muddstopper
Veteran Member
I am finally getting around to starting my firewood processor build but cant decide how thick of metal to use to build the 12way splitting wedge. Wedge design is similar to this one Huge Wood Splitter - 200 Ton - YouTube, but only a 4way split in the center section instead of 6way. I have 3/4x8 in plate to build the 4way with, but am considering just using 1/2 plate for the rest of the wedge. The wedge opening will be 27in wide for splitting big rounds. This means the side wedges will be about 13in long attached in the middle and the outside edges of the box. My concerns are bending the 1/2in wedges more than ripping them off the main wedge under force. (I wont be using a 110v mig for any of the welding) Using half inch steel has the advantage of being cheaper to buy, and lighter weight, and thinner means less spreading of the wood between each wedge, but will it hold up to 50tons of force in knotty wood. My thoughts are that welding the thinner wedges behind the cutting edge of the heaver 4way, so that the wood is already partially split before hitting the thinner outside wedges, that the outside wedges shouldnt see much of the force needed to start the split. Also with multiple wedges, the force is spread out over a wider area and after the initial 4way split, it should take less power for each additional split. 50 tons spread out over 12 wedges equals a little over 4 tons per wedge, but I know wood doesnt split evenly in nice round numbers. Let me hear other opinions before i buy metal and start cutting it up.