My log splitter build

[cantoo]

cantoo... is that a millermatic 200?

I think it is Olympyk_99, we've had voltage issues with it ever since we got it but that hasn't stopped us from putting 100's of hours on it. It belongs to my day job company. We build highway trailers to carry house modules, the trailers and pieces weight approx. 65,000 lbs so it sees a lot of heavy steel. We've had it so hot that even with welding gloves on it's too hot to hold the feed. We have a new Miller but it's in the other shop and doesn't get near as much use. I have a small Lincoln at home but build most of my stuff at work.

 

[93green12v]

Got some more work done last night. Was able to put the baffles in, add the sight glass and temp gauge and started to add what the valves are going to be mounted to.

 

[Kevin in Ohio]

Might just be the photo but how close is the valve tip to the push plate? You don't want them too close if you are planning on doing bigger ones as the may hit while getting them into position and such. I have my wedge on the ram but have 14 inches from the tip of the ram to the end of the valve piston where the handle attaches. No regrets on that position as your wing span(arms) make for a comfortable reach.

 

[93green12v]

My have been a bad angle but the valves are just sitting there at the moment. I'm going to use some plate to bolt them to so I can adjust how close I am to the push plate. I'm thinking I may put collars on the cylinder so it's only a 24" stroke.

Question for you Kevin, how thick of steel did you use to mount your valves on? I have a lot of 12 gauge but I'm thinking 1/8" or 1/4" would be better. Is that a big chunk of beech your splitting there?

 

[Kevin in Ohio]

Yes, That is Beech. We have loads of the big stuff over at Dad's farm. Great firewood to say the least.

I used 3/8" plate. They are free standing on each side with no bracing needed. Notice I did use a small length of hose between the valves for vibtation isolation.

I have adjustable stops on mine as well. Cylinder will do 30 inches but I have the normal stop at 24". Great time saver but you CAN do the others if needed for that occasional oddball.

 

[93green12v]

Yes, That is Beech. We have loads of the big stuff over at Dad's farm. Great firewood to say the least.

I used 3/8" plate. They are free standing on each side with no bracing needed. Notice I did use a small length of hose between the valves for vibtation isolation.

I have adjustable stops on mine as well. Cylinder will do 30 inches but I have the normal stop at 24". Great time saver but you CAN do the others if needed for that occasional oddball.

That's all we cut and sell is Beech. Very dense and heavy. It grows like a weed over hear, the land was never managed properly so all the valuable timber has been cut over the years and no one ever kept the beech in check until we started into it. I've come to not like cutting them down much, it's always fun to find one that is all rotten in the middle. Also learned a valuable lesson cutting multiple stems. Almost got hurt and ruined a new saw that was not a good day.

 

[Kevin in Ohio]

That's all we cut and sell is Beech. Very dense and heavy. It grows like a weed over hear, the land was never managed properly so all the valuable timber has been cut over the years and no one ever kept the beech in check until we started into it. I've come to not like cutting them down much, it's always fun to find one that is all rotten in the middle. Also learned a valuable lesson cutting multiple stems. Almost got hurt and ruined a new saw that was not a good day.

Got them this big???

This was the biggest one we had. It was 5 ft in diameter. We just cut the dead and blow overs. That is more than we can keep up with normally. We have lots of fence rows that need trimmed out as well.

 

[93green12v]

No I don't think so but have some sugar maple that size. Was that tree solid in the center or all rotten? Everything we cut, we try to keep it 20" and under.

 

[Kevin in Ohio]

No I don't think so but have some sugar maple that size. Was that tree solid in the center or all rotten? Everything we cut, we try to keep it 20" and under.

It was solid. That was what made it so rare and sad. It was completely topped by the reminants of Hurricane Ike when the winds rolled through here. 20 ft up it Y'd. One branch over 3 ft, the other 4 ft. We left the totem hoping it would still live, it didn't. Cut it up the next year and 18 cord from one tree. Tree was over 400 years old, Rare for a Beech around here. Most of ours are 3 to 4 ft and about 75% offall downs have some hollow unless they are uprooted blow downs.

