How to make a wood splitter from a wheel rim. Making a wood splitter with your own hands. Why is it worth making a cleaver?

In all areas of economic activity where, for one reason or another, work such as chopping wood becomes relevant, wood splitters are used.

Modern, high-tech mechanisms not only easily cope with the functional responsibilities assigned to them, but are also distinguished by their simplicity of structural structure, so they can be made by hand if desired.

How to make a wood splitter yourself? What are its types? What technical characteristics should the mechanism have to ensure an uninterrupted and highly productive work process? We will talk about this and much more in more detail in the article.

What is a firewood cutting machine?

A wood splitter or firewood harvesting machine is a mechanized device designed to trim and split logs and wood into logs.

It is characterized by high technical and quality indicators, functionality and practicality, ease of use and accessibility Maintenance, has a compact size and, if necessary, can be easily transported from one place to another.

An important feature of the machine is its large working life. The splitting axes are equipped with reliable and wear-resistant parts, so they can withstand any load; they can be used in any climatic conditions, ensure uninterrupted work process over a long period of time and do not require regular expensive maintenance.

There are many types of wood splitters. They can be equipped with gasoline, diesel and electric engines, differ in structural structure, and are divided into professional and household ones.

Structural structure and operating principle

The design of wood splitters, including homemade ones, is quite simple and largely depends on their type. The installations are equipped with the following main mechanisms:

Engine. It can be gasoline or electric. The user independently determines which unit can provide the required performance under given operating conditions.
Gearbox. Increases torque, reduces revs and provides consistent air pressure before every hit. It is characterized by reliability, endurance and wear resistance.
The bed is the stationary part of the wood splitter, made of durable and mechanically resistant metal. A motor, a gearbox and a working cone for splitting and trimming logs are attached to it.
Bearings. They are an indispensable part of the support; they support a movable structure - a working cone mounted on a shaft with a given rigidity.
Working cone. It is made of durable and reliable metal, has a threaded attachment - a gimlet.

Every structural element wood splitters can be selected individually, depending on the needs and requests of the user. In this case, the devices meet the requirements as clearly as possible and provide the necessary operating performance.

Depending on their structural structure, wood splitters differ in their operating principle. Most often in practice, a wood chopping machine is used, which is equipped with the following components:

Bed;
Gearbox;
Engine;
Working cone.

This cleaver works according to the following principle: it launches a shaft through a gearbox, on which, in turn, the gimlet is located. It rotates, screws into the block and splits it into several parts.

A cylinder is adopted in the hydraulic log splitter; it receives the necessary charge of energy from the motor and facilitates its transmission to the hydraulic rod, which drives the stop.

The smooth operation of the mechanism ensures that the blade enters the block without impact, as a result of which it splits into pieces without being compressed.

If the power of the wood splitter is not enough to crush the logs, the cylinder stops working and the pump operates in idle mode, which prevents the device from breakdowns.

Distribution by classification criteria

Wood splitters can be divided into several types; below we will look at the principle of the division.

By scope:

Household. The devices have low power and performance and are characterized by average technical indicators. Their advantages are mobility, versatility, compact size and the ability to fully operate in any climatic conditions, availability of repair and maintenance, and low cost.
Industrial. Machines with high technical parameters, characterized by a long working life, excellent performance and the possibility of long-term operation without interruptions.

According to the method of laying the log:

Horizontal. The logs are placed in a special horizontal trench. Their advantages: versatility, practicality, functionality.
Vertical. The log in the devices is installed vertically. Their advantages: compactness, functionality, reliability. Disadvantages: the need to strictly adhere to safety regulations.
Mixed. This class of wood splitters includes industrial units used in the continuous production of firewood.

According to the motor power source:

Electrical. They are equipped with electric motors, are environmentally friendly, easy to repair and easy to operate, have compact dimensions and can be easily transported from one place to another.
With a gasoline engine. Unlike electrical analogues, they can be used at sites remote from the centralized network. They require minimal maintenance and repair costs, are functional and highly productive.
With tractor traction. Their main advantage is a large working resource.
With combined motor. They can be equipped with a tractor drive and an electric or gasoline engine and are used exclusively in the industrial sector.

