My automated wood splitter

[sno-man!]

After he mentioned he kinda copied the Rayco setup, I went looking heres some different looks http://www.raycomfg.com/ls2526solo.htm
I'm building one as we speak and I'm going to use alot of those ideas also, I thought that 4-way was a great idea and I like the catch table he added.

Yeah, I realy like the way he set the 4-way up so you can lower it and just split the wood in two if you are dealing with smaller stuff. I don't have a OWB so I have to split my stuff a little smaller. I am also going to look at the table. I am getting tired of having to pick up wood off the ground after it is split.

I just had two home made splitters given to me. One with a 5hp and one with a 8hp motor. The five horse has what I belive to be a 11gpm pump, and the other has a viking gp-052514 that I am still trying to figure out. I want to be around 16gpm and run the 8hp motor.

 

[ms310]

4 Way Pointers

I just made one for myself, here is two things i learned, set the "wings" back by about 1 1/2'' at the tip, this will allow the splitter to "pop" the vertical first, then "pop" the horizontal secondly. Also i put my wings on a 5 degree angle into the vertical wedge this "forces" the wood to stay on the wings. I origanaly had the wings and vertical wedge hitting at the same time and it worked but not like it does now i can get threw just about anything with it, before it had issues with knots. I am not sure what ton rating the splitter it is a home made 3 point on a 7430 john Deere tractor runs strickly off the tractor hydrulics. I do not have a table on it at times i do wish i did tho but, more often than not we just let it fall to the ground, and scoop it up with the 7430 and dump it in the trailers.

Ms441
Ms 310
Ms 180
7430 John Deere

 

[sno-man!]

How thick of steel did you use for the 4-way?

 

[Bruce Hopf]

Yeah, me too. I can't get no help when it comes to splittin. Everyone always has something to do. My dog won't even get out of the way.LOL Nice splitter and some good help ya got there.

If the dog won't get out of the way, put him to work. Tie a chew toy to the operating leaver, so he can operate the splitter for you, as you load, and unload the splitter. Bruce.

 

[ms310]

4 way

When i built mine i used 3/8'' to go around the splitting wedge, and 5/8'' for the wings. mine is not adjustable it just sits over the splitting wedge, i also just put a strap on the back so the back was mostley open this will allow for some; not alot of movement if it needs to move to allow the wood to pass. One thing i forgot to mention yesterday was: i DID NOT put an angle on the under side of the wings, my thinking on this was the wood would be forced down if i had done this so i just did a bevel from the bottom to the top. With this type of design if i want to take it off for big stuff i just hit it with the maul and it comes off, and out of the way.

 

[sno-man!]

When i built mine i used 3/8'' to go around the splitting wedge, and 5/8'' for the wings. mine is not adjustable it just sits over the splitting wedge, i also just put a strap on the back so the back was mostley open this will allow for some; not alot of movement if it needs to move to allow the wood to pass. One thing i forgot to mention yesterday was: i DID NOT put an angle on the under side of the wings, my thinking on this was the wood would be forced down if i had done this so i just did a bevel from the bottom to the top. With this type of design if i want to take it off for big stuff i just hit it with the maul and it comes off, and out of the way.

Thanks for the tips, I am getting everything around to build one and this info will be a big help.

 

[CharlieG]

Building a set up is easy, it's finding good help that's the hard part! Nobody is ever around to help-ever. But I know where to find them when it's cold out....right in front of the stove .

 

[gink595]

Building a set up is easy, it's finding good help that's the hard part! Nobody is ever around to help-ever. But I know where to find them when it's cold out....right in front of the stove .

Thats why I find help in the skidsteer and the grapple I bought, that my wife was very unhappy about! I figured it wasn't anyone else cutting and throwing wood just me, so left up to me I figured I had the freedom to help me out and I dumped some money into my setup. So if no one wants to help thats fine, that means new toy for daddy. In fact I perfer it. Next year maybe dump truck

 

[ken45]

You have it too easy! Think of all the exercise you are missing (bending, lifiting, bending, tossing....)

