My 3rd and hopefully last log splitter

[mikefromnh]

I started with a horizontal and vertical splitter. I didn't like splitting vertically so I tended to use it horizontal and try to lift to much. I figured that wasn't good long term so I converted it to horizontal only with a log lift and auto cycle valve.

Started by flipping the beam on the running gear so the tires would be out of the operators way. Which I think is the biggest disadvantage of dual mode splitters... The tires are in the way when it's horizontal










For me the difference was night and day. No more sore back. Much more comfortable to work and more productive. The log lift also doubles as a work table where you can stage 6-8 smaller rounds and roll them onto the splitter quickly.

Of course there was still things I didn't like (wedge not on beam, no out feed table, 24" stroke, slow etc.)...

So here we are with my 3rd and hopefully final splitter.

 

[franklin2]

I guess you can't have your cake and eat it to. If you had all that large log lift stuff on a splitter it probably would not swing to vertical very easily would it? Unless you took it all off.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Mike, what's the red gizmo on the wedge in the first pic?

 

[rswyan]

Mike, what's the red gizmo on the wedge in the first pic?

A stop to push a stuck log off the wedge ?

 

[mikefromnh]

Northernt tool calls it a log stripper. It knocks stuck on logs off the wedge on the return stroke.

It was not the best design. Small pieces of woods would get stuck inside of it and get compacted. Then the cylinder wouldn't be able to retract all the way. When that happened the wedge would put pressure on the bolt that connects it to the cylinder rod and snap. You would have to constantly have to stop and clear out the debris or break the bolt. When it got really compacted you would have to take the log stripper off to clean it.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Thansk. I know lots of folks talk about removing stuck rounds, that's the first I've seen a commercially available option.

Personally, I prefer the route you've taken with the wedge on the beam and a big cyl, just keep pushing :-D

 

[mikefromnh]

Log lift. By attaching the cylinder to the 45 side table instead of the beam I could get 180 degrees of rotation with only 6" of stroke.





Hinge detail

 

[LD1]

What diameter lift cylinder did you use? and how high does it go? ~6'?

 

[muddstopper]

Everyone will have a opinion as to vertical versus Horizonal. Every splitter I I built has been Horizonal. When I sold the last one, I rented a speedco that would split either way. I found the vertical was handy for those heavy rounds, but I soon got to hate having to throw every split out of the way before going for the next round. My current splitter I didnt even consider trying to go vertical. Going horizonal only also posed a big problem, mainly I always split big wood, and I'm getting to old for all that heavy lifting. I thought about a log lift, but knew i would always either be moving the splitter to get close to the large rounds, or I would have to roll those large rounds up to the splitter. I got lucky and got a old cable truck crane gave to me. I did a little repair work to the winch on the crane and mounted it on the splitter. I made a control cord about 20ft long and put a set of log dogs on the end of the cable. Now I just let out cable and walk over to the large round an hook up the log dogs and walk back to the splitter. I dont lift anything heavy, the boom does it for me. I can work from either side of the splitter.

 

[mikefromnh]

What diameter lift cylinder did you use? and how high does it go? ~6'?

It's a 2x10 cylinder that I picked up cheap off ebay. It does go about a 6'. I doubt I'll ever go that high in use though. My goal was about 15 degrees above level so that logs would roll on their own.

If I had attached the cylinder to the beam I probably would have needed the full 10" stroke to make the geometry work.