Chopping wood manually is a difficult and tedious task, because even for heating small house You don’t need 5 or more cubic meters of firewood for the winter. So it's no surprise that people are looking for various options wood splitters that make this work easier. Next we will talk about:
- various types of wood splitters;
- their advantages and disadvantages;
- techniques for making a wood splitter with your own hands.
What types of wood splitters are there?
All homemade wood splitters can be divided according to the method of influencing the log, the principle of operation of the mechanism and the type of propulsion. According to the method of influencing the log, they can be divided into:
- down up,
- top down;
- horizontal;
- conical
The main difference between wood splitters is in the way they act on the log. Some press from above on the knives located below, others, on the contrary, press from below, and the knives stand on top. Both methods are the same in terms of effectiveness, so everyone chooses the method of influence that is easier for them to implement. Compared to vertical impact devices, horizontal wood splitters are slightly less efficient, but much easier to manufacture. In fact, this is the same vertical wood splitter, but laid horizontally. Separately, there are cone splitters, which do not chop, but tear the wood with a special screw. If you have a friend who is a turner or you know how to work on a metal lathe, then it will be easier for you to make such a wood splitter, especially since it effectively tears logs of any thickness, the main thing is to put the log on the table.
According to the principle of operation of the mechanism, they can be divided into:
- rack and pinion;
- hydraulic;
- kinetic.
Rack and pinion wood splitters operate on the principle of a rack and pinion gearbox - that is, a combination of a small gear and a rack. Their advantage is a huge working stroke, so even long logs can be split. The disadvantage of such devices is the need for an additional gearbox, because the gear ratio of a small gear and rack is not enough to generate the required pressure. Hydraulic wood splitters are made on the basis of a jack or hydraulic cylinder, therefore they create enormous pressure and are suitable for chopping logs of any diameter. Devices based on jacks are simpler and lighter, but can only act on the log vertically, from bottom to top. Devices based on a hydraulic cylinder do not have this drawback and can use any scheme for influencing the log, but are much more difficult to manufacture and configure. Kinetic devices are only suitable for top-down applications, and in most cases they work on muscular force. Therefore, their efficiency is low and they are not suitable for splitting thick (60 cm or more) logs.
Based on their energy source, wood splitters are divided into:
- manual;
- electrical;
- gasoline;
- diesel
TO hand-held devices we can include kinetic and jacking wood splitters, because they are driven by muscular force. All other units differ only in engine type. Electric ones are inexpensive, but they only work where there is an electrical network. Gasoline and diesel devices are noticeably more expensive due to the high cost of the engine, but such wood splitters can be used even where there is no electricity, for example, in the country.
How does a wood splitter work?
Understanding the principles of operation of a wood splitter will help you choose the right type of device. After all, one needs this unit to split thick and long logs, almost logs, while another needs to split small logs. In addition, ease of use and performance are important, as well as the number of operations that need to be performed to split one log.
The general principle of the action of most wood splitters, with the exception of those that tear wood with a screw, is the same. The log is placed between statically fixed knives and the apparatus is turned on. He presses the log against the knives and, thanks to the enormous pressure, splits it into individual firewood. A kinetic wood splitter works differently - in it, the knife is mounted on a lever with a spring that facilitates lifting, and the log is placed on a stationary platform. Due to the large mass of the lever, at the moment of impact, inertia turns into kinetic energy and splits the log.
How to choose a wood splitter model
First of all, you need to decide why you need a wood splitter. After all, for the pricking small quantity For thin logs, it is easiest to make a kinetic manual unit, but if you need to process 5 or more cubic meters of logs of varying thickness every year, then it is better to choose a different model. After this, you need to decide on the operating principle and available materials. If you have access to inexpensive or free jacks, or hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic pumps, then choose a hydraulic log splitter circuit. If you have access to various rack and pinion gearboxes, as well as pulleys different sizes and belts, then choose the rack and pinion version. If you don't have anything like that, then the best choice– a cone device, because making a cone and assembling any gearbox is easier than making a rack, a screw gearbox, or looking for a hydraulic cylinder with a hydraulic pump.
After this, decide on the energy source. Remember, if you want to use the unit not only at home, but also take it out to chop wood in other places, then you need to choose Gas engine. It costs not much more than an electric motor with a gearbox, runs on any gasoline and weighs little. A low-power diesel engine will cost 3–5 times more than a gasoline engine, will be 2–3 times heavier and is very picky about the quality of fuel. Therefore, it makes sense to install a diesel engine only on a complex device with a large number of functions, for example, a crane for loading large logs.
Wood splitter - diagrams, drawings, photos and instructions
Below we will provide drawings and photographs of several wood splitters that will help you understand their structure, as well as provide instructions for their manufacture. From them you can choose the option that best suits your conditions and capabilities. However, first we will divide the wood splitter into its components:
- log feeding system;
- log supply system drive;
- bed.
A knife is a device that splits wood. In most cases, this is a sharpened steel plate with a thickness of 10 mm or more. What is important for the knife is the reliability of its attachment to the frame and the ability to move from place to place in order to change the working length of the wood splitter and adjust it to the length of the log.
The log feeding system is the mechanisms and devices that move the log along the frame or otherwise place it on the knife. The feed system drive is the mechanisms and devices that connect the engine and the feed system, and also allow you to control the operation of the log feed system.
The bed is the support for the wood splitter, ensuring its stability in any conditions.
Knife
The knife can be of any shape, and its sharpening angle ranges from 40–90 degrees. It can consist of one plate or several, the main condition is the reliability of fastening to the frame, otherwise it will be torn out of place and it will not be possible to split the log. The more knife blades are attached to the frame, the finer it will chop the log, so sometimes a mold is made according to the maximum size of the log, in which the knives are placed so that they chop the log into firewood of the required size.
In this photo you see a knife with three blades - one vertical and two horizontal. The blades are connected by welding, the installation height of the horizontal knives is adjusted with a pin under the frame. Such a knife can be adjusted to the optimal size of firewood (lower part), and the upper firewood, if necessary, can be split again.
This type of knife does not split, but tears the wood. This is due to the cone shape and high torque. This knife easily splits the thickest logs, regardless of the type of wood.
