Heavy home built splitter

[Al_Smith]

This is just in answer to a question on another thread .

I had most of the parts for about twenty years before I put this contraption together .11 HP electric start Briggs industrial .
5 inch Parker -Hannifin super duty cylinder ,steel rings 4500 PSI working range .10 inch wide flange beam ,heavy as lead with a 2 inch thick steel foot plate ,over kill .

The tank/axle is a chunk of 8" galvanized pipe ,heavy wall .Wedge is 3/4" plate steel .16 gallon per minute pump with a 3/4" port detent valve .Originally set as per factory at 1800 PSI which I just recently raised the presssure a tad bit .

Tires are Ford Escort using the rear hubs welded to the tank using a home made adaptor .I wrecked out two Escorts before the Chinese drove up scrap prices just to get the drive axles which I'm going to use on a homebuilt bandsaw mill .The cars were freebies .

The thing weighs a lot and moving it by hand is not an option by one person unless they are the size of a low land gorrilla .It will split anything I put in it even sideways if I wanted to .Speed is about the same as an 8 HP unit with a 4 inch cylinder although I don't run the engine at full throttle .The thing could most likely easily handle a 4 or six way

   wedge but I don't feel the need for one .

In spit of having nearly all the parts I still had about 500 in building this thing which took me around 4 days .

There are  more pictures in my gallery of this thing .

[Paper Maker]

I would like to see some pics myself. Can you unlock your gallery. I've got a 27hp Kubota engine out of a lawnmower I'm thinking about using to build one out of. Thanks

[thecfarm]

Looks good. Post the pictures here,we will enjoy them.

[Al_Smith]

 

  

  

 


Just varies shots of it .The thing was basically made of scrap steel I had laying around .

If I had it to do all over I would not have used that 72 pound to the foot piling beam. It will never bend but that thing is a bear to tip up and takes a come-along to tip back horizontal .I'd hate to guess at the weight but I'd bet all told around 900 pounds .

[Piston]

I love seeing what people build out of scrap laying around.  It looks like you did a great job!   8)

It appears that you would have more than enough hydraulic suppl to add a cylinder to lift/lower the main beam up to vertical, and back to horizontal. 

Something that much of a beast deserves a name, so what are you gonna call it?  ;D

[thecfarm]

Looks good,I enjoyed the pictures. I don't have enough smarts to do something like that unless I redo it 4-5 times.  :

[clww]

Al, that looks like a BEAST! Nice job.

[petefrom bearswamp]

I have a home built semi monster, originally an 8 horse Craftsman/Briggs but now a 5.5 Honda.
8" H beam 1/2" plate steel wedge and a front axle from a vintage 60's International 3/4 ton pickup truck which still has the tires on it from when I built the thing in 1978.
Cross hydraulic pump, cylinder and valve, hyd tank is an air tank from a 10 wheel dump truck.
I originally welded the H beam to the axle, but the weld broke 2 years ago and it is now bolted with 4  1/2" bolts.
My wife says that I have to quit welding as my welds only last 30 years.

[Al_Smith]

I intend on doing some modifications to that monstrosity when good weather arrives .Namely a square tube tongue because that little galvanized beam bends on the jack plus it's so short you can't hardy back it up straight . Plus a better method of kicking a stuck block off the wedge .Also a ramped extension on the forward cutting edge which didn't exactly go the way I had planned it in the beginning .

I think with a few pulleys I can adapt a boat winch to both raise the thing plus lower it .A second hydraulic cylinder would work of course but it would entail another valve to operate . Cylinders are no problem because I have a bunch of them being an old junk yard dawg .

Shucks I might not even see the thing again until spring time because it's right smack in the middle of 65 -70 cords of wood my buddy split .Well nobody will steal the thing that way .Too heavy to cart off anyway .

[Paper Maker]

 

 

Here is a splitter my dad built 30 something years ago. I took it down 2 years ago and put a fresh engine and paint on it. Right now it has a 4" bore cylinder with a 6 gpm pump.  I would love to get my hands on a 6" bore and put a two stage pump on it.

[Tiewire]

https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/30693/IMG_0182.jpg[/img] Hello everyone! I hope this pic of my splitter shows. I'm not to computer savvy.

[Tiewire]

Oh well I tried.

[Al_Smith]

Looks okay to me .Small cylinder but if it works that's all that matters .

[thecfarm]

Here's a helping hand for you,



 

looks good. Welcome to the forum.

