We make a device for chopping wood with our own hands. Pendulum wood splitter Wood splitter mechanical drawings

Updated:

2016-09-10

Do-it-yourself wood splitters are used, as a rule, by residents of villages and towns who heat their homes using firewood. Purchasing a professional installation is very expensive and beyond the means of an ordinary villager. In addition, such machines are mainly used in large enterprises. However, if you wish, it is not difficult to build a wood splitter with your own hands; its mechanism is simple and extremely useful in country farming.

The device for splitting firewood is divided into mechanical and hydraulic modification. Depending on the supply of logs to the installation, classification by orientation can be horizontal, vertical or mixed.

A homemade wood splitter is also classified by its power source. These can be models with electric or gasoline engines, or single-shaft ones with tractor traction. All these devices for splitting firewood differ from each other in the specific installation and individuality in terms of the operating principle.

However, all wood splitters have common positive qualities:

1. Minimizing forces when chopping wood.
2. Speed ​​and efficiency in work.
3. Optimization of physical effort: a person does not need to constantly bend over while chopping.
4. Instantly ready for use: you just need to connect the device.
5. Endurance during operation of the unit: it has the ability to continuously chop wood for a long period.
6. Versatility: even a person without any special advantages in physical strength can chop wood with a log splitter.

The disadvantages include the inflated price when buying a ready-made wood splitter, as well as the complexity of the mechanism if you make a hydraulic wood splitter with your own hands.

Simple DIY wood splitter

The easiest system for self-manufacturing devices for splitting firewood is cone splitters. They are based on a steel cone with a thread, which is driven into rotation using an electric motor. The difficulty in creating such a wood splitter can only be created by the cone, since it will need to be turned on a lathe.

Before you make a wood splitter with your own hands, you need to purchase the following tools and materials:

• power unit - electric motor or gasoline engine;
• gearbox;
• bearings;
• bed (preferably metal);
• working cone - gimlet.

All these tools and materials for the wood splitter are selected individually; there is no specific scheme. In this case, the device for splitting firewood will accurately meet all conditions and provide the required working performance.

A homemade wood splitter, which is based on a threaded cone, is turned on a lathe, then a spiral thread is made on it using a grinder. Next, the cone is placed on a shaft with bearings, where it is fixed with a pin for further removal from the shaft and replacement of the gimlet.

When chopping wood, the cone can get stuck in the log, so the ability to remove it from the shaft is necessary.

Next, a gearbox or spacer made of pipes and nuts is mounted between the engine and the shaft. The gearbox is necessary in order to increase torque, reduce speed, and also provide stable air pressure before each blow. The spacer made of pipes and nuts is designed to tension the chain.

The homemade wood splitter is ready, you just need to turn on the mechanism and set the cone in motion. When it starts to rotate, a log is aimed at it using a stop. Thus, the working cone, screwing into the wood, will split it in half.

DIY hydraulic wood splitter

To process a large number of logs for firewood, it is recommended to make or buy a hydraulic model of a wood splitter. In such a device, the main power component is a cylinder, the rod of which extends under the influence of fluid pressure inside. For this purpose, the design includes a pump and an electric motor.

To make a wood splitter with your own hands, it would be logically correct to use drawings with diagrams. The hydraulic splitter can be made on a rod or in a stop structure. This device is static, which increases the strength of the entire structure.

The lightest model is assembled as follows: a car jack is mounted at the bottom of the vertical frame on the platform. Then, instead of the cutting element, the knife, a conical wedge is installed. The upper part of the frame is detachable for easy adjustment to the size and length of the log being split. The wedge is brought to the firewood using a central screw, then the jack enters the splitting process. However, a do-it-yourself hydraulic wood splitter mounted on a fixed frame requires some knowledge and skill, so it is not recommended to make such a device without experience.

When choosing a specific modification, you need to take into account the following characteristics of the wood splitter:

1. The splitting force depends on the dimensions of the cylinder and the power of the electric motor. It ranges from 4-10 tons.
2. The maximum workpiece size is 0.5-2.0 m.
3. The location of the wood is vertical or lying.
4. Motor power, depending on the type of engine, ranges from 1.2-2 kW.

A hydraulic wood splitter has a large throughput, which is why it is often used for commercial purposes. However, it can also be installed at home; such a device facilitates convenient and high-quality splitting of firewood for heating a house, bathhouse and other household items. By building it yourself, you can save a considerable amount, but it is important to take into account the maximum diameter of the workpiece and the speed of its processing.

Procuring fuel for heating a house in winter is an important and responsible undertaking. It takes a lot of effort to manually chop wood. To speed up and facilitate the process, owners often mechanize operations as much as possible. In particular, you can make a wood splitter for home use with your own hands. Purchasing such a device will require significant financial costs, but a homemade 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 pieces will take a long time to burn and may not even burn out completely. Firewood that is too small and thin will quickly burn out without giving enough heat to the room. In such a situation, a self-assembled wood splitter, drawings, photos, instructions for which are prepared in advance, will help out.

