Log splitter - slight mod to quicken the process?

Interesting - I didn't know you could do that. I find my splitter (can't remember the details of hand) irritating in that it does the same, and as it is a near vertical one, it's not uncommon for the log to fall off - and if I put a pad log in, it falls off too !

Will be following with interest. Rob

don't suppoose you can split two logs in one stroke - placed one above other?

is it obvious what stops the return stroke when it stops normally? - is there a switch/plunger/something to signal the end of the cycle? If you could somehow arrange for that to be tripped/pushed/whatevered when you want it to stop ...?

after it has finished one splitting cycle and it has returned all the way to the top - how do you start another cycle? button/lever/?

Jim

Thanks guys - I expect the vertical and the horizontal splitters operate similarly. Which is, for safety, two hands are required to initiate one cycle; the electric (on mine) motor is started and separately the hydraulic pump is activated.

Two blocks in line is frowned upon in case one jumps out as the pressure builds; we are speaking tons here. But that technique could shorten the travel of the ram if it was safe.

Similarly two person operation is frowned on, don't know why other than possibility of slicing off your partner's hand/finger. That method, two people, would solve my problem as I can hold the hydraulic lever and thus stop the back-travel of the ram while someone else places the next log on the frame. Single person operation means the hydraulic lever must be let go to get the next log into line and a full return-stroke results.

What I don't know is if a peg stopping the return-cycle is deleterious to the hydraulics. Other makes do this, eg. Scheppach.

We borrowed a neighbour's log-splitter - horizontal design but on very short legs so's you had to bend down to use it..

As there's two of us - we found the fastest way to work was to set the machine up off the ground (on two big logs - what else ! ) - and for one person to load the logs onto the machine and the other to operate the twin levers.

This does require that you keep your wits about you (especially if you are the log-loader rather than the lever-operator) - as you are at the business end of the device which is potentially hazardous....

The 'stroke' on our machine was about 2'6" to 3ft - and we wanted to split logs that were no longer than 12" - so we used two logs at a time on the same stroke. With a bit of luck the first log will split completely, and the second one will impale itself on the splitting spike. When the levers are released, the ram returns and you can drop another log onto the bed - and your assistant can immediately hit the levers (without waiting for the ram to return completely to the end-stop).

This works best if you've got nice square ends on your logs - as otherwise there's a tendency for them to lever out under the pressure..

We found it particularly useful with large diameter logs (up to 14" or so) and with logs that had knots and branches, which can be a right pain to split with a wedge or a maul...

Hope this helps Adrian

What returns the ram? Spring pressure against a vented hydraulic system, or a double-acting cylinder? I'd expect a peg to be workable, but would want to se the machine first.

One-person operation is required because (usually) the controls are arranged so that you must have moved both of your hands (i.e. all of them) to switches that are out of harm's way. It's not about control, it's about a simple guarantee that you haven't left fingers in the working path. If someone else controls it (and you don't have four switches), where is your other hand?

Years ago, we built a power press controller where big hairy blokes with a welder could easily reach both of the start buttons, set on the ends of steel brackets. Then we installed it into a factory where the tiny women operators couldn't reach far enough. Had to saw one button off and re-attach it very quickly. Even the plant foreman had OK'ed it after install, as he could reach them, but the line operators couldn't.

Well, that is my question. The hydraulic seems to be 'vented' as there is a vent screw one opens to use and shuts to transport.

I cannot stop the return by hand (lever =3D off and motor =3D off). It is too powerful.

The nearly vertical one I have has two buttons to drive the ram upwards - release the buttons and the ram slides back down. I can't remember which way round it is, but if one of the buttons is held, the motor stops but the ram doesn't descend. So of the two buttons it looks as if one operates the motor and the other the return valve.

Rob

There's an exploded parts diagram at and a parts catalogue at that doesn't work for me. There looks to be a difference between Alko and Metabo/Ryobi in that the ram operates not on the end of the log but via an "arm" sliding in a slot in the bed. Is there any danger of separation of the mechanism if a stop is put on the "arm"? - I doubt it since the ram only returns under spring pressure.

