Thread: Hydraulic Log Splitter

Has anyone made their own hydraulic log splitter?

I have access to some hydraulic rams from an old front end loader and thought this might be a good use for them.

Any pitfalls to look out for? Any plans that I can utilise.

I thought that hooking into 3PL of tractor and then connecting to hydraulic line at back of tractor would be the way to go, however could also put on wheels with drawbar and still pick up hydraulic line from tractor. This negates having to have a power source for hydraulic pump.

I have reasonable skills with arc welder. Is this achievable or am I biting off more than I can chew?

Definately doable, and you wouldn't be the first.

Top idea about making it towable, why not go a bit further and mount the ram/splitter in the front of a trailer, then you could split it and cart it with the one trailer rather than trying to tow two.

Yonnee.

Saw one in Queensland at Easter when i was up there. It was a bench similar to a saw bench on the front of the tractor. It was a 3inch ram working in extension mode (get maximum power) with a pivot in the middle and an old axe head and wood splitter head welded ontoa pece of 6 x 1 steel (about 3ft 6inch long). The movement was about 15 to 18inchs and it split twisty knotty old wood with ease. It was all home made and the bench was at waist height. It was about 4ft x 3ft and he used a bobcat to carry the huge blocks up level with the bench ten slid them out and split them keeping all offcuts on the bench until finished. I watched for about 10 minutes while he split a 6 x 4 trailer full on 12 - 15 inch blocks into smaller size peices (suitable for a coonara type heater)

Dont know if i could get photos though as he was a freind of a freind

Hi guys
Its easy
bring up Google
Type in Woosplitter
hit search
get these-2 mins work
Surely you can scrach up your own plans.Perhaps you might research the timber types .I would estimate that our timber may be a bit tougher/ resistant to splitting ie bigger hydraulics.

Grahame

Thanks for all the replies.

I think I will check out the rams a bit more, make sure they are still OK and have a crack at it.

Grahame, may need to call on your expertise a bit if I go ahead with it.

Here is a picture of my Log Splitter. Certainly not homemade but suits me. It would need a decent welder to weld the welds on it. Remember there is 20 Tonnes of pressure from the 24" x 4" ram so they need to be strong.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...t=Log+Splitter

Hi all
No problem with the weld and fab stuff
I like the design of Bazza's machine.Did you notice the axle is the oil storage tank.Looks like a bit of 6" box tube.

Given that the weldor is competent there is no real problem is material sizes are of adequate dimension.

Grahame

I am pondering doing the same . I currently have all the bits & pieces, with a toss up of using the tractor hydraulics or a pto driven power pack off a post driver. At this point in time I have yet to determine what the psi & flow rates of the two alternatives.

Some things to consider.
3" rams with 2000psi will only give you 7 tonnes force and 3000psi will give you 10 tonnes.
4" rams with 2000psi will get you 12 tonnes and 3000psi will get you around 18 tonnes.
So you will need to determine what psi you tractor has, and also the litres/min flow as this will determine the extension rate of the ram.

Another consideration is whether you go horizontal or vertical.

The horizontal ones I have seen tend to allow the split wood to fall back to the ground from whence you have just picked it up, apita. The vertical ones will allow the split wood to remain on the table to be dealt with easily.

Originally Posted by fraserbluff

I am pondering doing the same . I currently have all the bits & pieces, with a toss up of using the tractor hydraulics or a pto driven power pack off a post driver. At this point in time I have yet to determine what the psi & flow rates of the two alternatives.

Some things to consider.
3" rams with 2000psi will only give you 7 tonnes force and 3000psi will give you 10 tonnes.
4" rams with 2000psi will get you 12 tonnes and 3000psi will get you around 18 tonnes.
So you will need to determine what psi you tractor has, and also the litres/min flow as this will determine the extension rate of the ram.

Another consideration is whether you go horizontal or vertical.

The horizontal ones I have seen tend to allow the split wood to fall back to the ground from whence you have just picked it up, apita. The vertical ones will allow the split wood to remain on the table to be dealt with easily.

Fraserbluff

Not sure what the psi is on mine but I know it delivers 20 tonne with a 4" x 24" ram.

Mine can be used either vertical or horizontal by pulling a pin and lifting the bed up to use it vertical with the base sitting on the ground and just move the blocks onto the base.

If you were splitting twisty grain yellow box you wouldn't want any less than 20 tonnes.