I work in the golf industry and just found this site. I have become a wood lot with indoor tennis and squash courts carved out of the surrounding forest and drought killed dead stand.
I have split wood since I could lift an axe or maul and in my teens(80's) was faster than any splitter available. With the stacks of logs and rounds I rented a cheap discount style splitter for the weekend. WOW! Faster with less work. Flimsy and hard to move.
I thought I would be original and make a splitter out of an old greens mower. I looped the drive motors for now and left the brakes installed but not in use and planed a winch to move around the pile.
You have out done my idea! Half my logs/rounds are over 2.5 feet to over 5 feet in diameter and have decided on horizontal and vertical design.
I still need the beam and hoses but should be a fun project.
I will start a thread soon but needed to comment as you totally raised the level of cool.
Some pictures of my set up. 16hp Kohler, Toro workman pump. 5 inch x 2 x 24 cylinder and Prince valve. I just found a local steel source for the beam but covered in snow.
Thanks for documenting your project.
Chad.