Homemade log splitter? Any suggestions?

[SkiDooHoser]

I have a good buddy thats a welder who said he always wanted to build a log splitter. I could use one so I am taking him up on the offer.

Ideas so far:
5hp motor
20-25 ton ram
Steel I beam for the body
Figure out some sort of axle w/ wheels.
Trailer hitch
Keep it low to ground for the heavy rounds
Long lever for ram so I don't have to bend over as much

What else?

Plan on splitting 15ish cords this year

 

[redlineguy]

Get a 2 stage pump so it goes fast till it hits the log. And goes back without holding the lever.

I built one with my dad when I was a kid. It still works great.








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[Mafesto]

Why do you need to split home made logs?

 

[07 Phazer]

You might need an oil cooler. A friend of mine has a splitter like that and after an hour or so, he has to wear a glove on the hand that controls the lever because the hydraulics get so hot.

 

[mobsled]

If you happen to have a skid steer its not to tough to use the hydrolics off the skidder. My dad made one that way but its about 3ft off the ground and theres a deal that flips the logs up onto the splitter deck. Not much bending over then, just roll them on the flipper thing and split away.

 

[MarcS]

Get a 2 stage pump so it goes fast till it hits the log. And goes back without holding the lever.

I built one with my dad when I was a kid. It still works great.








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x2!!..a hi-low pump is what you need. Uses the high flow pump to get to the log then the low flow pump to split the log. This requires a less powerful motor to go fast and still have enough force. I have a table that can give you a lot of information with just entering the force you need, the travels distance for each stage and how fast you want it to move. Let me know if you want it I can do it for you or e-mail it to you if you have excel. Hope this helps

 

[HawkShot99]

My grandfather built one 40 yrs. ago. Built it on a steel I-beam. Mounted the landing gear from a comercial jet liner, for the ram. B&S engine. The splitter is not the fastest, but never has there been a log it did not split. It is not road worthy, but has tires for a yard trailer to move it around behind a lawn tractor.

About 5 years we gave it away to my aunt who still uses it to split 5 or so cords a year.