Rotory screw log splitter

[Hollyblue]

Need advise, anyone here use a screw type log splitter? I'm disabled and can do most things around the homestead independently, but moving around the rounds, my legs just won't handle more than a few and give out.
I saw on YouTube a screw log splitter that went on the end of the backhoe and realized, I could actually do that.
It looked like it had a hydrolic motor attached to the bucket curl cylinder area and bracketed to the bucket bracket.
I've looked online and all I can find similar is the skid steer one so I think I'd Need to fabricate one for my sub compact Massy Ferguson 21hp.
The main draw back from what I found was safety from spinoff, but this style you aren't holding the log but up on the tractor. You also can split many rounds from the tractor in the radius range of the backhoe before moving. Added benefits you can chew up a stump for easier removal and possibly even a post hole digger.

Any information on this would be extremely helpful for me to be fully independent, and greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks!

EDIT: MASSY FERGUSON GC1723 tractor, so SUB compact. Most of the resources are for larger tractors, and many look to be better applied to them. My thought is the screw would be the best to handle splitting on my small tractor size. I've seen smaller stationary screw splitters that seem to do well Splitting the size wood I need.

Wood: property was logged out some time ago so size is only 12" -20" diameter and lengths of 12" - 14" for the home, and 16-18" for the garage. Any larger diameter and it goes to the neibor or son to split. Oak, ash, maple and popular mainly.

I really appreciate your posts and opinions. I'm sure you all value your independence as much as I do!

 

[i7win7]

Contact split fire, they might be able to adapt an excavator model to backhoe.

3209 - Split-Fire USA

split-fire.com

I made a bucking table to make the job easier for me

Processing Firewood the Professional Redneck Way

This will be a long assembly post with many photos, you may want to bookmark it and read on a rainy day. You will need a root grapple to lift logs, A miter saw to cut multiple 4x4's and 2x8's to size, plus other wood working tools most home owners all ready have. Let's start...

www.orangetractortalks.com

 

[oldnslo]

I have seen a couple of videos where people had adapted a back hoe to be a log splitter. I do not recall if they used the bucket curl for split or exactly hiw they worked. But with these they could pick the pieces up and split into a pile or trailer vs having split pieces scattered about.

On the screw style would your back hoe take the torque - twisting moments required? I guess a lot depends on size and type of wood that you splitting.

Either way I wish you the best in finding a solution that works for you.

 

[ericm979]

There's some skid steer log splitters out there. I.e. TM Warrior Skid Steer Log Splitter Attachment | TM MFG


You might need to adapt the mounting for the tractor which can't curl down as far. And the tractor's hydraulic flow and pressure will not be as much as the skid steer so it would be slower and less powerful. You could always buy or make a PTO driven hydraulic power pack to get more flow and pressure. But then you're talking a large expense.

Another option would be a Gorrilabac attachment for your hydraulic splitter. You can use it to pull rounds to the splitter and pull them up on the splitter. Home- Log Splitter Lift - Gorillabac

 

[CobyRupert]

Ahh…I now see you’re probably talking about something like this?:

Splitting pine is one thing, I’d wonder what happens in oak or some stringy elm, etc..
It sure looks convenient to split everything from the cab seat, I wonder if a twisting force on the backhoe arm could become a problem with a long log?

 

[Hollyblue]

Need advise, anyone here use a screw type log splitter? I'm disabled and can do most things around the homestead independently, but moving around the rounds, my legs just won't handle more than a few and give out.
I saw on YouTube a screw log splitter that went on the end of the backhoe and realized, I could actually do that.
It looked like it had a hydrolic motor attached to the bucket curl cylinder area and bracketed to the bucket bracket.
I've looked online and all I can find similar is the skid steer one so I think I'd Need to fabricate one for my sub compact Massy Ferguson 21hp.
The main draw back from what I found was safety from spinoff, but this style you aren't holding the log but up on the tractor. You also can split many rounds from the tractor in the radius range of the backhoe before moving. Added benefits you can chew up a stump for easier removal and possibly even a post hole digger.

Any information on this would be extremely helpful for me to be fully independent, and greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks!

