Home made log splitter

[123hotchef]

Have any of you clever folk made your own log splitter?
Back is killing me now days so the time has come.
I have the hydralic pump and ram well it is a double ram.
I have a few ideas kicking about, but I am keen to see or hear any advice before Imstart my buid.

 

[angellonewolf]

i think ive seen a few threads on here about splitters you tryed the search the fourm it might start you off

 

[angellonewolf]

Log splitter project, help needed!

Im trying to build a 240v log splitter, ive bought a 3hp 2.2kw motor off Steve, thats all good,im just in the process of ordering Pulleys and thought about a 30mm shaft to put the pulleys on. problem... i dont have a shaft, nor a keyway cutter to put a keyway into it. So i thought anybody on...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

try this one and got a few vids in it as well

 

[frank horton]

I built a simple screw type log splitter....straight drive from a tractor PTO....
to much work to make an hydraulic one.....
we used to split oak with it.....

 

[8ob]

Have any of you clever folk made your own log splitter?
Back is killing me now days so the time has come.
I have the hydralic pump and ram well it is a double ram.
I have a few ideas kicking about, but I am keen to see or hear any advice before Imstart my buid.

I have got to build one for my nipper, initial thoughts were to avoid all the double handling. My addled brain has come up with a vertical ram pushing on a large guided flat plate that pushes the timber rings down through a six/eight way waffle board straight into one ton bags.

Bob

 

[pedrobedro]

I bought a splitter as it was only a couple of hundred more than building one after sourcing parts and materials. If I had a scrap pile with RSJ and box section it would have been different. It's horizontal or vertical and we haven't come across anything it won't crack yet. It's had me dodging when some of the old seasoned stuff lets go Black tools 18 ton splitter from woodmanstore. They only have the 22 ton in now. One thing I did for mine was make a table for the other side to catch bits so I don't have to bend down so often in horizontal mode.

 

[minimutly]

I built a simple screw type log splitter....straight drive from a tractor PTO....
to much work to make an hydraulic one.....
we used to split oak with it.....

Needs a tractor...

 

[pedrobedro]

We use one at the farm which runs off the tractor and is basically a JCB lift ram bolted to a beam with a flat plate pushing onto a sharp bit. It's a bit Heath Robinson and my mate did lose a right hand pointing finger end to it. Make sure when you build it it is easy to operate with your hands well away from the business end.

 

[123hotchef]

I have the ram i have the hydraic pump I have the rsj and the metal so I best get fabbing,

 

[gaz1]

 

[Justme]

I have got to build one for my nipper, initial thoughts were to avoid all the double handling. My addled brain has come up with a vertical ram pushing on a large guided flat plate that pushes the timber rings down through a six/eight way waffle board straight into one ton bags.

Bob

Wont that make lifting the rings up to feed it quite high?

6/8 way will need some tonnage.

 

[8ob]

Wont that make lifting the rings up to feed it quite high?

6/8 way will need some tonnage.

The nippers 6’8” tall and twenty stone so the rings to him are lightweight and we can do tonnage Richie , thanks to @Johnnybravo

 

[Justme]

The nippers 6’8” tall and twenty stone so the rings to him are lightweight and we can do tonnage Richie , thanks to @Johnnybravo

View attachment 272427

Will need a big pump for that or it will be slow.
Or a dual stage pump.

I like the idea. Will be interesting to see how it comes out.

Reducing handling is key.

There is a facebook group (mostly american) for home built splitters & processors.

 

[sako243]

Will need a big pump for that or it will be slow.
Or a dual stage pump.

Having seen one of Bob's chippers that's festering in the yard that's basically its own artic trailer because of the power plant attached to it I don't think that's going to be an issue

 

[Barking Mat]

On my extensive list of things to make, ive got a tail-lift 24v hydraulic pump, not sure if its suitable?

 

[minimutly]

Hydraulics - yes they give you better control, but having seen the eastern european creations above - especially that blue one, you have to ask why make a wet one?

 

[m_c]

Big bit RSJ is key if you want something that won't bend.

Other than that, just look at the existing options. They're not complicated, and no need to over-complicate them.
Just make sure you're not relying on the ram to keep things straight/inline, as the ram will bend.
Don't worry about having wear pads on steel running on steel. My brother's current one is over 10 year old now, and although it has worn, it's not major wear. And that's a splitter that probably runs for a good 10 hours every week, and IIRC is set at 18tonne of pressure.

 

[m_c]

Hydraulics - yes they give you better control, but having seen the eastern european creations above - especially that blue one, you have to ask why make a wet one?

Because none of those would meet current UK legislation.
Any company producing them, or any company paying someone to use one, would be leaving themselves wide open to prosecution and liability due to user risk.
To meet current legislation, log splitters need to work on a deadman's principle, that if you let go of the lever, movement stops.

 

[Justme]

log splitters need to work on a deadman's principle, that if you let go of the lever, movement stops.

Two levers, needs to be double handed now.

My older splitter is piped up so the down on the lever is up on the splitter so if I fall holding it I then dont keep the splitter coming down potentially on my hand.

 

[addjunkie]

Two levers, needs to be double handed now.

My older splitter is piped up so the down on the lever is up on the splitter so if I fall holding it I then dont keep the splitter coming down potentially on my hand.

I have the double hadle thing on mine, what a pain in the derrier. I must modift it...to one