Log Splitter

[stevec]

Dave my wedge is 5/8" thick with an 80 deg. included angle. I'm not necessarily recommending that but it works fine for me.

[DaveH]

Vtsteam,

Thanks for the info
I can weld - just not properly I can always take it to a proper welder - it won't cost much.

Nearly all the small log splitters tend to have the wedge fixed at one end whereas the larger ones tend to have the wedge on the ram. I'm sure there is a reason - perhaps it is the twisting of the log ???

I've gone away from the fixed thin wedge to a much bigger fixed taper wedge (similar size to the ones on the low force commercial log splitters ). Also there will be more (welding) surface in contact with the top flange so that should help a little with the side to side forces.

 
DaveH

[vtsteam]

(01-17-2015, 01:56 PM)stevec Wrote: Dave my wedge is 5/8" thick with an 80 deg. included angle. I'm not necessarily recommending that but it works fine for me.

Sounds like 1" would hold up very well, then.

[f350ca]

Don't make the tapered part too wide Dave. The wedge on mine might be 3/8 plate with the wings made out of 1/4. It spreads to 4 inch wide at the back. The thought was it would open the block up quicker and not need to run the block as far into it before it broke in two. Sort of works, but on really hard to split wood the leading wedge will cut in (like a sharp axe) then mine sometimes runs out  ump, leaving the block stuck on the leading edge.

[DaveH]

I'm looking at doing something like this.
   

View of the back of the wedge
   

The size of the wedge is 75mm (3.5") long  x  65mm (2.5") wide


DaveH

[Mayhem]

Then get your welder out and get cracking Dave

[stevec]

My splitter has a 5/8" thick wedge without any wider "wings". The 2 speed pump moves the wood fast enough that I appreciate the relax time I get out of a full stroke. If my wood popped in two with, say, a 1/3 stroke I wouldn't be able to keep up with it.
I also find that often times although the wood is split apart there strings or threads of wood still holding the pieces together, the full stroke takes care of that.

Steve

[DaveH]

(01-18-2015, 08:44 AM)stevec Wrote: I also find that often times although the wood is split apart there strings or threads of wood still holding the pieces together, the full stroke takes care of that.

Steve

I get that quite a lot with some woods.


Just going back to the wedge and the shape, I think I will probably make it with straight sides but with a double angle wedge shape.  


DaveH

[vtsteam]

(01-18-2015, 08:44 AM)stevec Wrote: My splitter has a 5/8" thick wedge without any wider "wings". The 2 speed pump moves the wood fast enough that I appreciate the relax time I get out of a full stroke. If my wood popped in two with, say, a 1/3 stroke I wouldn't be able to keep up with it.
I also find that often times although the wood is split apart there strings or threads of wood still holding the pieces together, the full stroke takes care of that.

Steve

Yup, gave up on trying to pull even a few strings apart early on. Wish mine was 2 speed though. Takes a long time to travel all the way to the end. Makes me favor ash over yellow birch! And beech is well named. It's a beech!

[DaveH]

Something like this:

   


DaveH