Arms from the shoulders wood splitter geared drawings. Homemade wood splitters - design and manufacturing video

Autumn is not far off. And, if your dacha is heated by a solid fuel boiler, it's time to think about harvesting firewood. With a large volume of heated rooms, mechanized harvesting is clearly more productive than a conventional ax. Hydraulic wood splitter (or, otherwise, hydraulic splitter) - good decision Problems.

Varieties and principle of operation of the hydraulic wood splitter

It should be noted right away that it is possible to mechanize the process of obtaining firewood in another way - for example, using a screw cleaver with an electric or even manual drive. However, the hydraulic drive allows the log to be pre-pressed, which will secure the work with the wood splitter and guarantee better splitting. The pumping unit is usually powered from an electric motor with a power of 3 ... 6 kW, or from a gasoline engine.

The drive of the hydraulic wood splitter can have two versions - horizontal and vertical. Both are applicable, everything is determined by the availability of free space on the site of utility rooms, and - in the case of making a hydraulic splitter with your own hands - the availability of the existing pumping unit, which is supposed to be used.

Note that the vertical unit is equipped with a frame with wheels, which allows you to move it around the site. The presented design can be improved by using a tool with an X-shaped blade instead of a conventional flat knife, which would make it possible to divide the cormorant not into two, but into four fragments.

One person can easily manage the control of a vertical-type hydraulic splitter, although the height of the original log here is limited by the dimensions of the frame. It is believed that the longitudinal stability of the drive with such an arrangement is reduced, therefore, in terms of power, models of vertical-type hydraulic wood splitters are inferior to their horizontal "colleagues". To drive the device, you can use the hydraulic system of any wheeled tractor, and circuit diagram not much different from the one shown in the picture.

How to choose a wood splitter?

starting points selection of a suitable industrial model are:

The pressure created on the end of the split log. Depending on the model of the unit, this pressure varies between 100 ... 200 bar, which, in terms of force, gives approximately 60 ... 80 kN. Experts believe that such design parameters are quite enough to chop logs from ordinary wood with a diameter of 45 ... 50 mm (oak, sequoia, hornbeam, etc. exotic, of course, are excluded).
Piston stroke. Typically, manufacturers provide for the working movement of the piston (to the rod of which the wedge is attached) within 200 ... 400 mm, with a two-speed drive: for forward stroke 30 ... 80 mm / s, for return 100 ...
Type of drive. Depends on the specific conditions of the user. If the power supply is unstable, it is better to focus on gasoline or even diesel engines. Power consumption, depending on the type of pumping unit, is 2…4 kW.
Additional options, the most important of which are the mobility of the installation, setting the height of the workpiece to be split, the presence of a hydraulic distributor (allows to reduce energy costs during the return movement of the rod), as well as the control principle (the option with two levers is safer, since the operator's hands are outside the working area).

An important component of the choice is the price of a hydraulic wood splitter. The market for proposals is extensive, ranging from domestic-made units, the price of which starts from 100,000 ... 140,000 rubles, to imported hydraulic splitters (products from Sple, Lancman trademarks are listed), the cost of which reaches 280,000 rubles. Especially sophisticated models are not mentioned here, since they are focused on the industrial user.

Do-it-yourself hydraulic splitter

First of all, it is worth deciding on the functionality and layout of the device. For their own needs, vertical-type hydraulic wood splitters are more suitable. Although they are less productive, they are much more compact and quite affordable for DIY.

The next position is the choice of drive type. The use of a gasoline engine will give the unit increased mobility, up to its use directly on the felling site. The electric drive is much more environmentally friendly, and also easier to aggregate with a pump and subsequent control, but it is tied to the nearest electrical outlet. You should only rely on 220 V power supply.

Finally, using a conventional car jack, you can make a homemade device that does not require an external drive at all. In this case, the log, moving up under the force of the jack, will split with a wedge or knife, which are fixed on the upper cross member of the rectangular frame. The jack is mounted on a T-bar that forms the bottom of the frame.

The working tool can be made in the following versions:

A regular wedge (as shown) that includes a centering tool to guide the log exactly vertical to the axis of the intended split. For this purpose, a center hole is needed along the axis of the log, once in which, the wedge will then enter the log strictly perpendicular to its lower end. This will improve the quality of the cut;
A knife that will immediately split the log into two parts. In this case, the load will increase, since the area of contact between the tool and the workpiece will increase. At the same time, the quality of the cut surface will increase, which will eliminate problems with loading. solid fuel boiler;
X-shaped knife, which, when inserted into the wood, will simultaneously split it into four parts. This will also facilitate the loading of the boiler, in addition, the resistance of such a knife will be the greatest.

