Built me a log splitter.

[Chris2]

Been a long time since I've been on here but I figured I'd share in case anyone else has undersized cylinders and just wondering if they'd work. They do, just not on full sized 24" logs.
I had the Cylinders and the beam laying around and just got bored one day.

 

[texasranger556]

Looks good! Guessing 2.5 or maybe 3" cylinders?

 

[jdom84]

Looks like a beast! and that end plate looks thick! Do you have issues with your wedge being so wide? I built a log splitter once with a wedge about half that, and it would cause a snapping action with the logs which was very scary when chunks of logs would go flying. Ended up adding 1" thick 2" inches long tip to start the split, which helped immensely

 

[CADplans]

Give me a lever that is long enough, and I can move the world,,,

That end plate is a lever,, I had a buddy build a splitter like that,,
The long end plate, and a lot of cords of wood,, the beam snapped in half.

He made the replacement with a shorter end plate.

 

[Chris2]

Yes they're 3" cylinders but only 14" stroke, that's why I made the wedge wide. Haven't used it much yet but I'll put it through the pases next week. The end plate was just something I found laying around at the scrap yard. 2" thick and sticks out 10" pass the beam.

 

[Thomas]

Now that's well built. :thumbsup:

 

[Chris2]

Thank you sir.

 

[Billrog]

You may want to add something to the front of your wedge to start the split then the width will take over.

 

[Chris2]

You can't really see it in the picture but there is a smaller piece at the start already.

 

[Hyrb]

Sir, with those cylinders it looks like you could make toothpicks! Even sweet gum will surrender

 

[Oldpath05]

With only a 14" stroke how long of a piece can fit on the splitter? might of been better to run both cylinders in line stead of side by side. Does the the splitter go horizontal? vertical will get old fast.

 

[Chris2]

Nope. I can't stand horizontal. To much lifting heavy logs. It'll fit a 19" log. I always cut 18" logs so my kids can carry em.

 

[LD1]

If it works for you good job.

A pair of 3" cylinders has a little more force than a single 5", but less than a single 4-1/2"

 

[John_Mc]

If it works for you good job.

A pair of 3" cylinders has a little more force than a single 5", but less than a single 4-1/2"

No, at the same pressure, a 5" cylinder has almost 39% more force than two 3" cylinders. the force is proportional to the square of the radius of a cylinder.

(Not to mention, how could two 3" cylinders have MORE than a 5" cylinder, but LESS than a 4.5"?)

 

[LD1]

No, at the same pressure, a 5" cylinder has almost 39% more force than two 3" cylinders. the force is proportional to the square of the radius of a cylinder.

(Not to mention, how could two 3" cylinders have MORE than a 5" cylinder, but LESS than a 4.5"?)

That was me fat fingering the keyboard. Good catch.

Was supposed to be more force than a 4" and less than an 4-1/2"....which are two common log splitter cylinders

 

[Chris2]

Yea it's just over 15 tons but the two 3" cylinders had been taking up space in my shed for about ten years. Just wanted to use em for something.

 

[John_Mc]

Yea it's just over 15 tons but the two 3" cylinders had been taking up space in my shed for about ten years. Just wanted to use em for something.

Just over 16 tons? So by commercial log splitter standards, that would be sold as what... a 27 ton unit?

Actually, I had a "16 ton" electric splitter that served me well for years (even though the only way it could really be 16 tons with it's 3.5" cylinder was if the pressure was running up at 3300# - which it certainly was not). It did OK though: most regular logs split just fine, and even some of the really gnarly logs I could usually figure out how to get some good chunks split off with it. Anything it wouldn't split got thrown on the bonfire/party pile.

 

[Chris2]

Yea I was wondering how they got 25+ tons outta those box store splitters. Finally put this one to the test on some really nasty logs. Outdid my buddy's store bought 24 ton.

 

[Chris2]

Got her painted all pretty!

 

[ovrszd]

Nice build!!!!

As someone mentioned, the vertical split will get old fast. But you used what you had!!!! Good job!!!!

If you decide you don't like it, wouldn't take long to convert it to horizontal split. By using the 3pt you always have the option of laying it on the ground for those big logs!!!!