Log splitter questions/opinions

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dave_dj1

dave_dj1

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Hey guys, I'm building a log splitter, it will be about 25 ton, 30" stroke.
Back story, split about 2-3 cords for myself, my brother has an outside furnace and I will let him borrow it.

I am torn between making it with an adjustable wedge, the type that slides up and down with the 4 way part sitting flush with beam when down and just ordering a weld on from NT with a slip on 4 way. Money will be about the same either way. I really like the idea of the moving 4 way, i do want a straight blade, no flares. That takes care of wedge style.
Now, pump and motor and speed, I would like a fairly quick cycle time, 22 gpm pump will give me around 11 sec, 16 gpm will save me quite a bit of money between the pump costing less and the motor costing less and a cycle time of about 14 sec. Now if you are just sitting in the recliner like I do a lot, 14 seconds is a long time! I'm not looking for a production machine but I have been researching the spitters in other countries and like how most of them are quite quick.
Let's set money aside, does the 3-4 second in cycle times make that much of a difference for you? The only experience I have with a splitter is a 5hp 11 gpm pump and painfully slow cycle times.
I need to either order the wedge or get some measurements together and have my fab shop cut me up some parts.
Here is a link to a splitter I like.
Homemade 30 ton Log splitter with log lift and adjustable 4-way blade - YouTube

Thanks guys,
dave

ram size: 4.5" bore, 1.75" rod, 30" stroke
 
I like widgets and gadgets as much as the next guy but that thing is way too complicated. More parts means more repairs or possibilities for things to go wrong. My Speeco splitter runs off the hydraulics on my 30 HP kubota tractor. It won't break any speed records but at my age the few seconds it takes to drive the ram is a welcome thing when I have to run it for half a day or longer. No big deal to me if I have to feed the log through a few times to split it into right sized pieces. I did find I would like to have a catch table on the side to keep from having to bend down so much.
 
Dont over think it, make it as simple as you can. You can thank yourself later.:hmm3grin2orange:
 
I built my own splitter last winter and can tell you, the more you think about getting older, the more thought you put in it. Height, speed, lift or no lift, split table, control location, it all matters. I went with an electric start 15.5w/ a 22 gpm pump, log lift, and large table for splits, all built on a ford 9 inch cut down with truck tires on it, all with the thought of.....LESS BENDING OVER.... and boy am I glad I did. The bigger pump is a faster cycle time and the lift made it possible to get a LOT more wood, due to the large blocks I can split. Just some suggestions, check out the splitter pic thread in the wood burning and equipment thread, LOTS of good pics and ideas:hmm3grin2orange:,,,,,,OH, and good luck on your build, pics or it didnt happen......check out surpluscenter.com for parts/priceing
 
Thanks for your input.
I should have mentioned that I already have the cylinder, large hydraulic tank and cylinder for the log lift.
To date I have very little money in it, I beam was gratis too.
DSCI0035.jpg

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Need pics

farmboss45 said:
I built my own splitter last winter and can tell you, the more you think about getting older, the more thought you put in it. Height, speed, lift or no lift, split table, control location, it all matters. I went with an electric start 15.5w/ a 22 gpm pump, log lift, and large table for splits, all built on a ford 9 inch cut down with truck tires on it, all with the thought of.....LESS BENDING OVER.... and boy am I glad I did. The bigger pump is a faster cycle time and the lift made it possible to get a LOT more wood, due to the large blocks I can split. Just some suggestions, check out the splitter pic thread in the wood burning and equipment thread, LOTS of good pics and ideas:hmm3grin2orange:,,,,,,OH, and good luck on your build, pics or it didnt happen......check out surpluscenter.com for parts/priceing
Click to expand...

Dave, Metals406 showed me how you could make a removeable wedge setup just like a receiver hitch. Build a single and 4way wedge that fits in a tube that can be pinned. Weld the tube into the end of your beam. When needing to switch wedges just pull the pin and pull it out.

