Worlds Most Sophisticated Home Made Log Splitter?

[Industrial Toys]

I'd like the missile Silo as a second home. I think those places are neat. Everywhere I look, I just see HUGE amounts of tax payers money!

 

[4570Man]

Not really all that mythical, but I don't think I'd like living in a cave or an old Missile Silo.

The missile silo idea doesn’t sound bad as long as it’s $1000 and not 1000 miles from anywhere.

 

[KennyG]

Just for reference, here is my splitter with log tables. The frame members slide into tubes on the splitter beam so they can be quickly removed, although I never take them off.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Thanks. A friend builds thousand of farm gates and always has bushings around. So, yeh, I was kind of thinking with starting by welding some on. Watch me melt the wiring inside the main tube!

But, shouldn't the table go more out front to catch the split rounds, for gathering up or re-splitting?

 

[aczlan]

Thanks. A friend builds thousand of farm gates and always has bushings around. So, yeh, I was kind of thinking with starting by welding some on. Watch me melt the wiring inside the main tube!

But, shouldn't the table go more out front to catch the split rounds, for gathering up or re-splitting?

On that splitter, the wedge is the part that moves so the split rounds will end up on the table there.

Aaron Z

 

[Industrial Toys]

Thanks. I TOTALLY missed that.

 

[aczlan]

Thanks. I TOTALLY missed that.

No problem

Aaron Z

 

[BukitCase]

"On that splitter, the wedge is the part that moves so the split rounds will end up on the table there"

Not only that, but that particular splitter splits BOTH directions; wedge is double-edged, and both ends are backing plates... Steve

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

What are you using for cylinder location feedback? linear encoder? Timer? Mechanical/prox switches? I like the idea of the auto positioning.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Glad you asked. I used high quality 3/8" recessed alarm switches. And special ones with a philips profile, that can be unscewed if needed.

They activate the transistor switched DPDT relays on the logic board. That and a few Diodes are all that was needed for the logic. Each switch on the machine has its own LED on the board making for easy troubleshooting.

Board was cheap, but very high quality from Electronics Saloon on Ebay (China) Two heavier Octal FInder Relays switch the Solenoids. Manual push switches on those can also help to diagnose a problem.



The magnetic reed switches had to both be set away from the steel and be supported in the thin splitter tube structure.
A heavy nylon material is press fit into the small tube and the alarm contact is screwed into that. The welded on washer prevents the nylon material from going too far and get lost forever inside the splitter tube.

A friend machined out the plate and nylon material which accepts a rare earth magnet.



Durability was key and I did not want wires or anything else protruding.

I am not happy with the electrical build quality at all. I simply ran out of room as soon as the hydraulics went in. The machinist friend would have done a much nicer job overall on the fabricating, but hey it works, and works well.

 

[GeneD14]

Industrial Toys,

Very impressive build!!!!

 

[Industrial Toys]

Thanks. Appreciate that. It took a lot of time, effort and some strategically positioned friends.

 

[farm boy00]

One thought for the emergency button by the wedge. Put it right against the wedge in some steel tubing like 1in black pipe.

 

[grm61]

That is really cool, nice job!

 

[Industrial Toys]

I guess it's not finished, as a table would be a real advantage in the efficiency that I was hoping to achieve.

The heavy pipe may be my only viable option. Removing the thing for a big log or moving it out of the way, defeats the purpose.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I was just thinking about the pipe. The problem is that the problem is not behind the wedge, but above it. I think I could use a very heavy pipe, and if I try and split a 30" trunk, it is going to bend that pipe or whatever it is attached to.

 

[MFWD]

Hello, you did a really nice job on the splitter. The only thing I can't see is having to use it as a 3-point hitch hook-up. I would rather run a small gas engine than wear out my big loader engine. You can always wear hearing protection if you don't like the small engine noise.


MFWD

 

[Industrial Toys]

It's a tiny little four cylinder Kubota Diesel with a few thousand hours on it. It runs just barely above idle. I don't like putting hours on a new machine, but at that age, and those few hours for splitting, it doesn't really matter that much to me.

I really don't like the sound of small gas engines. They are a wonderful source of power in a small package, but find them annoying. Especially their speed, which is what gives them such good power for size.

 

[MFWD]

Hello,
I understand where you are coming from......if the engine has that many hours on it, a few more won't hurt it.....and if it does, oh well. Good luck and happy splitting !


MFWD

 

[4570Man]

The Kubota diesels run practically forever. If it’s already got several thousand hours the valve isn’t going to change much either.