Equipment classification

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

Based on the type of workpiece installation, the equipment is divided into two groups:

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

• Combined type. It is quite rare in homemade circuits. In demand 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 autonomous homemade products. They are highly efficient and, thanks to their mobility, can be used as close as possible to the source of raw materials.
• A mechanical wood splitter is a fairly reliable piece of equipment and is used when performing a relatively small amount of work. A homemade mechanical unit requires a small amount of materials, which is its advantage over other types of structures.

• A manual do-it-yourself electric wood splitter is stationary. However, with such a design, the user will receive a less productive device.

The key element in the design of any unit, including a self-made hydraulic wood splitter, is the shape of the splitting ax - 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.

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

Types of devices

Before you get started, it is advisable to decide on 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 design itself - vertical, horizontal, mixed type, rack or conical;
• method of splitting firewood - using a screw pair, according to the principle of a screw, using pneumatics or hydraulics.

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

To operate the cone unit, you will need an engine with the appropriate equipment, a drive shaft and a working element connected to the mechanism by a chain or transmission belt.

For normal operation of a rack and pinion log splitter, you need an engine, a drive shaft, a chain or belt drive, a gear and racks. In terms of self-assembly, this is a complex structure, the operating principle of which boils down to converting a rotating shaft into sequential movement of the working part.

If we are talking about a small volume of wood fuel, then a simple design - a mechanical or hydraulic wood splitter - can handle it. In addition to the fact that the assembly itself does not require exceptional knowledge, they are easily disassembled and work without an engine or complex equipment. This volume is enough for a fireplace, a bathhouse that 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 using stove heating, mechanics will not be enough. For these purposes, as a rule, gasoline or electric wood splitters are purchased.

Mechanical spring device

The least expensive to manufacture is the mechanical circuit. The force in it is generated by a spring. The frame made of metal square profiles is based at this time on a horizontal plane. The end of the workpiece rests on 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 drawing up of a detailed diagram, drawing or measured sketch.

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

• frame welded from construction metal profile and sheet iron;
• power plant in the form of an electric or liquid fuel motor;
• chain drive with sprockets and chain or belt drive with pulleys and belt;
• a shaft with a screw cone mounted 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, you must follow some safety rules:

• According to safety rules, it is strictly forbidden to use the nozzle directly with a motor without a reduction gear, which is usually a chain drive or an installed gearbox with gears;
• installation of the electrical unit must be carried out in accordance with basic safety principles;
• a belt or chain drive requires a protective cover to prevent the drive from catching sleeve cuffs, etc.;
• the optimal rotation speed of the working part is about 250 rpm;
• It is preferable to secure the shaft supports 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 presence of the braking system. It is worth considering that with a significant decrease in rotation speed, equipment performance decreases, and an increase affects safety.

How to make a hydraulic wood splitter

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

To make a homemade hydraulic wood splitter at home at minimal cost, you can use a hydraulic jack for these purposes.

The operating principle of such a device is to slide a wooden piece 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 combustion of the motor. The hydraulics build up force gradually and, when significant resistance is reached, can remain in place without breaking the structure or causing other damage to the machine.

Most hydraulic devices operate horizontally, however, the concept of both types is the same. The force developed is about 3-5 tons and depends on the cylinder used. For domestic conditions this power is quite enough. This type is considered to be more efficient than the screw design.

VIDEO: How to make a cleaver with your own hands

Many people want to make a mechanical wood splitter with their own hands. However, not everyone knows where to start. It is interesting to read about the design of a particular device. They look quite attractive in the photographs.

The retail chain offers those interested a whole arsenal of machines for splitting logs. Quite interesting videos have been made for some of them; the features of their work are demonstrated over the years. On stands near the proposed models there are results of chopping firewood into individual logs.

Why do we need firewood - improving fuel quality

There are quite a lot of energy sources in the modern world:

1. Natural gas is available over large areas. It is enough to open the burner and light it, and a bluish light appears, which releases a significant heat flux.
2. The liquid fuel supplied through the injectors burns with a bright red or yellowish flame. Even heat engines use different types of liquid energy carriers.
3. Coal and its processed products have a long combustion cycle. The reddish flame gives off heat for a long time not only by convection; a powerful flow of thermal radiation reaches all surrounding objects.
4. Firewood was the first available source of heat. They remain relevant today.

Many homes use stove heating. Baths and saunas, when advertising their services, indicate that they use wood of certain tree species as a heat source. Outdoor cooking traditionally involves the use of wood in the technology of cooking food.

Theoretical foundations of heat engineering - solid fuel combustion

To make it easier to set fire to wood, it needs to be split into relatively small fragments. After splitting the logs into separate logs, the surface of contact of the combustible material with the air is increased. As a result, instantaneous heat transfer inside the firebox increases in proportion to the combustion area. Therefore, the procedure of chopping wood is a technique that allows you to increase the efficiency of fuel use.

Attention! Firewood chopped into logs is placed in woodpiles. They dry out in them. The moisture inside the wood evaporates rapidly. The apparent heat of combustion increases, since there is no need to waste energy on evaporating the liquid located in the intercellular space.