The jack can also be adapted for the manufacture of a horizontal hydraulic splitter. The device in this case should be designed on a wheel frame.

A hydraulic homemade cleaver works like this. With rocking movements of the jack handle, its rod comes into contact with the end of the log, and begins to act on it. The opposite end of the workpiece pierces the wood and splits it. When the pressure in the hydraulic system of the jack is released, the return springs installed to the left and to the right of it return the rod to its original position.

When replacing a flat knife with an X-shaped one, the productivity of chopping firewood will double. If, in this case, the pace of harvesting firewood does not suit the user. You will have to equip the wood splitter with a pumping unit. Here you can not do without acquiring a suitable type of hydraulic cylinder in the store (the parameters of its choice are described earlier), an oil tank, a pump of the type NSh-32 or NSh-50, as well as a hydraulic distributor.

For the manufacture of the frame, it is worth using a channel, and the installation itself should be mounted on a mobile cart.

Hydraulic splitter of horizontal type: a - general form, b - device diagram:

1 - Support beam; 2 - Stove under the log; 3 - Fixing fixture; 5 - Handle for installing a replaceable tool; 6 - Wedge; 7 - Log: 8 - Thrust plate for the jack rod: 9 - Return spring; 10 - Jack; 11 - Oil pressure relief valve; 12 - Handle; 13 - Back stop; 14 - Front stop; 15 - Power element of the shearing tool; 16 - Clamp for attaching the jack to the support beam

The wood splitter helps in household when preparing firewood. A sufficient amount of time is lost on chopping firewood and setting it to dry. There are several types of mechanical wood splitters that allow you not to apply great physical effort during work.

Mechanical wood splitters

A small amount of work can be done with a simple device. The wood splitter is distinguished by a simple design and the possibility of manufacturing from any material at hand. The performance of this device is low, but it makes it possible to safely carry out work on the preparation of firewood with your own hands. There are few perfect devices for chopping firewood that can be made at home.

The easiest and easiest option for assembling a do-it-yourself wood splitter is similar in design to a well crane. Racks are connected in a hinged way, instead of a container, handles with a cutter are installed. This mechanism works due to physical strength. The assembly can be made from any improvised means, you will need corners and several pipes, you can use a broken ax as a cutter.

A do-it-yourself mechanical cleaver has a number of disadvantages. For a more simplified process, an elongated lever should be used, which affects the dimensions of the mechanism. The most common option is to install a lever system with a more powerful cleaver. Due to the increased mass, the structure is easiest to pour concrete into the ground. This device is more compact, more efficient than its competitor.

Wood splitter classification

Harvesting firewood on the farm is a frequent business that requires a lot of effort. Before production homemade device for chopping firewood with your own hands, you need to decide on the volume, purpose of the device. The proposed equipment is divided into main categories:

Mechanical device - the presence of an engine, as a drive for a screw or hydraulics, electric and spring volatile wood splitters.
Design features - rack, vertical, conical, horizontal and so on, there are a lot of designs for chopping firewood.
The operating principles can be hydraulic or pneumatic, in the form of a screw.

The cheapest design option is a mechanical type cleaver, consisting of a rack and a support table. For more complex designs, such as a conical wood splitter, you will need equipment for connecting the engine and the rotating element itself. This machine significantly increase productivity compared to a mechanical device.

Using the appropriate drawings, it is possible to make a more complex rack structure with your own hands. The principle of operation is based on the conversion of rotational energy into translational movements, based on this, you will need Additional materials for manufacturing.

Wood splitter inertial vertical

A manual vertical wood splitter, the mechanism of which consists of a metal pipe hinged to a support, contributes to the rapid splitting of firewood. A cutting element for splitting is installed at the end of the pipe, which enhances the force of the load.

A homemade product of this type of wood splitter works by sharply lowering the pipe down, which, under the influence of the load, splits the wood. The advantage of the machine is the availability of composite materials that can be found at your own or neighboring garage.

The disadvantage is the increased weight of the cutting device, for a long time a person will not be able to work due to fatigue.

