Here is my splitter

[Butch(OH)]

The smaller tonnage splitters are OK if you cut small diameter stuff with straight grain and don't mind chain sawing the twisted or tough splitting stuff or casting it aside. Trees out of the woods are much easier to split than if you are cleaning fence rows too. Take one of our red elms out of a fence row and you cannot believe how hard it splits. The homeowner jobs are worthless for that kind of work and hard on the back. After fooling around with barely big enough splitters for 30 years I finally built one that works well. The low to ground splitters as most make or buy are back ache specials. I suggest rental of one before purchase or building and see how the ole back feels after a few hours. The tilting beam splitters make look like THE answer but suc for the back too. At least for 50 year old backs your always working bent over with them. Couldn't find one like I wanted so I built another one, this time trying to make sure I took care of may back when building it. Cylinder is 5 1/2" bore, relief is set at 2100 psi, figure the tons, if you wish i didn't take the time. It has never stopped yet even with the 4 way wedge. Notice the wedge moves with the cylinder. That way the chunks that need split again don't have to be moved back to be re split. With a fixed wedge all your re splitting has to be moved back in front of the wedge again, makes a heck of a difference after a long day. Just run the ram back and go again. Split wood also falls on elevated log lifters, not on the ground where you must bend (again) to pick it up. Also put two log lifters on it and since I could not decide which side to put it on and glad I did. Also notice that the beam is waist high, not down below the knees. A person bends over ONCE, to pick the smaller pieces on the beam or roll the big ones on the lifters. Every other operation is done from the erect position. It does make a big difference unless you have a bullet proof back . I am very happy with the whole machine. If this works should be a picture of it here or I will repost with link. As you can see it uses the PTO to run the pump but the more common small engine - 2 stage pump set up would run it just as well.

<IMG SRC=http://www.tractorshed.com/gallery/iphotos/i2939.jpg>

<IMG SRC=http://www.tractorshed.com/gallery/iphotos/i2938.jpg>

 

[Whiteindustries]

I like it!

The smaller tonnage splitters are OK if you cut small diameter stuff with straight grain and don't mind chain sawing the twisted or tough splitting stuff or casting it aside. Trees out of the woods are much easier to split than if you are cleaning fence rows too. Take one of our red elms out of a fence row and you cannot believe how hard it splits. The homeowner jobs are worthless for that kind of work and hard on the back. After fooling around with barely big enough splitters for 30 years I finally built one that works well. The low to ground splitters as most make or buy are back ache specials. I suggest rental of one before purchase or building and see how the ole back feels after a few hours. The tilting beam splitters make look like THE answer but suc for the back too. At least for 50 year old backs your always working bent over with them. Couldn't find one like I wanted so I built another one, this time trying to make sure I took care of may back when building it. Cylinder is 5 1/2" bore, relief is set at 2100 psi, figure the tons, if you wish i didn't take the time. It has never stopped yet even with the 4 way wedge. Notice the wedge moves with the cylinder. That way the chunks that need split again don't have to be moved back to be re split. With a fixed wedge all your re splitting has to be moved back in front of the wedge again, makes a heck of a difference after a long day. Just run the ram back and go again. Split wood also falls on elevated log lifters, not on the ground where you must bend (again) to pick it up. Also put two log lifters on it and since I could not decide which side to put it on and glad I did. Also notice that the beam is waist high, not down below the knees. A person bends over ONCE, to pick the smaller pieces on the beam or roll the big ones on the lifters. Every other operation is done from the erect position. It does make a big difference unless you have a bullet proof back . I am very happy with the whole machine. If this works should be a picture of it here or I will repost with link. As you can see it uses the PTO to run the pump but the more common small engine - 2 stage pump set up would run it just as well.

<IMG SRC=http://www.tractorshed.com/gallery/iphotos/i2939.jpg>

<IMG SRC=http://www.tractorshed.com/gallery/iphotos/i2938.jpg>

I like it, love the two lift/tables.This is the first I have seen with the wedge on the ram,great idea.
Think I'll have to get busy and build two lifts for mine.

 

[eric_271]

Butch Nice splitter. Thats nearly the same as my old splitter except mine was not pto run nor did I have the log lifters. The wedge on the rod is the only way to go. Some like it on the end of the beam but it makes a lot of extra work if you ask me. The tables save the back greatly.