Wood splitter

[J_J]

When I get around to changing mine, I was going to take two matching 1/2 plates one side welded to the backing plate, and the other one welded to the I- beam A one inch bolt through the center for rotation, and put some holes towards the outside edge. Simply slip some 3/4 in bolts in the holes at the position you desire. O degrees, 90 degrees and 180. You could even cut small trees close to the ground at the 90 degree position.

Or weld another mounting plate on the bottom of the one that is there. 180 degree position.

 

[stray]

Sounds good J.J. although I just don't have much faith in the splitter cutting a very big sapling into. I'll have to get some small limbs and try it. Thanks for the idea about the rotation sounds interesting.

 

[pequeajim]

J.J. I was looking at the Northern splitter and it is pretty light at 290 lbs. I am welding a heavy duty trailer hitch receiver for my 425 and wonder if I could mount this splitter with a square tube welded to the beam that would allow me to rotate it 90 or 180 degrees? I wonder if the hitch would hold it, let alone with a log in place?

The attached pic shows the PT adapter. Mine will have some heavy gussets on all fours sides of the tube.

 

[pequeajim]

Here's a drawing showing how it would mount to the tow adapter. I am concerned about the strength of this type of setup?

The idea is to be able to rotate the assembly.

 

[pequeajim]

If you look at this pic, the tube is attached in a way that allows the whole assembly to rotate to a vertical position.

 

[stray]

It looks like that would work just fine. You might sacrifice some lifting power in the upside down mode but I’m sure it would carry the weight of the splitter. In lifting the splitter around with a log in its bite one might be concerned with bending the bar or tubing going into the receiver. I even though of building a ripper that goes into the receiver but elected not to. I didn’t say I didn’t think it would work I just elected not too. Could be I was just into building Quick plates.
One thing that is obvious the closer you build the bite of the splitter to the tractor the more you will be able to lift.
Anyway how goes the welding class?

 

[stray]

That splitter you had posted looks like a good one to adapt to the Pt. Where did you find it? Just put a receiver bar on it, slide it into the receiver you are making, pipe the hydraulics into the PTO and away you go. Should be a fairly simple job.

 

[MossRoad]

That sounds like a great idea, J_J

 

[J_J]

Some of those hitches are rated for about 500 lbs tongue weight. I think it could carry it just fine. Were you going to cut vertical and horizontal, and upside down. On a simple rig with the valve located up by the operator, one might be able to pull the unit from the receiver and rotate it to 45, 180, 270 degrees. My hydraulic cylinder is laying on the I-beam, which gives it a shorter profile. The square receiver is a good idea, but I would use a solid 2 in bar to weld to the log splitter

 

[RegL]

Good idea but I think for the 90 and 180 deg. positions to be usefull, you would want the splitter control valve to be in the cab of the PT so you don't have to get off the tractor. Position splitter over log, split and go.

 

[pequeajim]

The welding class is going pretty good. All I have done is stick right now and the beads are looking good for sure. I'm taking my time in each area, (flat welding, joint, etc.) to get it looking good before moving on to the next technique.

J.J. gave me the link for the Northern Tools splitter.
Horizontal splitter

Horizontal/Vertical splitter

They are more expensive than going your route, but would cut down on the work putting it together. I haven't been getting a ton of free time here lately because of work. I figure I could take the overtime money and put that towards the splitter. Not as much fun as building it, but it might be better for me to practice on the smaller stuff for now anyway. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

J.J. s plate idea would probably be sturdier though. I'm just trying to find things for this trailer tow adapter I am making.

I will talk to my teacher in class tomorrow about it and see what he suggests.

 

[J_J]

While splitting heavy logs in the horizontal mode, you could add a fold up support arm at the end of the splitter.

 

[pequeajim]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Some of those hitches are rated for about 500 lbs tongue weight. I think it could carry it just fine. Were you going to cut vertical and horizontal, and upside down. )</font>

I'm not really sure on the vertical/horizontal. I would like to cut upside down though. I like what Stray did with his.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The square receiver is a good idea, but I would use a solid 2 in bar to weld to the log splitter )</font>

That's a thought! the horizontal version weighs under 300 lbs. I wonder what a 24" piece of stock like that weighs? I will have to check that out.

 

[Highridge]

Great Idea Pequeajim, everythings easier when you can weld. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I like the horizontal/vertical one. I think it can be used both ways. It looks easier to weld the attachment plate to the horizontal/vertical one.

 

[J_J]

Check this one out.

I think that I would add more bracing.

 

[J_J]

This is the other end.

 

[pequeajim]

Thanks J.J.

I saw that one on ebay, but did not notice the trailer hitch type attachment, good catch!

I agree that I would brace the tube coming out of the adapter plate and also make the connector on the main tubes a little longer with more bracing. That's why I thought welding it to the bottom and side of the I-Beam (on the other) would create more strength?

If I used the Northern Tools version, I would probably relocate the valve to the side of the I-Beam so that it never ends up on the bottom like when I flip it 180 degree.

I just called the guy, (Don), and left a message for him to call me back. I am curious how much it weighs too.

Stray: This is very close to what I was thinking of to be able to rotate the splitter.

(come up with an idea and it's most likely that J.J. has a picture of it!) /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[J_J]

Why not do what Stray did and mount it up on the dash of the PT and install some hyd quick connects near the cylinder.

You are going to smile at this, but did you know that they make a remote control valve so you don't have to be near the valve. They are not cheap. I have seen them in the Baileys catalog.

 

[stray]

I will bring this to the front because many of this forums members had good ideas if one was buying everthing from scrach. I had a lot of the material for mine thus it didn't cost much. Read this over and if you have any questions I or some one will be glad to answer them.

 

[BAGTIC]

Does anyone have a link to a wood splitter that works upside down? I saw one on the internet a while back but when I went to find it again it was gone. At least I couldn't find it.

It would be nice to split some on the heavy pieces on the ground without having to lift them.