Started my splitter build
- Thread starter Eric K
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Eric K
ArboristSite Operative
I am thinking that instead of reworking wedge that I could cut 4/6 way post and the 3/4" plate plate off. Then machine the tie plates off on the bottom of the post and then plate the post back into the web of the beam. I made 2 bosses that will be welded to the top of the wedge and post a 5/8"thick x 2 1/2" wide plate will go over these and tie them together. Do you think this would eliminate the possibility of tearing the wedge off??? The little starter wedge is centered at 7 1/2" my thinking is that by the time wood hits taller portion of wedge it will already be starting to pop open. Thanks in advance for input.
Making a rectangular tube with 3/4" plate for the 4/6 way wedge.
Tube welded and benched in.
Machining the wedges for the 4/6 way.
Wedges tacked on for fit.
View from the side.
From the front. With the 4/6 way all the way up you can split a 71/2" diameter piece in half. With it all the way down the bottom 2 are below beam and you can split 8"/10" diameter pieces 4 ways.
Very nice. I envy you guys with those fancy grinders 
jthornton
ArboristSite Guru
Very nice work!
JT
JT
I think your main wedge will be fine, but I have concerns about your adjustable 6way. It appears you just capped the hbeam and then welded the slide bar for your adjustable wedge directly to the cap. I am thinking that with some knarly wood, you might rip the adjustable wedge off. Do you have plans to add extra reinforcement in this area? Maybe tie the slide bar to the main wedge at the top.
stltreedr
ArboristSite Operative
I would be slightly concerned with the adjustable 6 way as well. The tendency, for me at least, was to put the baddest stuff on it to see what it would do. Well, an elm knot twisted my 1 1/4" solid steel wedge into an "s" shape. I'm running around 32 tons. Don't underestimate how powerful it is and how tough some wood is.
If you can have the self-restraint to not try dumb stuff, and don't let anyone else borrow it, you may be just fine. Or, if you only split pristine white oak.
Not a splitter expert, but did build one with help from guys on here.
If you can have the self-restraint to not try dumb stuff, and don't let anyone else borrow it, you may be just fine. Or, if you only split pristine white oak.
Not a splitter expert, but did build one with help from guys on here.
Redoing is a lot harder than doing it right the first time for sure. Personally I would consider adding some heavy bar stock to each side of the hbeam and then sandwiching the slide bar between the barstock. I used 3/4 plate on each side of the web, capped the upper flange with 1/2 plate, and then boxed the end of the hbeam with 6in channel.I have a 5in cyl and a adjustable 6way blade and I can tell you for a fact, you will see the beam flex under big knarly stuff. The way your current setup is, I dont think it would last me a day with the wood i usually split.
Now, add some plate to each side of the web and run it back as far as money will permit. Then sandwich your slide between that plate. I used 3/4 plate on mine and ran it about 2ft down each side of the web. While it hasnt broken or bent, I can see lots of flexing with those big 6way splits. If I had it to do over, i would have ran the plate all the way from end to end of the hbeam, or at least as far back as the pusher returns. I thought my splitter beam would have been more than adequant, and for a 4way or single split, it would be considered overbuilt. I never saw any flex until I added the 6way and I am wanting to go to an 8way, so I have located another Hbeam and will be redoing the entire machine this summer. You are starting out with a 6way so dont skip on the overbuilding now, you could pay for later if you do.
A little grinder work and I will be back to square one.
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