A manual or kinetic wood splitter works like a regular splitting axe, that is, it splits wood using kinetic energy. Despite the fact that it is easier to work with them than swinging a cleaver, it is still very hard work, and the device itself has difficulty splitting logs over 50 cm thick.
Log feeding system
All feed systems are divided into two types - rack and pinion and hydraulic. Rack ones create less pressure, but are much easier to manufacture and return to their original position faster, so they can be used to split more logs in the same time. Hydraulic ones are more complex and more expensive, and also work a little slower (if you increase the motor power and install a more efficient pump, their operating speed will be comparable to rack-and-pinion ones), but they create much greater pressure, so they are better suited for splitting thick logs. Both types of log supply systems operate from any engine; in addition, jacking devices do not require an engine, but their operating speed is many times lower than conventional hydraulic ones.
This is the most expensive type of drive, because you will have to buy or otherwise obtain not only a hydraulic cylinder, but also a hydraulic pump with a control unit. These units can be removed from decommissioned dump trucks, bulldozers or some other equipment. In addition to the cost of purchasing units, you will have to spend money to pay for the services of a good hydraulics specialist who can set up the operation of these mechanisms.
In this wood splitter, the log is lifted by a regular car bottle jack, which is in the trunk of most drivers. Its only advantage is its low cost and simplicity of design, but it is hard and difficult to work with. After all, you will have to pump the jack with your foot and, having split the log, bend over to lower the jack using a special crane. In addition, this type of jack can only be used for splitting logs with an even cut.
Such a jack has all the disadvantages described above, except for the limitation on logs. Thanks to its horizontal position and clamps, it easily splits any logs. However, after splitting the log, you have to bend over and manually, using a special crane, lower the jack rod.
This type of feed mechanism provides enough pressure to split even large logs. In the inactive state, the rack rises slightly above the gear, so the latter rotates idle. When the rack is pressed against the gear, it begins to move forward and pushes the log in front of it. The length of the toothed part of the rack is chosen so that the pushing part of the entire device does not reach the knife slightly. When the toothed part of the rack passes further than the gear, the latter ceases to influence it, because there are no teeth on the smooth part, but due to contact with the last tooth, it does not allow the rack to return to its original position. To return the rack back, they stop pressing on it, so the vertical spring lifts the rack above the gear, and the horizontal spring returns the entire system to its original state.
In this picture you see how the return mechanism of the rack-and-pinion splitter, which we discussed above, is designed and works. Powerful return springs provide greater productivity of the wood splitter, because it quickly splits the log and returns to its original state even faster.
Feed system drive
Regardless of the type of motor used, a gearbox is necessary because the motor shaft speed is much higher than necessary and the torque is much less. The simplest and therefore popular type of gearbox is a belt drive. The transmission coefficient depends on the difference in the diameters of the pulleys on the motor and the wood splitter - the greater the difference in diameters, the more the gearbox reduces the rotation speed and increases the torque. Moreover, the larger the diameter of the pulley on a wood splitter, the higher the difference between the specific rotation speed and torque of this pulley and the same parameters of the wood splitter shaft. The result is a double conversion of torque and rotation speed.
bed
The frame has two purposes - to ensure the stability of the entire structure and to support the log so that it does not jump out or fall from the wood splitter. Therefore, I develop the frame based on the selected configuration of the device and the available units. A horizontal frame is, most often, a strong table (for a cone log splitter) or a beam (for all other types) on four legs. The frame has fastenings for knives, because they need to be periodically sharpened (we recommend doing this before the start of the wood chopping season), as well as changing the installation height for better splitting of large logs. The bed can be made mobile; in this case, instead of legs, two or four wheels with a locking system are installed.
If it is impossible to create a fixation system, then a good solution is lowering legs. They can be made either hydraulically or screw driven. This approach will not only eliminate the need to install brakes, but will also provide maximum stability on uneven surfaces. In addition, the frame can be hinged, designed for attachment to a truck, car or tractor. If the machine you are attaching the frame to has a hydraulic drive or power take-off shaft, then you can use its motor as a motor for a log splitter. This will reduce the cost of manufacturing the unit.
It is impossible to give clear instructions for assembling a wood splitter with your own hands, because such instructions imply access to the same components and tools. In addition, there are many videos on the Internet of creating wood splitters with your own hands, so we will only give general tips. Before developing the drawings of the wood splitter that you decide to make yourself, make a list of the equipment available to you. A lot of useful things can be found at collection points for ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as in storage areas for decommissioned equipment. To create any wood splitter you will need welding inverter and the ability to use it. If you don’t have such a device, then buy it; if you don’t know how to use it, learn. Without it, you will not be able to make a normal wood splitter.
If you decide to make a cone wood splitter, then be sure to take into account the direction of rotation of the engine, because it is necessary that the threads on the cone be cut in the direction of rotation. Otherwise, the cone will not screw into the wood and tear it. If you choose a belt drive, consider moving the motor to adjust the tension of the belts. If you got the hydraulic cylinder and other parts from a junkyard, ask the hydraulic specialist to check their condition and, if necessary, repair them. Remember - than simpler design wood splitter, the easier it is to make, while a simple rack-and-pinion wood splitter is in no way inferior to a complex and expensive hydraulic apparatus when chopping medium-sized logs. However, for chopping logs over 60 cm thick, it is advisable to use a cone or hydraulic apparatus, because a rack-and-pinion apparatus will not be able to create the necessary pressure.
Now you know how to make a wood splitter with your own hands, how to draw up drawings for it, and have also seen photos of actually working devices. In addition, you learned about the advantages and disadvantages various types and models of wood splitters, so you can choose the combination of this unit that is most suitable for your conditions. You have learned what is needed to draw up a diagram and drawing of the device, so you can design and create a wood splitter yourself.
Chopping wood is an extremely tedious process, fraught with danger and taking a lot of time and effort. That is why many people who have to regularly perform this work try to purchase a special wood splitter or even make one themselves. Of course, to assemble a wood splitter with your own hands, you need drawings, photos, and instructions. But in addition, you need to know which model to give preference to.
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What types of wood splitters are there?
