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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 a round or profile pipe, metal corner Moreover, if there is a lack of 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 to the mechanics, you can do spring 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, the choice of spring here must be given Special attention– 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 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 below 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 Electrical engine 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 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 at home lathe together 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 work 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. One of the manufacturing methods hydraulic wood splitter at home you can watch 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.
Nowadays, stove heating is gradually becoming a thing of the past. Most private houses, as well as apartments, have radiators; in addition, they are used to heat the room. electric convectors. However, many summer residents and rural residents are in no hurry to part with Russian stoves. Well-made stoves have many advantages: they provide a lot of heat, you can cook delicious dishes in the stove and make homebaked bread. And if there is a stove in the house, then you need to prepare firewood for future use.
Of course, you can buy firewood through advertisements in local newspapers. Usually there are many such advertisements, but heating material manufacturers often deceive customers by offering low-quality products at a high price. Therefore, most lovers stove heating prefer prepare firewood yourself. In Rus', chopping wood was traditionally considered men's work. But if the chopping device is convenient and not heavy in weight, a woman or teenager can do this job just fine. Easiest to work with using a DIY cleaver made at home.
Why is it worth making a cleaver?
A cleaver is the simplest device for splitting firewood. Of course, you can purchase such an ax in a specialized store or order it on a thematic Internet site. However, the cost of such devices industrial production sometimes it reaches twenty thousand rubles. It makes sense to buy such things only if a lot of firewood is used to heat the room. If we're talking about For a small house in which a family of three or four people lives, buying such a “gadget” is unprofitable. It’s much easier to make a cleaver with your own hands, and here’s why:
The simplest hand-made cleaver looks about the same as an ordinary ax, but with a small feature.
Ax making process
The little “secret” of a hand-made cleaver is that its center of gravity is shifted. A cleaver with a “secret” is an ax with a curved wooden stick neatly built into the blade. During chopping, this stick plays the role of a lever and helps split logs without exerting any effort. special effort. Thanks to the shifted center of gravity, the force that the woodcutter puts into the blow increases several times. In order to make a device for chopping wood with your own hands, you will need:
First, the handle is turned on a lathe; the master can adjust the length “to suit himself.” It is not recommended to make the handle too short, as it will be inconvenient to work. If the handle is too long, this will reduce the force put into the blow. Perfect option - measure the handle length of a standard ax industrial production and adhere to this length (with minor errors in one direction or another, taking into account the physical build of the person who will chop the wood). If the woodcutter Long hands, the handle may be slightly shorter than normal. And, conversely, for a person with short limbs it is better to lengthen it a little.
The second stage of work is manufacturing, sharpening and as securely as possible attaching the blade to the handle. Next, the center of gravity of the cleaver shifts; for this purpose, a long curved stick is carefully built into the blade. After this, the homemade cleaver is ready for use.
How to chop wood correctly
Many summer residents chop firewood by placing a log on the ground, but experienced woodcutters categorically do not recommend doing this, and here’s why:
- This is dangerous because you can hit your leg with an ax and get seriously injured.
- This is inconvenient because the woodcutter has to bend low. It is especially difficult for obese people to bend over.
- This has a bad effect on the quality of firewood, since a log lying on the ground instantly becomes damp.
It is best to use a special one for splitting metal structure, resembling a machine in its shape. In the middle of the machine there is a groove in which the log is placed: here it is securely fixed and does not jump out. When the log, or “block,” lies flat in its place, the woodcutter takes the cleaver and raises it up to strike and with a sharp movement lowers it onto the log. If the blow is made correctly, the block splits into pieces. The main thing is to correctly calculate the impact force, then these parts will turn out smooth and neat, but this comes with experience.
You should never lift the cleaver too high, because the impact force will not increase, but, on the contrary, will weaken. Also, you should not swing the ax before making a blow: the woodcutter does not need to waste extra energy.
Storing logs
When all the firewood is split, they need to be put in a woodpile. Common mistake many summer residents and rural residents is that they dump ready-made firewood in a pile. This cannot be done, because a shaky structure can quickly fall apart if at least one log lies poorly. But the most important thing is that firewood piled up does not dry well, which means it can become infected with fungus and mold.
You need to stack firewood carefully, in much the same way as children, when playing, stack construction blocks. Logs, beautifully stacked in a woodpile, look impressive and produce pleasant impression on neighbors in the country. They are also convenient to take out when you need to bring a few logs home. Firewood should only be stored under a special canopy to prevent rain from falling on it. If they are on outdoors, you should cover the wood from rain with a tarpaulin or plastic film.
