Sizing an I-Beam

[Sonora Iron]

or dig a pit to make the log splitter ground level. then your not lifting anything

Now that’s a great idea!

I would think someone with a handle like “Strength and Power” wouldn’t even think of an easy way, well at least for a few more years!

[Portable Welder]

I've split plenty of wood with both kinds of splitters and like the verticle beam the best, So I would take Sonoras advise on that one. If you never plan on splitting big logs than the horizontal would be ok.

Dont use an I beam, use an H- Beam, A 8" at 21lb. beam would be a good size beam that will hold up.

[Leons2003]

Here is a vertical type w/a log raising sys., cyl goes down lift raises, do need someone to roll the log on to the lift. I do not remember were I copied these pics from but looks pretty cool to me, course I have no need for a spliter down here.
Good luck
L*S

[Sonora Iron]

Leons2003 I too have seen those pictures before. But forgot all about it.
Would sure like to see a picture of the underside, wonder how much bracing is in that bed?

I think if I built a lift system like that I’d use a capstan. That way you could free fall, or at least let the lifting frame down very fast. Would help speed up the cycle time.

[Leefy]

I have a splitter that mounts to the three point of any tractor. Runs off the tractor hydraulic pump. The beauty is that if the piece is too heavy, I just lower the three point to bring the splitter to the ground, roll on the heavy log, raise it up and split it. Has a plank attached to each side of the ram so have a working table and a receiving table for the piece on the other side of the split head. Can split up to 28" length with the ram length.

The splitter is 40 years old, made from a 4" square, 1/4" thick tube.

If interested, I could go take a picture and post it.

Leefy

[Andy]

We used to run on that was on a tractor 3 point also. You only had to lift the logs the height of the I-Beam. The problem with that one was that it required two operators. One moving the wood, and another on the tractor operating the hydraulic controls. We now use a verticle splitter. It's about the same trouble moving the logs. The nice thing about the horizontal on the ground was the split logs and little pieces of trash fell away very easily. With the vertical you have to clean out the trash every so often. The other nice thing about the tractor mounted one was you just raise the 3 point, move it where ever you needed, and drop it down. Move the tractor.. not the logs. The verticle one is on a trailer, but you have to unpin the beam and repin it in the horizontal position to move it.

I would never use a horizontal splitter that was up in the air. Way too much lifting.

[Rig Hand]

Got a skid steer?

My dad has a wood fired boiler that heats his house, (it can handle pretty big pieces of wood). I made him a log splitter that is a skid loader attachment. Runs off the aux. hydro. you just drive up to the piece of wood, set the splitter on top of it and push a buttom. Beats rolling around 3'X 18'' logs

[STRENGTH AND POWER]

Now that’s a great idea!

I would think someone with a handle like “Strength and Power” wouldn’t even think of an easy way, well at least for a few more years!

In powerlifting, it is all about moving maximum weight efficiently. I also move safes and vaults. you learn quickly to come up with ways to do things with minimal effort

[Goodhand]

Here are photos of a neighbor's splitter that I reconditioned a few years ago. Hope they provide some ideas for anyone wanting to build. 8hp B&S engine. I've spit many cords with it... rolling logs onto the base sure beats lifting.

[nocheepgas]

Here are photos of a neighbor's splitter that I reconditioned a few years ago. Hope they provide some ideas for anyone wanting to build. 8hp B&S engine. I've spit many cords with it... rolling logs onto the base sure beats lifting.

What size is the I-Beam and do you know what tonnage the cylinder is rated at?