So, before answering the question of how to make a wood splitter with your own hands, you need to decide which model is the best solution for a specific user. Today, the three most common options are:
- hydraulic;
- electric;
- manual (inertial).
Now let's look at each of these options in more detail, so that the potential user can choose the most suitable mechanism for splitting firewood.
Hydraulic
Perhaps exactly hydraulic wood splitter is the most popular. The fact is that it is he who has the greatest productivity.
When working with such equipment, you can easily and quickly cut almost any wood, including wet and durable wood.
The main element of this wood splitter is the hydraulic cylinder. A log is placed on it, after which the cylinder, under the pressure of the liquid, pushes the sharpened blade.
Thanks to the significant pressure, the work is completed in a second. High productivity allows you to chop a large amount of firewood in the shortest possible time.
Important! When choosing the material from which the blade will be made on a hand-assembled wood splitter, give preference to the hardest grades of steel so that you do not have to sharpen it often.
Alas, this type of equipment is the most difficult to manufacture. Therefore, to construct a hydraulic wood splitter with your own hands, drawings will not be enough - you also need to have considerable experience working with such mechanisms.
Electric wood splitter
A more budget-friendly option, which also does not require special forces - by observing certain safety precautions, even a ten-year-old child can successfully work with it. The operating principle is similar to hydraulic. However, here the blade does not split the log under the influence of a hydraulic mechanism. Here's the main one acting force is Electrical engine.
Thanks to more simple device, it costs much less. And it will be much easier to assemble it yourself (if you have the appropriate components).
Important! When installing an electric log splitter, choose a location on a slight hill and be sure to place a rubber mat under it to avoid shorting if the ground is wet after rain.
However, there are certain limitations. First, you need to have a source of electricity nearby. However, in most dachas and private houses this is not a problem. Second, make sure the wiring can handle the additional load. A wood splitter with a gearbox, either a homemade one or a factory one, is equipped with a fairly powerful engine, and if the wiring is too weak, this can lead to knocked out plugs.
Manual (inertial) wood splitter
The layout of this type of wood splitter is simple, which makes it a certain popularity. No engine is needed for manufacturing, and even a person who is not too accustomed to working with his hands can handle the assembly.
A blade is installed on a long, about one and a half meter, metal pipe. A log is fixed under it, on which a log is placed. After this, the user simply swings the main working part down.
Muscular force combined with inertia easily splits most logs that would be quite difficult to handle manually.
In some cases, the wood splitter is modified. For example, the working part is equipped with a spring at the bottom, the other end of which is fixed near the block. The user lifts the part with the blade manually, unbending the spring, and then abruptly releases it - under its weight and the tension of the spring, the blade delivers a strong blow, cutting even a problem log with knots.
You can also hang a small weight on the opposite end of the pipe - this will significantly facilitate the lifting process, although it will slightly reduce the impact power.
Finally, on metal pipe, in the area of the blade, you can hang additional weight. It will be harder to lift the blade, but the blow will be much stronger.
The advantage of a manual or inertial wood splitter is its simplicity, unpretentiousness and the ability to assemble from improvised means. But there is also a minus. You need to have a certain amount of physical strength to successfully chop enough wood. And this will take much more time than when working with a hydraulic or electrical device.
Which wood splitter to choose
The most common types of wood splitters are described above. They can be made by hand - some are simpler, others more difficult. But having a drawing, anyone can install a homemade wood splitter in their dacha.
It is very important to decide which device will be a good choice for you. After all, manufacturing will take a lot of effort, time, and money. Therefore, the possibility of error should be excluded.
Let's start with the hydraulic one. Its main advantage is high performance and ease of operation. But there is also a minus - it is complex; to create it you will need special equipment and certain skills that not every person has. Such equipment should be preferred in cases where the user will regularly work with a large amount of firewood.
The advantage of an electric wood splitter is its greater simplicity and power, which is not inferior to a hydraulic one. A very good solution for an ordinary summer resident - you can prepare several cubic meters of firewood with such an assistant without much difficulty. And in order to heat the bathhouse throughout the summer season, and during frosts to slightly heat the main living space, this will be quite enough.
Finally, a manual wood splitter. As already mentioned, it is simple. Almost everything you need can be found at a ferrous metal collection point, paying no more than a few hundred rubles for the necessary components, and sometimes much less. But to work productively with it, you need to have good physical fitness.
Although it is easier to chop wood with an inertial wood splitter than with a regular cleaver, it is still quite difficult. Therefore, it should be chosen only by people who have remarkable strength, but who are unwilling or unable to work as a cleaver. However, if you need to chop just a few logs into logs, without risking your health (inept handling of an ax often leads to serious danger) and without getting too tired, this solution will be successful.
Classification of wood splitters
In addition to those models that were described earlier, there are others. For example, with a cone-shaped cleaver. Very convenient solution, most often created on the basis of electrical equipment. Using any sufficiently powerful engine (suitable from a pump, motorcycle or even washing machine), high-quality equipment can be easily manufactured. The cone rotates at high speed - just bring the log to it and apply light pressure so that it splits along the fibers. There is no need to swing an ax - even an inexperienced user will take a matter of seconds to turn a heavy log into a pile of logs suitable for burning in a stove.
Drawing of a rack-and-pinion wood splitter.
Drawings of a rack-and-pinion wood splitter are also popular - many users want to make one with their own hands. Why is he interesting? In general, it is similar to a conventional hydraulic one. There is only one difference here. If in most wood splitters a blade is driven into a log, then on a rack splitter it’s the opposite - the log splits on the blade. To do this, a blade is installed on a suitable platform (usually made of thick sheet metal). A block of wood is placed in front of it, on which the moving part of the wood splitter presses. In a second, a thick, weighty log splits in half, then into four parts, and so on.
A simple mechanism for chopping firewood from scrap materials
Our people are distinguished by their ingenuity and love for non-standard solutions. Therefore, many craftsmen make a mechanical wood splitter with their own hands. It consists of a frame with a knife attached on one side and a tight spring on the other. A block of wood is placed on the frame (usually not very large so that it can be easily split in one go), after which the spring is tightened. This is done either manually or using a special gate. Then the spring is suddenly released. She delivers a strong blow to the log, which splits on the knife. The mechanism is simple, but at the same time reliable, effective and does not require much physical strength.