I should add the lengths I cut at. 12-14 for the home and 16 for the garage stoves.

 

[Hollyblue]

Ahh…I now see you’re probably talking about something like this?:

Splitting pine is one thing, I’d wonder what happens in oak or some stringy elm, etc..
It sure looks convenient to split everything from the cab seat, I wonder if a twisting force on the backhoe arm could become a problem with a long log?

Almost exactly what I'm talking about. Splitting 12-14" for the small house and 16" for the garage stove most rounds under 20" diamiter and mostly oak maple and ash. Been told the string stuff doesn't do so well. More advice needed for my smaller tractor! Real large rounds go to my healthy neibor that has a big standard splitter and shares for my garage hangout. Thanks for the replies!!

 

[/pine]

For manually moving rounds I use a pickeroon...some peavieys have hooks and a longer handle...sure saves on the back and hips etc...

 

[Williy]

Hollyblue check out some of these sites:

small tractor screw type log splitter for sale - Google Search

willy

 

[Randy Gann]

I looked at the video of the Split-Fire device on a mini-excavator. Does not seem much of a stretch to adapt this to fit a back hoe. Also seems much safer and faster than a screw type splitter.

 

[Cycledude]

Many years ago friend had screw type splitter run off his little Alice Chalmers PTO, I thought wow how dangerous but after watching him operate it I was actually Impressed at how well it worked, as far as I know he never got injured while operating it.
For safety I would never want to own one myself .

 

[Hollyblue]

Ahh…I now see you’re probably talking about something like this?:

Splitting pine is one thing, I’d wonder what happens in oak or some stringy elm, etc..
It sure looks convenient to split everything from the cab seat, I wonder if a twisting force on the backhoe arm could become a problem with a long log?

Many years ago friend had screw type splitter run off his little Alice Chalmers PTO, I thought wow how dangerous but after watching him operate it I was actually Impressed at how well it worked, as far as I know he never got injured while operating it.
For safety I would never want to own one myself .

I heard most of the safety concerns are while handling the wood and spinoff. I would be safe(r) up and away on the tractor.

 

[Smokeydog]

Have seen the screw type splitter used with post hole auger. Some have adapted hydraulic ssqa auger to their backhoe. They have a cage to keep the wood from spinning.

Not sure of your hydraulic capacity but could be slow for splitting.

Have used the grapple and backhoe with thumb on the Kubota B26 to handle chunks on the gas powered horizontal/vertical wood splitter. Definitely understand taking advantage of hydraulic power to help us do more.

Adapting a beam/cylinder wedge splitter in place of a backhoe bucket might work too.

 

[ehcrain]

If you have a thumb for your back how check out dig drive diy on YouTube, uses a backhoe to split firewood.

 

[Smokeydog]

If you have a thumb for your back how check out dig drive diy on YouTube, uses a backhoe to split firewood.

Like the idea. Just getting big rounds to manageable size helps. Like to see how that works with a small tractor backhoe. Not sure I would have the ram strength on the curl function?

 

[Everhard]

Hmmm I'm gonna look at my curl cylinder size vs my 25ton gas splitter!
My only concern would be those nasty "Y" shaped logs where the wood grain curves and my splitter ends up cutting thru the grain. (I've not found a single chunk of wood it couldn't split - it'll "cut" thru anything that has those nasty curves.) I'm wondering what kind of side-loading forces would be applied to the curl function if any?
I'd love to make something like that if it'll work for my little hoe. Certainly I'd say my hydraulic system must be at the very least as strong or stronger then the little gas powered pump on the splitter??

E.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Many years ago friend had screw type splitter run off his little Alice Chalmers PTO, I thought wow how dangerous but after watching him operate it I was actually Impressed at how well it worked, as far as I know he never got injured while operating it.
For safety I would never want to own one myself .

Just put a kill wire on it and put the kill wire on you. Been using screw splitter for years.

 

[WranglerX]

If you have a thumb for your back how check out dig drive diy on YouTube, uses a backhoe to split firewood.

That seems to be best solution yet.....

 

[alexinPA]

I got this attachment for PHD. Used it but didn't really liked it. It works. Now i prefer to use log splitter.