[Mooseherder]

You did good uploading the pictures to your gallery.
While you have your photo gallery open, you can insert them into your post by clicking the insert image in post option.
Essentially you'll have two windows open.  Your gallery and the thread in which you are posting or replying in.
Another way to do it if that doesn't work, copy and paste the code of the picture while it is open in your gallery.
Then go back to your thread, right click and paste it into the message box where you want your image to appear.

 

[Tiewire]

  4 inch outrigger cylinder off of ford 555 backhoe splits most everything I have put on it. Running 2000 psi at present. Thought about turning up pressure but thought better of it.................. I did do the welding on it and it has not broke yet. I won't be posting close ups of my welds. Not always pretty but have not broke yet either.

[Tiewire]

Thanks for making pic's appear guys!

[Mooseherder]

A very nice rig you have there.
You did great getting the pictures into your gallery and basically have 2 windows open while doing so.
Your photo gallery and generally the thread you would like to post or reply in.
With your gallery open, click and open the picture you would like to reference.
You will see the insert image in post button.  This should put the code into your post for you.
Then go back to your open thread and complete your thoughts and post.

Another way to do is while viewing your picture, you will see code 3/4 of the way down in the white message box.
Select all of that code, copy it and paste it in your open reply box.

 

 

[Mooseherder]

You can also link your gallery to your profile for easy access.

To enable a link to your gallery, get your gallery number by clicking on the gallery link at the top of any forum page, then click on the my gallery within the gallery.

Copy the number that is at the end of the page address bar and paste it in the my Gallery box of your profile information, then save the change.
You will then see a little camera icon beneath your name.

[Tiewire]

  Thank you Mooseherder you even found the other two pic's I thought I lost in space . Believe me when I say I'm doing good to type and post this, much less put up pictures!

[r.man]

That's a nice looking splitter Tiewire. I really like your lifting arm, does it try to flip the splitter if you lift from the side?

[r.man]

Al, you could use a cylinder piped in parallel with your splitting cylinder if you had two shut off valves for the new lines. You would have to cycle the splitter to the appropriate end, open the two shut offs and then use your existing valve to lift or lower and then shut the manual valves again for normal operation. If you can scrounge the valves from your stash it becomes a cheap fairly easy option.

[Al_Smith]

Yeah I could with a flow diverter valve . I'm not certain what to do just yet. Besides it's cold out and being somewhat of a wuss in my old age I'll not mess with it so long as the temp is cold enough to freeze the business off a brass monkey .Not the mention poor Al's business brass monkey or no .

My bud the tree trimmer who has my split at the moment has the bright idea of building a real super split with a multi cutter and a big cylinder from a bucket truck .A big cylinder like 6-8 inch will take some volume or else it would be slow as a snail so it's going to take some power .

Depends on what we can conjure up as a far as old junk to get-er-done .

A lot to consider in design .Sure you can take a 5" cylinder like I have and crank out around a realalistic 22 tons at 3000 PSI .Certainly not the 35 tons they lie about .However if you run hydraulic components at their max output they will require a lot of maintainance .So the way I see it is to use larger components at lower pressure unless a person enjoys rebuilding cylinders ,valves and pumps on a regular bassis .Just because I know how doesn't mean I like to .

That said it's going to take some thought with regards to hose sizes ,pump and power requirements ,valve size and design .Not to mention a goodly amount of cash .Cheap perhaps as compaired to large commercialy built  units but certainly in no way free .

[Tiewire]

That's a nice looking splitter Tiewire. I really like your lifting arm, does it try to flip the splitter if you lift from the side?

IMG_0095.jpg

It will but I also made an outrigger for it when needed. Most of the time it's not needed though.

[Tiewire]

Darn it I thought I did the picture thing but it did'nt work. >:(

[Tiewire]

That's a nice looking splitter Tiewire. I really like your lifting arm, does it try to flip the splitter if you lift from the side?
[/quote I think I did it 8)]

[Mooseherder]

You almost had it but only selected the last part of the code.
Right click in the white code box, click select all, right click again, select copy, then come back to the reply window here and right click again, click paste.
Or,
while viewing your picture, click the insert image in post tab.

[Tiewire]

I'm appreciating the patience Mooseherder. I'm slow but Imight get it yet!

[beenthere]

I'm appreciating the patience Mooseherder. I'm slow but Imight get it yet!

Always click on the Preview button to see how your post will look, and if not the way you want it, then fix it before clicking on the Post button.