How to make a manual wood splitter with your own hands
Let's start with the simplest option - we'll tell you how to make a manual wood splitter at home. In fact, it’s not even a wood splitter, but a simple device that simplifies the process of chopping wood and makes it safer.
To do this you will need:
- thick a metal sheet(7-10 mm thick) size 150x600 mm – future blade;
- metal plate 5 mm thick and 300x300 mm in size - base;
- metal rod (the cross-section can be either round or square, but not less than 20 mm) - about 3 meters.
Now let's start assembling. The scheme of a homemade wood splitter is as simple as possible. The thick sheet is cut into pieces: one 150x300 and two 150x150 millimeters. They are sharpened on one side and welded to a metal base in the shape of a cross.
The rod is cut into two parts: 1 and 2 meters. The first is welded to the base from the side, strictly perpendicular. The second is bent into a circle and welded to the first at a height of 30 cm.
That's all, the design is ready. Now insert the log into the ring formed by the rod, resting it against the sharpened cross, and strike it from above with a sledgehammer - it will split into four neat parts.
How to make a spring log splitter step by step
If you want to make a spring cleaver with your own hands, you don’t need drawings - the diagram here is as simple as possible. You only need a few details:
- metal corners;
- two pieces of channel;
- powerful spring (you can spring from passenger car);
- a plate that acts as a knife (you can use an old cleaver);
- hinge joint;
- a piece of pipe whose diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the spring;
- weighting material
When you have everything you need, you can start assembling:
- Using one channel as a base, weld a second one perpendicular to it.
- Prepare a site for installing the spring.
- Weld the pipe and spacers (corners) onto the base.
- Using a grinder, make a cutout on the beam through which the structure will be attached to the base.
- Weld the beam.
- Hang the beam with the hinge assembly onto the support.
- Install the spring.
- Fix the boulder on the moving beam.
- Weld the weighting material on top of the boulder.
The structure is ready - you can paint it to protect it from rust.
Carrot wood splitter
This is the popular nickname for a wood splitter that uses a screw to split wood. Here the design is more complicated - to assemble a screw wood splitter with your own hands, you will need drawings, photos, and instructions. Before you begin, prepare:
- the engine is quite powerful and provides a rotation speed of 200-250 rpm;
- cone with screw thread with a diameter of 5-6 cm and a length of 20-22 cm;
- two rotation supports;
- chain;
- shaft 30 cm long and 3 cm thick.
Drawing of a carrot wood splitter.
Problems usually arise when searching for a cone - the easiest way is to order it from turners or buy it in a store; it is not too expensive. Now get started:
- Install the shaft onto the bearing and weld the flange at the back.
- Place the cone on the shaft and secure it.
- Weld the supports to the bearing to secure the structure to the table.
- Make a spacer between the engine and the shaft - use it to tension the chain.
- Place the structure on the table, fix and tension the chain between the flange and the motor.
If you use an electric motor, do not forget to protect the structure from moisture, and if possible, ground it.
How to make a hydraulic wood splitter
The hydraulic wood splitter is the most complex. Typically, the engine is a gasoline engine from a car or motorcycle. It’s worth warning right away - its creation will not be cheap. But the comfort of work and productivity fully compensate for the costs. So, what do you need to assemble a gasoline wood splitter with your own hands? , and how much will it cost?
- Engine with 12-14 horsepower - 14,000.
- Hydraulic distributor – 3500.
- Hydraulic cylinder 100x40x61 – 10500.
- NSh32 – 1500.
- Drive NSh – 4000.
- Hubs from a VAZ 1500 car.
- Engine pulley – 1000.
- V-belts – 900.
- 40 liters of hydraulic oil – 2500.
- Couplings and high pressure hoses – 2500.
- Flanges for NSh – 400.
- Metal plate – 1000.
- Metal profile – 4000.
- Fastening material – 700.
- Engine oil - 400.
- Rubber hose and clamps – 300.
- Paint – 600.
- 2 kg of electrodes f4mm and 5 kg f3mm – 1000.
- Wheels for an angle grinder (regular and clearing) – 700.
- Brush for applying paint – 100.
In total, you will have to pay about 51 thousand rubles, and maybe more. If you have purchased all the necessary elements, you can get to work.
Assembling the frame
The assembly proceeds as follows:
- Weld a 30x30 mm corner - a hub - to a 50 mm pipe. You should get two triangles.
- On the front axle, made from a 60x60 mm corner, weld spacers from a 30x30 mm corner.
- Attach the wheels to the axle.
- Weld a base onto the rear axle on which you will place the engine.
- Weld a strong channel frame.
- Assemble a movable structure from 80 mm channel.
- Weld a triangular platform from a channel that pushes the log onto the knife.
- To prevent the log from falling, secure stops on both sides of the platform.
How to make a splitting knife
A good cleaver is the basis for comfortable and safe work. A piece of Kamaz spring will do. Fortunately, its manufacture is a relatively simple procedure - to make a firewood splitter with your own hands, you don’t need drawings. But you can’t do without tools - you’ll need a sharpening machine.
Sharpen the metal - the angle should be 60-70 degrees. Weld the knife onto the bed.
How to assemble the motor and oil tank
You can use an empty propane tank as an oil tank. The work is as follows:
- Fill the balloon with water.
- Without pouring out the water, cut off the valve using a grinder.
- Create a sump - separate a quarter of the volume of the cylinder by installing a steel partition at least 10 cm high.
- Install a filter mesh equipped with a magnet 5 cm from the bottom. The filter will retain chips, increasing engine life.
- Weld the pipe - oil will flow through it into the pump. The fence should not reach the very bottom so that the pump does not suck up debris.
- Place the tank just above the pump using a level
How to make a wood splitter mobile
Do you want to be able to easily and quickly move a homemade wood splitter, made by yourself, that weighs a hundredweight or even more?
Equip it with small wheels, for example, from a garden wheelbarrow.
The most careful users also install brakes on the wheels.
But you can use several bricks to keep the structure securely in place.
What is the difference between a homemade wood splitter and a factory model?
