Nother woodsplitter build

[Scooby074]

i tow mine, but you have to go SLOW, like 50. Otherwise its all over the road, and its beating itself up. No suspension on mine.

As to width, id go the max that fits into your box. Id say mine is 5' maybe, but it'll fit on my trailer if i have to take it any distance (more than 30 kms.)

 

[toxicjeeper]

That sucks about the towing bit..I probably shouldnt bank on the fact that i can tow mine at highway speeds then..i better cut another foot or so off the axle to be safe and have it down to a size that will fit in my truck or trailer..

 

[Scooby074]

That sucks about the towing bit..I probably shouldnt bank on the fact that i can tow mine at highway speeds then..i better cut another foot or so off the axle to be safe and have it down to a size that will fit in my truck or trailer..

If you add suspended axles, like a torflex you should be able to see highway speed. But unsuspended the thing literally beats itself to death going over bumps. With a couple hundred pounds of engine and hydraulic tank hanging off the sides, the last thing i want to do is hit something hard and break a weld so i go real slow. Having the axle spread the maximum that will fit in the box of your truck gives you the freedom to either tow or haul the splitter.

one issue with towing at high speed is going to be lights, registration and insurance.

Keeping the speed down and traveling with the 4 ways on gives a man a LOT of leeway with the police. At least around here.

 

[toxicjeeper]

Thanks for the insight Scooby..i figure with a set of lights i wouldnt get bothered too much around here either..but i did cut the axle down so it is under 5 feet with the wheels and will fit in a truck of trailer if need be..

Couple pictures..The axle is just clamoped in place till i get all the expensive componets. I figure that way i can just move the axle back and forth till i find the right balance.

There is nothing cheap about building your own splitter..I have around 250 + in steel already and my mig gun bite the dust so i had to buy another one..Oh well works great now...

where she stands as of today..

Lots of slag on that last weld but it was soild underneath..Those welds holding that square tubeing on where long hot welds at 400 inches a minute at 260 amps..Bacon baby..LOL

 

[toxicjeeper]

Well i now have everything except the motor.( it was the only thing not on sale at PA this week). I didnt notice till i got home( and because it was in the box) but i have a 4.5 inch bore cylinder now instead of the 3.5 bore i had planned..Now instead of a cycle speed of 7 sec it is 11 sec with the 16 gpm pump i have....Still faster than any store bought splitter and i reckon it will have enough power now to get through a 4 way wedge..

Got a free set of rim/tires but had to modify the bolt pattern..What a PITA..i dont plan on towing at highway speeds anyway..

 

[toxicjeeper]

Few more pics

 

[toxicjeeper]

few more

 

[toxicjeeper]

Done. Cycle time wasnt as fast as i wanted because of the bigger 4.5 inch ram.. It has a 10 sec cycle time as of now. Split 1/2 a cord today and no trouble..Made the hydraulic ram pin on my chochester lathe.

It was a fun project..Might sell it to buy a milling machine and build a faster splitter with a smaller ram..:thumbsup:

 

[toxicjeeper]

Modified 4 way splitting wedge.

 

[Scooby074]

interesting 4 way.

You didnt go for a hydraulic lift for the 4 way eh? I have to say its one of the better features on mine.

Raise the 4 way out of the way when needed, yet be able to adjust the centre height when using it.

I use my 4 way 80% of the time. only on really gnarly or stuff in splitting into small pieces (like kindling) do i use the single blade.