( I have a Metabo splitter that developed just the fault you need - the ram would only retract if the hydraulic lever was sharply tapped or moved to an exact mid position. The valve assembly "A" on the diagram had a piston whose end, bearing on the return spring had not been machined correctly and it could stick in a return to pump closed position) PeterK

I got over the problem by using a dummy packing piece of wood ( oak cross grain ). so I only really had half an effective stroke.

I also managed with my horizontal floor mounted beast, to operate the

Also why not couple the 2 levers together with a bent bit of tube, so they can be operated together with one hand.

On ours, one of the levers has a big piston and the other small, so you move the ram to the wood with the big one then use the little one to get more force. Ie linking them together would be a bit silly :-)

(doesn't help the OP with his electric one. I saw the manual one was rated at 10 tons whereas the cheap electric ones were only 4, so seemed no point :-) We are very pleased with ours anyway - deals with nasty knotted stuff very effectively)

Because with the existing system you always know where both hands are e.g. not in the line of fire. Leaving one hand free could easily lead to having one hand mangled.

By coupling the levers together you are overiding a safety device.

similarly to my previous (unanswered) post:-

So are you saying that the ram returns "unstoppably" with the motor off and the hydraulics off ?? try with the mains plug out - does is still return? then there's your answer - it returns by a spring that you can't see (apparently). If that's the case stopping the ram returning with a block/peg/"heavy thing" should be OK IMHO.

Sorry, was looking at too many things at once. If the electric motor is held on OR if it is off, if the lever is kept held in active position the ram stays put at the end of its stroke. Only when the lever is is allowed to snap into its off position will the ram move back. Its backward travel can be halted by re-pushing the lever into the active position which makes two person working efficient, but frowned upon.

right - so does it still travel backwards when the mains plug is out of the socket??

If not it is somehow a spring return if it stops then it is a powered return - so we need to look closer to answer your question (i.e. will you knacker it by stopping it returning all the way up)

jim

Granted, but I'm not always averse to doing that.

I can totally see why they sell them with controls the way they do, and I'd entirely expect an employer to come down like a ton of bricks^Whydraulic ram force on someone disabling them at work. But me in my garden with my machine is a little different.

How fast do these things move anyway? (Never seen one in action.)

Pete

Why worry about your hands being mangled.

If both hands are on the levers, you are then infact leaning over and into the machine.

You could then easily fall into it when operating it and split your head open.

There is also nothing to stop a passer by or assistant from putting his hand into it.

The whole machine should be guarded as in industry, with a 6ft mesh guard all around it, flashing lights and a siren when its working. The mesh to be positioned at a distance to prevent splinters being thrown out.

My machine does not work fast, so it is far easier to have one hand free to help prevent the wood from popping out especially when the wood is not flat.

Looking at the diagram Peter referenced it appears to be a spring return stroke. I assume there is a microswitch somewhere that may stop the motor to prevent overrun/stroke at the furthest point and pump overload. Perhaps for shorter logs you cold have another splitter unit made up to fit in front of part 60 with another switch arranged to perform the same function as the original at the correct point. Set it up for the normal 52cm logs first and then readjust for the shorter ones on a later operation. The only restriction on speed might be the return of the oil back to the small reservoir.

Pete Verdon wrote "... How fast do these things move anyway? (Never seen one in action.) ..."

Not really fast, but if your partner, or you, are looking the other way it could trap a limb or jacket, or whatever.

NOW

For the word from the maker, AL-KO: Dear Sir, Sorry this email is a bit late in being forwarded.

With regards to drilling a hole into the main bed of the machine, this would compromise the hydraulic system and I would not advise you to do this. Regards ......

So, I shall not be inserting a peg into the main bed to stop the back travel. This terse reply does not rule out some other method of halting back travel, but I haven't seen yet just how to do that.

BTW, it has proved very very efficient to break another operational rule and have a working partner. The pile of blocked logs reduces with GREAT rapidity when two of you get to splitting. And no one gets a sore back!