Woodsplitter build #2

[6sunset6]

yup outside wedges tapered on outside only. Middle both sides.
I turned my scrap piles upside down looking for a piece of 3/8 plate. Not one piece. Plenty of 1/4 and 1/2. So I made the center wedge from 1/2. Probably better anyway.
I welded the wedges to the bottom and tacked the top. Let it cool till tomorrow and unbolt it , turn it over so I can weld down. It does not look pretty but I got some bevel on the wedges and used 5/32 6011 at 165 A. I know it got right down into the root. The first passes looked good. The follow on passes look terrible but there are less blow holes than I have ever had . Some under cut but in 3/4 plate I don't think it matters much. I was almost going to take this someplace to get it welded but then that's why I have a welder. If this one blows up I will take it someplace. I think there is a lot less stress on the wedges with this design.

 

[Scooby074]

I think you might be a bit high on amperage for your 6011?

How many passes are you running for your cap? Id probably run 3 to give a nice, fat, smooth weld to keep the wood from hanging.

Have you tried 7018AC on your machine?

 

[6sunset6]

I only have a rotary switch 145 or 165. 145 does not seem to give enough penetration on the 3/4 plates. Probably just my technique. I was trying for 3 passes but it kinda ended up two. Maybe I should go back to 1/8 for the overpasses. I can always grind to smooth it out. I had some 7018 but it did not work well. Maybe it was dc rod. Box does not say. This is the first time i have welded 3/4 plate.
Usually 1/4-1/2 and structural shapes. lot of people have mentioned 7018. When I was down at the welding supply place at the beginning of this project I told him what I was doing and mentioned 7018. He said it was not really necessary. I should look for some and try it. The box is really heavy . I handled it with a chain falls when it was inside. Now I will have to use the FEL.
Tomorrow I will unbolt it and turn it over to weld the top. Always hard with one person. I never mentioned this before but I have done all of this by my self except picking up the beam , the first day. I only have a Subaru. That's another long story.

 

[Scooby074]

I loves me the Subarus. Thats where my nick comes from:thumbsup:

If your welder only has two taps, then i guess your stuck. Not much you can do about that.

On the 7018, it really is a DC rod, but they do make a AC version. Ive never ran it. Ive always had access to DC, so i cant comment on how well it works.

While the 7018 may not be required for strength, it is a VERY nice running rod. Nice smooth ripples and easy to remove slag. That's my experience on DC however.

One thing you need to know about 7018 is its a Lo-hy rod. It really should be kept in a rod oven. Its flux attracts water. In critical situations (one where you actually NEED 7018) it can cause weld fractures (hydrogen embrittlement).

I wouldnt sweat it for a woodsplitter, unless its nuclear powered , but if it gets wet it can be hard to run and you can have flux flaking issues. This may or may not be important to you.. I keep my rods in a home made oven (lightbulb in a box) that works ok, but if i got something critical, like a trailer hitch, ill go buy a fresh box.

Keeping the rods in one of those plastic air tight rod tubes with a desiccant pack from something can help a lot.

 

[6sunset6]

It's all ready to go again. I beveled the wedges, used 6011 5/32 at 145 A for the root weld. 160 was too hot. I think that really worked well. The over passes I started with 6011 but then said What the heck and tried the 1/8 7018 at 100A . It's a little different. Sticks a little sometimes. But lays down really nice and less porosity. I tried to fill under cuts and get 3 passes over the root. Funny I practiced on bottom plate which I had welded together with bevel joints at the beginning of this project. I filled in the top of the weld with 7018. IT worked really well nice dimes . But I still have trouble in the corners with the fillet welds. Very hard to keep an even fillet. So I have less porosity but lots of bumps .
Well, the proof is in the splitting. Tomorrow afternoon I think.

 

[Scooby074]

Sounds like its coming together.

There is a reason that almost everybody loves 7018.. with a little more practice, you likely will too.

 

[6sunset6]

I am going to look for some 7018 AC rod and see what that does. I have no idea what I had. It does not say AC on it

 

[6sunset6]

Put a 30 amp 240 v outlet in my shop today so I don't have to use the 50A welder outlet. I can't get an outlet in the wood shed till I split some rounds. Need the splitter for that. In fact the spot for the new spiltter has a pile of rounds sitting where it goes. No further work till Tuesday. Have to go away and see friends. It's an annual thing on this weekend for 25 years now.

 

[GE222]

I am anxious to hear how the new box works. It looks like the angles should work great! :thumbsup:

 

[6sunset6]

I will be running it in about an hour . Stay tuned.