My 3rd and hopefully last log splitter

ultrarunner · Feb 22, 2015

Looks like a great project!

oldtimer 66 · Feb 22, 2015

I beams have tapered flanges. H beams have parallel flanges. I do not think I have seen a wood splitter made from a I beam on TBN except for the one I posted some time ago. I think I noted that I had to weld in tapered bars on the back side of the flanges to make parallel flanges. Now after saying this it must be noted that I have only been a member for a short period of time. Just an FYI. Later.

LD1 · Feb 23, 2015

Been off here a few days. Lots of snow so lots of hours plowing then sleep.

I dont think anyone has said that the web of a beam isnt important. OR that the flanges are more important than the web. Yes, they are all important and take away any part and you no longer have a beam.

But as far as strength is concerned, in the vertical direction only, adding material to the web does little to increase strength. But adding material to the flanges does add strength. Either wider, or thicker flanges increase the strength. Only other way to add strength to a beam is to make the flanges farther apart, IE: taller web.

Lets say you have an 8" beam with 4" flanges. And a spare piece of 8" flat steel. Cutting that 8" flat steel into two 4" pieces and adding them to the flanges would add more strength than adding it vertically to the web. Thats all I am saying.

ajmaxham · Feb 23, 2015

This wood splitter is built with a H beam. It is a light weight 6'' x 6'' H beam and you can see the flange has been distorted by the push plate. The wedge end will flex when splitting hard to split wood.

When I built my wood splitter I used material I had. The bottom of the beam is 4'' round with 1/2'' wall (it came off a Fox corn chopper). The web and top flange was built with 12'' c channel cut in half and welded to 5/16'' x 6'' flat bar. The top flange is a little over 6'' wide and the profile is like an I beam. My wedge is 10'' high and I have a 4.5'' cylinder. It has worked very well.

If you add a tall wedge (with a 4 or 6 way split) expect more stress on the beam.

oldtimer 66 · Feb 23, 2015

I was just trying to inform as to the difference between an I beam and a H beam. When sat in class I remember "extreme fiber" and it was not the kind you ate. LOL later

LD1 · Feb 23, 2015

An H-beam is just another term. Proper name is Wide-Flange I-beam. Or W-type.

The kind with tapered flanges (like C-channel) is Structural or S-Type I-beam.

H-beam is kinda mis leading. As it is alot weaker in the H direction than it is in the I direction

oldtimer 66 · Feb 23, 2015

I should have looked in my 1960 Ryerson book first before I post anything on beams. Next time I will.

LD1 · Feb 23, 2015

oldtimer 66 said:
I should have looked in my 1960 Ryerson book first before I post anything on beams. Next time I will.

NEver heard of that book. But then again, I am not an "old timer".:laughing: I am sure it has a ton of good information in it though.

mikefromnh · Feb 23, 2015

LD1 said:
NEver heard of that book. But then again, I am not an "old timer".:laughing: I am sure it has a ton of good information in it though.

jimmysisson · Feb 24, 2015

I hope you like the 45 degree side tables. I like some flat area to rassel the bolt around to get it aligned the way I want. Of course I just have a single wedge. A six way would probably mean you don't need to.
I have a 5" cylinder using about 32" of stroke, and a 13 gpm pump. Cycle time is a boring 22 seconds. Yours sounds much better!
Keep us updated: this is real interesting.
Jim