 

[Deleted member 83629]

Here is the tag. Is the hp rating 14hp?

Wisconsin TFD Specifications
Two cylinder air cooled 4 cycle
Even firing @ 360 degrees intervals
59.92 in Displacement
3.25 in Stroke
3.25 in Bore
Rated Power @ rpm
13.3 hp @ 2600 rpm
RPM ------ HP ------ TORQUE FT LBS
1400 8.6 32.3
1600 9.9 32.5
1800 11.1 32.4
2000 12.0 31.5
2200 12.6 30.1
2400 13.0 28.4
2600 13.3 26.9

 

[93green12v]

Wisconsin TFD Specifications
Two cylinder air cooled 4 cycle
Even firing @ 360 degrees intervals
59.92 in Displacement
3.25 in Stroke
3.25 in Bore
Rated Power @ rpm
13.3 hp @ 2600 rpm
RPM ------ HP ------ TORQUE FT LBS
1400 8.6 32.3
1600 9.9 32.5
1800 11.1 32.4
2000 12.0 31.5
2200 12.6 30.1
2400 13.0 28.4
2600 13.3 26.9

Thanks for the specs.

 

[93green12v]

Well finally got back in the garage and was able to finish my hydraulic tank. Installed the filler cap and the sight level and temp gauge. I boxed in the wedge side of the I beam, I still have the cylinder side to box in and all that is left to do is a log lift and table.

 

[olympyk_999]

Well finally got back in the garage and was able to finish my hydraulic tank. Installed the filler cap and the sight level and temp gauge. I boxed in the wedge side of the I beam, I still have the cylinder side to box in and all that is left to do is a log lift and table.

Be careful with that sight glass, I had the same one on my splitter and the glass that comes with it is just plate glass, not tempered like it should be and cracks real easy...

 

[93green12v]

Be careful with that sight glass, I had the same one on my splitter and the glass that comes with it is just plate glass, not tempered like it should be and cracks real easy...

Did yours crack from use?

 

[olympyk_999]

Did yours crack from use?

It cracked when I tightened the bolts because it was leaking past the o rings

 

[93green12v]

What did you replace it with? I was afraid I was going to melt the o-rings when I was welding the top on.

 

[bigbadbob]

It cracked when I tightened the bolts because it was leaking past the o rings

I broke mine when I put a half split round on the shelf and the plate grabbed it on return and pushed the round back into the tank/glass, actually pushed the tank in a hair!!!
Sucked but what do you do.
BBB

 

[olympyk_999]

What did you replace it with? I was afraid I was going to melt the o-rings when I was welding the top on.

with this ZINGA brand one

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Brands/Zinga/5-RESERVOIR-SIGHT-LEVEL-GAUGE-W-THERMOMETER-9-7287-5.axd

...same hole spacing...uses a polycarbonate (lexan) "glass" which is very flexible compared to the plate glass.
I think it looks better too...especially since my tank is stainless...the black on the other one looked out of place

 

[olympyk_999]

I was afraid I was going to melt the o-rings when I was welding the top on

did you not weld the nuts on the inside of the tank? which is why you didn't remove the gauge when welding the top on?

 

[bigbadbob]

with this ZINGA brand one

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Brands/Zinga/5-RESERVOIR-SIGHT-LEVEL-GAUGE-W-THERMOMETER-9-7287-5.axd

...same hole spacing...uses a polycarbonate (lexan) "glass" which is very flexible compared to the plate glass.
I think it looks better too...especially since my tank is stainless...the black on the other one looked out of place

Great price but,,,for Canada,
Only $22.35 shipping UPS ground!!!
So $40.30 total plus $12 exchange,,, YIKES!!! $52.00
BBB