Looks nice though!

Oh, one other thing, you need a dump bed on the pickup for unloading

Ken

 

[Bruce Hopf]

We have been filling the woodshed and I finaly remembered the camera.

I started on this automated splitter 18 years ago when I helped make Billy (18)and Allen (17) LOL Actually the boys do make me lazy, they ran this whole load while I took pics and messed around.
<IMG SRC=http://i30.tinypic.com/s4cbjb.jpg>

Allen loading with the log lift, the pump runs from the tractor PTO for two reasons. It is geared up so the tractor runs just off idle and the primary reason is almost nobody asks to borrow it and when they do I can ask how they plan to run it? LOL
<IMG SRC=http://i28.tinypic.com/2gwx24z.jpg>

Splitting some sizable 1 year old Sycamore that really tests a splitter especaily four way split. I started on this splitter by hanging the bean at a comfortable working height so I didn't have to work bent over.
<IMG SRC=http://i30.tinypic.com/2h6h8q0.jpg>


Not sure what this wood is but it split easy. I copied the lifting 4 way wedge from a Rayco.
<IMG SRC=http://i29.tinypic.com/31619uf.jpg>

Just another pic. I am not in love with the location of the valves because it cant be operated easily from the lifter side where a person would run it by himself. When I figure it out the valve will be moved. Billy has his hand on the Prince Auto cycle valve, a big help when your by yourself.

<IMG SRC=http://i27.tinypic.com/2ztiy53.jpg>

The loading elevator and wood pile. The boys ran a big load on the ole Dodge in about 20 minutes, as high as the cab and all the way back. I did nothing buttake pics and boss. The two wheeled cart is what we use to move the elevator.

<IMG SRC=http://i26.tinypic.com/15eicf8.jpg>

Looks neet. Do me a favor. Send those to lads over here will you, because Ive got lots of splitting to do here as well! lol! Take care. Bruce.

 

[Bruce Hopf]

We have been filling the woodshed and I finaly remembered the camera.

I started on this automated splitter 18 years ago when I helped make Billy (18)and Allen (17) LOL Actually the boys do make me lazy, they ran this whole load while I took pics and messed around.
<IMG SRC=http://i30.tinypic.com/s4cbjb.jpg>

Allen loading with the log lift, the pump runs from the tractor PTO for two reasons. It is geared up so the tractor runs just off idle and the primary reason is almost nobody asks to borrow it and when they do I can ask how they plan to run it? LOL
<IMG SRC=http://i28.tinypic.com/2gwx24z.jpg>

Splitting some sizable 1 year old Sycamore that really tests a splitter especaily four way split. I started on this splitter by hanging the bean at a comfortable working height so I didn't have to work bent over.
<IMG SRC=http://i30.tinypic.com/2h6h8q0.jpg>


Not sure what this wood is but it split easy. I copied the lifting 4 way wedge from a Rayco.
<IMG SRC=http://i29.tinypic.com/31619uf.jpg>

Just another pic. I am not in love with the location of the valves because it cant be operated easily from the lifter side where a person would run it by himself. When I figure it out the valve will be moved. Billy has his hand on the Prince Auto cycle valve, a big help when your by yourself.

<IMG SRC=http://i27.tinypic.com/2ztiy53.jpg>

The loading elevator and wood pile. The boys ran a big load on the ole Dodge in about 20 minutes, as high as the cab and all the way back. I did nothing buttake pics and boss. The two wheeled cart is what we use to move the elevator.

<IMG SRC=http://i26.tinypic.com/15eicf8.jpg>

Once I figure out how to post pictures, I'll show what I use, for hauling fire wood. It's an old manure spreader, with the rear beaters taken out. The unloading apron is still intact, and in working order. Makes for easy unloading, and handeling for unloading. It holds roughly 12 Face Cords, = 3 Bush Cords. Bruce.