Log Splitter Built To Last

2019 - Volume #43, Issue #1, Page #39

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“I think it’s the last log splitter I’ll ever need,” says James Queen, whose splitter is equipped with a hydraulic-operated log lifter, 23 hp. Kohler 2-cyl. engine, 28 gpm pump, and 20-gal. hydraulic tank. All moving parts have grease fittings.
  “It’s really handy and built so strong that it’ll never twist or bend,” says Queen. “It took 2 mos. working part time to build it, using 25 lbs. of stick welding rod. It has electric start, a pressure gauge, and all the bells and whistles.”
  Finished with black, yellow and gray paint, the trailer-mounted splitter looks more like a factory-built model than a made-it-myself project. It started with the axle and 15-in. wheels off a Saturn car. Queen flipped the axle upside down in order to achieve a 32-in. working height, then welded an I-beam with 1-in. thick top, bottom and sides onto the table frame. Spacers made from 2-in. square tubing mount under the beam.
  The splitter can be pulled with a pintle hitch or ball hitch. “I welded a 2-in. dia. steel tube on front of the splitter frame. The hitch slides inside the tube and pins onto it,” says Queen.
  The splitter’s 28 gpm hydraulic pump operates a 4-in. dia., 24-in. splitting cylinder with a 5-sec. cycle time. The wedge was made from 2 wood chipper blades that were too small to use on a chipper. Queen ground a 3/4-in. thick steel plate down at a 45 degree angle, then welded the blades onto it to form a “V”, and added bracing.
  The machine’s log lifter is made from the expanded metal screen off a topsoil shredder. “The arm is raised or lowered by a 1 1/4 in. thick cylinder and will lift 1,000 lbs.,” says Queen. “I welded a 1-in. dia. steel rod diagonally on back of the arm to keep logs from accidentally catching on the fender.”
  The splitter’s frame is made from 1/4-in. thick, 2-in. square tubing. Queen used 3/4-in. thick steel plate to build the cylinder head.
  He can quickly set up a 10-ft. picnic table umbrella on the tall square metal tube that supports the splitter’s control panel. A red and white ICC bumper, with white DOT tape, mounts on back of the splitter.
  The splitter’s front tongue jack is off of a travel trailer. “With 75 lbs. of tongue weight, I can move the splitter by hand if I have to,” says Queen.
  He already had the engine, both cylinders, and most of the steel but bought the I-beam, hydraulic tank, axle, valve bodies, pump, and filter assembly - all new - from a friend. He also bought new hoses and fittings.
  “All in all, I have about $800 invested in the splitter. My friends say it looks too nice to use, and my wife says that with the umbrella up it looks like an ice cream vending cart,” says Queen.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, James Queen, 2752 E. Dryden Rd., P.O. Box 68, Metamora, Mich. 48455 (ph 248 758-8739; jimnpat2@gmail.com).

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Log Splitter Built To Last WOODLOT EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous “I think it’s the last log splitter I’ll ever need ” says James Queen whose splitter is equipped with a hydraulic-operated log lifter 23 hp Kohler 2-cyl engine 28 gpm pump and 20-gal hydraulic tank All moving parts have grease fittings “It’s really handy and built so strong that it’ll never twist or bend ” says Queen “It took 2 mos working part time to build it using 25 lbs of stick welding rod It has electric start a pressure gauge and all the bells and whistles ” Finished with black yellow and gray paint the trailer-mounted splitter looks more like a factory-built model than a made-it-myself project It started with the axle and 15-in wheels off a Saturn car Queen flipped the axle upside down in order to achieve a 32-in working height then welded an I-beam with 1-in thick top bottom and sides onto the table frame Spacers made from 2-in square tubing mount under the beam The splitter can be pulled with a pintle hitch or ball hitch “I welded a 2-in dia steel tube on front of the splitter frame The hitch slides inside the tube and pins onto it ” says Queen The splitter’s 28 gpm hydraulic pump operates a 4-in dia 24-in splitting cylinder with a 5-sec cycle time The wedge was made from 2 wood chipper blades that were too small to use on a chipper Queen ground a 3/4-in thick steel plate down at a 45 degree angle then welded the blades onto it to form a “V” and added bracing The machine’s log lifter is made from the expanded metal screen off a topsoil shredder “The arm is raised or lowered by a 1 1/4 in thick cylinder and will lift 1 000 lbs ” says Queen “I welded a 1-in dia steel rod diagonally on back of the arm to keep logs from accidentally catching on the fender ” The splitter’s frame is made from 1/4-in thick 2-in square tubing Queen used 3/4-in thick steel plate to build the cylinder head He can quickly set up a 10-ft picnic table umbrella on the tall square metal tube that supports the splitter’s control panel A red and white ICC bumper with white DOT tape mounts on back of the splitter The splitter’s front tongue jack is off of a travel trailer “With 75 lbs of tongue weight I can move the splitter by hand if I have to ” says Queen He already had the engine both cylinders and most of the steel but bought the I-beam hydraulic tank axle valve bodies pump and filter assembly - all new - from a friend He also bought new hoses and fittings “All in all I have about $800 invested in the splitter My friends say it looks too nice to use and my wife says that with the umbrella up it looks like an ice cream vending cart ” says Queen Contact: FARM SHOW Followup James Queen 2752 E Dryden Rd P O Box 68 Metamora Mich 48455 ph 248 758-8739; jimnpat2@gmail com

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