Wood Splitter Picture Thread

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I didn't know this thread existed.
I just posted a video of my log splitter set-up in a separate thread.

[video=youtube_share;dmfQqgVPyyk]http://youtu.be/dmfQqgVPyyk[/video]

This is a 15 minute video on how I process my firewood using a Stihl MS290 Farm Boss chainsaw and a Ryobi 4 ton electric splitter. Given the type of wood I gather, I couldn't split it any faster with any conventional hydraulic log splitter, no matter how big. Now a kinetic splitter would run circles around me, but I can't justify its cost. Don't let the Ryobi's diminutive size and tonnage fool you. Unless you're constantly splitting big gnarly rounds, the Ryobi is more than adequate. It's inexpensive (compared to hydraulic splitters), cheap to operate, quiet, easily maneuverable, and emits no fumes. There are other electric splitter on the market which I'm sure are just as good. But I can only attest to what I actually use and have experience with. Conventional gas powered hydraulic splitters start at around $1000 and go to over $10,000. They have their place. I'm just showing you what works for me and giving you some options. Every one of my friends who needed a splitter, bought a Ryobi after trying mine. I should get a commission from Ryobi and Home Depot, but that ain't gonna happen. Making firewood is a hard, physically demanding labor of love, which can significantly reduce, or entirely eliminate, your heating costs. After the initial investment in a chainsaw and splitter, there is a small, ongoing cost associated with making firewood, but it's negligible. Heck, you could do it all with a chopping axe and splitting maul. And while virtually everyone now uses a chainsaw to cut trees, a very few still do split with a splitting maul. I save approximately $1500 a year in LP gas. I've had my wood burning stove for 8 years, so I've saved $12,000.

Don <><

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I didn't know this thread existed.
I just posted a video of my log splitter set-up in a separate thread.

thanks for sharing the vid. ive been thinking about gettin one of those smaller splitters for some time now just to use in the shop. for now the maul is working still but its nice to actually see one in action
 
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Here's mine. I bought this a couple years ago. Hydraulics run off the tractor remotes. Vertical for the big stuff, and horizontal for the smaller pieces. It runs a little slow off my little tractor, but so do I anymore. When my grandkids come over to help, I put it on the big tractor with 22 gpm hydraulics. That keeps 'em jumping.
 
Might as well add mine. Not sure who built it, but it was used when I first met it around 1980. Hydraulic pump and cylinder are off a Cat, 7" bore, 28" stroke cylinder and a big single stage pump, I don't have specs on flow or pressure, but suffice it to say, its "enough".

Pump twisting duties are normally compliments of International Harvester, in this case a 1947 Farmall M. Yes, that's a belt driven buzz saw on the front.

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Might as well add mine. Not sure who built it, but it was used when I first met it around 1980. Hydraulic pump and cylinder are off a Cat, 7" bore, 28" stroke cylinder and a big single stage pump, I don't have specs on flow or pressure, but suffice it to say, its "enough".

Pump twisting duties are normally compliments of International Harvester, in this case a 1947 Farmall M. Yes, that's a belt driven buzz saw on the front.

thats a HUGE cylinder on that thing. i thought i was crazy for running a 6x48 for all the years before it wore out. back then things were built out of what they had or what was cheap, not made to look pretty but made to work and last. i like the buzz saw too. been thinking of adding a hydraulic one to my splitter
 
Heres mine.

Tow behind my Jeep anywhere, narrow axle to wheel through fence gates. Working on a log lift and removable table this winter. Built 12 years ago before I ever seen a verticle model. Not sure Id want one though. Originally Briggs 5hp which finally wore out. Harbor Fr motor lasting 4 years now.

<img src="http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/323/img6613lf.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/><br/>

<img src="http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/6675/img6614p.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/><br/>
 
Just wanted to say I'm diggin this thread, there may be something wrong with me but I always enjoy seeing all the different ways people have built their log splitters I'm pretty sure no 2 are the same! :msp_thumbsup:
 
Just wanted to say I'm diggin this thread, there may be something wrong with me but I always enjoy seeing all the different ways people have built their log splitters I'm pretty sure no 2 are the same! :msp_thumbsup:

:agree2: thats why i started it. its nice to get ideas and see why others build the way they do. always room for improvement or modifications with hydraylics
 
Here's one that my grandfather built 30+ years ago. Still works great! I replaced the pump and motor last year and that's the only thing it's ever needed in 30 yrs. 25" travel.


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Tow behind my Jeep anywhere, narrow axle to wheel through fence gates. Working on a log lift and removable table this winter. Built 12 years ago before I ever seen a verticle model. Not sure Id want one though. Originally Briggs 5hp which finally wore out. Harbor Fr motor lasting 4 years now.

<img src="http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/323/img6613lf.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/><br/>

<img src="http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/6675/img6614p.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/><br/>

Sure that beam is big enough?:msp_ohmy: Is the hydro tank attached to the end of the beam or built into it?
 
Question

Tow behind my Jeep anywhere, narrow axle to wheel through fence gates. Working on a log lift and removable table this winter. Built 12 years ago before I ever seen a verticle model. Not sure Id want one though. Originally Briggs 5hp which finally wore out. Harbor Fr motor lasting 4 years now.

<img src="http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/323/img6613lf.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/><br/>

<img src="http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/6675/img6614p.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/><br/>

I was warned to keep some weight on the tongue or I'd have problems. I'm looking at you narrow axle, rear weighted setup and thinking "I wonder how that thing tracks when he's towing it"

Roy
 
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At least 30 yrs old, no clue on cylnder size or tonnage, but it takes up to about 24"-ish long pieces. Built by friend of parents, we got went we moved out to the country back in 1989. Had a 8 hp on it when we got it, but the igntion kept going out, dad replaced it with a 5 hp back in '96 I think. We mothballed it in 1999, after we got our new house (with no woodstove). Yanked it out of the weeds in 2009 started getting it going again. Dad renforced the tounge, wedge, and axle. (I'm not a good welder yet.) And added a ball coupler, jack, safty chains, and a rear support post on the back of the wedge for when you split the heavy stuff and the splitter is not hooked up to a vechicle. Only things I would change would be a 2-stage pump and a control valve with a reverse detent shut off.
 

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