Wood splitters with electric drive

Hand tools and mechanical devices help to cope with everyday tasks. However, if mass production of firewood is required, it will not be easy for a mechanical wood splitter to make a large quantity due to the physical fatigue of a person. For an easier and faster process, it is possible to use electric motors on the structures of wood splitters. It is more difficult to make an electric wood splitter with your own hands, but if you correctly fit the parts according to the drawings, it is possible to achieve a design that does not differ from those sold on the market.

Screw cone

The easiest to make robust design- is an screw wood splitter made by hand. Two varieties are used, they differ only in the presence of threads on the rotating element. The breaking of the ingot occurs due to cutting into its middle, for larger ones, the edges are first broken off, then the middle.

Before assembling the structure, it is necessary to catch the components. The splitting part must be machined according to the drawing of the conical wood splitter. If you use a tool without a thread, you will have to apply sufficient force when splitting firewood. The threaded tip bites into the wood, thereby making the process easier. The tip is made on lathe with certain parameters. Usually such work is ordered in a turning shop, but if you have work experience and equipment, it is possible to make a device for a conical wood splitter with your own hands.

The electric motor for operation must be selected according to the parameters of power, the number of revolutions. Direct connection possible if the motor parameters are as follows:

The shaft speed is 300-500 rpm, a lower figure will be too small for work, it will delay the process, and a larger number of revolutions is dangerous, as it can tear the workpiece out of your hands.
Engine power not less than 2 kW, for uninterrupted operation of the engine with hard wood.

There are cases when it is impossible to find an engine with identical parameters. Then you need to install a gearbox or belt drive. Installation of additional equipment allows you to use the engine with the required parameters. The transmission is also of the chain type, it is more reliable, but it makes increased noise during operation.

Hydraulic wood splitter

Hydraulic type models are heavier to manufacture. For manufacturing, you need a diagram of a hydraulic wood splitter; when assembling, many parameters must be taken into account:

The location of the ingot can be horizontal or vertical, depending on the type of material.
The dimensions of the unit are selected according to the average dimensions of the processed workpieces.
The size of the hydraulic cylinder and the power of the drive depend on the force of splitting the log.

Making a hydraulic wood splitter with your own hands is somewhat harder than the rest. Distinctive features is uniform output parts, splitting speed. The tool can be used both for domestic purposes and for small-scale production of firewood for sale on the market. The force applied during the process is large, so the material in the manufacture of a hydraulic wood splitter with your own hands must have sufficient thickness. The cutting blades are set in the shape of a square or an asterisk to cut the ingot into several pieces in one process.

Mechanical spring splitter

A modified version of the manual cleaver is a mechanical spring device. The wood splitter operates on the principle of centrifugal force, the main purpose of the design is to keep the cleaver with an impressive mass at the end of the cycle. The spring must be made movable to adjust the force applied to stop the cleaver. A do-it-yourself device should have a height corresponding to the height of a person, for the least stress.

The log clip is made for safety reasons. The frame mechanism experiences constant loads, so it is necessary to make it from double material. For possible mobility, it is possible to install wheels on one of the sides for movement.

Simple do-it-yourself wood splitter mechanic

A common type of wood splitter is a rack type mechanism. The principle of operation consists of starting the cycle, after which all the elements are coupled, the pusher rests against the workpiece and the cutting process takes place by connecting to the knife. To make a homemade wood splitter, you will need the following items:

Drive, usually an electric motor is used. In places where there is no electricity, it is possible to use an engine powered by combustible mixtures.
The transmission pulley is on the shaft, the transmission is connected by a belt.
Gear gear located at the end of the secondary shaft.
deck frame, cutting knife, control lever.

The engine must be selected with a large margin of power. A do-it-yourself rack type wood splitter can be used with all types of wood. Control over the safety, load on the engine is achieved through improved transmission and smoothness of effort.

Also, the mechanical wood splitter has a simple design with a screw design. The smallest amount of manufacturing costs make it indispensable in the economy. With my own hands, it is possible to make a tool with an old electric motor, a prepared conical screw, basic knowledge in electrics to connect the engine to a starting device.

How to make a wood splitter mobile

A mobile wood splitter is needed in situations where the device needs to be moved over a long distance. Attached wheels make the wood splitter mobile.

It is necessary to take into account the weight of the manufactured structure, calculate the load on the axle.

For safe operation, it is necessary to block the wheels or use the footrests while using the tool.

