Overkill log splitter

[IC Smoke]

Long story short I dont heat my home with wood but I do heat the 30x36 garage. I have split wood prior with a splitting maul and decided I would start collecting parts here and there to build one. I started with a trailer axle that was laying around, then I found a I-beam after taking in some metal to the scrap yard. I think it was around $20 I had to pay (scrap price/ pound). Grabbed a pair of wheels/tires from the local trailer RV surplus store along with the lights and wiring. I cut down a old 100lb propane tank for the hyd tank. The hydraulic cylinder came off a tiling knife that a local excavator was parting out/scrapping. The 11hp Honda came off a old pressure washer that the pump went out on (rebuilt once already) so it was cheaper to buy a whole new machine.
The rest of the parts I had to order from Surplus Center and Northern tool. 16gpm hyd pump (2 stage), trailer hitch, pump/motor adapter plate. hyd hoses, one way valve, splitting wedge, trailer jack, and misc. fittings and such.

My whole idea behind building on with the trailer axle is my father in law burns wood as well but they live a hour away so I wanted one that would go 70mph down a Michigan Highway and those TSC small wheel ones woudlnt last one trip! I didnt intend it to be this big but it just happened lol. I still have to buy a sheet of diamond plate for the inside of the wheel wells, and around the front to keep the dirt off the motor/pump and tank.

Only downside is once it was together and I fired it up I quickly found out that the Hydraulic cylinder had a bad front seal but I paid $50 for it with no guarantee so I didnt sweat it too bad.

It only took a year to find the parts but its 98% done in the last photo. Yes the trailer jack is different... the first one wasn't quite up to the job! lol

I will post a photo of it finished with the diamond plate later on. Low priority at the moment.


Ian

 

[plumbstraight]

nice build, that should do it

 

[Baby Grand]

Nice build. You should be able to split anything with that monster.
I like that the engine is well removed from where you stand when it's running.
Now with the questions:
What's the cylinder stroke? How's the cycle time?

 

[Locoweed]

My only critique is that it is too low. Kills my back after using a low splitter for a bit. Other than that, very nice work!

 

[murphy1244]

Nice job. Doesn't seem that low.

 

[deerseeker001]

good job

 

[arrow]

Its actually quite striking in its simple but sleek looking build. All hydraulic splitters look like they've been put together with after thoughts to me. This one actually looks cohesive. Can it be you've initiated a new design trend? Heck, they did it with cars and tractors. Why not splitters.

 

[yomax4]

Nice Splitter. Looks great. Now you can add a log lift so you don't have to lift the logs. I just built one for mine and I can't believe I waited so long. I split 15-20 cords per year. I too like your rear engine design. I breath a lot of exhaust with mine. Now I'm going to turn it so it blows out the back.

 

[davedj1]

Looks good man! Your gonna have to get a video of it working now.

 

[IC Smoke]

Thanks gang! It also needs a couple racks so the split pieces dont drop to the ground and the decking over the axle needs to be welded to the I beam since I am getting a humm from the vibration of the motor. I used 1/2" conveyer belting to sit the motor on as well as under the plate with a large fender washer to keep the vibration down but it isnt enough I guess. I will shoot a video shortly and get it posted.

My only critique is that it is too low. Kills my back after using a low splitter for a bit. Other than that, very nice work!

That was also one of my reasons for not buying a TSC/box store splitter! I'm 6'1" and you dont have to bend over using my splitter.

Ian

 

[skylarkguy]

That splitter might win a design award. How does it tow?...at the legal limit no doubt.

 

[mrmikey]

That is an awesome looking build, congratulations on a job well done.....Mike

 

[IC Smoke]

Tows great!! Only downfall is it has a bit of tounge weight so I cant lift it real easy by hand but I can still pick it up enough to put it on a snowmobile dolly. That way i can move it around in the barn. I think I would have to make it longer if that was the case or bring the tires closer to the front but then I wouldnt have much room to stand and the motor would be even closer. I dont think in Michigan you have to have a plate for a log splitter.... I'm in a rural area so its not a issue.

 

[M E Race]

Lets see, a swivel mounted cab on one side,(heated,with sterio),an hydralic grapple to load blocks, and a conveyor to load split wood in trailer, and you have a firewood factory on wheels. You might wear out the engine, but your grandchildren will still be splitting with that machine, and bragging that their grandaddy built it!!

 

[jb462]

nice job

 

[JBlk]

I don't see the overkill that you refer to.I don't see a picture of the pump but I assume you put a large capacity two stage on it.This splitter looks very similar to my first home made splitter.You definately need to put a lift on it and make a portable table to attach when splitting so you have some where to push the large un-split portion.It appears that you are a very good welder from what I see, and you should get many hours of good service from this unit.

 

[BHD]

I agree with JBlk there it does not look that over kill, looks a lot like mine and it is not over kill for elm and the crotches, I have thought about adding a second cylinder on mine for that "extra" that I find I need at times.

but excellent job and looks great.

 

[MarkM2x2]

Nice job on your splitter. I built mine with the wedge fixed so the wood pushes away from where you are working.
Here is a nice tool for saving your back while handling wood. Works great!
Timber Claw Log Grabber — Holds Logs up to 18 to 24in.L, Model# TMW-33 | Logging Hand Tools| Northern Tool + Equipment
Mark

 

[Sfrankland]

Nice job on your splitter. I built mine with the wedge fixed so the wood pushes away from where you are working.
Here is a nice tool for saving your back while handling wood. Works great!
Timber Claw Log Grabber — Holds Logs up to 18 to 24in.L, Model# TMW-33 | Logging Hand Tools| Northern Tool + Equipment
Mark

My father has one of these and it works great and they come in different lengths depending on how long you cut your wood. He also has a pickaroon and I find that works great to. I am 6'3" and I don't have to bend over to grab the next piece.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=51108&cat=1,41131

 

[sharp101]

That is a fine looking compact log splitter. Job well done. It looks well built and designed. Now for my 2 cents. Somewhere down the road you will probably get older or tired of picking the big pieces up and placing them on the splitter so you may put a lift table on it. Once you do that then you will probably need a bigger hydraulic pump such as a 22 or 28 gpm. You just can't build these things heavy enough. Take my word for it.