Log splitter as a press

[J_J]

Thought some of you might be interested in this setup. Make an adapter to use you splitter as a press.

 

[simonds]

Thanks for posting this J.J.
I bought a 3 pt hitch log splitter for my 4200 JD. this season and really love it. While splitting some fire wood I got to thinking, "I do that sometimes", how bout making a cider press to work off this thing. I have many apple trees and I really like cider so I just might build something this year. A log splitter has to have more than just one use, as you have shown us here. Any other ideas out there?
Clayton

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Maybe a set up to pop the bead on a tire?

 

[Diamondpilot]

I did the same thing about 5 years ago with my splitter also. Mine is a 3 point splitter that runs off the tractors remotes. The main difference between mine and JJ's is mine has a fixed foot and the wedge moves in a track on the beam and is attached to the ram. I simply made a press piece that goes in place of the wedge.

You just pull the pin on the end of the piston rod, tilt the cylinder up 90 deg, slide the ram out, put the press piece in, drop the cylinder back down and install the pin.

Used it quite a few times.

Chris

 

[jake98]

Any other ideas out there?
Clayton

Tubing/pipe bender..

 

[LD1]

I have used ours as a press several times before.

Usually I am in a rush and dont worry about the cutting edge. I just sharpen it later before next time I split wood.

 

[Chilly807]

The tire bead breaker is a good idea, I tried using mine for that once, but it needs a specific shaped adapter to make it work right. Thanks for reminding me of a good winter welding project

JJ, is that your splitter? If it is, have you ever had a problem with the cylinder rod bending?

Sean

 

[lhfarm]

I did the same thing about 5 years ago with my splitter also. Mine is a 3 point splitter that runs off the tractors remotes. The main difference between mine and JJ's is mine has a fixed foot and the wedge moves in a track on the beam and is attached to the ram. I simply made a press piece that goes in place of the wedge.

You just pull the pin on the end of the piston rod, tilt the cylinder up 90 deg, slide the ram out, put the press piece in, drop the cylinder back down and install the pin.

Used it quite a few times.

Chris

I have the same setup. Could you post a picture of the press piece? How thick is the material?
Thanks.

 

[JB4310]

Thought some of you might be interested in this setup. Make an adapter to use you splitter as a press.

Yup, heard about it before, great idea and you show some good starters tooling.
Thank, JB

A log splitter has to have more than just one use, as you have shown us here. Any other ideas out there?
Clayton

Mine sits 363 days a year, spend more time cleaning carb and mouse nests than splitting.
I got my tow behind for a deal I couldn't refuse, otherwise I couldn't justify owning one, would just rent one for a couple days.

...... but it needs a specific shaped adapter to make it work right. Thanks for reminding me of a good winter welding project

Sean

That's what's needed, all specific tools, dies etc. I'm surprised Northern Tool has cornered the market yet. Seems like something you would see in their pages.

The depth of the work is limited due to the beam though. Probably why it hasn't really caught on.
Pipe, bar, tubing like jake mentioned should be ideal with the right dies.

Wonder if they would work to shear steel like those iron worker machines.

JB.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have the same setup. Could you post a picture of the press piece? How thick is the material?
Thanks.

I built this splitter a few years ago. Could not find what I wanted on the market. Anyway, here are the pics. You can see it with the later built press adapter sitting on it. Total cost was $450

The press adapter is a 1/2" plate for the bottom, a solid 2x2 for the upright, and a piece of 1" round for the press part.

Chris

 

[Ford850]

I have used ours as a press several times before.

Usually I am in a rush and dont worry about the cutting edge. I just sharpen it later before next time I split wood.

I do the same thing. Come to think of it, it needs sharpening now.

 

[lhfarm]

The press adapter is a 1/2" plate for the bottom, a solid 2x2 for the upright, and a piece of 1" round for the press part.

Chris

Thanks for the quick reply and pictures. Need to find a place to buy small pieces of plate.

J.J., thanks for posting your solution.

 

[Gizmo2]

I have used ours as a press several times before.

Thought everyone did. Just not as nice a setup as JJ's

 

[J_J]

The tire bead breaker is a good idea, I tried using mine for that once, but it needs a specific shaped adapter to make it work right. Thanks for reminding me of a good winter welding project

JJ, is that your splitter? If it is, have you ever had a problem with the cylinder rod bending?

Sean

No, that is not my splitter. If I were to use mine as a press, I would just use the end that is on the cyl rod. A large flat surface. The sliding block of metal is connected to the beam. Very little chance of bending. The shaft in the picture, could perhaps bend.

 

[Johnbro]

(Slaps forehead...)

Jeez! Why didn't I think of that?? Great idea, thanks for sharing. I've been thinking about buying a press, but didn't want to give up the space in the garage it would require. This is a nice compromise.

 

[jaquetarr]

Along the same lines......
The waste management company recently changed the contract limiting garbage pick up to 0.5 cubic yards. Now with soda & milk jugs and all sorts of other hi volume empty space, I've been thinking about a garbage compactor. Specifically turning an old or cheap log splitter into a compactor for a 55 or 30 gal bbl. May be a short section of steel pipe.

If I'm limited to 0.5 cu yd every week, I want to get as much in there as I can.
In the pre thinking planning, I don't see too much problem to extend the ram out about a foot, making a circular steel top plate and setting a bbl under it to contain the refuse. At 10 ton or so I'd think that would be enough pressure.
Any other projects like this out there?
Thanks... tim

 

[Redneck in training]

Thanks for posting this J.J.
I bought a 3 pt hitch log splitter for my 4200 JD. this season and really love it. While splitting some fire wood I got to thinking, "I do that sometimes", how bout making a cider press to work off this thing. I have many apple trees and I really like cider so I just might build something this year. A log splitter has to have more than just one use, as you have shown us here. Any other ideas out there?
Clayton

I have seen one hydraulic cider press long time ago. It looked like standard press. All the hydraulic parts were on the bottom so it was less likely that oil would contaminate the cider.

 

[beeforty]

Along the same ideas, I've been contemplating how to use mine to bend rebar occasionally. Getting too old for the hicky bender.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Along the same ideas, I've been contemplating how to use mine to bend rebar occasionally. Getting too old for the hicky bender.

Make a wood jig to do it. I know a guy who bends trailer fenders out of diamond plate on his using a jig.

Chris

 

[jmc]

Along the same lines......
The waste management company recently changed the contract limiting garbage pick up to 0.5 cubic yards. Now with soda & milk jugs and all sorts of other hi volume empty space, I've been thinking about a garbage compactor.

Tim,

While you've got the welder out, why don't you weld up some recycling containers...