Log Splitter

[Gunny 1992]

That looks like a totally dis-functional system you got there 21 incher.  I would have added some rotary blades on that splitter so I could just fly over to the wood.  Fold the blades up and start splitting.  THAT MY FRIEND is a bad A@% splitter you got there and great pics as well.  Gota love pics.  You maybe need to beef that thing up a bit though.  It look a little flimsy...WOW!

[21incher]

Good size I beams too.

A little overkill but it started when I put a add on craigslist for a 8 inch 8 ft. long I beam. The reply was "I have 1 that is a little under 8 inch x about 12 ft. long". When I got there it turned out to be 7" x 12" x 1/2 wall that was 19'-6" long. That was some ride home with that beam having to be strapped down in my truck bed to keep it from tipping out. But the real reason to build your own is that you can wind up with a much better splitter in the same budget if you have the time. Here are a couple of more pics

  Easy to load and split the big ones while standing up


  I was able to develop a 2 stage splitting wedge that has a narrow blade pressing between 2 raised blocks below. Then when the sharper angle wedges hit the log it usually pops apart right after due to the pressure on the blocks below. Most logs only take about a 8" stroke to split and the 2 nd stage of the 22 gpm pump hardly ever kicks in because of the sharp narrow wedge. Plus I can slip in a 4 way wedge, but I have found it does not speed up the process.

  This is about 4 hours worth of splitting that used to take me weeks by hand.

[thecfarm]

You also need a few smarts and the know how too. Yes,I could build one,but how many times would I have to re do it,to get it right. I like your splitter,but I have ALOT of big stuff. Most are over 2 feet across. Like this,that is a yard stick and my hat for size.



 

Would be a bother to have to get each piece up there. But I do like the platform for the small stuff.I just have a store bought one that splits in vertical too for the big ones. Horizontal for the small ones.

[21incher]

thecfarm. Those are 2 footers on there. I just press a button to lower the loader and roll it in place then another button raises it. Only takes a couple of seconds to load a log up to 500 lbs then just roll it in place to split. I have split many 30 plus inchers with no bending or picking anything up a winch does the work.

[thecfarm]

Sorry, I had to go back and look at the pictures again to see the lift.Missed it the first time somehow.  : If I built something like that it would not look that good.

[deerslayer]

I've built splitters from scratch and also purchased and then modified others. It is a true statement that it will cost more to build your own than purchasing a factory made new one. This is the case if you have to purchase all the components. Many of us that "make stuff" have junk... I mean "resource piles" around that can provide the beginnings of many projects. Just this evening I mounted a GX340 Honda engine onto my present splitter to replace a troublesome 8hp B&S. I would have it operational if I could've gotten the Lovejoy coupler off the Briggs engine. It's rusted. (the allen screws) I'm soaking them now but hope I can just find a coupler half tomorrow for the 1" shaft. Anyway, I should have less than $1000 invested into this new to me splitter including the new Honda (which I bought cheaper at a pawn shop).

[beenthere]

It's rusted. (the allen screws) I'm soaking them now

I hope you have some Blue Creeper...

[deerslayer]

Blue creeper? what's that?

[beenthere]

deerslayer

Blue creeper? what's that?

The best at creeping into those rusted threads and unlocking the Grim Reapers' rust grip.

Used to be a member Mike_P that invented the RustReaper and we learned about all the great things it could do on this forum. Then Mike_P turned it over to the LogRite family and they packaged it and distribute it as Blue Creeper.
So many useful things about it, hard to name them all off. But your problem is right down its alley.

But it is everything people say it is. Old rusted bolts and nuts are its best game.

Here are several threads specific to BlueCreeper
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/board,61.0.html

[Oliver1655]

With the log lift I can lift 4' rounds but have no intention on doing so.  I noodle large rounds in half. Having to catch half of a 4' round is too much work! I have a Stihl S-08s with .404 full chisel chain that just loves to noodle!

[thurlow]

Built mine 30-some odd years ago;  the cylinders, hoses and valves are boughten; everything else came out of the scrap iron pile.  Actually the first splitting cylinder was salvaged, but I eventually replaced it.  When it was 'new', diesel was probably 50 cents a gallon, but even with today's price, it doesn't cost a lot to run it , since I only split a couple of days per year and the tractor runs about 1500 rpm.  That's my little brother running the thing........



 



 



 

I back a trailer up under the splitter so none of the wood ever falls on the ground.