How to choose a wood splitter product features

The choice of device model depends on the intended use. A hand-made tool will turn out to be a budget option, and a tool bought on the market will save time and has a guarantee. The price of powerful models of wood splitters in stores can be up to 100 thousand rubles.

A self-made tool can be used for its intended purpose. The ability to add or remove features can save a lot of money in production. The only major difference will be appearance, since a self-made device is not so neat and harmonious.

For industrial or commercial use the best option there will be a purchase of a finished unit. There are models on the market with different type engines and options for sawing ingots.

Advantages and disadvantages of using a wood splitter

Before making any unit with your own hands, you should ask yourself if it is so necessary on the farm. Buying or making a device yourself will require a lot of financial costs and effort, you need to weigh all the advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of the device include.

Physical activity per person. The machine operator only loads, controls the process, the main physical work is performed by the wood splitter mechanism.
A device that includes an electric drive will cope with the tasks faster than doing the work manually.
Convenient use preserves health and physical strength.

There are noticeably fewer drawbacks during operation, but still they are present, like with every device.

Complex design of some models. For a more even log, a hydraulic log splitter is used in the end result. To make such a mechanism at home with your own hands is expensive and takes enough time.
The high cost of finished structures. Buying a ready-made wood splitter will save time on manufacturing, however, the cost of some models is so high that it does not justify itself during use.

It must be understood that for small area purchase of equipment is not advisable. Having a clear purpose and constant sale of firewood, you should think about buying or making a wood splitter with your own hands.

Procurement of fuel for home heating in winter period 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;
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. Helpful in such a situation assembled log splitter with their 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 in garage conditions to assemble a mechanical wood splitter with your own hands, 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. Ready 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. By self-assembly it 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 simple design- 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

V Lately 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 preliminary preparation 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. Desirable ready product harden to give it the required 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 electric circuit is that in the second case, the electric drive will push the stump even with high resistance, which can lead to combustion of the motor. 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

Nowadays, stove heating is gradually becoming a thing of the past. In most private houses, as well as in apartments, there are batteries; in addition, electric convectors are used to heat the room. However, many summer residents and rural residents are in no hurry to part with Russian stoves. Well-made ovens have many advantages: they provide a lot of heat, you can cook delicious dishes in the oven and make homebaked bread. And if the house has a stove, then you need to prepare firewood for the future.

Of course, you can buy firewood from an ad in local newspapers. Usually there are many such ads, but heating material manufacturers often deceive buyers by offering low-quality goods at a high price. Therefore, most fans furnace heating prefer prepare firewood yourself. In Russia, chopping wood was traditionally considered a male job. But if the cutting device is comfortable and not heavy in weight, a woman or teenager will do a great job with this job. Easiest to work using a cleaver made by hand at home.

Why it is worth making a cleaver

The cleaver is the simplest device for chopping firewood. Of course, you can buy such an ax in a specialized store or order it on a thematic website. However, the cost of such devices industrial production sometimes it reaches twenty thousand rubles. It makes sense to buy such things only if a lot of firewood is used to heat the room. If we are talking about a small house in which a family of three or four lives, buying such a “gadget” is unprofitable. It is much easier to make a cleaver with your own hands, and here's why:

The simplest do-it-yourself cleaver looks about the same as an ordinary ax, but with a small feature.

Ax making process

The little "secret" of a do-it-yourself cleaver is that it has a shifted center of gravity. The “secret” cleaver is an ax with a curved wooden stick neatly embedded in the blade. During cutting, this stick acts as a lever and helps to split the logs without much effort. Due to the shifted center of gravity, the force that the woodcutter puts into the blow increases several times. In order to make a device for chopping firewood with your own hands, you will need:

First, a handle is machined on a lathe, the master can adjust the length “for himself”. It is not recommended to make the handle too short, as it will be inconvenient to work. If the handle is too long, this will reduce the force invested in the blow. Perfect option - measure the length of the handle on a standard ax industrial production and adhere to this length (with minor errors in one direction or another, taking into account the physical constitution of the one who will chop the wood). If the woodcutter has long arms, the handle may be slightly shorter than normal. And, conversely, for a person with short limbs, it is better to lengthen it a little.

The second stage of work is the manufacture, sharpening and the most reliable fastening of the blade to the handle. Further, the center of gravity shifts at the cleaver, for this a long curved stick is neatly built into the blade. After that, the homemade cleaver is ready for use.