The main difference is the cost. Even if you decide to make a hydraulic wood splitter, for the components for which you will pay about 50 thousand rubles, you will still save a lot. After all, the cost of a factory one starts at 100 thousand. There is no need to talk about screw or manual ones - they will cost several hundred or thousand rubles, because everything you need is available in many farms or can be purchased quite inexpensively.
Now you have a good understanding of the types of wood splitters and can easily make the right one.
Swinging an ax over a huge pile of firewood, you can’t help but think about how to make this hard labor easier.
A chainsaw is not an assistant here, since it is designed for cross-cutting wood. Only in hopeless situation with its help you can loosen a board or timber. A thick wedge and a heavy hammer will help split a particularly hard and thick log, but this work cannot be called productive.
A screw firewood splitter - a simple and reliable device - will help you combine high speed wood chopping with minimal physical effort. Its operating principle is based on the ingeniously simple combination of a screw and a wedge.
An ordinary screw can be easily screwed into wood, but can only slightly push its fibers apart. But when a double-start persistent thread is applied to a steel cone, the desired result is achieved.
Expert advice! It is important to pay attention to the type of thread: a persistent two-start thread is required; if you use a single-start thread, you will have to forcefully push the block onto the carrot cone. Ask your sellers for a two-start thrust thread. Otherwise, when using a single-start thread, you will have to force the logs onto the screw cone with great effort!
Only the two-way cone is easily screwed into the log and, due to its wedge-shaped shape and persistent thread, splits it into two parts.
There are two main design diagrams cone splitters. In the first, the screw cone is installed directly on the shaft of a low-speed electric motor with a power of 3-5 kW (speed no more than 500).
Another option is realized through the use of double-strand pulleys different diameters and flexible drive belts. A small pulley is placed on the shaft of the electric motor, and a large pulley is placed on the shaft of the wood splitter screw.
The ratio of their diameters is selected so as to reduce the propeller speed compared to the engine speed by 2.5 - 4 times to 300-400 rpm.
The rotation speed of the cone screw can be reduced using a gear motor - a single unit in which the electric motor is structurally connected to a reduction gear. However, such models are not widely used in the market of screw axes.
Those who want to make such a machine with their own hands should remember that the high speed of rotation of the screw cone (more than 500 rpm) increases the risk of injury, since in this case it is difficult to hold the log in your hands.
In order to reduce the risk of injury to the machine, a stationary steel wedge is placed under the screw cone, which protects the log from jumping off.
Main types of screw wood splitters
Manufacturers produce household cone splitters in both stationary and mobile versions. In the latter case, the frame is equipped with an axle with two wheels, thanks to which the machine can be freely moved to the place of chopping wood.
According to the type of drive, screw cleavers are divided into electric and gasoline. In addition, industrial-type models are produced, driven by a tractor power take-off shaft (PTO).
Electric wood splitters can operate from either a single-phase or three-phase network. However, installing three phases on your site is quite an expensive undertaking, so owners of country houses choose less powerful, but more practical single-phase models.
When choosing a wood splitter screw, pay attention to the type of cone thread. Metric thread It wears out faster and when working with such a cone, there is a high probability of the log jumping off. The best option is a persistent thread, which fits better into the chock and lasts longer.
Estimated prices for screw-type wood splitters range from 16,000 to 38,000 rubles. The type of engine (220 V, 380 V, gasoline) has a significant impact on the price. Fully autonomous machine equipped with engine internal combustion, costs on average 10-15% more than an electric one.
Making a wood splitter-screw yourself
The simplicity of the design and impressive performance are strong arguments for making such a machine yourself.
The most important part - a screw cone for a wood splitter - can be purchased at a specialized tool store or ordered from a turning shop. The cost of screws depends on the diameter (80-100 mm) and ranges from 1500 to 5000 rubles.
If you don’t want to search for pulleys and make a shaft yourself, then buy a ready-made wood splitter unit. It consists of a screw cone (carrot), a shaft with bearings and a double-groove pulley with a diameter of 200 mm. The approximate price of such a kit ranges from 3200 to 5600 rubles.
This solution will make it much easier and faster to make a screw wood splitter with your own hands. All you have to do is draw a drawing of the machine, indicate the dimensions of the work table, the design of the frame, the mounting points for the engine and the wood splitter unit.
From exotic options for homemade wood splitters should be called the installation of a small screw cone with a diameter of 30 mm on the shaft of a hammer drill or a powerful low-speed drill (1.5 kW, at 500-600 rpm).
However, this simple homemade wood splitter cannot be called universal and very effective in operation. The maximum thickness of a split log with a wood splitter does not exceed 10-12 cm.
When the screw is deepened into the chock, it develops a powerful torque, so it is quite difficult to keep it from turning with your hands. This problem can be eliminated by permanently mounting the hammer drill on a workbench.
Considering the possibility self-made screw for a wood splitter, it should be said that only experienced turners can do this work. There are stories circulating online that it is possible to sharpen a cone with a grinder, but they cannot be classified as serious advice.
The manufacturing accuracy of the thrust thread must be high, so no grinder can replace a good lathe and a quality cutter.
When ordering a cone screw for a wood splitter, leave the turner not only a detailed sketch, but also parameters tested by craftsmen in practice: taper 1:2, double thread, pitch 5-6mm. The thread tooth profile should be the same as that of a wood screw.
Craftsmen who worked on homemade screw wood splitters write in their reviews that this process requires great care. You only need to serve logs with bare hands. The mitten can easily be twisted onto the screw, which can seriously injure your fingers.
When splitting logs with large knots and logs from the butt part of the log, you need to be especially careful, since the screw often gets stuck in them and is difficult to remove if the engine does not have a reverse.
Useful video
Reading time ≈ 11 minutes
Many families, even in the 21st century, have to heat their homes with wood in solid fuel boilers or hobs, and their preparation is a rather labor-intensive process. But to make your life easier, you can buy or make a homemade mechanical wood splitter with your own hands. Considering the fact that the first option will require considerable financial costs, we will focus on the second and consider several options.
Working with a mechanical wood splitter
What type of wood splitter can you make yourself?