According to the principle of operation:

Hydraulic. They have excellent technical and performance characteristics, ensure a safe and smooth workflow.
With a cone. Wood splitters of this type are classified as screw mechanisms, which have great reliability and power. Their features are a simple structural structure, reasonable cost and excellent quality indicators.

By mode of transportation

Stationary. They are solid machines or massive industrial models that are difficult to transport.
Mobile. Equipped with wheels that facilitate the movement of devices.

Before choosing a specific version of the wood splitter, you need to decide with what intensity it will be used; its specifications. Main technical characteristics of the machines:

Requirements that mechanisms must meet

Height from floor to cone is about 80 cm.
Minimum engine power from 2 kW.
The fit on the gearbox or motor shaft is tight.
The material for making the cone is hard steel.
Equipped with an oil cooling radiator and a rigid frame structure.
Availability of oil heating function in the hydraulic system.

Step-by-step plan for manufacturing a screw machine

A homemade screw-type wood splitter is very easy to make. The component parts will require a threaded cone nozzle, a frame made of durable and mechanically resistant steel, an engine of a certain performance, a reduction gearbox and a shaft.

The motor and gearbox are attached to the frame. The working cone is mounted on the shaft and driven through a reduction gearbox using a motor. Important things to consider:

It is prohibited to connect the attachment directly to the motor; this is contrary to safety regulations.
Belt and chain transmission must be placed in a special protective casing.
The electrical part of the log splitter must be performed by a qualified technician.
The permissible rotation speed of the nozzle is at least 250 - 300 rpm. If it is less, the cleaver will provide minimal productivity.

Hydraulic cleaver production technology

Make it homemade hydraulic wood splitter an order of magnitude more difficult than the conical one. The most complex component of the device that needs to be produced is the hydraulic part, consisting of a hydraulic cylinder with a pusher, a hydraulic fluid flow control unit and a pump, an oil tank and a motor driving the pump.

All these mechanisms can be purchased in specialized stores at an affordable price.

The basis of a homemade wood splitter is the frame. It is recommended to make it from a particularly durable material that is wear-resistant to mechanical stress.

During the design of the frame for homemade machine To chop wood, it is necessary to provide for its installation on wheels or a ready-made chassis. In the future, this will make it possible to easily and quickly move the device to the work site.

There is no clear diagram of how to make a cleaver with your own hands, since many nuances are permissible in its design, it all depends on the selected initial mechanisms.

Before you do homemade device, it is advisable to evaluate its economic benefits. If you need a little firewood, then it is better to buy it than to spend money on making a splitting ax.

It’s not difficult to make a machine for chopping wood yourself, the main thing is to stock up in advance necessary components mechanisms. A homemade hydraulic cleaver works more efficiently than a cleaver with a cone, but its structural structure is an order of magnitude more complex than its design.

Nowadays, stove heating is gradually becoming a thing of the past. Most private houses, as well as apartments, have radiators; in addition, electric convectors are used to heat the room. 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 in the stove delicious dishes and do 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 a man's job. 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 O 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 make a pleasant impression on the 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.

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 the vertical version, instead of the heel, a cutting device is installed. 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 king distinctive feature 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. Collect homemade wood splitter It won't be much cheaper. 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. latest model 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 a number general recommendations We'll give it 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.

You can see the hydraulic diagram of a simple wood splitter in the photo. It includes a minimum of components. It is worth paying attention to the presence of your 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

You need to understand the rule well inverse relationship hydraulic system performance from 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. Industry requires a combination of high speed hydrocleaner cycle and low power consumption. In this case, a unique type of load will help: a large idle stroke of the hydraulic cylinder and a 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 using 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 of high quality and reliable. We weld a scarf onto the reverse side.

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 required bending comfortable for the feet. 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 require 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:

A hydraulic wood splitter, made with your own hands using the drawings, photos and instructions presented below, will help the owner to cut sawn firewood with minimal effort. The logs have an area several times larger than ordinary logs cut from logs. They can be used to fill the firebox (it is impossible to fit a large log into the narrow space of the oven).

Firewood chopped in the summer before heating season stored in a woodpile. When logs are in it, they dry out much faster: the wood is in contact with the surrounding air much better than can be observed with tree trunk trimmings.

