Log-splitting force

[Sprucegum]

I've been thinking about buying or building a small splitter for personal use.

A quick look in a couple catalogues and I see they range from 4 1/2 ton to 31 ton so.... how many tons force does it take to split a block of wood?

I split spruce, birch, aspen and black poplar with a 3-pound axe and a long swing :P

[Quartlow]

well gee this is a no brainer, we are guys so you there is only one choice the 31 ton  :D :D

[DonE911]

I split everthing with a 6lb maul   ;D

I don't want to pretend to know a good answer, but I've seen a guy use a 20 ton unit with 8 hp engine and it was splitting good sized hardwood with no problem.  The only thing I could see that was a problem was the slow cycle of the machine.   I could do 2 or 3 blocks by hand in the time it took the machine to quarter one block.....  less effort in the machine, btu you still have to feed it.

[SwampDonkey]

Sprucegum, if those species you listed was all I was splitting I wouldn't bother with no wood splitter. That stuff is like cutting cheese when it's green and a little frost in it in March-April.

[Ron Scott]

I have a 22 Ton Huskee wood spliter and it does all I want it to do.Nothing has "stopped" it yet. I wouldn't get anything less than that though. A 31-35 ton would be better if you are doing commercial firewood regularly, but also more $$$.

[mike_van]

There's a place called Surplus Center in Lincoln Nebraska - Nice free catalog - What I always liked was the hydraulic cylinders listed showed what they would "push & pull" at a given pressure - www.surpluscenter.com   or toll free 800-488-3407  - Lots of good stuff there.

[Gabby]

I split about 20 standard cords per year with a 30 yr old splitter. 7 hp engine and 20 tons. All oak, hickory, and hard maple. Some pieces up to 32". Never had a problem, although I would consider "ram speed" along with everything else. Good luck!

[Sprucegum]

SwampDonkey , yer probably right

The wife says I look good with an axe in my hand - but maybe she's just sayin' that because I have an axe in my hand  :D :D :D

I guess the objective would be to get as much power as possible without sacrificing too much speed. I wouldn't want to work any slower than I do now.

[SwampDonkey]

It's suppose to be fun, not work. ;D

[Murf]

.......how many tons force does it take to split a block of wood?

Not too many, it used to be a popular thing around here to make a splitter using an old power steering pump off a junked truck and a real small gas engine off an old lawnmower.

I doubt that an old power steering pump, even from a big truck, would make much more than about 500 psi, especially after it's all but used up.

Even with a 4" cylinder, 500 psi would only generate a little over 3 tons of push power.

There's still a number of them in service in these parts, so they must do something to the wood.  :D

[Wudman]

I have a "20 ton" model purchased from Lowe's.  It has a 6 HP Honda engine.  The only thing that has ever been put on it that it wouldn't split was a really knarly twisted white oak crotch.  I ended up sawing it up with the chain saw.

The thing about a wood splitter is that you can attack just about anything.....if it won't split, you can still mash it in to, but if you can't pick up the piece to handle, you still have to downsize it by hand first.

If you have good clean, easy to split wood, you may be faster for a period with a maul or ax, but the splitter will keep the same pace as long as someone keeps feeding it.

Wudman

[DonE911]

Speaking of feeding it....  is gas for the splitter cheaper than grits for the chopper?? :D :D

[bitternut]

I built a splitter with a 5hp honda engine, 4" diameter cylinder, two stage pump, auto return valve and it will cut wood in half. The best part of it is that the wife likes using it. The only mistake I made was making the axle with old rambler bolt on front spindles and standard car highway tires. It tows like a dream and sometimes too often if you know what I mean.

[sawguy21]

I had a call today asking if a 5 ton splitter with a 120V electic motor would be any good but I have no experience with them. The caller said she had rented a so called 20 ton unit with a 5hp electric motor but it was wired for 120V and  occasionally stalled forcing her to give the block a thump with the sledge. A 5hp motor would need 240V so it looks like the yard guy was pumping sunshine.

[buck5611]

I built a splitter using a Lifan(copy of Honda) 9 hp engine  and a two stage 4/16 gpm barnes pump. I chose a 4" diam cylinder with a 2 1/2 inche rod for a faster return.It work very whell and I'm completely satisfied with it.I split mostly maple and yellow birch.

[dail_h]

   I got an old Northern ,with a 5hp Techcumse on it that has split a gajillion cords, engine now dead,have 5hp Honda to replace it. Don't remember 'bout the pump,but seems about 4in cylinder,all the splitter I ever needed. Don't remember throwing off anything because it wouldn't split. Want to change the wedge arrangement so the wedge moves instead of the block,and add an automatic kickout for the return that is adjustabl for length..