Mechanical wood splitter
All wood splitters can be divided into at least two main types, but they also have subspecies. This entire classification of mechanisms is related to the type of drive.
The wood splitter can be mechanical, divided into:
- device with simple mechanics;
- with spring drive;
- inertial vertical mechanism.
To make work easier, you can install an electric drive on it and at the same time it will:
- cone or screw wood splitter;
- with one electric motor or complete with gearbox;
- There are also hydraulic wood splitters, and although they are the most complex in design, they still have a place when harvesting firewood.
Mechanical devices
The easiest way is to make a homemade mechanical wood splitter with your own hands, since the design of all its subtypes is as simple as possible and does not require large expenses, even if there are no suitable parts on the farm. But such a device has the greatest efficiency only for small needs for firewood, for example, for heating country house or dachas.
A device with simple mechanics
The simplest mechanical device
A simple mechanism like the one in the photo above is the easiest to assemble, and all the component materials will most likely be found in household. It can be round or profile pipe, a metal corner, and if there is not enough length, you can weld different profiles into one. An ax or a cleaver is excellent as a cutter - they can always be found in any home with stove heating. The device can be collapsible and can be easily moved from place to place.
The assembly method here is extremely simple: the rod with the cutter is installed on a vertical rail with a base in the form of a frame made of any metal profile, but so that it moves freely. For this, bearings are not even necessary - the moving unit can consist of two welded ears (with holes) on a stand and a metal finger, which will simultaneously serve as a shaft for rotating the arm with a cleaver and fastening.
The problem here is that such a wood splitter has a lot of negative qualities. Firstly, the handle on which the cutter (cleaver or ax) is fixed should be as long as possible, so that less effort is required when chopping wood; therefore, the device will require a lot of space. Secondly, even with a long handle you will have to put in a lot of effort. But, be that as it may, even such primitive mechanics will significantly reduce the complexity of the procurement process.
Note. To make the handle shorter, you can weld the cutter to a thick round or profile pipe, and then fill it with concrete. But the problem is that such a design will be heavy (the handle itself) and this will not make your work much easier.
Mechanical spring device
Spring log splitter
With a little modification of the mechanics, it is possible to make a spring-loaded wood splitter, which will require significantly less human muscular load. In fact, the assembly principle will not change here and the same mechanics will remain, except that you will have to weld a shelf on the rack to support the spring. The spring must be made of tool steel so that it does not deform when compressed.
If you take into account that the shoulder becomes heavy, then it is not difficult to strike a block of wood - much more effort has to be applied after splitting the deck, since there will be recoil from the spring. Therefore, special attention must be paid to the choice of spring here - to make it easier to lower the lever down and easier to hold during recoil. In addition, you need to take into account the physical strength of the person who will chop the wood, as well as the length and knotiness of the log.
Note. To articulate the lever with the stand, it is best to use bearings - this will greatly facilitate the work.
Schematic diagram of a spring device
In the diagram above, you see the principle of operation of a spring mechanical wood splitter. Now let's talk about the most optimal sizes of such a device. The minimum height of such a device should be at least 80 cm, but if the person who will use it is tall, then 80 cm will not be enough. The distance from the stand to the cleaver should be about 100-150 cm, and this is not counting the width of the cutter itself and the handle, that is, this is the length of the shoulder. To facilitate work on the cleaver, a metal blank or pipe with concrete poured into it is welded, so that the result is 10-20 kg. An addition to the mass of the blank can be a cleaver if you make it yourself from a large sledgehammer.
Advice. To make it easier to move a spring wood splitter from place to place, an axle with wheels can be welded on one side of the support frame, and racks can be welded on the other to support and level the frame.
Video: using a spring log splitter
Inertial vertical mechanism
Inertial vertical wood splitter
Very simple option can also be called an inertial vertical wood splitter, which is quite easy to make with your own hands. To make such a device, you will need two pipes, where the outer diameter of one is about a millimeter smaller than the inner diameter (DN) of the other. As a base, you can use a thick sheet of steel (10-12 mm) or weld a frame from a metal profile (can be tubular). And the most basic element, of course, is a cutter made from an axe, a cleaver, or turned from tool steel.
Simplified sketch of an inertial cleaver
Now let's figure out how to make such a device and how it works. First of all, a rack and pinion guide is welded to the bed or frame in a vertical position about a meter high. To do this, you can use a round or profile pipe, the main thing is to fix it well from the bottom and for this it is best to use stiffening ribs on four sides. Then the cleaver is welded to a tubular profile of a slightly larger cross-section so that the cutter can be freely put on the riser, as shown in the drawing.
To split the deck, the cutter is simply raised on the riser, and by the force of its gravity it falls onto the block. But the log does not always split the first time - it depends on the density of the wood, the length of the log, knotiness, and so on. In such cases, the butt of the cleaver is hit with a log or even a small sledgehammer. You can, of course, raise the piece of wood together with the cutter and lower it again, but the first option is easier physically.
Electrically driven devices
The installation of an electric drive on the wood splitter will make the work of collecting firewood even easier. But in this case, making the tool will be more complicated and school knowledge about electricity will not be enough. The fact is that for such devices, it is best to connect the motor through a starter, and also provide it with a control panel so that it can be turned off at any time - this is fully consistent with safety instructions and common sense in particular.
Cone or screw splitter
Homemade cone splitter
Of course, making a homemade mechanical wood splitter with your own hands is much easier, but if you add an electric drive to it... but don’t rush to conclusions. Such devices are an electric motor with a smooth or helical cone on the edge of the shaft - this is their only difference. Here the deck splits not due to the impact, but due to the fact that the cone rotated by the engine digs into it. You can start chopping at the edges (for large logs) or from the center.
Cone and thread
Drawing of a screw cone with dimensions in mm
As you probably already guessed, it is much easier to work with a screw cone, as in the drawing and below, than with a smooth one, since in the latter case much more effort is spent on pressing. If there is a thread on the cone, then the wood twists and splits on it, even when there are a lot of knots, and you hardly have to make any effort. But, nevertheless, the operating principles of any type of cone log splitter are exactly the same.
