Motor size for screw log splitter

[Adam Marshall]

I have finished all my latest projects so fancy making a screw type log splitter got most things for it in my workshop but the motor I would like to have it single phase but what size motor would this need to make a semi decent power splitter? Thank you

 

[Spark plug]

By screw type do you mean a wedge type splitter drives by a screw shaft or one of the tapers screw types that screw into the log and push it apart?

 

[Adam Marshall]

Yes I mean screw type that you push log into and it splits it apart the tapered screw design

 

[brightspark]

are u putting it through a reduction gear or pulleys

 

[Spark plug]

I have only seen that type of splitter tractor mounted, but I would imagine with the correct gearing and long slow taper on the screw it would be possible. If I where doing the same I would be aiming for at least a 3hp motor but if you could get a 4hp 1ph that would be better.

 

[Adam Marshall]

Thank you I was thinking of pulley from motor straight to flywheel

 

[Adam Marshall]

I might even put it through pulley reduction gear could I then get away with smaller motor

 

[Spark plug]

I think your going to need as much power as you can get, with the tractor mounted ones, even on a small tractor your looking at around 25hp.

The other option would be to use a small engine to power it something like a 13hp Honda can be found for reasonable money.

 

[brightspark]

personally I would think it would only work using a reduction gear on the motor as belts slip and cant take the force having said that this seems to work ok

or maybe not

 

[Beeezer]

I made one with a petter ba2 engine, worked well but the engine was a b.....d to start, so I sold it and bought a elec hydraulic one.

 

[julianf]

I think you will struggle off 1ph domestic. Either you'll have to gear it to run at a snails pace, or have such a large flywheel as to be impractical.

Maybe not though - just my gut feeling. I'll be keeping an eye on your progress and wishing you success!

 

[julianf]

PS. I just watched one of the vids above.

In it a chap was splitting perfect wood. It jammed on one log that still looked better than most wood I handle.

You get logs with all sorts of branches etc. I feel that if you have a splitter that only works for the perfect wood, and not the real world stuff, it will get frustrating so very very quickly.

But, again, I'd like you to prove me wrong!

 

[BarrieJ]

Had a mate back in the day used to build trials cars (Mike Cannon) he was always knocking up all sorts of mechanical bits and pieces including an Austin 'A Series' (A35) powered gang mower with two gearboxes giving him 16 forward speeds.

He'd been inspired to build a log splitter from an article in an American magazine called Mother Earth News (full of that sort of stuff and still available online I think). Anyway, he'd tried and been frustrated by mains powered motors (I suspect the price of large electric motors might have played a part) and eventually ended up with a Ford pre crossflow 1200cc engine/gearbox which he'd got for next to nothing from a scrapper, mounted it complete with radiator, functional exhaust, tractor fashion etc., on a couple of RSJs welded together and mobile courtesy of four wheels off a BR platform trolley.
It wouldn't have won any beauty competitions and I honestly can't say whether it was further geared down via a crown wheel/pinion in a diff casing but I do seem to recall the dangerous bit was at right angles to the engine. It must have worked, his only heating was wood fired.

What about a high mileage N/A diesel from a 1990s Pug? Can't be worth much secondhand and would be an interesting project.

Anyway, best of luck with it!!

I vaguely recall he sourced the 'screw' part from a kit that could be substituted for the rear wheel of your Yank tank. Something like that below:

 

[KemppiFrog]

Bit late here....... But I would not go near one of those. My neighbour had one for his tractor and considered it one of the most dangerous bits of kit going. Been gathering dust for the last 30yrs while he uses a hydraulic one.

 

[brightspark]

the one above looks down right stupid. if the screw was mounted 4 inches up horizontal on a bench and 6inch logs fed in they wouldn't be able to jam and turn and wrap your knuckles

 

[gaz1]

at least this guy had a little safety in mind