My Vertical Log Splitter with Table and Log Lift

[iowa]

Sorry, I haven't followed this thread, just saw the pic of the cylinder, and to me it looks like an air cylinder rated for a couple hundred pounds of pressure, and not a hydraulic cylinder rated for a couple thousand pounds. Not trying to be a jerk, just don't want to see someone get hurt. Please correct me if I am mistaken.

Ugh. No. Not an air cylinder. Hydraulic rated for 3500psi. 4" bore, 24" stroke, and 2" shaft.

 

[iowa]

Did some work on the splitter today. Got the beam base weld up and also the wedge is welded but not pictured.

 

[iowa]

More Pics

 

[iowa]

Got the cylinder mounted that will raise and lower the beam into position. It takes it 90deg perfectly!! Using every bit of the stroke. Goes just past center of vertical to help put pin in. LOVE IT!!

 

[iowa]

Wedge bolted on beam. The cutting edge of the wedge is 4140. After it was welded onto the other piece of steel it made it pretty hard. Should wear really well.

 

[iowa]

Mounted engine and hyd tank tonight. Engine runs!! Need a tank though or it may get old refilling that small funnel all the time!

 

[Mike from Maine]

What are the specs for the engine pump and cylinder?

 

[jthornton]

Got the cylinder mounted that will raise and lower the beam into position. It takes it 90deg perfectly!! Using every bit of the stroke. Goes just past center of vertical to help put pin in. LOVE IT!!

That looks so much like my splitter I need to get a cylinder on it to raise it up.

JT

 

[iowa]

That looks so much like my splitter I need to get a cylinder on it to raise it up.

JT

This is what I wanted to do several yrs ago with my first vertical splitter with table. However, lack of funding and time was an issue then. So your build is exactly what I had in mind yrs ago, just never got to it! I think yours is built quite a bit heavier though! Good God!!!!!

Yes. The cylinder will help. I can lift the beam into place WITHOUT the main ram on it. You put that heavy thing on it, plus oil and a valve. NO WAY.

 

[iowa]

What are the specs for the engine pump and cylinder?

Refer to very first post of this thread. Specs are listed.

 

[jthornton]

This is what I wanted to do several yrs ago with my first vertical splitter with table. However, lack of funding and time was an issue then. So your build is exactly what I had in mind yrs ago, just never got to it! I think yours is built quite a bit heavier though! Good God!!!!!

Yes. The cylinder will help. I can lift the beam into place WITHOUT the main ram on it. You put that heavy thing on it, plus oil and a valve. NO WAY.

What geometry did you end up using?

JT

 

[iowa]

What geometry did you end up using?

JT

I ended up using a bracket that had a hole 2.5" out welded to the beam. The base bracket is 3.5" out from edge of beam.

What I did was tack weld the base bracket on to the frame. Pin the cylinder and extend it out. I set some shims under my beam base so that the beam was tilted past center when cylinder was fully extended. Clamped the bracket and tack welded it in place. Then we layed the beam down to see how it worked. It layed perfectly flat and would even go just past if I wanted it to.

This is the weird part. I drew this up exactly how I have it now and in CAD it shows that my beam should lay at an 11deg angle. Oh well. The outcome was better than I thought. So I'm happy.

 

[iowa]

Found this splitter on YouTube. Pretty nice unit. I like how it throttles down when you're not using the hydro's. It was similar to mine using that cable for the log lift. I never had a catch system on my lift though. So every time I stroked the cylinder it would go up and down.

 

[iowa]

Made the frame for the table today. Hopefully do the log lift tomorrow. Have to screw the top down too.

 

[iowa]

Log lift is now fabricated and tacked welded together. Will need to add cylinder mounts etc. But it should work good. Plenty heavy!

 

[iowa]

It's getting closer. I just ordered all the hydraulic fittings for it. Will need to fabricate a steel gas tank for it yet and hose it.

 

[iowa]

Upright in splitting mode.

 

[triptester]

Looking real nice. Have you considered extending the table top over the tires for more work area.

 

[iowa]

Looking real nice. Have you considered extending the table top over the tires for more work area.

No. My previous table was 2' deep and 4' wide. This is 32" deep and 4' wide. I never had an issue with the other splitter and table space.

 

[triptester]

I have a 2 foot deep by 5 1/2 foot wide table. It allows stacking splits on the side until I get a arm full.