Beam for log splitter

[Adam Marshall]

Hiya would a length of 100mm x 100mm steel box section be OK for the main beam for my log splitter it's going to have its own engine not tractor powered. Thank you

 

[Spark plug]

More information required to make a correct judgement, It will all depend on what power the ram will produce and over what distance.

 

[Adam Marshall]

It's I'd say 10ton and ram overall full length is 1.2m long thanks

 

[slim_boy_fat]

What size of logs will you be working with?

 

[Adam Marshall]

Medium sizes just over a foot long

 

[gaz1]

size of log means 6" 10" or 15" as id be looking for one that could cut up to 15" logs into 2 or 4 prefereably 4 saves time on spliting them

 

[addjunkie]

Whats the wall thickness....mine uses 100 sq box, with a 8mm wall. Main thing is to have the wedge sliding along the box fixed with some kind of slider, here a girder is easier.

 

[gaz1]

 

[Adam Marshall]

I was going to use 100mm x 100mm box section 5mm wall

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I saw the Splitfire at the Confor arb show and was really impressed.

It cuts on both strokes so no waiting for the ram to go back.

 

[Paul99]

Although I did mine with rsj I'd be confident that 100 x 100 box would be plenty strong enough for a 10T ram providing the wall thickness was sensible and welded to a decent base. Take a look at oxdale splitters that use a box section backbone... The 10T model I looked at was certainly no where near 100 x 100 box.

 

[Adam Marshall]

Paul 99 what would be a sensible wall thickness do you think

 

[Hitch]

Id go with a 5 or 6mm wall. Easier to over engineer it a bit than to make it twice.
Last one i did was 152x152UC

 

[Paul99]

Paul 99 what would be a sensible wall thickness do you think

Without a trip to the local suppliers I have no idea what wall thicknesses were available in that size of box but as per Hitch's suggestion I'd be wanting a minimum of 5mm wall preferably 6mm+ (again as above always better to go overboard than have to rebuild in future) and would add a couple of gussets to spread the load to the base. Not quite the same but you can see here: http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/oops-log-splitter-fail.47020/#post-523797 what happens when the forces are under estimated.

 

[Adam Marshall]

Managed to source a big rsj 8x8 inch was thinking of cutting top down to 6 inch I know it's a bit over kill but it was £25 haha

 

[Shox Dr]

I saw the Splitfire at the Confor arb show and was really impressed.

It cuts on both strokes so no waiting for the ram to go back.

Always wondered why someone hadn't though of that