Wood splitter manual buy. Do-it-yourself cone wood splitter

Chopping firewood is an extremely tedious process, associated with a certain danger and taking a lot of time and effort. That is why many people who have to do this work regularly try to purchase a special wood splitter or even make it themselves. Of course, in order to assemble a wood splitter with your own hands, drawings, photos, instructions are needed. But in addition, you need to know which model to give preference to.

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What are wood splitters

So, before answering the question of how to make a wood splitter with your own hands, you need to decide which model is the best solution for a particular user. To date, the most common three options:

• hydraulic;
• electric;
• manual (inertial).

Now let's consider each of these options in more detail, so that the potential user can choose the most suitable mechanism for chopping firewood.

Hydraulic

Perhaps it is the hydraulic wood splitter that is most in demand. The fact is that it is he who has the greatest performance.

When working with such equipment, you can easily and quickly cut almost any wood, including wet and most durable.

The main element of this log splitter is a hydraulic cylinder. A log is laid on it, after which the cylinder, under fluid pressure, pushes a sharpened blade.

Due to the significant pressure, the work is done in a second. High performance allows you to chop a large amount of firewood in the shortest possible time.

Important! When choosing the material from which the blade will be made on a hand-assembled wood splitter, give preference to the hardest possible steel grades so that you do not have to sharpen it often.

Alas, it is this type of equipment that is the most difficult to manufacture. Therefore, in order to design a hydraulic wood splitter with your own hands, drawings will not be enough - you also need to have considerable experience working with such mechanisms.

Electric wood splitter

A more budget option, which also does not require special forces - observing certain safety precautions, even a ten-year-old child can successfully work with him. The principle of operation is similar to hydraulic. However, here the blade does not split the log under the action of a hydraulic mechanism. The main driving force here is the electric motor.

Thanks to a simpler device, it costs much less. And it will be much easier to assemble it yourself (if you have the appropriate components).

Important! When installing an electric log splitter, choose a slightly elevated location and be sure to place a rubber mat under it to avoid short circuits if the ground is wet after rain.

However, there are certain limitations here. First, you need to have a source of electricity nearby. However, in most dachas and private houses there are no problems with this. Second, make sure the wiring can handle the extra load. A wood splitter with a gearbox, both made by hand and factory, is equipped with a fairly powerful engine, and if the wiring is too weak, this can lead to knocking out traffic jams.

Manual (inertial) wood splitter

The scheme of this type of wood splitter is simple, which provides it with a certain popularity. No engine is needed for manufacturing, and even a person who is not too accustomed to working with his hands can cope with the assembly.

A blade is installed on a long, about one and a half meters, metal pipe. A chock is fixed under it, on which a log is installed. After that, the user simply lowers the main working part down with a swing.

Muscular strength combined with inertia easily splits most logs, which will be quite difficult to handle manually.

In some cases, the wood splitter is being finalized. For example, the working part is equipped with a spring from below, the other end of which is fixed near the chock. The user lifts the part with the blade manually, unbending the spring, and then abruptly releases it - under its weight and the tension of the spring, the blade delivers a strong blow, cutting even a problematic log with knots.

Also, a small load can be hung on the opposite end of the pipe - this will greatly facilitate the lifting process, although it will slightly reduce the impact power.

Finally, an additional load can be hung on a metal pipe near the blade. Raising the blade will be harder, but the blow will be much stronger.

The advantage of a manual or inertial wood splitter is simplicity, unpretentiousness and the ability to assemble from improvised means. But there is also a minus. You need to have a certain physical strength to successfully chop a sufficient amount of firewood. And it will take much more time than when working with a hydraulic or electric device.

Which wood splitter to choose

The most common types of wood splitters are described above. They can be made by hand - some of them are easier, others are more difficult. But having a drawing, every person can install a home-made wood splitter in his dacha.

It is very important to decide which device will be a good choice for you. After all, the production will take a lot of effort, time, and money. Therefore, the possibility of error should be excluded.

Let's start with hydraulic. Its main advantage is high performance and ease of operation. But there is also a minus - it is complex, to create it you will need special equipment and certain skills that not every person has. Such equipment should be preferred in cases where the user will regularly work with a large amount of firewood.

The advantage of an electric wood splitter is its great simplicity and power, which is not inferior to a hydraulic one. A very good solution for an ordinary summer resident - you can easily prepare several cubic meters of firewood with such an assistant. And in order to heat the bath for the whole summer season, and during frosts to heat the main living space a little, this will be quite enough.

Finally, a manual wood splitter. As already mentioned, it is simple. Almost everything you need can be found at the ferrous metal collection point, paying no more than a few hundred rubles for the necessary components, and sometimes much less. But in order to work productively with him, you need to have good physical fitness.

Although it is easier to chop wood with an inertial wood splitter than with an ordinary cleaver, it is still quite difficult. Therefore, it is worth choosing it only for people who have remarkable strength, but at the same time do not want or are not able to work as a cleaver. However, if you need to split only a few chocks into logs, without risking your health (inept handling of an ax often leads to serious danger) and without getting too tired, this decision will be successful.

Wood splitter classification

In addition to those models that were described earlier, there are others. For example, with a cone-shaped cleaver. A very convenient solution, most often created on the basis of electrical equipment. Using any sufficiently powerful engine (suitable for a pump, a motorcycle or even a washing machine), you can easily make high-quality equipment. The cone rotates at high speed - it is enough to bring a log to it and slightly push it so that it splits along the fibers. There is no need to swing an ax - it will take a few seconds even for an inexperienced user to turn a heavy chock into a pile of logs suitable for burning in an oven.

Drawing wood splitter rack.

Drawings of a rack-and-pinion wood splitter are also popular - many users want to make it with their own hands. Why is he interesting? In general, it is similar to a conventional hydraulic one. There is only one difference here. If in most wood splitters a blade is driven into a log, then on a rack and pinion, on the contrary, the log splits against the blade. To do this, a blade is installed on a suitable platform (usually made of thick tin). A chock is placed in front of it, on which the movable part of the wood splitter presses. In a second, a thick, weighty log splits in half, then into four parts, and so on.

A simple mechanism for chopping firewood from improvised materials

Our people are distinguished by ingenuity and love for non-standard solutions. Therefore, many craftsmen make a mechanical wood splitter with their own hands. It is a frame, on one side of which a knife is fixed, and on the other, a tight spring. A chock is laid on the frame (most often not very large in order to easily split it at once), after which the spring is tightened. This is done both manually and with the help of a special gate. The spring is then abruptly released. She delivers a strong blow to the log, which splits on the knife. The mechanism is simple, but at the same time reliable, efficient and does not require much physical strength.

How to make a manual wood splitter with your own hands

Let's start with the simplest option - we'll tell you how to make a manual wood splitter at home. In fact, this is not even a wood splitter, but a simple device that simplifies the process of chopping firewood and makes it safer.

For this you will need:

• a thick metal sheet (7-10 mm thick) 150x600 mm in size - the future blade;
• metal plate 5 mm thick and 300x300 mm in size - base;
• metal rod (section can be either round or square, but not less than 20 mm) - about 3 meters.

Now let's start assembling. The scheme of a homemade wood splitter is as simple as possible. A thick sheet is cut into pieces: one 150x300 and two 150x150 millimeters. They are sharpened on one side and welded to a metal base in the shape of a cross.

The rod is cut into two parts: 1 and 2 meters. The first is welded to the base from the side, strictly perpendicular. The second is bent into a circle and welded to the first at a height of 30 cm.

That's all, the design is ready. Now insert a log into the ring formed by the rod, resting it against the sharpened cross, and strike from above with a sledgehammer - it will split into four neat parts.

How to make a spring wood splitter step by step

If you want to make a spring cleaver with your own hands, no drawings are needed - the diagram here is as simple as possible. You only need a few details:

• metal corners;
• two pieces of channel;
• powerful spring (you can spring from a car);
• a plate that acts as a knife (you can use an old cleaver);
• hinge assembly;
• a piece of pipe, the diameter of which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the spring;
• weighting agent.

Once you have everything you need, you can start building:

1. Using one channel as a base, weld the second one perpendicular to it.
2. Prepare a platform for installing the spring.
3. Weld the pipe and spacers (corners) onto the base.
4. Make a cutout on the beam with a grinder through which the structure will be attached to the base.
5. Weld the beam.
6. Hang the beam with the articulated joint on the support.
7. Install the spring.
8. Fix the boulder on the movable beam.
9. Weld the weight on top of the boulder.

The design is ready - you can paint it to protect it from rust.

Wood splitter-carrot

That is what the people called the wood splitter, which uses a screw to split firewood. Here the design is more complicated - to assemble a screw wood splitter with your own hands, drawings, photos, instructions will be required. Before you get started, prepare:

• the engine is powerful enough and provides a rotation speed of 200-250 rpm;
• a cone with a screw thread with a diameter of 5-6 cm and a length of 20-22 cm;
• two rotation supports;
• chain;
• shaft 30 cm long and 3 cm thick.

Drawing wood splitter carrot.

Problems usually arise when looking for a cone - it is easiest to order it from turners or buy it in a store, it is not too expensive. Now get to work:

1. Install the shaft on the bearing, weld the flange on the back.
2. Put the cone on the shaft, fix it.
3. Weld supports to the bearing to secure the structure to the table.
4. Make a spacer between the engine and the shaft - use it to tension the chain.
5. Install the structure on the table, fix and tension the chain between the flange and the motor.

If you use an electric motor, do not forget to protect the structure from moisture, and if possible, ground it.

How to make a hydraulic splitter

The hydraulic wood splitter is the most difficult. Typically, a gasoline engine from a car or motorcycle acts as a motor. It’s worth warning right away - its creation will cost a lot. But the comfort of work and productivity fully compensate for the costs. So, what is needed to assemble a do-it-yourself gasoline wood splitter , and how much will it cost?

1. Engine for 12-14 horsepower - 14,000.
2. Hydrodistributor - 3500.
3. Hydraulic cylinder 100x40x61 - 10500.
4. NSh32 - 1500.
5. Drive NSh - 4000.
6. Hubs from a VAZ-1500 car.
7. Pulley for the engine - 1000.
8. V-belts - 900.
9. 40 liters of hydraulic oil - 2500.
10. Couplings and high pressure hoses - 2500.
11. Flanges for NSh - 400.
12. Metal plate - 1000.
13. Metal profile - 4000.
14. Mounting material - 700.
15. Engine oil - 400.
16. Rubber hose and clamps - 300.
17. Paint - 600.
18. 2 kg of electrodes f4mm and 5 kg f3mm - 1000.
19. Discs for a grinder (regular and cleanup) - 700.
20. Paint brush - 100.

In total, you will have to pay about 51 thousand rubles, and maybe more. If you have purchased all the necessary elements, you can get to work.

Assembling the frame

The assembly goes like this:

1. Weld a 30x30 mm corner to the 50 mm pipe - the hubs. You should get two triangles.
2. On the front axle, made from an angle of 60x60 mm, weld spacers from an angle of 30x30 mm.
3. Attach the wheels to the axle.
4. On the rear axle, weld the base on which you will lay the engine.
5. Weld a solid frame from the channel.
6. Assemble the movable structure from an 80 mm channel.
7. Weld a triangular platform from the channel, pushing the log onto the knife.
8. To prevent the log from falling, secure stops on both sides of the platform.

How to make a splitting knife

A good cleaver is the basis for comfortable and safe work. A piece of Kamaz spring will do. Fortunately, its manufacture is a relatively simple procedure - to make a cleaver for firewood with your own hands, drawings are not needed. But you can’t do without tools - you need a sharpening machine.

Sharpen the metal - the angle should be 60-70 degrees. Weld the knife onto the bed.

How to assemble the motor and oil tank

An empty propane tank can be used as an oil tank. The work is as follows:

1. Fill the balloon with water.
2. Without pouring out the water, cut the valve with a grinder.
3. Create a sump - separate a quarter of the volume of the cylinder by installing a steel partition at least 10 cm high.
4. Install the filter mesh equipped with a magnet 5 cm from the bottom. The filter will retain chips, increasing engine life.
5. Weld the pipe - oil will flow into the pump through it. The fence should not reach the very bottom so that the pump does not suck up debris.
6. Set the tank just above the pump using a level

How to make a wood splitter mobile

Do you want to be able to easily and quickly move a do-it-yourself wood splitter that weighs a centner or even more?

Equip it with small wheels, for example, from a garden wheelbarrow.

The most cautious users also install brakes on the wheels.

But you can use several bricks so that the structure stands securely in place.

What is the difference between a homemade wood splitter and a factory model

The main difference is cost. Even if you decide to make a hydraulic wood splitter, for which you will pay about 50 thousand rubles for components, you will still save a lot. After all, the cost of the factory starts at 100 thousand. You can’t even talk about screw or manual - they will cost several hundred or thousand rubles, because many households have everything you need or can be bought quite inexpensively.

Now you are well versed in the types of wood splitters and can easily make the right one.

Before the start of the heating season, owners of wood-burning stoves and solid fuel boilers stock up on firewood. Buying or preparing logs in the forest, and then bringing them to your own backyard, is not a big problem. Yes, and cutting round timber into chocks with a chainsaw or a circular machine will not be difficult. Many hours of exhausting labor creeps up in the form of a heavy cleaver, wedges and a hammer, with which logs are split into logs.

Such an unproductive and time-consuming method simply could not be ignored by home craftsmen who are trying to mechanize this work. One of the devices that can be used to easily and quickly chop wood is a cone wood splitter. Given its simple design and the ability to use improvised materials in work, we suggest making a mechanical screw cleaver with your own hands. In addition, everything that is required for this can be purchased from the online store of accessories for screw wood splitters at the prices of the manufacturer's factory. The catalog contains cones of different diameters, fasteners and ready-made kits that only need to be attached to a walk-behind tractor or engine.

Screw cleaver - what is it?

The simple design of the cone wood splitter is very effective if you need to split several cubic meters of firewood

It is possible to chop firewood without applying much effort with the help of a screw splitter. To understand how this device works, it is enough to recall how, in the process of unsuccessfully screwing a screw into a wooden lath or plank, these objects split at the point of physical impact. To deal with this phenomenon is simple - just pre-drill a hole for a self-tapping screw, and it will go like clockwork. The principle of splitting wood when screwing in a screw was used by home craftsmen in the design in question. But a simple screw does not expand the fibers enough, so it was modified by greatly increasing the taper and reducing the ratio of thread depth to tool diameter. As a result, we got a screw, which is a symbiosis of a wedge and a self-tapping screw. The device is easily screwed into the wood thanks to the threaded part and breaks it along the fibers due to a multiple increase in the diameter of the tool.

Scheme of a screw wood splitter

Depending on the design of the drive, there are several varieties of screw wood splitters. In some, the screw is mounted directly on the shaft of the electric motor. The requirements for the power unit in this case are quite stringent - the electric motor must be low-speed (no more than 500 rpm), and powerful enough (at least 3 kW).

The scheme, in which the cone is installed directly on the motor shaft, is only suitable for low-speed power plants

In other schemes of screw splitters, electric motors of any type are used, and the reduction in rotational speed is achieved through the use of mechanical gearboxes, belt and chain drives. At the same time, a pulley (asterisk) of small diameter is installed on the shaft of the power unit, and a large diameter is installed on the shaft of the wood splitter cone. The ratios of their sizes are selected so as to reduce the speed of the electric motor to an acceptable 300 - 500 rpm. Sometimes, when using high-speed motors, it is impossible to achieve this without a significant increase in the diameter of the driven sprocket (pulley). In this case, an intermediate shaft and a double (stepped) transmission are installed.

It is possible to simplify the design of a mechanical cleaver as much as possible while maintaining high performance by installing an electric motor with a gearbox

All parts of the structure are mounted on a solid frame, which is equipped with a folding table for ease of use.

The advantages of cone wood splitters include:

• simplicity of design;
• the possibility of manufacturing at home (almost all components, except for the cone, can be found in your own courtyard);
• high performance equipment;
• low installation cost;
• operation of the unit does not require the qualification of the operator.

Unfortunately, the simple and reliable design of screw splitters is not without drawbacks. A huge disadvantage of a conical wood splitter is that wood with intertwining fibers is an insurmountable obstacle for its gimlet, so basal and especially knotty logs will have to be cut in a different way. The second drawback is the incomplete division of chocks into logs. Often, you have to finish cutting a large log into two separate parts manually, and not everyone can do it. I would also like to note the impossibility of manufacturing a wood splitter cone without the use of a lathe. Of course, this can only be partially considered a disadvantage, since there are many offers on the network for both the manufacture and sale of screws of any size.

Requirements for a cone splitter

The design of the screw splitter must provide not only high reliability and performance, but also safety during operation. Therefore, when choosing a unit diagram and its manufacture, it is important to adhere to the requirements for this type of equipment and the recommendations of the craftsmen who have tested the machine in practice.

Flexible gearing is an easy and affordable way to change propeller speed when using high speed electric motors

• motor power should be in the range from 2 to 4 kW;
• to reduce the number of revolutions, it is recommended to use a gearbox or flexible transmission;
• speed of rotation of the conical screw - no more than 500 rpm;
• the machine must be equipped with an on / off button (magnetic starter) and a residual current device (RCD);
• the cone shaft is mounted on bearings;
• the cone must have a persistent thread;
• with a belt drive, it is better to use two-strand pulleys and a pair of V-belts;
• during operation, the logs must be fed with their vertical orientation, otherwise the screw may jam and damage the unit.

You should not be led by "craftsmen" who offer the simplest design of a wood splitter, in which a shaft with a wedge-shaped screw is clamped into a cartridge of a powerful electric drill or puncher. Such a device not only has low efficiency, but is also very dangerous, since it will not be easy to hold it in your hands with increased wood resistance. If you still decide to use this scheme, then try to fix the tool on a solid foundation in order to use it in the traditional way.

To get a mobile design, an internal combustion engine is used in the drive of the machine

What you need to make

Making an "iron woodcutter" does not require the use of scarce parts, so most of the components and blanks can be found at home or in the garages of friends and acquaintances. Here's what you need in the process:

• cone (the screw can be machined or purchased on the construction market);
• shaft (when self-manufacturing a threaded wedge, you can use a suitable hub from agricultural machinery);
• pulleys or sprockets;
• drive belt or chain from automotive or motorcycle equipment;
• bearings with housings (car driveshaft supports are an excellent option);
• steel profile pipes or corners for the bed;
• metal sheet with a thickness of at least 4 mm for the desktop;
• electric motor;
• wiring;
• switch or magnetic starter;
• bolts and nuts M8 or M10.

Most of the parts can be used from old automotive or agricultural equipment. The only thing with which difficulties may arise is the manufacture of a conical screw. However, you should not even try to cut this detail with a grinder, as some "authoritative" sources advise. The time spent is not worth the resulting misunderstanding, which can only indirectly be called a screw. Moreover, in work, this “carrot” will not even come close to the efficiency that a cone made by turning will give.

The main components of the cone splitter

If you intend to use the wood splitter as a mobile unit, then you should take care of durable metal wheels in advance. A truly mobile design is obtained using a gasoline or diesel engine as a power plant.

In the manufacture of the machine, you will need tools that any “handy” owner will have:

• welding machine;
• electric drill with a set of drills;
• Bulgarian;
• hammer;
• set of wrenches;
• tape measure, marker.

For protection against corrosion, any enamel for outdoor use is suitable. It is only important to prepare the metal surface well for painting, so if necessary, prepare a metal brush (manual, as well as in the form of a nozzle on a drill or grinder), a primer and a rust converter.

Preparatory work: approximate dimensions and drawings

Before taking up a tool, it is important to draw up at least a simple sketch diagram with the location of the main components and parts of the machine and an indication of its main dimensions. In addition, you will need an electrical connection diagram, to work on which you can connect a familiar electrician. The schemes and drawings of finished structures presented to your attention will help you correctly configure the wood splitter and avoid mistakes in its manufacture.

The layout of the machine for splitting logs

The most important step in the process of creating a mechanical cleaver is the manufacture of a wedge, so let's dwell on this in more detail.

The best material for a cone is tool steel, but not every turner will undertake to make a part from it - the metal has increased hardness and requires special handling. Most likely, the screw will be made of the most popular grade of structural steel - St 45. In this case, it is better to harden its threaded part in any way possible - by hardening, nitriding or carburizing.

Long-term and efficient operation of the cone is ensured only if it is properly manufactured. When giving an order to a turner, be sure to specify that you need a screw with a 1: 2 taper and a two-start thrust thread with a pitch of 5 - 6 mm. Ordinary metric threads will not work due to rapid wear. In addition, the standard screw cut enters the wood much worse.

The size of the helical wedge and the value of its taper are directly related to the maximum size of the logs to be split, therefore, when determining the parameters of the drill, you can use the table.

Table for calculating the size of the cone

The approximate dimensions of the bed depend on the build of the operator and may be:

• height - up to 80 cm;
• width - up to 60 cm (with folding table 100 cm);
• length - up to 85 cm.

The most commonly used scheme with a lower location of the electric motor. This will protect its rotating parts from chips and chips. If an internal combustion engine is used as a power unit, then it is installed on the same level with the wedge. This arrangement is more convenient both during start-up and during operation, when it is necessary to adjust the wedge rotation speed, fill the tank with fuel, etc.

The cone mounted on the bed of a circular saw eliminates the need to make another metal work table, makes the design universal and saves space when storing equipment under a canopy or in a shed.

In the process of designing a conical wood splitter, it is necessary to provide for a method of tensioning the chain or belt - using an additional sprocket or roller, sled, etc. A protective cover mounted on a chain or belt drive will also be useful. It can be bent from tin and fixed to the frame with screws.

Pay attention to how well the flexible transfer protection is arranged

Step by step assembly instructions

After drawing up a drawing of the future design and preparing the necessary components and materials, you can begin to assemble the mechanical cleaver. It is best to use the ready-made instructions and do the work in strict accordance with the plan.

1. With the help of an angle grinder, metal corners and shaped pipes are cut into segments necessary for the manufacture of the bed.
2. From a metal sheet with a thickness of 4 - 5 mm, a rectangular overlap of the table top and the lower shelf are cut out.

   Bed assembly

3. Using a welding machine, the parts of the upper and lower frames are connected, after which the legs are welded to them.
4. In the mobile version, axles are welded to the frame, on which the wheels are mounted.

   Wheel mounting

5. Mount the countertop and shelf.
6. Assemble the motor support frame and attach it to the frame.
7. Mount the electric motor, install the drive pulley on its shaft.
8. Assemble the assembly of the working shaft of the cone, for which the bearings are pressed into the housings. After that, the shaft is mounted and the pulleys are installed. The assembly assembly is attached to the frame with bolts and nuts, having previously drilled holes in the table top. After assembly, the main shaft should rotate easily. Pulleys can be mounted on a keyed connection or fastened with side screws, having previously made recesses on the shaft.

   Mounting the main shaft and electric motor

9. Install the belts and check the straightness of their trajectory. If necessary, the shaft with the supports is shifted by drilling a pair of additional holes. During rotation, there should be no radial and axial runout, otherwise the belts will constantly fly off and wear out quickly.

   Cone installation

10. By means of a key connection, a screw cone is installed on the drive shaft, after which it is fixed with screws. During operation, the cone can get stuck in the wood so that it can only be removed by reverse rotation. Since it is problematic to organize a reverse in this design, you will have to turn the wedge with a gas wrench. You can avoid its slippage by making flats on the protruding part of the shaft.
11. Install splitter.

    Blocks should be mounted on the wedge in a vertical position. Otherwise, the screw may jam or break.

    You should be careful when splitting logs with large knots, as well as chocks from the butt of the round timber. The process in this case can go unpredictably - with a jamming of the shaft, a sharp turning of the log, the ejection of large chips to the side, etc. It is fraught with danger and an increased speed of the cone - too high speeds will not make it possible to control the work, therefore it is better if the number revolutions of the driven shaft will be within the recommended limits.

    To make a cone wood splitter with your own hands, you will need minimal skills in working with locksmith tools. One day spent on its manufacture will pay off in the future by saving time and effort. It is only important to follow the safety rules when chopping firewood, and then this simple task will not bring surprises.

Procurement of fuel for home heating in winter is an important and responsible event. A lot of strength is taken away during the manual cutting of firewood. To speed up and facilitate the process, the owners often mechanize operations as much as possible. In particular, you can make a wood splitter for home use with your own hands. The purchase of such a device will require significant financial costs, and a home-made wood splitter will cost less and will be optimized for specific conditions of use.

High-quality combustion of logs in a solid fuel stove depends not only on the type of wood, but also on the physical parameters of the logs, which include:

• workpiece length;
• log diameter;
• the form.

Excessively thick blanks will take a long time to ignite and may not even burn out completely. Too small and thin firewood will quickly burn out without giving enough heat to the room. In such a situation, the assembled wood splitter will help out with your own hands, drawings, photos, instructions for which are prepared in advance.

Equipment classification

Before you make a hydraulic wood splitter with your own hands or assemble a mechanical wood splitter with your own hands in garage conditions, you should decide on the type of end device. Each design has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, such a device for chopping firewood will be more financially profitable than purchased at a hardware store.

According to the type of installation of the workpiece, the equipment is divided into two groups:

• Horizontal type. The log is placed horizontally on the frame and moves along its axis towards the working tool. A ready-made homemade apparatus can be designed with a reverse action, when the cutting part itself is embedded in a fixed fixed log.
• Vertical type. The cutting part enters the workpiece vertically. This positioning requires fixing the log. In some cases, this is done by hand or special devices.

• Combined type. It is quite rare in homemade schemes. Demanded in industrial conditions at woodworking enterprises.
• When choosing a way to make a wood splitter with your own hands, you need to select the type of drive for the equipment:
• Due to the operation of gasoline or diesel vehicles. Such options are the most common of all standalone homemade products. They are highly efficient and due to their mobility can be used as close as possible to the source of raw materials.
• A mechanical wood splitter is a fairly reliable equipment and is used in the case of a relatively small amount of work. A homemade mechanical unit needs a small amount of materials, which is its advantage over other types of structures.

• Do-it-yourself wood splitter on electric traction is stationary. However, with a similar execution scheme, the user will receive a less productive device.

The key element in the design of any unit, including a do-it-yourself hydraulic wood splitter, is the shape of a cleaver - the working part of the machine. The cleaver comes in the following forms:

• wedge shape. The wedge cuts at high speed between the wood fibers and splits the workpiece into two parts.

• Cruciform shape. The machine requires a lot of force to enter between the fibers and divide the workpiece into four or more parts.
• Screw (conical) shape. The working part with a threaded helical profile on a cone is screwed between the fibers and thus splits the workpiece.

Varieties of devices

Before starting work, it is advisable to determine the type of equipment, which is classified according to several criteria:

• the presence of an engine - these can be spring cleavers independent of electricity, hydraulics, a gasoline or electric unit;
• the actual design - vertical, horizontal, mixed type, rack or cone;
• the method of splitting firewood is with the help of a screw pair, according to the principle of a screw, the impact of pneumatics or hydraulics.

The simplest wood splitter consists of a stationary table, a console and a rack.

For the operation of the cone unit, you will already need an engine with appropriate equipment, a drive shaft and a working body connected to the mechanism by a chain or transmission belt.

For the normal operation of a rack-and-pinion wood splitter, an engine, a drive shaft, a chain or belt drive, a gear and racks are needed. For self-assembly, this is a complex structure, the principle of operation of which is to convert a rotating shaft into a sequential movement of the working part.

If we are talking about a small amount of wood fuel, then a simple design can handle this - a mechanical or hydraulic wood splitter. In addition to the fact that the assembly itself does not require exceptional knowledge, they are easily disassembled and work without an engine and complex equipment. This volume is enough for a fireplace, a bath, which is used occasionally, and friendly gatherings around the fire. If it is tedious to prepare firewood for heating a house in winter or for the normal operation of a greenhouse on stove heating, mechanics will not be enough. For these purposes, they usually buy gasoline or electric wood splitters.

Mechanical spring apparatus

The least expensive to manufacture is the mechanical circuit. The force in it is formed by a spring. The bed of metal square profiles is based at this time on a horizontal plane. The end face of the workpiece rests against the cleaver located below.

The device consists of several elements:

• console;
• support table;
• rack.

VIDEO: A very simple but effective mechanical cleaver

Screw splitters

Recently, units with a conical screw working part have become very popular. This is due to the relative simplicity of their manufacture and convenient maintenance. Such a design requires the preliminary preparation of a detailed diagram, drawing or measured sketch.

The components of a manual wood splitter of this type are:

• a bed welded from a building metal profile and sheet iron;
• power plant in the form of an electric motor or liquid fuel;
• chain drive with sprockets and chain or belt drive with pulleys and belt;
• a shaft with a screw cone fixed in rolling bearings;
• workpiece stop.

The cone is made of steel grades st45 or 40X. It is advisable to harden the finished product to give it the necessary hardness.

During the manufacturing and assembly process, it is necessary to follow some safety rules:

• it is strictly forbidden, according to safety rules, to use the nozzle directly with a motor without a reduction gear, which is usually used by a chain drive or an installed gearbox with gears;
• the installation of the electrical unit must be carried out in accordance with the basics of safety;
• a protective cover is required for a belt or chain drive to prevent the drive from catching sleeve cuffs, etc .;
• the optimum is the rotation speed of the working part of about 250 rpm;
• shaft supports are preferably fixed not by welding, but by screws.

To increase the mobility of the invention, it is worth installing the entire structure on wheels. In this case, it is necessary to take care of the availability of the brake system. It should be borne in mind that with a significant decrease in the speed of rotation, the productivity of the equipment decreases, and the increase affects safety.

How to make a hydraulic splitter

Inside the hydraulic cylinder, the working fluids are able to create significantly greater forces than is possible for screw pairs. In this regard, this equipment is often used as a workpiece pusher to the cleaver.

In order to make a home-made hydraulic wood splitter at home at minimal cost, you can use a hydraulic jack for these purposes.

The principle of operation of such a device is to push a wooden blank onto a permanently installed blade. To do this, the hydraulic pusher moves along the guides from the channels to the knife.

The advantage of this design over the electrical circuit is that in the second case, the electric drive will push the stump even with high resistance, which can lead to motor combustion. The hydraulics build up force gradually and can stay in place when significant resistance is reached without breaking the structure or causing other damage to the machine.

Most hydraulic devices operate horizontally, however, the circuit diagram of both types is the same. The developed force is about 3-5 tons and depends on the used cylinder. For domestic conditions, this power is enough. It is believed that this type is more efficient than the screw design.

VIDEO: How to make a cleaver with your own hands

In any household where wood-fired boilers are used for residential heating, the procurement of the required reserves of such fuel and preparing it for use traditionally takes a lot of time and physical effort. Therefore, some zealous owners are trying to somehow facilitate and speed up this process by mechanizing it. And an excellent solution is a wood splitter, which can be purchased ready-made or made independently.

Expert advice! It is important to pay attention to the type of thread: it is precisely the persistent two-thread that is needed, if you use a single-thread, you will have to force the block of wood onto the carrot cone. Ask your dealer for a two-start thrust thread. Otherwise, when using a single-start thread, you will have to push the logs onto the threaded cone with great effort!

Making a wood splitter with your own hands is not an easy task, but still for a good, skilled owner it is quite solvable. It can be a purely mechanical version, or a unit equipped with a hydraulic drive, electric or oil motor. Many different models of home-made wood splitters have been developed, which have significant differences in the principle of operation, in size, design complexity, designed to transfer horizontal and vertical forces, etc. In order to decide which cleaver will be the most suitable for both self-production and further operation, it makes sense to consider several options available for assembly in a home workshop.

Existing varieties of wood splitter designs

Chopping a lot of wood by hand may be healthy, but it is by no means a very pleasant experience. In addition, this process takes a lot of time. Therefore, a wood splitter on the farm will never become superfluous.

When choosing the design of this device for self-production, you should not completely focus on the varieties offered for purchase in specialized stores. There are a lot of them, and each of the wood splitters requires compliance with certain safety rules that are not always feasible at home. In this regard, the first thing to do when planning the manufacture of such a device on your own is to decide how much firewood and in what climatic conditions it is necessary for harvesting. There are various options:

• For the regular procurement of a large amount of wood fuel needed to heat a large house located in a region with a harsh climate.
• To prepare a small amount of firewood for houses in regions with a mild winter climate.
• For periodic splitting of firewood, which is used in addition to the main fuel - coal, briquettes, etc., or for heating utility non-residential premises.
• For the preparation of a small amount of fuel for the fireplace or for heating the cottage in the winter when visiting it on weekends.

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It will probably take two to three days to make an installation for chopping firewood on your own, provided that the scheme has already been developed, the availability of material and the necessary tools. But on the other hand, much more time and effort will be saved in the future when preparing fuel supplies for the winter.

In conclusion, a video showing a very small screw-type wood splitter, demonstrating its considerable capabilities. By the way, the argument that the logs are fed for splitting exclusively vertically will be clearly visible there.

Video: A small homemade screw wood splitter at work

A do-it-yourself wood splitter is a mechanism designed to facilitate the process of splitting large logs for a stove or fireplace. The attractiveness of the tool is expressed in the fact that anyone can make their own from inexpensive materials.

Device classifications

The design has many classifying factors. Wood splitters are distinguished by:

• the field of operation (private use, large enterprises);
• tree laying method (vertical, horizontal, mixed);
• type of engine (electric, gasoline, tractor-drawn, combined);
• method of transportation (mobile and stationary);
• principle of operation (hydraulic and screw (conical)).

Homemade wood splitters are most often equipped with an electric or gasoline engine. The remaining parameters are individual and are selected for personal needs. For everyone who puzzles with the question: “How to make a wood splitter with your own hands?” we will provide instructions for assembling the hydraulic and screw unit.

DIY hydraulic wood splitter

Most often, the hydraulic system for the operation of the device is borrowed from the tractor. An electric motor driven by a tractor or gasoline 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 are at least a little versed in the mechanics of a hydraulic installation.

For convenience, we will show a drawing of the mechanism and make a brief assembly guide.

Hydraulic wood splitter assembly instructions:

1. We fix the hydraulic jack on the bed.
2. A wedge-shaped blade is mounted on the other end, which will allow you to work with logs of different volume and length.
3. In the middle of the structure we have a platform for stacking logs. When interacting with the handle of the jack, the stop will push the wood towards the wedge knife, which will successfully split it.
4. After splitting, the springs will return the stop to the starting position.

Such a device is not distinguished by its high speed of work, however, whatever one may say, it is much easier than chopping firewood with an ax.

DIY screw (conical) wood splitter

The principle of operation of this type of wood splitter lies in the property of a rotating metal cone to split logs due to the existing thread on the surface.

Do not try to make a cone yourself. This is a very laborious and painstaking task. It will be more profitable to buy a ready-made version, properly made and suitable for your future design.

To make a screw copy, you should use this article and watch a video about homemade wood splitters.

It is one of the most common wood splitting tools. It is easy not only to use, but also to assemble with your own hands.

Instructions for assembling a screw wood splitter with a cone-shaped splitter:

1. Decide on the power source of our unit. The drawing example shows an electric motor.
2. It is necessary to choose the right cone. Depending on the size of the device and the split logs.
3. Make a plan for the location of all elements of the device on the desktop.
4. Make bases for the entire structure. The working platform looks like a steel table with a fixed cleaver shaft.
5. Weld a kind of keel to the table to prevent log particles from getting under the rotating device.
6. Attach power supports for installation and place the splitter in its working position.
7. Connect the engine. The device is ready to go!

The engine is preferably mounted under the table. It will be protected from accidental damage and wood chips.

The principle of operation of the cone splitter

The power unit (in our case: an electric motor) imparts a rotational movement to the cone. You should carefully bring the log and gently push towards the cleaver. The cone smoothly cuts into the structure of the tree and splits it in half.

A screw wood splitter with a washing machine engine 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 house or country house. A large amount of information on the Internet allows you to make a wood splitter with your own hands using video or text instructions. The flexibility of the design scheme allows the use of a wide variety of components. There is always the opportunity to choose and build a unit for your individual conditions and needs.

The device and operation of a homemade wood splitter - video