Hydraulic wood splitters for every budget
A hydraulic wood splitter or wood splitter is a means of automating the preparation of firewood. Most often, a hydraulic wood splitter is called a “mechanical splitter”. Moreover, many models have been created by the hands of home craftsmen and qualified engineers..
Application and working principle
Mechanical and hydraulic wood splitters are used in private households, or in small production workshops for wood processing. In any place, the machines perform mechanical crosscutting, as well as splitting of wood of various species.
Hand tools for splitting and crosscutting very often break down and require skill, effort and time. Machines and installations of a different, non-hydraulic type very often break down due to uneven loading.
Hydraulic wood splitters, made at the factory or by hand, are gaining popularity not because of advertising. The fact is that in any device of this type, loads, reaching 10 tons, are supplied gradually, with an increase in force, which saves both the engine and the oil pump from overloads and breakdowns..
Factory wood splitters
The construction equipment market offers several dozen models of hydraulic woodcutters in the price range from 10 to 200 thousand rubles. It is important to know that the price depends on:
- weight;
- power;
- efforts;
- engine type;
- maximum for the length of the log;
- voltage (models with electric motor).
Motor power supplies are classified into 2 categories.
Electric motor. This energy converter acts on the pump. 
Moreover, the electric motor is used in the most primitive household machines. It is very simple to maintain such models, and you can use them in the same garage or shed, taking into account environmental safety. Assembled by hand or in the workshop, models with electric motors are easiest to prepare for work, it is even allowed to be carried manually. The main disadvantage is that they do not function without power supply.
Gas engine. Installed on powerful models that can be transported to the place of harvesting firewood. Gasoline log splitter is generally heavier, more expensive and more powerful. But it is also more functional thanks to its mobility and more power..
Homemade wood splitters
Most often they are used for domestic needs in preparation for the heating season. Moreover, the level of engineering thought of a rural worker can stimulate the creation of household and professional equipment..
In this case, everything is clear with the household one, but a professional machine can work in line. Simply put, still have the function of feeding, trimming, unloading.
Anyone wishing to independently create similar installations to facilitate labor can familiarize themselves with drawings, diagrams and video instructions online. An example of a good do-it-yourself hydraulic wood splitter is this video:
What is included in the construction of a hydraulic wood splitter?
A do-it-yourself hydraulic log splitter should consist of certain parts. It is better to make up the parts in order of importance, and start from:
- bed;
- cylinder stop;
- wedge-shaped blades (or blades);
- pump;
- fluid pressure distributor;
- oil tank;
- engine or motor.
And how do they collect with their own hands?
The simplest way to assemble a working wood splitter starts with welding the frame to be secured to the platform. The lower part of the platform is equipped with a car jack (at least).
At the top of the frame, the connector must be calculated. It is needed for splitting chocks of different diameters and different lengths..
The wood splitter in the photo was created by hand, but it is already designed for an industrial volume. It has a more complex structure, which necessarily consists of a hydraulic jack on a stationary (non-portable) type bed. The creation of this installation requires locksmith skill, safety calculation. Even if, at first glance, the unit is not complicated, the operator’s work with a negligent attitude will sooner or later lead to an accident..
To save time and resources, wedge-shaped knives with 4-8 blades were created. The fact is that a standard knife divides the chock into 2 parts, and this model processes any log in one go.
A do-it-yourself hydraulic log splitter, at higher capacities (tractor driven, gasoline engine) must be equipped with a wedge-shaped knife with 4 blades, at least.