Also, you can go back to any of your posts, and click on the Modify button to make corrections (saves on multiple posts while getting it right).  And we appreciate your patience, as you will get it and wonder why it is so easy. 

[Mooseherder]

Congratulations!
I saw your picture in the other thread.

[r.man]

I don't do any pictures here yet Tiewire because I know from experience that you have to get everything just so and the frustration factor is high. I appreciate you going to the trouble, those are good shots of a nice splitter. Have you thought of putting wings/table on to catch the split pieces? I was splitting smaller ones than that on mine and it is a challenge to keep one half up so that you don't have to pick it up again. The second half always ends up back on the ground which is annoying. I was thinking wings but considering size is not a factor I am thinking mine should be built into a wheeled table. Size is not a factor with me since it lives outside and never travels off the property.

[beenthere]

I don't do any pictures here yet Tiewire because I know from experience that you have to get everything just so and the frustration factor is high. I appreciate you going to the trouble

All good things come at a price.  ;D  Give it a shot r.man  ;)

For picking up pieces to put on the splitter, I've come to really appreciate the Lockwood Firewood Gripper that Bailey's has online.
http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=1821 ORG&catID=162

No more trying to grapple by hand with pieces on the ground. Gives a convenient 'handle' for lifting.

And I like your idea of a table or wing setup.

[Tiewire]

I don't do any pictures here yet Tiewire because I know from experience that you have to get everything just so and the frustration factor is high. I appreciate you going to the trouble, those are good shots of a nice splitter. Have you thought of putting wings/table on to catch the split pieces? I was splitting smaller ones than that on mine and it is a challenge to keep one half up so that you don't have to pick it up again. The second half always ends up back on the ground which is annoying. I was thinking wings but considering size is not a factor I am thinking mine should be built into a wheeled table. Size is not a factor with me since it lives outside and never travels off the property.

In reply 13 you can see my table. You are correct r.man a table is a must!                                             

[Al_Smith]

On the subject of posting pictures I at this time will  compliment the forum administraters  on the work they've done in the past few years .It's relatively easy once you get the hang of it but at one time it was next to impossible unless a person had a degree in computor science .Good job .

[r.man]

Al I didn't mean a diverter valve, don't know what one is, I meant two manual shut offs which will allow the second cylinder to work in one direction after the main cylinder has bottomed out but will not affect the action of the original cylinder when the manual valves are off. Cheap, cheap, cheap if you have the manual valves, hoses and lift cylinder in your cast off pile.

[martyinmi]

A lot to consider in design .Sure you can take a 5" cylinder like I have and crank out around a realalistic 22 tons at 3000 PSI .

Your math is a little of there Uncle Al. :P  5x5=25   25x.7854=19.635 square inches   19.635x3000=58905 psi

58905 divided by 2000(ton) = 29.4525 tons of forward splitting pressure.  ;)

7 1/2 extra tons is a lot of extra oomph!

[Al_Smith]

I stand corrected nephew you are right ,a milestone .

However as I should have said in my case at approx 2200 PSI setting of the relief valve it does in fact equate to 44,000 pounds of force which is 22 tons .That is the exact rating that Timberwolf uses on their 5 inch cylinder models if I' m not mistaken .

I've chosen to save that 7 plus tons of extra oomph for a special occasion which is just a few turns on the relief valve setting .Mean while preserving the system from over working itself . ;)

[Al_Smith]

Al I didn't mean a diverter valve, don't know what one is, I meant two manual shut offs which will allow the second cylinder to work in one direction after the main cylinder .

Well that's one way to do it .Another  is with a manual selecter valve which I mistakenly said flow diverter which are not one in the same .http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=9-7897&catname=hydraulic.

Yet another is just by inserting in series from the other valve either before or after another valve for the second cylinder .Cost would be about the same .

[martyinmi]

I stand corrected nephew you are right ,a milestone .

I just thought of something quite funny, Al, that just dawned on me this morning as I read your post. I do in my ever so humble real life have an uncle with the name of Al(Albert) Smith. He's also my Godfather. I've never called him Uncle Al, nor has anyone I know. He's always went by the nickname "Oop"! ;D

[Al_Smith]

Alley Oop Smith ,really .Did he wear short paints made of Brillo pads like the cartoon character ?

No uncle Al on my part but I had a grandfather ,father and son named Albert .Grandpap went by Albert ,dad by Bud ,my son by Buddy .They call me Al most of the time .I have no idea  what I get dubbed when my back is turned .Could be a lot of things . ;)