People who buy firewood based on an advertisement, often complain about the dampness of the imported wood. In this case, the logs should be dried immediately and only then stacked in a neat stack.
Chopping wood with a homemade cleaver is not as difficult as it seems. The main thing is that the ax is comfortable and sharp enough . There is a common misconception that that with a sharp ax you can easily injure yourself. In fact, lumberjacks most often get injured precisely because the cleaver is not sharpened well enough. By making an ax with your own hands and adapting it “for yourself,” a summer resident or villager will be able to significantly facilitate the annual work of preparing fuel for a Russian stove. This is much simpler and cheaper than buying expensive equipment or purchasing someone else’s firewood of dubious quality.
A self-made wood splitter is a mechanism designed to facilitate the process of splitting large logs for heating a stove or fireplace. The attractiveness of the tool is expressed in the fact that anyone can make it themselves from inexpensive materials.
Device classifications
The design has many classifying factors. Wood splitters are distinguished by:
- field of operation (private use, large enterprises);
- tree laying method (vertical, horizontal, mixed);
- engine type (electric, gasoline, tractor traction, combined);
- method of transportation (mobile and stationary);
- principle of operation (hydraulic and screw (cone)).
Homemade wood splitters are most often equipped with electric or gasoline engine. The remaining parameters are individual and selected for personal needs. For everyone who is scratching their heads with the question: “How to make a wood splitter with your own hands?” We will provide assembly instructions for the hydraulic and screw unit.
DIY hydraulic wood splitter
More often hydraulic system To operate the device, it is borrowed from the tractor. An electric motor driven by a tractor or a gasoline one can also be used. The hydraulic wood splitter includes the following components:
- bed;
- pump;
- oil container;
- motor;
- hydraulic cylinder with stop;
- blade;
- distributor.
Making a wood splitter with your own hands with drawings, photos and instructions will not be difficult for people who have at least a little understanding of the mechanics of a hydraulic installation.
For convenience, we will show a drawing of the mechanism and compile a short assembly guide.
Instructions for assembling a hydraulic log splitter:
- We fix hydraulic jack on the bed.
- A wedge-shaped blade is mounted on the other end, which will allow you to work with logs of different volumes and lengths.
- In the middle of the structure we have a platform for laying logs. When interacting with the jack handle, the stop will press the wood towards the wedge knife, which will successfully split it.
- After splitting, the springs will return the stop to the starting position.
Such a device is not distinguished by its high speed of operation, however, whatever one may say, it is much easier than chopping wood with an ax.
DIY screw (cone) wood splitter
The operating principle of this type of wood splitter lies in the ability of a rotating metal cone to split logs due to the existing threads on the surface.
Don't try to make a cone yourself. This is a very labor-intensive and painstaking task. It will be more profitable to buy a ready-made version, correctly made and suitable for your future design.
To make a screw type, you should use this article and watch a video about homemade wood splitters. 
This is one of the most common tools for splitting wood. It is easy not only to use, but also to assemble with your own hands.
Instructions for assembling a screw log splitter with a cone-shaped splitter:
- Decide on the power source for our unit. The example drawing shows an electric motor.
- It is necessary to select the correct cone. Depending on the size of the device and the logs being split.
- Make a plan for the location of all elements of the device on the desktop.
- Make bases for the entire structure. The working platform looks like a steel table with a fixed splitting shaft.
- Weld a kind of keel to the table to prevent log particles from getting under the rotating device.
- Attach the power supports for installation and place the splitter in its working position.
- Connect the motor. The device is ready to use!
It is preferable to mount the engine under the table. It will be protected from accidental damage and wood chips.
Operating principle of a cone log splitter
The power unit (in our case: electric motor) imparts rotational motion to the cone. You should carefully bring the log and gently press towards the cleaver. The cone smoothly cuts into the structure of the tree and splits it in half.
Screw wood splitter with engine from washing machine is the most convenient and functional option for home use.
In addition, it is possible to avoid the cost of purchasing a new engine. It can be used by removing it from an old washing machine. 
A wood splitter is an indispensable device in a private home or country house. A large amount of information on the Internet allows you to make a wood splitter yourself using video or text instructions. The flexibility of the design allows the use of a wide variety of components. There is always the opportunity to select and build a unit to suit your individual conditions and needs.
