Homemade Splitter

[maflake]

I've been using my friends homemade splitter. He built it with a friend several years ago.....what a beast.

 

[Mcbride]

The more i look at splitters, the more discouraged I get about the choices on the market.
I really am leaning towards making my own as well.

 

[maflake]

If I understand right they looked at one in a store and welded this thing up. They built race cars so they had the experience and materials to do it. Took a 6.5 hp Briggs and hooked it up to a pump etc. This thing is big…really does the job. Custom pin striping really does the trick LOL.

 

[Mcbride]

(broken link removed to http://affordablesmallengines.com/log_splitter_30_inch.htm)

 

[Mcbride]

I have many used parts of a caterpillar 966 G loader, like a hydraulic pump, hoses, 3 hydraulic cylinders etc.

Anyone know what is the right speed to spin that pump at, and how much HP would be needed to properly drive 1 cylinder on a splitter from it.

Would turning it about 2500 rpm be okay, and a guess if just 40 HP is enough.

 

[SolarAndWood]

Would turning it about 2500 rpm be okay, and a guess if just 40 HP is enough.

My splitter originally used a pump out of a bulldozer with a 4 cyl Wisconsin out of a Bobcat. The machine works a whole lot better now with a 5hp electric and a 16 gpm 2 stage pump.

 

[SolarAndWood]

flyfish, how often does the round make it to the flare on the wedge before it splits? I have a fat triangular wedge and have wondered if adding 2 inches or so of slicer at the lead edge would improve performance.

 

[Stihl_WoodBandit]

I have many used parts of a caterpillar 966 G loader, like a hydraulic pump, hoses, 3 hydraulic cylinders etc.

Anyone know what is the right speed to spin that pump at, and how much HP would be needed to properly drive 1 cylinder on a splitter from it.

Would turning it about 2500 rpm be okay, and a guess if just 40 HP is enough.

McBride-you can use the 'calculators' on www.surpluscenter.com and they will direct you to what size your components need to be. I like to 'compare' the 22, 30, and 37 ton models of splitters on www.northerntool.com -that way i can see what components they used to get the tonnage.

Here should be a link https://www.surpluscenter.com/techhelp.asp?catname=hydraulic If it doesn't work, go to surpluscenter.com and click on 'tech help' on the left hand side.

 

[Mcbride]

Thanks Stihl_woodbandit.

 

[maflake]

flyfish, how often does the round make it to the flare on the wedge before it splits? I have a fat triangular wedge and have wondered if adding 2 inches or so of slicer at the lead edge would improve performance.

The flare really helps....seems that I get about half way into the wood and it's split.