Anybody try to build a super splitter

[cjnspecial]

This guy (Django) built a heck of a flywheel splitter. He hasn't been around for quite a while though, it would have been nice to have a video of it in action.

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=6668&page=3

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=8590

 

[milkie62]

How would it go through a piece of stringy crotchy elm ?

 

[giXXer]

This guy (Django) built a heck of a flywheel splitter. He hasn't been around for quite a while though, it would have been nice to have a video of it in action.

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=6668&page=3

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=8590

AHHHH, that's why I couldn't find the videos, there aren't any. I guess it was the posts and the pics I remember. It was quite some time ago that I saw the thread. Still pretty interesting though. A project like that would be a little over my head with all of the fab work combined with the engineering as well.

 

[giXXer]

How would it go through a piece of stringy crotchy elm ?

If it doesn't go through the wood on the first pop the ram automatically retracts via the spring, the flywheels keep spinning and you just hit the lever again for a second pop. You will rarely find a chunk of wood that takes two cycles to go through. There are quite a few videos of the super splitter in action on youtube.

 

[Sierra99]

Thinkin on gettin one of these SS units, just curious how many teeth are on the pinion gear? And what diameter are the axle and flywheels?

I was running some numbers, and if it used a 1.5-inch diameter, 12 tooth pinion (8 pitch w/ 20 degree pressure angle), then the rack would move 24 inches in 1/6 of a second with the wheels flyin at 300 rpm. Of course, it would take a little while longer as it slows during the split. But if the teeth were cut into a 1-1/4 shaft, with a pitch diameter of 1" and say 8 teeth, then it would take a slow 1/4 of a second to move the rack out.

So if you cycle the thing without any wood on it, does the ram move out to the wedge in just 1/6 of a second, or is it 1/4 of a second? either one seems darn fast to me. To slow it down would require a secondary jack shaft with a chain connecting it to the flywheel shaft.

 

[Cmccul8146]

Not finished ,but splits great

Got my flywheel splitter running a few weeks ago, but not quite finished. Still need to make the guards for the flywheels & get it painted. Since I'll be the only one using it I'm not in any rush to get the guards made. I'm having too much fun splitting with it to worry about guards right now. Read lots of comments on here about engine hp, flywheel speed & weight & have come to the conclusion that most of it is way off base. I am using an old 3 hp motor off an Ariens tiller I bought in 1972. I made my flywheels from A36 steel plate & they weigh 102 lbs each. Haven't had a tach on it, but am running engine at half throttle for a flywheel speed of 150- 160 rpm. Haven't seen anything it would not split yet, ( red oak, white oak, & some maple) but if I do, I'll speed up the engine speed to get more flywheel rpm . Put a stopwatch on it and full cycle only takes 1.8 to 2.1 seconds.

 

[svon89]

Do you have any pictures? I would like to see how you made it.

 

[injun joe]

quick question i noticed all the wood split was straight grained it was fiskars work but would it work on a knotty piece of wood?? but i have to admit that is a wickedly awesome machine wouldnt mind having one for myself.

 

[Cmccul8146]

Not finished, but splits great

Svon89, I don't have any pics yet, but will try to get some within the next few days & put them on here. Remember, it's not painted & doesn't have the guards on yet, & with the 38 year old motor it looks rather crude. Also still need to make a hitch for it.

***** Joe, most of the wood I've split has been clear, straight grained oak & maple, but have split a couple of crotch pieces & several with large knots. No problem whatsoever. If it didn't split on the 1st hit, I'd manually disengage the rack & pinion ,let flywheels build momentum again & engage once more. So far I haven't had to make more than 2 strokes on any piece.

 

[cjnspecial]

Svon89, I don't have any pics yet, but will try to get some within the next few days & put them on here. Remember, it's not painted & doesn't have the guards on yet, & with the 38 year old motor it looks rather crude. Also still need to make a hitch for it.

***** Joe, most of the wood I've split has been clear, straight grained oak & maple, but have split a couple of crotch pieces & several with large knots. No problem whatsoever. If it didn't split on the 1st hit, I'd manually disengage the rack & pinion ,let flywheels build momentum again & engage once more. So far I haven't had to make more than 2 strokes on any piece.

Any details you would be willing to share on the materials needed and the fab work involved? Was it a lot of machine work?

 

[angelo c]

I have a hydraulic splitter, for what I paid I could not build one cheaper. I am looking at the super split and think it would be a nice project to build one. Have any of you done this? My biggest question is how the rack and pinion engage and disengage?

Harry,
I have one in NJ you can reverse engineer anytime you want. Its not that close but it's here. I love the thing. having said that there would be a few changes I would make if I was starting from scratch. I would like a bigger I beam for support and a bit taller. Oh and you will need a second set of hands, it's way to darn fast to keep up with by yourself. I went from splitting by hand to this lightning fast thing and I miss my "splitting time". Wish I could find more wood. Oh and I can move the thing around the yard by hand. and load it into the back of my truck bed by hand too. awesome machine.

 

[Cmccul8146]

Splitter Pics

Got my flywheel splitter painted today & am going to try to attach a few pics.Still need to make my flywheel guards to be finished, but no hurry on getting them made.

 

[Ductape]

Got my flywheel splitter painted today & am going to try to attach a few pics.Still need to make my flywheel guards to be finished, but no hurry on getting them made.

What did you use for your rack and pinion?

 

[dh1984]

damn that thing is busting the wood like butter i got to get me on of them. but one question i got is how does it work is it hydro or something else

 

[dh1984]

and oh does anyone got any plans on building one like this? i like to find some plans to build me one so if anyone got any plans please send them my way please

 

[Cmccul8146]

One more pic

OOPS!!!!! Didn't mean to post the same pic 2 times. Here's another one.

 

[InTheFlow]

Nice Job CM! Looking good!

 

[grapplermi]

Very nice CM! I want to copy your copy.

 

[dave_dj1]

good job on the homebrew build. I love to see things that people built from scratch and saved a ton of $$$$$
what did you use for a rack & pinion?

 

[boda65]

Got my flywheel splitter painted today & am going to try to attach a few pics.Still need to make my flywheel guards to be finished, but no hurry on getting them made.

Good Job, you got me rethinking what kind of splitter I want. I'm thinking this could be cheaper to build than hydraulic?? Nice fab work, rep sent.