A brief overview of the designs of mechanical wood splitters

IN trading network Several types of mechanical devices for splitting firewood are sold. The main nodes are:

The bed has fixed and movable elements attached to it. Along the way, a bed is placed on the bed, sawn blanks are placed in it.
The fixed ax is a sharpened plate mounted perpendicular to the surface of the block.
The moving part is the actuator. Usually a pusher is equipped, with its help a fragment of the log is moved onto the knife blade.
The drive mechanism and energy device that creates the force to perform the main work.

It is customary to classify devices according to their operating principle:

Rotating cones - these mechanisms are screwed into the wood. When the cone penetrates the body of the log, it pushes the fibers apart. The structure is destroyed and the workpiece breaks up into several logs.
Dynamic action - the drive device is made on the basis of a flywheel. In this design, the moment of inertia accumulated during the rotation of a massive body is transferred to the pusher at the right moment. He pushes the fragment onto the cutting edge.
Rack type– the transformation of rotation into translational motion occurs in a rack and pinion mechanism. The pusher makes a reciprocating movement.
The hydraulic drive makes it possible to obtain significant force on the actuator from a small engine.
The lever action mechanism allows you to develop high force due to the different lengths of the levers. By pressing on the long lever, a higher force is obtained on the short one than was initially applied.

According to the location of the split log on the firewood splitting machine:

Vertical orientation allows for compact installation in limited space. Often small hydro wood splitters are mounted next to fireplaces or stoves, where they are burned.
The horizontal position of the frame allows you to install large logs. Even blanks complex shape will be split into separate elements.

Pumps for driving wood splitting machines from tractor hydraulics are used for mobile installations. They are used in remote locations where there is no possibility of connecting to the power grid.

Devices used at sites with power supply are based on electric motors.

Development of a layout diagram for a wood splitter

A homemade hydraulic wood splitter is made according to a specific pattern. It necessarily contains the following basic elements: 1 – a knife with a sharp blade; 2 – pusher; 3 – hydraulic cylinder rod; 4 – tank; 5 – pump; 6 – distributor; 7 – hydraulic cylinder; 8 – bed.

From tank 4, working fluid (oil) comes from pump 5. Hydraulic distributor 6 directs flows to different cavities of hydraulic cylinder 7. When fluid is supplied from outside, cylinder rod 3 moves pusher 2 towards blade 1.

If at this time there is a fragment on the frame 8 that needs to be split, then it will move towards the blade of the knife 1 and split.

To independently start manufacturing an installation for mechanical splitting of firewood, you need to assemble the main elements on the frame.

The frame itself must be made from rolled profile(I-beams or channels). Since the force will develop quite significant, profile elements of numbers from 14 to 20 are selected (the number is the height dimension, expressed in centimeters).

The bed is installed horizontally on the chassis. This decision is justified by the fact that in the future the wood splitter can be moved short distances in yards. During periods of precipitation, the installation can be rolled under the roof.

For convenient placement of logs, a bed is mounted on the frame. It is made from a sheet of metal. The profile is set so that the workpiece can be centered independently.

The chopped logs extend beyond the knife. Stands are installed at the exit. It is convenient to take firewood from them and transfer them to woodpiles.

It is possible to make a machine with semi-automatic mode work. The operator only feeds the workpieces and removes the split fragments. But such designs are advisable when organizing uninterrupted supply of workpieces for cutting. We need auxiliary mechanisms for transporting sawn logs and orienting them before feeding.

An automated wood splitter is justified when organizing the removal of chopped firewood to a storage location.

It is much easier to assemble a structure in which every movement of the pusher is controlled by the operator. Production cycle is done in the following order:

A batch of blanks is delivered to the wood splitter.
Each log of a certain size is placed on a bed.
The distributor switches to supply oil to the external cavity of the hydraulic cylinder.
The pusher moves under pressure to press on the workpiece. It splits when it hits the knife.
The split logs are moved to racks outside the knife.
The operator switches the hydraulic valve to move the pusher back.
While the actuator returns to its original position, the operator carries the firewood outside the installation.
Next, the log splitting cycle is repeated until the delivered batch of logs is completely processed.

Selecting equipment for self-production of a hydraulic wood splitter

Selection of equipment is possible only after assessing the strength characteristics of the split wood blocks. It is also necessary to select a hydraulic pump based on the performance and fluid pressure in the hydraulic system.

