log splitter H or I beam question

[trialsguy]

Dug through my buddies steel pile this morning and found a piece of flat that measure 8" wide by 1/2" thick by 5' long, I think this will be perfect for welding on top to give me a better platform for building the guide for the ram. There is enough that I can probably build all that I need out of the 1/2" now I need to round up a peice that I can cut down for the knife wedge.

would the half make a wide enough knife if I welded say some angle to help spread the wood or does the knife need to be a heavier steel to work properly.

Has anyone ever used to peices side by side then weldedd the knife edge together.

I am going to try and get started on the build this weekend, I am trying to see if my Brother can fit the beam in his home built powder coat oven, That would be cool

 

[towmotor]

If you look at oldmech's splitter (post #9, this thread) it looks as if he made a built-up wedge with lighter material than what you're talking about.

 

[sizzami]

the cylinder you descibe is a tie rod clevis does the end have two flanges too?
if so then it is a tie rod double clevis cylinder.

 

[MichiganIron]

The 4" deep beam is not going to have the section modulus (stiffness) needed for a splitter. We wouldn't use anything less than a W6x25 for 3" and 4" splitters @2400psi, and a W8x40 for above 4" bore splitters @2400psi. There is a considerable moment induced in the backbone of a log splitter from the eccentric load from the center of the splitter wedge to the center of the backbone beam. The stresses from the induced moment need to be added to the tensile stress, or combined stress.

Apply the splitter force (depending on the cylcinder and pressure) at the centerline of the wedge. Calculate the moment induced, extreme fiber stress, and add than to the fiber stress due to tension. If the beam is A36, which is the most common for older small sections, your allowable stress is 24 ksi. Make sure you are under the allowable. Check deflection the same way.

If you don't want to run the numbers, use a W6x25 for a 3-4" cyclinder at 2400 psi, a W8x40 @3000psi.

 

[trialsguy]

the cylinder you descibe is a tie rod clevis does the end have two flanges too?
if so then it is a tie rod double clevis cylinder.

Yes both ends are double flanged.


with the flex be reduced when I weld the 1/2 by 8" wide plate across the top giving me a wider cutting table and possibly working as a stiff back?

 

[towmotor]

with the flex be reduced when I weld the 1/2 by 8" wide plate across the top

It certainly won't hurt.

I don't want to start a spitting for distance contest with MichiganIron, because if I were in the business of building these things for other people, then I'd order the right steel section to begin with, as he does. My name is going with the equipment, my future, my financial well being.

You just want to build a splitter out of some steel you have lying around. As long as you accept the caveat that MI has expressed and proceed with caution, you should be okay.
OldMech's splitter should be ample evidence of that.

 

[bobodu]

Wow....I'm surprised the knife v. wedge war hasn't started!!

 

[towmotor]

Did you fight in this war?

I didn't know there was a war....

 

[trialsguy]

LOL That was my next question, I am going to do a search instead

 

[GIJOE]

It ended up being a COLD WAR. As the battle between the two super powers (the knife and the wedge) raged on, no one knew what to use, no wood was split for the winter and therefore no one was able to keep warm.

Joe