Log splitter build

Just an FYI... I put one of those 13hp clones on my splitter, and it will split wood at idle with a 22gpm pump...

 

Be careful with the idea of stacking splits. They might have a way of shootin sideways under tons of pressure... in your direction...

Your frame looks good so far... Rugged.

 

Will it go to 3000psi at idle??

I'm torn on which engine to go with -- lifan makes a 13hp and 15hp Chonda. I'm tempted to try the 15hp with 28gpm but don't want to find that it stalls the engine at 2500psi.

 

Yes.. And it don't use near the fuel running just off idle...
I hate chinese junk, but this one was available, and I have yet to kill it even after 3 years use...
So it'll be a crap shoot... Save your receipt...
Will have a big Kohler on it upon chonda's death...
Also.. It must be elec. start... Cause when it's 10 degrees out you'll just trash recoils left and right.. They are junky and not heavy built enough to pull over with a pump attached...

 

Wedge/4 way design?? I can't decide which would be better.

Fat single post -- or --


Or skinny double post
-

 

Either will work good.. Just make sure you can hit a lever and get it out of the way... I gotta drop mine in and pull it out... A real PIA when you got a mix of nice stuff and junk...
Also you can set it to the proper height to quarter any size piece.

 

If your machine is going to have the muscle, why not set it up to go 4 way? Especially if you could easily pull a pin and slip the extra wedge up and off for big hard stringy stuff.

 

It's going to have a removable and hydraulic height adjustable 4 way. I'm going to make it so the wings drop down below the top of the beam like the 2nd pic.

I'm just not sure if a wide or skinny main wedge would work better for the wood I split. I get a lot of knot filled yard trees from an arborist.

The skinny wedge would probably slice through better but might be more likely to twist?

 

I'd go thin if you want to use a 4 way behind it..

 

I agree with hedgerow I would go skinny. Mine has a skinny wedge and occasionally almost misses the short wings. I want to redo it just have not had the time. Also whoever made mine used beat up wedges for wings and on some occurrences the mushroom will cause problems. Gotta get around to cutting at least the mushrooms off.

 

Lookin good Mike!

No. Not you. Your build man, your build!

 

I used 1/2" thick, 8" x 8" flat mild plate for the 2 horizontal wings & an 8" x 12" piece for the upper wedge on my 4 way. I haven't had any problems with twisting.

 

I spent a little quality time with my angle grinder last night


I'm leaning towards a skinny wedge with a second post for the four way. The timberwolf one seems stronger and would probably work good on hardwoods that pop apart like oak... Just not sure how it would work on gnarly knot filled stringy rounds.

If I'm wrong it easier to make it wider later.

 

AR500 steel works great for a knife. I have easily 400+ cords on my processor and the knife is still brand new looking.

 

I used a2 3/4 x 6" flat bar. If it wears too much I'll run some 7018 up it and grind it down again.

 

Found my engine... Liquid cooled kawasaki v-twin, 16hp. NOS from ebay.

 

Keep in mind the amount of side lean you may have with a hoist. I got around this by putting outriggers on mine as I built my splitter to handle the big ones. These also allow you to level it up so the boom/gravity doesn't fight you.



Mine is not hydraulic. I use a cordless winch with a swing boom. This way I can drag and lift them into the splitter with a touch of a button. 30 ft of cable allows some pretty good reach. We normally just back down the length of the tree swinging the too large to hand lift round 180 degrees into the splitter. Wedge on the ram takes all the "swing" aspect out of it as it splits so think about that as well.



Swing away tables are nice too as you have more options to never let a chunk hit the ground till it's split up completely. I split the table chunks, then swing the hanger back in to get it smaller. You might get some more ideas in my splitter build link below. Feel free to ask any questions as it may save you some redo's in the future. This one has worked out great for me and has done everything I'd hoped for.

 

Got my engine delivered . It didn't have a muffler and the dealer wants over $250 for one . So I had ordered a muffler for different kawaski engine on ebay for $30, the first half the part number was same so I was hoping the support bracket was all that would need to be changed.



Close but not quite


So time for a muffler mod. Figure I could Cut it out and slide the pipe over.

Plan b didn't work either
(

 

A mig or tig welder would have come in handy