Latest refinement is a modification to the wedge's sharp edge.
I decided that the 45° chamfers making a 90° "edge" could use some work. I took the wedge out of the H beam (because I CAN) and put the angle grinder to the sides of the 45s.
Great improvement! Splitting is much smoother, requires less pressure and the log is less apt to "explode" apart once the split happens.
Here's a pic of a "test", the trunk is 25" dia. at the large end and 16" dia. at the small end.
Let's see if the lift can handle it.
Yup, boy is my back happy or what!
Let's see how she splits.
Success! that little log did not "explode" apart but just rolled off the out feed table and I wasn't about to catch both halves!
I got all of the junks split and stacked today, the electric starter seemed to quit but the pull cord only takes one pull.
When I stalled the engine on the last split of the day the ram was fully extended so after stacking and cleaning up a bit I went to pull start it to retract he ram and WHOA! cord would hardly pull and there were awful scraping noises.
Oh well the brand new 9 horse electric start engine is in the courier's hands and should be here tomorrow, Phew!
By the time I've drug the next tree outa the woods and junked it up the new engine should be installed and ready to go.
I decided that the 45° chamfers making a 90° "edge" could use some work. I took the wedge out of the H beam (because I CAN) and put the angle grinder to the sides of the 45s.
Great improvement! Splitting is much smoother, requires less pressure and the log is less apt to "explode" apart once the split happens.
Here's a pic of a "test", the trunk is 25" dia. at the large end and 16" dia. at the small end.
Let's see if the lift can handle it.
Yup, boy is my back happy or what!
Let's see how she splits.
Success! that little log did not "explode" apart but just rolled off the out feed table and I wasn't about to catch both halves!
I got all of the junks split and stacked today, the electric starter seemed to quit but the pull cord only takes one pull.
When I stalled the engine on the last split of the day the ram was fully extended so after stacking and cleaning up a bit I went to pull start it to retract he ram and WHOA! cord would hardly pull and there were awful scraping noises.
Oh well the brand new 9 horse electric start engine is in the courier's hands and should be here tomorrow, Phew!
By the time I've drug the next tree outa the woods and junked it up the new engine should be installed and ready to go.
Busy Bee 12-36 lathe, Busy Bee Mill drill, Busy Bee 4x6 bandsaw, Homemade 9x17 bandsaw, Ad infinitum.