PTO driven log splitter

inveresk · Mar 21, 2006

It was pointed out to me that in reality the quoted cycle time of a splitter is a bit of a red herring because logs are normally split long before the ram has gone on its complete outward journey. Even with a 20 second cycle splitter, if a log is split after, say, four or five seconds, the ram should only take the same amount of time to return.

rambler · Mar 21, 2006

( It was pointed out to me that in reality the quoted cycle time of a splitter is a bit of a red herring because logs are normally split long before the ram has gone on its complete outward journey. Even with a 20 second cycle splitter, if a log is split after, say, four or five seconds, the ram should only take the same amount of time to return. )

You don't split much elm, do you? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

--->Paul

greg_g · Mar 22, 2006

( You don't split much elm, do you? )

You do like your herring up there in Minnesota, don't you Paul? I used to live there too, and the elm with which I'm familiar doesn't really "split". Oh yes, you can argue that pieces of it come off the splitter - eventually. But in actuality there's more tearing done - than actual splitting. Down here elm (and willow) go on the brush pile, not in the fireplace.

//greg//

jimmysisson · Mar 22, 2006

Some woods, yup, like elm, are stringy and you have to run the ram right to the wedge. I keep a hatchet handy to whack the fibers that keep the pieces together. My homemade 4x36 splitter with a 13 gpm pump takes 17 seconds out and 15 seconds back no load. It's boring. Maybe when I'm 75 it'll seem just about right.
Jim

MadDog · Mar 22, 2006

Nah, Jimmy, I don't think so, not if you've still got your health. I'm 66 and when I'm outside workin', I want to be WORKIN'. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Seriously, though, your post confirms my point; the mathematics of cycle times are pretty much immutable and if you want a cycle time that doesn't have you waiting around to load the next round, you have to have sufficient hydraulic pump output to move the ram at a reasonable rate; if you have a larger cylinder, you just can't get that with the output of the smaller CUTs.

BTW, where in Western Mass are you? I live year round South of Boston but have a weekend/summer place w/30 acres of woods in Alford, right on the NY state line.

Regards,

rambler · Mar 23, 2006

(
You do like your herring up there in Minnesota, don't you Paul? //greg// )

Actually I'm in the pocket up here that like our bratwurst & beer. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Most wood splitters around here have 2 pieces of square stock welded vertically on the push ram. The strips push the wood past the splitting edge.

I did the elm with a maul & 5 wedges. Best was when it was about 10 degrees out.

It is stringy stuff, but it is _the_ hardwood around here, burns well, and there is so much of it after the Dutch Elm Disease.

--->Paul