way. I did stall it out on the 4 way tho and nothing seems to have bent or broken, Its getting dark now I will Sharpen these up in the morning and have another go. Also I am splitting wood that we cut last year, does that make it more prone to popping?

I think once you get those blades a little sharper, yo will stop having popping pieces flying everywhere and not have as much stalling on the 4way.I think you can see the angle I used on my 6way in this pic