Screw cone nozzles of different diameters
To make a good machine, it is very important to properly turn the cone and cut the thread on it. If you have a lathe at home along with experience working on it, then you can make this part yourself, but if you don’t have this, you will have to order it from a turner. The thread may be different, especially if the person cutting it does not have experience in working with such wood splitters. But there are those who have this experience and they claim:
- minimum mounting depth on the gearbox – 70 mm;
- pitch – 7 mm;
- thread depth – 2-3 mm.
Electric motor and gearbox
The motor and gearbox are attached to the workbench
The electric motor is presented here special requirements: it needs to have a power of at least 2 kW, but the speed should be low, from 250 to 500 rpm. The thing is that at lower speeds the working process will be very slow, and at higher speeds it will be dangerous. So if you find a motor with these parameters, you can place the screw directly on its shaft.
Sometimes you have to use a gearbox
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to find an electric motor with the necessary parameters, in any case, with the right amount rpm In such situations, you will have to purchase a reduction gearbox if the speed is higher than normal, or an increase gearbox if there are few. But it is most convenient in such situations to use a pulley and a belt drive instead of an overdrive or reduction gearbox. The larger the diameter of the pulley on the gearbox, the lower the speed and vice versa.
To correctly calculate the number of gearbox revolutions, you can resort to simple arithmetic. For example, you purchased an electric motor with a speed of 900 rpm and here you can resort to the 1/2 system. That is, you install a pulley on the gearbox shaft that is twice the diameter of the pulley on the electric motor shaft, and as a result you get a speed of 450 rpm. But the transmission can be not only belt, but chain - in the second situation, gears are installed instead of pulleys.
Perhaps someone will have a question about where the electric motor should be located. In this case, the table must be made with an additional lower tabletop or at least a shelf. The height of the upper tabletop is determined by the height of the person who will work there, but not less than 80 cm. The cone above the working surface should be at a distance of 8-12 cm, although as an exception 20 cm is allowed, but not a centimeter more - this will not allow splitting short logs .
Video: working with a smooth cone
Hydraulic wood splitter
Hydraulic driven device
The hydraulic wood splitter can be called the most powerful among all existing analogues. To assemble such a unit you will need:
- electric motor;
- bed;
- cutting knife;
- powerful hydraulic cylinder:
- oil tank;
- pump.
Note. All these components are very expensive and such an assembly only makes sense if you prepare firewood at a professional level.
Hydraulic mechanism diagram
This type of wood splitter works on the principle of a press and develops very high power. In this regard, the knife must be made of tool steel with a thickness of 6-10 mm (this parameter depends on the power of the drive mechanism). Often the knife is made like an asterisk, which allows you to split a log into 4 or even 8 parts in one go. You can watch one of the ways to make a hydraulic wood splitter at home in the video below.
Video: the knife is designed for chopping into 8 parts
Conclusion
Whether you will assemble a homemade mechanical wood splitter with your own hands or equip it with an electric drive depends primarily on the amount of firewood being harvested. But, be that as it may, any of these mechanisms will make your life easier.
Whatever the device is called: a wood splitter or a hydraulic wood splitter, its essence is the same. The main element that determines power and performance is the engine. In everyday life, many people have enough force of the device equal to 3–5 tons. More powerful wood splitters are already purchased for industrial purposes; they are capable of working with longer and thicker logs.
The average stroke is limited to 52 cm.
Those cleavers that are powered by an electric motor can be connected to a 220 or 280V network.
What does a wood splitter consist of?
A do-it-yourself hydraulic wood splitter includes the following parts:
- bed ;
- emphasis;
- cylinder;
- wedge blade;
- pump;
- pressure distributor for fluid supply and return;
- oil filling tank;
- an electric motor driving the pump.
The hydraulic log splitter circuit is the same for both the vertical and horizontal versions. Only in vertical version, instead of the heel, a cutting device is placed. And there can be any improvements to it, whatever your imagination allows.
How the device works
Conventional wood splitters often break down, because even with a small cylinder diameter of 9–10 cm, a voltage of up to 10 tons is created in it, while the electric motor continues to work and rotate the device, even if the log does not want to split. In a hydraulic log splitter, there is a smooth, gradual increase in force; if there is a lack of force, the cylinder will simply stop rotating, and even with further rotation of the oil pump, no breakdown will occur.
Hydraulic cleaver "Gorynych"
One of the most popular cleavers on the market is “Gorynych”. Speed is the main feature of this hydro splitter. Today it has no competitors. The reliability shown over previous years of operation breaks all records. Over the 9 years of existence of the Gorynych cleaver, more than 18 thousand m3 of forest were processed. And at the same time, not a single unit became unusable. And you can work with it both at +30 and at -30 - the engine, pump, distributor and hydraulic cylinder do an excellent job with any job at any time of the year. The technology is patented.
Wood splitter "Gorynych" 6T and its technical characteristics.
Main achievements:
- One cycle takes 2.5 seconds.
- It has unique parts and assembly that allows it to work at any temperature.
- Knife made of hardened iron. It is extremely difficult to blunt it.
- All parts are repairable.
- The structure is covered special composition, which makes the structure resistant to external natural influences.
Video of Gorynych’s work:
Indicators of such a wood splitter:
- 25 logs were split in 3 minutes.
- For 1 hour – 500 chocks.
- If we take a workpiece with an average diameter of 20 cm and a length of 40, then we get 6.28 m3/hour
Prices
Considering many positive factors and reviews, prices for Gorynych are not very high. It won’t be much cheaper to assemble a homemade wood splitter. Please review the estimate below.
The cost is average and may vary depending on the store and region.
Prices start from 100,000 rubles. Some little-known and low-power units can be found cheaper. The maximum price is 250,000 rubles. But for household needs models up to 150,000 rubles will be available, these include Gorynych 6T and Gorynych 220. The latest model is electric.
Making a hydraulic splitter for firewood is not difficult. The main snag is in its hydraulic part, circuit, connection methods and calculation of components, which we will consider.
We will not consider in detail the structure of the body, work table, wedge, transportation capabilities and similar functions, for the simple reason that they mainly depend on the imagination and needs of a particular master. They do not affect the main task of the cleaver in any way. But we will still provide a number of general recommendations below.
