Did something today I didnt think I would ever do. I talked a buddy out of building a wood splitter. I let him use mine a month or so ago and he decided he wanted to build one like mine. He was looking for advice on how big, what kind of metal, hydraulic questions, etc. I told him to come over to my house and lets see what I have he could use. I have a 5inch cyl, a ton of different size new hoses, some metal to make wedges out of I offered to give him. We discussed what he wanted to do and I asked him what parts did he have available and how much money he had to spend. Well he had saved about $800 and his plans was to buy a new hbeam and pump and motor and, and, and!!! I said stop and think about it a little bit, are you planning on selling firewood or just splitting for your own use. Just for personal use, dont have time for a firewood business he said. I asked if he had looked at the TSC splitters, answers yes, but they want $2000 for one. Then I slapped him in the face with a "How much you think all the new parts are going to cost you to build your splitter." I built my splitter out of scrounged parts that where free or almost free. There are things I dont like about my splitter, but I plan on making changes in the future. There are things you wont like about the splitter you build and you will endup making changes in the future as well. Buy the TSC splitter and take the money you save over buying parts and building your own and make the changes you want to it. You can buy a new splitter now, gas it up, and be splitting wood before dark. If you decide to build, you are going to have days of work and time waiting on parts and your wood still wont be split.