In Moscow state university Forests in the early nineties conducted research to substantiate the parameters of axes for mechanical devices for splitting firewood. The table shows the results of experiments for different tree species.

Wood splitting force when the cleaver moves at a speed of 2.4 m/s (4 cm/s)

*Type of wood*	*Average force on the cleaver, kN*
	*Log diameter, mm*
	*200*	*300*	*400*
	*Apex angle 15°*
Oak	17	27	44
Birch	11	24	41
Pine	5	13	21
Spruce	8	15	23
Elm	20	32	55
Ash	11	21	36
Aspen	7	14	22
Linden	2	3	5
Norway maple	11	22	39
Maple	13	24	42
	*Apex angle 20°*
Oak	24	33	51
Birch	16	29	48
Pine	8	15	24
Spruce	11	18	26
Elm	28	39	65
Ash	15	25	42
Aspen	10	17	26
Linden	3	4	6
Norway maple	16	27	45
Maple	18	30	49
	*Apex angle 25°*
Oak	26	38	56
Birch	18	34	52
Pine	8	18	26
Spruce	12	21	29
Elm	31	44	70
Ash	17	29	46
Aspen	11	19	28
Linden	3	5	6
Norway maple	17	31	49
Maple	20	34	52

From the presented table it can be seen that the force varies from 2 kN (0.02 t) for linden (log diameter 200 mm) to 70 kN (7.0 t) for elm (round log diameter 400 mm). When using a cleaver with a blade width of 200 mm, the maximum force on the actuator should be expected to be approximately 31 kN (approximately 3.1 t).

If you come across logs with a large number of knots, then you need to count on increasing the load by 2…3 times.

Which motor is needed for the drive can be calculated by specifying the initial data. You need to focus on equipment that can be purchased in retail chains or ordered in online stores.

When using an NSh-50 gear pump and a hydraulic cylinder with a diameter of 100 mm and a created pressure of 130 kg/cm², a force of 11 t (110 kN) will be provided. The speed of movement of the rod will be about 2 cm/s. The drive will require an electric motor power of 2.2…2.8 kW with a shaft speed of 1450 rpm.

When using an electric motor with a speed of 2850 rpm, the rod with maximum force will move at a speed of 4 cm/s.

Many amateur craftsmen are interested in the question: “How to make a homemade hydraulic wood splitter with your own hands? Is it possible to create a device for use inside a house heated by an individual stove?”

Step-by-step guide to making a log splitter using a hydraulic jack

From a hydraulic jack House master can produce independently the simplest design. You will need:

I-beam No. 16, it will be used to make the frame and supports.
Steel plate 8…10 mm thick. It can be used to make amplifiers, brackets and a knife.
Tension springs 250…300 mm long (2 pcs.). They will be needed to automatically return the pusher to its original position.
Hydraulic jack designed for a force of up to 6 tons.

Tool you will need:

angle grinder with cutting discs and flap wheel;
welding machine;
measuring tool;
electric drill with a set of drills.

Wood splitter manufacturing process

The dimensions of the future device are selected based on the dimensions of the hydraulic jack and the length of the log sections.

With the help of an angle grinder, workpieces are cut, calculated according to the preliminary design.

The required blanks are calculated before starting welding work. During design, a specification of all elements used in the design is developed.

Preliminary joining of fragments to clarify the correctness of preliminary calculations and design.

The supports for the frame have been prepared. To add quality, all seams and surfaces are cleaned after welding of elements to each other is completed.

To avoid failures, the main components are fixed on a level surface.

If necessary, after tacking, you can rotate the parts to be welded to ensure that all seams are welded.

The blade of the future knife is made of sheet steel. In the design, the knife will consist of two plates installed at an angle to each other.

The knife elements are connected by welding. It is mounted directly on the frame.

The jack is tried on at its future location.

Fixation is carried out using clamps made locally.

Making a pusher. A 10 mm plate is used. To prevent the rod from moving to the side, a ring made from a suitable piece of pipe is used.

Springs are tried on, fastenings to the pusher and rear support are developed.

After the hinges are made, they are welded to the pusher, as well as to the rear support. Fixation is performed with threaded hooks to make it easier to adjust the spring tension.