Hey FB, Would you have pics of your splitter build? I am starting on my splitter build using a ford rear end, 16hp/22GPM 5x24x2 cyl, height of 31-32 inches etc. Only thing I see different is that I was going to use a crane and not a log lift. It would be cool to see how you laid it out. Thanks Brian
 
Last edited:
kyle1! said:
Hey FB, Would you have pics of your splitter build? I am starting on my splitter build using a ford rear end, 16hp/22GPM 5x24x2 cyl, height of 31-32 inches etc. Only thing I see different is that I was going to use a crane and not a log lift. It would be cool to see how you laid it out. Thanks Brian
Click to expand...

Sure, go to either my profile, there is an album there, or find the homemade woodsplitter thread in the wood burning and equipment forum. Useing the truck rear end worked out great to get the height, sure is nice not haveing to bend over at all! Good Luck on your build!
 
kyle1! said:
Dave, Metals406 showed me how you could make a removeable wedge setup just like a receiver hitch. Build a single and 4way wedge that fits in a tube that can be pinned. Weld the tube into the end of your beam. When needing to switch wedges just pull the pin and pull it out.

Hey FB, Would you have pics of your splitter build? I am starting on my splitter build using a ford rear end, 16hp/22GPM 5x24x2 cyl, height of 31-32 inches etc. Only thing I see different is that I was going to use a crane and not a log lift. It would be cool to see how you laid it out. Thanks Brian
Click to expand...


Got any more info or pics on how you did that? Sounds like it may fit the bill.
 
Well Harbor Freight made my decision easy on motor and pump size today. Drove the 60 miles down with 20% coupon in hand only to find that they 1) don't allow the 20% on their parking lot sale items and 2) they didn't have a single 13 hp motor in the store. Sooooo, I bought the 9 hp champion and got to use my 20% off coupon which brought the price down to 219 + tx.
Now I have to order a 16 gpm pump and decide what type of wedge I want to build.
I pulled an axle today with leaf springs from an old ATV trailer I built a few years back, it was at my brothers and he backed over the tongue with his excavator and wrecked it, I forgot it was there until he mentioned it the other day.

Where is a good place to order the pump? Surplus supply, Northern tool or Dayton hydraulics? Or any suggestions?

I also would like info on what pump to motor adapter to get for the love-joy connection? I think the motor has two sets of holes and I don't know how long the adapter has to be, anyone with experience on that?
thanks,
dave
 
HOLD THE PRESSES! I just realized that the motor I bought today is an 11 HP (346cc). What do you think about a 22gpm pump? I understand that this motor would be the minimum. I'm not splitting anything killer and if I come across anything that nasty I can either toss it or put the chainsaw to it.
 
I did a little work on the splitter Sunday, started working on the axle/frame assembly. I'm have to weld a top on my tank as the one that comes on them is 3/4" thick steel with recessed bolt holes and a rubber gasket around the edge, not meant to be in the elements.
I'm still trying to decide whether to get a 16gpm pump or a 22 gpm pump.
Anybody see any reason not to go with a fixed 4 way? Wedge will be thin, maybe 12" tall.
thanks,
dave
 
Its all in what fits your needs, with that being said, I would not go with a "fixed" 4 way, simply for the way I like my wood split. I like the "booklike" shape I get when splitting bigger blocks as they stack nicer in my stove when I bank it down for the day when we leave for work. also, smaller pieces I like to half. I also put wings on my wedge for the stringy stuff, forces them out further. The 22gpm will be faster in cycle time, and the engine you have will run it fine as long as it a 2 stage, the 16 will be cheaper, but do the job.
 
In the end the cost between the 16 and the 22 gpm pump will be pennies a day if your splitter last a number of years. Same goes for the other do dads. FB hasn't quite talked me out of my hand operated crank for a log lift but it gets closer to the scrap pile every day. Priced hoses/adaptors and all those small items today for mine...cha ching for sure.

Brian
 
An adjustable wedge is the way to go, IMO. I made a slip on one for my splitter and hardly use it. If the wood was all the same size, it would be great, but no two pieces are the same diameter.
My knife is 12 inches tall, and the 4 way is centered on the knife. Thats okay for 12 inch wood but not okay for 20 inch wood.

Ted
 
I built a splitter at home a couple months ago myself. In the design stage, I needed a splitter, but I wanted so many options, the design was getting out of hand. I just built mine pretty straight forward design and it has served my well. But I am only 35 years old too! I do have my retirement splitter design I have been working on. It's my take on a firewood processor, but that's years away.
 

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