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15th Jun 2017, 10:03 PM #1
Extraordinary Hydraulic Wood Splitter
As mentioned in another thread, this morning I got a call to try to start a splitter motor for SWMBO's friend. Some may recall me mentioning "Don" who made this splitter. I was surprised to see this splitter when I arrived as the last I knew he had a shop bought unit. Apparently he decided the previous one was not good enough so he built this one himself. I will let the pictures tell the story.
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View from the towing end. This shows just how much planning and design went into this engineering masterpiece. Note the economical method used for the hydraulic tank cap.
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Working end.
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Working end closer in. Note the precision placement of all the strucural members and the starter system sitting on the table. Yes that is a socket extension for a handle.
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The underside of the lifting platform. More precision engineering.
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Another view which clearly shows the quality of the work. Note the special welding technique plus the planning and design aspects incorporated into this equipment.
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A close up of the axle mounting. The RHS on top of the axle is cut off a trailer chassis and welded to the frame. An extraordinarily economical method of construction. The left U-Bolt is on an angle due to its mount bracket being bent down, the axle is bent so the wheel leans in, but I believe this is just a balancing mechanism to even out the large difference in wheel and tyre widths.
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No expense spared in designing and building the pump mount.
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I think this is the best part tho. Notice how the ram / blade design incorporates a lubrication system so that there is always lubrication to assist the blade in splitting the wood. Pure genius.
When I first arrived I walked around and around this engineering marvel staring at it trying to take in all the exceptional design and workmanship. I mentioned that it looked a somewhat like my splitter in design. I was told "yeah he said that he copied the idea from Dean's splitter". My immediate reply was "I hope he hasn't (insert expletive) told anyone this is a copy of mine!!!!!!
I leave you to wonder.
Dean
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15th Jun 2017, 10:53 PM #2Most Valued Member
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- May 2011
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- Murray Bridge S Aust.
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Thanks for that Dean. I remember seeing some fabrication work done very similar by a company called RAGE. (Ruff As Guts Engineering). But hey, if it works good luck to them, surprising what can be found around the farm that will make some excellent machinery. What was the old saying, Necessity is the Mother of Invention.
KrynTo grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.
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15th Jun 2017, 11:56 PM #3Most Valued Member
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- Jul 2016
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- Melbourne
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In this case necessities child is really darn ugly.
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16th Jun 2017, 12:27 AM #4
Just between you, me and the gatepost, so is the builder, just quietly.
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Artistic is what it is. The 2 circles show ends which have been cleverly cut to look as if they are actually 2 sides of a broken weld.
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The top of that piece has been made to look like a failed weld. Very clever. The hook is one off of a ratchet strap. That cable lifts the lifting platform, I think.
Dean
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16th Jun 2017, 08:07 PM #5
I love the detailed description of the engineering prowess of the builder.
Nicely done, Dean.
I might have kept the post until April 1 next year.... but thanks for sharing early.Cheers, Joe
retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....
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16th Jun 2017, 08:45 PM #6
Thanks Joe. I couldn't hold off until April.
Another point I forgot.
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The piece that the red arrow is pointing at is 25mm x 125mm or 150mm flate plate. This has me puzzled. I am not sure why the design calls for such massive strength in this area as not much weight would be carried here. With my splitter I sometimes put pieces here that require further splitting, while I split another part of the same ring. The motor mount is welded to it so maybe that has something to do with it. It might be for future expansion in case he wants to fit a bigger motor. Of course. That must be it.
This splitter is setup the opposite of mine so the wood travels the other way. This is a good enough reason to say it is not a copy of mine isn't it.
Dean
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17th Jun 2017, 12:26 AM #7
He's giving Farmer welding a bad name.
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17th Jun 2017, 01:30 AM #8
Agricultural engineering! His former home is a single house with a large back yard (full of junk) right in the middle of farming country so he is (was) not quite a farmer. I'm not quite a farmer too, but I do have some cows and sheep and a bit more pride in my work.
Dean
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17th Jun 2017, 06:02 AM #9
I live on an old farm and am able to kill almost everything I plant, I'll stick to machining.
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17th Jun 2017, 06:28 AM #10Home Hobbist
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Oatley NSW
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- 69
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- 257
When you drove onto the property did you hear dueling banjo's ?
I can see he used the "throw metal into a pile and weld what you can" method, all carefully cleaned for good weld penetration.
Its a wonder the unit dosnt fall apart working under pressure.
Keith_W.
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17th Jun 2017, 12:14 PM #11When you drove onto the property did you hear dueling banjo's ?
I can see he used the "throw metal into a pile and weld what you can" method, all carefully cleaned for good weld penetration.
Its a wonder the unit dosnt fall apart working under pressure.
I think that the leaks from the ram that lubricate the blade also act as pressure relief to restrict the amount of pressure exerted.
Dean
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17th Jun 2017, 03:37 PM #12Tool addict
- Join Date
- May 2008
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 241
What an absolutely glorious machine
I'd say he's got extensive welding and engineering experience, as he's merely testing the utmost limits of what can be done with metal, the deceptive strength hiding behind mounds of cocky poo and gas axe artwork
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17th Jun 2017, 07:47 PM #13
Yes, my thoughts are along the same line. If you ask him he will tell you all about his capabilities and how good he is.
When I was splitting wood today I stopped and had a good look at my splitter and realised what a mess I had made of it. It looks boring, uninteresting, plain and practical. With a bit of artistic foresight I could have had something with a lot more excitement and appeal. Something that would say something to the world.
Dean
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17th Jun 2017, 11:58 PM #14Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- May 2011
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- Murray Bridge S Aust.
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- 71
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- 5,942
If your neighbours machine could say "Something that would say something to the world" It would say "I'm embarrassed, hide me PLEASE???"
To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.
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19th Jun 2017, 01:25 AM #15I break stuff...
- Join Date
- Aug 2010
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- Toorloo Arm, VIC
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- 39
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- 1,270
I especially like the second last photo in the first post, that demonstrates how carefully the number of bolts and their tension has been selected in order to allow the perfect amount of float in the axial alignment of the drive coupling.... Must have taken hours and hours to get that adjustment just so.
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