The Conservative Cave
Interests => Around the House & In the Garage => Topic started by: Wineslob on October 15, 2009, 10:24:36 AM
-
Here are some pics of a logsplitter I built last month.
It's approx a 8 ton unit, powered by a Harbor Frieght 6.5 hp motor. Everything from the tank (it's part of the axel), to the blade (exccept for the hyd system and axel) was fabricated and welded up by me.
I'm guessing I have just under $400.00 in the whole thing.
I've run approx 2 cords of wood through it, and it works like a champ.
(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k179/Apogeespeaker/DSCN0119.jpg)
(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k179/Apogeespeaker/DSCN0118.jpg)
-
(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k179/Apogeespeaker/DSCN0117.jpg)
(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k179/Apogeespeaker/DSCN0121.jpg)
The green Bolens chipper/shedder in the background supplied the motor mount.
I'll get some "finished" pics up, maybe a short vid too.
-
Nice welds bro! You do good work! Is that your trade?
-
Iv'e never been a welder as a "professional". However it's a big part of what I do (fab) for the last 25+ years.
It was welded up with a 1981 Miller "Millermatic 35" MIG unit. Really nice old school mig. Some parts I probably should have stick welded, but I was lazy and just tripple passed the heavy stuff.
Thanks!
-
Neat! How much did you save over actually buying a log splitter?
-
Neat! How much did you save over actually buying a log splitter?
My best guess is around $500. I scrounged alot of the materials. The actual hydraulics (pump, control valve, cylinder) cost about $225, a major portion.
The axel came out of an honest-to-God junkyard (hard to find nowadays)for 40 bucks. We pulled it out of the back of a junked van with another car on top of it (it was laying in the back). :lmao: It's from some kind of small trailer.
The motor, from a Bolens chipper/shredder, was a trade for an air compressor I had maybe 50 bucks into. The guy had tried to get the shredder to "work better" by putting the Harbor Frieght motor on it (more HP!!), but it diden't help. He almost never used it, so the motor was like-new.
I've been able to split up roughly $400+ of firewood so far.
-
If the thing weighs 8 tons, I surely hope you don't have it up in the attic or something, and instead on solid ground.
-
If the thing weighs 8 tons, I surely hope you don't have it up in the attic or something, and instead on solid ground.
Splitting firewood in the attic would be kinda inconvenient. :-)
-
If the thing weighs 8 tons, I surely hope you don't have it up in the attic or something, and instead on solid ground.
LOLZ! (psst..... it's the tonnage the hydraulic cylinder can put on the wood to be split)
The whole thing weighs 300lbs or so.
-
Ah, but can yours cut wood THIS fast?
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bVAAx3mMKY[/youtube]
-
LOLZ! (psst..... it's the tonnage the hydraulic cylinder can put on the wood to be split)
The whole thing weighs 300lbs or so.
I thought it might be the pressure, but on the other hand, the log-splitters I've seen have been enormous, looking like they might weigh 8 tons.
-
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Some of the 27 or 30 ton units at Lowes are pretty big.
-
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Some of the 27 or 30 ton units at Lowes are pretty big.
The ones I've seen are anchored in concrete and rebar.
-
Looks good.
Now,can I borrow it for the weekend? :p
-
The ones I've seen are anchored in concrete and rebar.
That I'd like to see! :o
-
Ah, but can yours cut wood THIS fast?
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bVAAx3mMKY[/youtube]
Someday this guys nickname is going to be "Stubby" It's only a matter of time.
-
Someday this guys nickname is going to be "Stubby" It's only a matter of time.
My thoughts also, and it ain't all that fast. Interesting design, I'll give him that.
I don't ever want to see that thing do a "kick out". :o
-
I helped my dad build one when I was a kid. The ram was a surplus (or maybe used) RAM from a John Deere backhoe (we lived minutes from the John Deere world headquarters) and the rest of the parts it took my dad about two years to aquire. My grandparents owned a salvage yard & used auto parts business, so the axle was easy to find...it was a couple feet off the ground, making it harder to load the logs, but easier on the back once you got them up there. Plus it was legal to tow, complete with lights and license plate!
The engine was a big old 8 hp, you had to manually wrap the pull rope around the pulley to start it. It ran great, my dad was a deisel mechanic so this was nothing to him. I'm still amazed by some of the things my dad built instead of buying, like the air compressor that I used to paint cars...the tank was an air brake tank from a semi tractor...it was huge!
Having worked in many fabrication shops that built every thing from cable reels to tractor & truck cabs, I'm impressed with your skill. The gas tank in the axle is pretty sweet! :cheersmate:
Thanks for posting the pictures which jogged alot of memories of my father. Thanks again.
-
Great job :cheersmate:
-
Thanks guys!
Rob, the tank is for the hydraulic oil, it holds about 3 1/2 gallons. :-)
-
Thanks guys!
Rob, the tank is for the hydraulic oil, it holds about 3 1/2 gallons. :-)
Gotcha, forgot about the hydraulic tanks....I must be getting old, LOL
-
I need to build one... Borrowed my grandfather's from my cousin - it's small, but works. Doesn't like large Oak too well, but still works. Hardest part is getting the 18-24" diameter logs on the splitter.
And finding carb gaskets for a 30 year old engine. :-)