How to chop wood correctly

Many summer residents chop wood, putting a log on the ground, but experienced woodcutters categorically do not recommend doing this, and here's why:

This is dangerous, because you can hit the leg with an ax and get seriously injured.
This is inconvenient because the woodcutter has to bend down low. It is especially difficult to bend over obese people.
This has a bad effect on the quality of firewood, since a log lying on the ground instantly becomes damp.

It is best to use a special metal structure, resembling a machine tool in its shape. In the middle of the machine there is a chute into which a log is placed: here it is securely fixed and does not pop out. When the log, or “block”, lies flat in its place, the woodcutter takes the cleaver and raises it up for a blow and, with a sharp movement, lowers it onto the log. If the blow is made correctly, the block splits into pieces. The main thing is to correctly calculate the impact force, then these parts will turn out to be even and neat, but this comes with experience.

Never raise the cleaver too high, because the impact force from this will not increase, but, on the contrary, will weaken. Also, do not swing the ax before making a blow: the woodcutter does not need to waste extra strength.

Log storage

When all the firewood is split, they need to be put in a woodpile. A typical mistake of many summer residents and rural residents is that they dump ready-made firewood in a pile. This cannot be done, because a shaky structure can quickly fall apart if at least one log lies unsuccessfully. But the most important thing is that firewood piled up does not dry well, which means that they can become infected with fungus and mold.

You need to stack firewood carefully, in much the same way as children, when playing, stack the designer's cubes. Chumps, beautifully stacked in a woodpile, look spectacular and make a good impression on the neighbors in the country. It is also convenient to get them when it becomes necessary to bring a few poles home. It is necessary to store firewood only under a special canopy so that rain does not fall on it. If they are in the open air, you should cover the wood from the rain with a tarpaulin or plastic wrap.

People who buy firewood through an ad, often complain about the dampness of the imported wood. In this case, the logs must be dried immediately and only then folded into a neat stack.

Chopping firewood with a homemade cleaver is not as difficult as it seems. The main thing is that the ax is comfortable and sharp enough . There is a common misconception about that with a sharp ax you can easily injure yourself. In fact, lumberjacks most often get injured precisely because the cleaver is not sharp enough. Having made an ax with your own hands and adapting it “for yourself”, a summer resident or a villager will be able to significantly facilitate the annual work of procuring fuel for a Russian stove. It is much easier and cheaper than buying expensive equipment or buying someone else's firewood of dubious quality.

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 best solution for a specific 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, the 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. Here is the main active force is an 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, motorcycle or even washing machine), you can easily produce high-quality equipment. The cone rotates at high speed - it is enough to bring a log to it and slightly push it to split 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 from the very simple option- we will 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:

Using one channel as a base, weld the second one perpendicular to it.
Prepare a platform for installing the spring.
Weld the pipe and spacers (corners) onto the base.
Make a cutout on the beam with a grinder through which the structure will be attached to the base.
Weld the beam.
Hang the beam with the articulated joint on the support.
Install the spring.
Fix the boulder on the movable beam.
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:

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

Engine for 12-14 horsepower - 14,000.
Hydrodistributor - 3500.
Hydraulic cylinder 100x40x61 - 10500.
NSh32 - 1500.
Drive NSh - 4000.
Hubs from a VAZ-1500 car.
Pulley for the engine - 1000.
V-belts - 900.
40 liters hydraulic oil – 2500.
Couplings and high pressure hoses - 2500.
Flanges for NSh - 400.
Metal plate - 1000.
Metal profile - 4000.
Mounting material - 700.
Engine oil - 400.
Rubber hose and clamps - 300.
Paint - 600.
2 kg of electrodes f4mm and 5 kg f3mm - 1000.
Discs for a grinder (regular and cleanup) - 700.
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:

Weld a 30x30 mm corner to the 50 mm pipe - the hubs. You should get two triangles.
On the front axle, made from an angle of 60x60 mm, weld spacers from an angle of 30x30 mm.
Attach the wheels to the axle.
On the rear axle, weld the base on which you will lay the engine.
Weld a solid frame from the channel.
Assemble the movable structure from an 80 mm channel.
Weld a triangular platform from the channel, pushing the log onto the knife.
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:

Fill the balloon with water.
Without pouring out the water, cut the valve with a grinder.
Create a sump - separate a quarter of the volume of the cylinder by installing a steel partition at least 10 cm high.
Install the filter mesh equipped with a magnet 5 cm from the bottom. The filter will retain chips, increasing engine life.
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.
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.