Design and operation of a homemade wood splitter - video
Many people who collect firewood for heating their homes in winter period, know the importance of a wood splitter - a tool that greatly facilitates wood processing. Although modern power tools can perform many different functions, their simplicity in design makes them easy to make yourself.
How functional and technical parameters should such a tool meet to ensure a smooth and high-performance workflow? How to use a homemade wood splitter and, most importantly, what you will need to make such a mechanism with your own hands - we will try to consider in as much detail as possible.
Features of wood harvesting machine
A wood splitter is a mechanism for harvesting wood, which is responsible for tasks for trimming and splitting logs, logs and chocks. It can be described as high-tech, multi-functional, practical, easy to operate and available in maintenance mechanical device. This instrument has high specifications, small in size and, when necessary, moves to the right place.
An important feature of this mechanism is its long service life. The wood splitter, or cleaver as it is called, is equipped with parts with high mechanical strength and therefore has increased wear resistance. Due to the ability to withstand increased loads, such a machine can be used in any conditions, ensuring uninterrupted firewood procurement for quite a long time without the need for human intervention.
Today there are many models of wood splitters that can work both liquid fuel, and electrical energy. Moreover, depending on design features Such units are available for industrial and domestic purposes. Naturally, it is impossible to make an industrial machine with your own hands, which is why the design of a household wood splitter will be considered.
Design and operating principle
A homemade wood splitter, like its factory counterpart, has a fairly simple design, depending on the type of machine. At the same time, most standard installations include the following components:
Selection of parts The wood splitter assembled by yourself is carried out individually depending on the operating conditions of the equipment and the needs of the user. Thanks to this, the machine will meet all the requirements.
Depending on the design features of the device for splitting firewood, all machines may differ in operating principle. A standard wood splitter operates in accordance with the following principle: by means of a gearbox, the shaft on which the gimlet is located is driven, which, rotating, is screwed into a wooden block, splitting it into pieces.
The smooth operation of the mechanism is ensured by the entry cutting edge into the wood without impact, due to which the workpiece splits without squeezing. If there is insufficient power to split wood, the operation of the cylinder stops and the pump goes into idle mode, thereby preventing damage to the machine.
Self-production of a screw machine
Screw cleaver, assembled with your own hands - a structurally simple product. Among the consumables you will need to stock up on a threaded cone nozzle, a frame made from high-strength metal, a motor with the required power, a shaft and a reduction gearbox.
The motor and gearbox are mounted directly to the frame. The working cone is mounted directly on the shaft, and to drive it, a reduction gearbox connected to the engine is used. At self-assembly woodcutter, it is advisable to watch the video and adhere to the following rules:
- the nozzle cannot be connected directly to the engine;
- the belt or chain drive must be placed in a protective casing;
- All parts of the wood splitter connected to electricity must be well insulated.
The speed at which the nozzle can rotate should range from 200–350 rpm. When the speed decreases, the productivity of the machine drops sharply.
Features of manufacturing a hydraulic splitting ax
Making a hydraulic wood splitter with your own hands is much more complicated than a screw machine. The most complex component is the hydraulic mechanism, which includes cylinder with pusher, a fluid flow distribution unit, a pumping mechanism, an oil reservoir and an engine that drives all units.
The basis of the firewood chopping machine is a metal frame, the manufacture of which uses durable grades of steel. In the process of preparing a project for a frame for a wood splitter, assembled with your own hands, it is advisable to provide it putting on wheels. In the future, such a machine will be easy to transport.
Before actually making a wood splitter, it is important to read the video and evaluate how economically profitable it is. If firewood is needed for decorative fireplace or barbecue, it is easier to purchase them than to spend money on the construction of a homemade cleaver.
Assembling a device for splitting wood with your own hands is not too difficult, the main thing is to prepare the necessary components and mechanisms. At the same time, it is easier to make a cone splitter yourself, although its efficiency is much less than that of a homemade hydraulic wood splitter.
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 implemented through the use of double-strand pulleys of 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 high speed rotation of the screw cone (more than 500 rpm) increases the risk of injury, since in this case the log is difficult to hold 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, adding three phases to your site is quite an expensive undertaking, so the owners 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– 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 precision of manufacturing thrust threads must be high, so no grinder can replace a good lathe and a high-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, in their reviews they write that this process requires great caution. 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