First, the product is coated with a primer.

Later it is painted with black paint.

The wood splitter is being assembled.

Then it is mounted on the wall.

The log is installed on the frame. By increasing the pressure on the jack, they achieve its splitting.

Video: DIY hydraulic wood splitter.

The device based on an automobile hydraulic jack is ready for use. It is simple in design and reliable in operation. It will last more than one year.

In the old days, people used firewood, which they cut by hand, to heat their homes. The main tool for this was a special ax - a cleaver. Today, a large number of mechanical, electrical and hydraulic human assistants have appeared, with the help of which you can easily cope with the preparation of firewood for the winter. The devices have different kind, but the principle of their operation is the same - they immediately split the log into several parts. But not every private home owner can afford to buy such a device. However for home use The simplest models of cleavers can be made with your own hands.

All wood splitters can be divided into two types:

In turn, wood splitters for home use differ in the principle of operation and the type of their power source.

Manual device - cleaver

A woodcutter's tool is designed for chopping wood. For a cleaver to serve for a long time, it must be forged and well-hardened.

The best and comfortable handle instrument - wooden. A cleaver equipped with metal and plastic handle work is more difficult. With an incorrectly directed blow, such a handle may even burst.

Cleaver weight and handle length must be selected individually. Since the device will have to be waved many times, it must be chosen in such a way that you can hold it confidently.

As "workplace", where firewood will be chopped using a cleaver, it is recommended to choose the widest and largest deck. It needs to be placed on a level place, around which there should be nothing that could be touched when swinging the wood splitter. And, of course, when cutting wood it is imperative to follow safety precautions.

Such devices are similar to machines on which a block of wood is fixed.

Enough large mass The cleaver is driven by levers, which greatly facilitates the process of splitting logs. The load on the woodcutter is reduced due to the spring mechanism, which facilitates control and compensates for the severity of the blow.

With the help of such devices it is most often possible splitting logs of various lengths. To do this, you need to adjust the position of the spring by changing the distance from it to the working body.

Having fixed the log, with one hand you need to lift the wood splitter up and lower it onto the log. The cleaver will cut the prepared workpiece, and the spring will return the mechanism to its original position. The effort required during such work is very small, therefore, productivity increases.

Devices can have different types and principles of operation. Some people divide the log into only two parts at first, and some into several at once. In households you can find factory mechanical cleavers and their hand-made analogues.

Hydraulic cleaver

This device for chopping wood is designed according to the principle of the previous one, however, the force in it is created by a hydraulic jack. The principle of its operation is the pressure pumped through the liquid, which is transmitted to the working piston that exerts pressure on the log. The mechanism of operation of such a device can be seen more clearly in the video clip.

Hydraulic splitter design:

The bed in this design must be made of a sufficiently thick steel channel.

Hydraulic wood splitters can be of different configurations and different power . Their selection in stores is quite large.

DIY electric wood splitter. Video

In the video clip you can see how you can easily chop wood without an axe. This is done using a cone, which is screwed into the log and splits it. Most simple model It’s quite easy to make such an electric splitter with your own hands.

The most difficult thing is to make a cone in such a device. According to the drawing, which can be found on the Internet, it must be turned on a lathe. In addition, you need to cut a left-hand thrust thread on the cone.

With absence lathe Can use a metal grinder, placing it on the pulley of the electric motor. After the grinder begins to rotate freely, metal should be removed equally from all sides.

In addition to the cone, for the design you will also need:

drive shaft block;
Electrical engine;
metal sheets and corners.

Having made a cone with your own hands, you can start assembling the structure:

The cone splitter is ready. During its manufacture it is necessary Consider some recommendations:

the chain or belt drive must be equipped with a protective cover;
for greater performance of the design, the nozzle must rotate at a speed of 250 rpm;
You cannot connect the nozzle to the motor directly, because due to large quantity speed is dangerous;
It is better to entrust all electrical work to a specialist.

In addition, do not forget that when working with an electric wood splitter, you should follow safety precautions. Injury can be guaranteed even with one wrong move.

With mechanical, hydraulic or electric cleaver you don’t have to worry about preparing firewood for the winter. With its help this will be done quite easily. And if you also construct a device for chopping wood with your own hands, then family budget you can save a lot of money.