The minimum that a simple hydraulic wood splitter can consist of is:
- hydraulic pump;
- hydraulic pump drive (engine);
- hydraulic distributor;
- hydraulic tank;
- hydraulic cylinder;
- sleeves;
- connecting elements.
Before constructing a homemade hydraulic splitter, you need to decide on its power, namely, how much hydraulic cylinder force is required. An error at this stage leads to the fact that the drive power may not be enough. Accordingly, the engine will jam on knotty wood or large logs.
Acquainted with hydraulic circuit a simple wood splitter can be seen in the photo. It includes a minimum of components. It is worth paying attention to the presence of its own safety valve at the hydraulic distributor. Its presence will not help in any way to improve or simplify the main task of the device, but it always needs to be installed.
If the distributor does not have one, then an independent valve must be installed in the system.
You can also use the hydraulic system calculation calculator: http://gik43.ru/articles/raschet_gidrotsilindra.html
It is necessary to clearly understand the rule of the inverse relationship between the performance of the hydraulic system and the drive power required for this. With such a calculation in this scheme, you always have to sacrifice the speed of the hydraulic cylinder in favor of lower engine power. But this is not always suitable. The industry requires a combination of high cycle speed and low power consumption. In this case, a unique type of load will help: large idling hydraulic cylinder and short loaded mode. Here you need to divide the flows to the hydraulic cylinder according to performance depending on the operating mode.
The diagrams below solve a similar problem. 2 pumps with different volumes from one drive or a double pump with different volume sections are used. For example, pumps NSh32 and NSh10 are presented.
To reduce noise, you can install a muffler from a moped.
You can also remove the engine speed lever and install a pressure control device.
Example of a foot splitter
Now let’s look at an example when you don’t want to pay for electricity and for gasoline or other fuel, but you want some simple hydraulic splitter. How to make everything work from human power? It's actually simple.
You can see how this works in life in the video:
Materials and tools for assembly:
- hydraulic jack;
- profile pipe 40x50;
- corners;
- steel plates 6-8 mm thick;
- rubber band;
- a piece of metal at least 30 mm thick (to create a wedge that will split the wood);
- M12 bolts;
- welding, grinder, measuring tool, drill and more.
Manufacturing process
Step 1. Making the frame.
The base is a profile pipe with a diameter of 40x50 mm. But she can’t cope alone and may bend. There is option 2. Either we take a thicker pipe, or we strengthen the existing one. Everything is clear with the first option, but how to do the second can be seen in the photo. A simple farm is being made. 
We weld the guide to the platform. Watch the quality of the seams, they must be High Quality and reliable. On reverse side weld the scarf.
To make a slider you need to use a corner. We cut into the required lengths and weld. The main task is to make it slide freely along the guide, but make sure that there are no strong backlashes. To strengthen the place where the hydraulic jack rod will subsequently rest, the bevel of the plate is welded.
Step 2. Making the base for the jack.
A hydraulic jack with a lifting power of 10 tons is required. But you can choose a lower power, for example, 6 tons also copes quite well. But it is necessary to prepare a good support. To do this, take strips of metal 6–8 mm thick and weld them under the heel of the jack.
Step 3. Handle.
As planned, the jack is powered by the foot, so the handle has to be modernized. To do this, we simply weld the parts to obtain the necessary bend that is comfortable for the leg. You can also weld a special pedal to prevent your foot from slipping. To return the handle to its original position, you can use a spring. But the author took a more complicated route and welded the roller and tied a tourniquet to the handle.
Step 4. Knife.
The cutting part is made of steel of at least 3 mm. We sharpen it in the form of a wedge. For fastening to the guide we use M12 screws. Screws required periodic inspection.
Photo of a wood chopping knife At this point, the foot press for chopping wood is ready. Its main advantage is that it does not require many resources, all suitable material can be found in the garage. Source http://www.sense-life.com/hands/drovokol.php
Photos of hydraulic wood splitters
How to make a hydrosplitting knife
As described above, to make a knife for a wood splitter with your own hands, you need to take at least 3 mm of metal. Also suitable I-beam. Some craftsmen even make it from metal with a thickness of 12 to 20 mm. The main thing is to sharpen it well.
Video about what an 8-piece splitter looks like.
Approximate costs for self-production
It is worth noting that all costs are individual, since everyone different designs and the availability of original material. Therefore, we provide an approximate estimate of how much it will cost to make a cleaver. All figures are presented in Russian rubles.
- Engine Lifan 13 l. With. - 14,300;
- Hydraulic cylinder 100/40/61 - 10 420;
- Hydraulic distributor - 3 510;
- NSh32 - 1,610;
- NSh drive from MAZ - 3,960;
- Hubs with wheels from VAZ - 1,500;
- Pulley for engine - 1,000;
- V-belts - 830;
- Hydraulic oil 40l. - 2 600;
- RVD + couplings - 2,500;
- Flanges for NSh - 440;
- Metal for knives - 1,000;
- Metal for everything else - 4,000;
- Bolts, nuts, washers, etc. - 640;
- Engine oil - 380;
- Rubber hose + clamps -300;
- Paint - 630;
- Electrodes f4mm - 2 kg and f3mm - 5 kg - 1,050;
- Discs for grinders 230-12 pcs. 230- 1 stripper 125- 1 stripper + 3 regular - 700;
- Paint brushes - 100.
Total: 51,470 rub.
To this we must also add unforeseen expenses (the drill is broken or the part is defective and you have to buy a new one). Plus your time, effort, nerves.
As a result, the price is not small, so maybe it’s worth thinking about and is it easier to buy a ready-made hydrosplitter with a guarantee?
When assembling or designing, someone may find the data from the Logsplit 100 machine data sheet useful.
Wood splitter for tractor
Basically it is more suitable for business. Since the productivity of such a system is significantly higher than domestic needs.
There are two types.
- Suspended from the tractor
- Stationary, connected to the hydraulic system.
For those who understand, the diagrams above helped to make such a device yourself.
It is worth considering that the tractor power required is from 20 hp. With.
And here’s how a wood splitter made on the basis of MTZ-82 works.
Here's another option: vertical hydraulic wood splitter Dragon:
