Building a wood splitter cheaply
 

I am interrested in building a wood splitter for my father.
Admittently I like buiding stuff but have no experience with
hydraulics. I do have an 11 horse riding lawn mower engine with
electric start. (Old Briggs)

Can I do this cheaply? Is it possible to use an old single stage
hydraulic pump from a factory or something? (If I could get it cheap).

Any ideas on how hard this would be?

Building a wood splitter cheaply
 

"Don" wrote in message
m...
I am interrested in building a wood splitter for my father.
Admittently I like buiding stuff but have no experience with
hydraulics. I do have an 11 horse riding lawn mower engine with
electric start. (Old Briggs)

Can I do this cheaply? Is it possible to use an old single stage
hydraulic pump from a factory or something? (If I could get it cheap).

Any ideas on how hard this would be?

You don't say how cheaply!
It's not hard, just costs some money. At a minimum you're looking at a few
hundred dollars. The cheapest hydraulic valve I could find was about $80 at
Northern Tool. I spend about a hundred just on fittings and hoses. The used
4" cylinder costs me $50 and it was a bargain I feel. A pump is going to be
more, and then if you have to buy any steel, well add that on. I figure I
spent about $350, for a splitter that if I bought would be $1000-1200. Some
people asked me if I wanted to make them to sell, and I said no. I
wouldn't/couldn't make any decent money on it and compete with those already
on the market. At the time I had more time than money. If I was short on
time and had the money, to me it would have been better to buy one.
Just my 2 cents worth.
:Lane

Building a wood splitter cheaply
 

I built mine (5hp, 2stage pump, 24x4 cylinder) using new off
the shelf parts and *lots* of fabbing, for not much less
than a new one ($1000.). However, mine is much more compact
than any of the stand-alone models.
Pics in the Dropbox soon...
JR
Dweller in te cellar

Don wrote:

I am interrested in building a wood splitter for my father.
Admittently I like buiding stuff but have no experience with
hydraulics. I do have an 11 horse riding lawn mower engine with
electric start. (Old Briggs)

Can I do this cheaply? Is it possible to use an old single stage
hydraulic pump from a factory or something? (If I could get it cheap).

Any ideas on how hard this would be?

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Building a wood splitter cheaply
 

i know this post is from a week or so ago, but i was attempting what
you are. if you can find the stuff used for cheap, then go for it,
but if you need to buy any parts, you are almost better off looking
for a complete used log splitter. and don't even bother looking for
parts on ebay. i could get cylinders, pumps and valves brand new from
Northern Tool for less than the used junk on ebay.
one point on your motor, is it a horizontal shaft or vertical? you
really need a horizontal shaft motor for a log splitter. vertical
will work, but the pump will be sticking down in the dirt.

hydraulics aren't anything scary. keep everything clean and make sure
the hoses are tight. now if you were trying to build your own
hydraulic pump, THAT may get scary.

i ended up finding a used (and abused) splitter for $300. the motor
usually runs.
:-)
i figure if i get a couple of years out of the motor i can just pick
up another good used motor for $200 and i'll still be ahead. the
hydraulic end of it should last for as long as i'll be using it.

andy b.


On 3 Dec 2003 11:24:54 -0800, (Don) wrote:

I am interrested in building a wood splitter for my father.
Admittently I like buiding stuff but have no experience with
hydraulics. I do have an 11 horse riding lawn mower engine with
electric start. (Old Briggs)

Can I do this cheaply? Is it possible to use an old single stage
hydraulic pump from a factory or something? (If I could get it cheap).

Any ideas on how hard this would be?