In thermal engineering, the following concepts have been introduced to characterize fuel:

• The highest calorific value, implying the total heat released during the combustion of a specific type of combustible substance.
• The lower calorific value is the actual amount of heat, which takes into account the energy costs for heating the fuel and the removal of ingredients from it during the combustion process that are not involved in the process itself.

Therefore, drying firewood is a technique that improves the performance of a fuel cell. Preliminary grinding increases the efficiency of drying firewood, and subsequently combustion in a stove or other device for burning solid fuel.

Wood splitting process

There are different ways to chop wood. Traditionally, it is customary to strike with an ax, trying to split a sawn fragment of a log, striking the end part.

A heavy wedge (the ax is wedge-shaped) is inserted into the body of the log. If you come across wood without knots and with a loose structure, then even with relatively little physical effort, the wedge will be inserted inside. Tangential forces will push the fibers apart, causing the body to split into two components.

If the apex angle is made small, then the wedge-shaped body will penetrate deeply inside, but the magnitude of the tangential forces will be small. The destructive force will not be enough. The ax will jam in the resulting gap.

When a less acute angle is formed, the tangential forces will be more significant. They can split wood.

The rheological properties of different types of wood are studied in laboratories. Viscosity depends on many factors. It has been established that for most types of wood it is desirable to have a wedge with an apex angle of 25...30 °. Such a cutting tool has the best cutting properties in terms of splitting properties.

With slow penetration of the wedge, the kinetic energy not accumulated as a result of the swing and subsequent impact becomes decisive. The process occurs by introduction into a plastic body, where, when certain values ​​are reached, the bonds between the fibers are broken.

Research has shown that for wood splitters the apex angle should be 30...38 °. Then the penetration of the wedge will be accompanied by the breaking of bonds with less effort. Only some species will resist: elm, maple, apple, cherry.

For pine, oak, ash and a number of other species, a small penetration into the body is sufficient. Breaking ties is quite easy.

The length of the block also influences the magnitude of the forces. The shorter it is, the less resistance the tree has when splitting. Usually the length is determined by the depth of the firebox - the firewood must be placed inside the stove so that the door can be closed.

Mechanical assistants for splitting wood

A number of metalworking enterprises produce wood splitters. Based on their operating principle, they are divided into several types:

1. Cleavers are installations for chopping action. The logs are placed on special supports, and then blows are applied with a weighted chisel.
2. The chopping wedge is placed motionless, and the objects to be split are supported on them. The blows are applied with heavy sledgehammers, the splitting is carried out when passing through a passive working element.
3. Pressers are installations with a mechanical pusher drive. The log is laid on a bed, and then it is pushed through a flat or cross-shaped knife.
4. Screw destroyers are embedded inside the layered material. Penetrating deeper, they split even strong and twisted wood.

Cutting wood with wedge devices

Wedges are the simplest devices for cutting wood. In them, the level of labor mechanization is minimal. The main task of the device is the oriented fixation of the block relative to the cutting edges. The blows are delivered by the user himself, swinging a heavy hammer or sledgehammer.

In cleavers, the movement of the wedge ax is performed along a constant trajectory. The processing object is placed on a stationary platform. To maximize the impact force, the mass of the actuator is increased.

To soften the operation of the device, it is equipped with powerful springs. They soften the impact at the end point, preventing the wedge from touching the supports (preventing the wedge from dulling). Along the way, the springs help the user lift the heavy knife to strike again.

In a stable position, the entire system is in a balanced state. The moment created by the weight of the load G located on the arm L₁ is balanced by the force of the spring F on the arm L₂.

G·L₁ = F·L₂

It is most convenient to use springs from a car. For standard cars, the initial compression value is F = 8 kN (800 kg). Shoulder L₁ = 2.0 m. Taking arm L₂ = 0.3 m, the weight of the load G = 300 kN (30 kg) is obtained. The spring mechanism works quite softly, although the action of the wood splitter is based on striking the logs being cut.

The person lifts the load from the waist level by 0.5...0.6 m. Then the wedge is released. He falls and breaks the log. If complete destruction has not occurred, then you have to lift the cleaver and the block. With subsequent impacts, the weight of the entire system acts, and the impact is stronger. Even knotty cuttings will break when struck repeatedly.

Mechanisms for feeding logs for splitting

Wood splitters, which implement the principle of pressing through fixed knives, mechanize the main technological process: splitting logs into separate fragments. Based on the type of pusher drive, it is customary to determine:

• Hydraulic, in which the pushers are connected to the rods of hydraulic cylinders. The pump creates pressure in the oil, which is transmitted inside the mechanism. These are the simplest designs, since hydraulic drive devices do not have additional energy converters.

• Inertial ones use rotating masses. The energy accumulated by the flywheels is converted into forward movement of the pusher. The devices use special clutches that are engaged by the operator after installing a piece of log on the bed.

• Rack and pinion mechanisms use a converter from rotational to translational motion using a gear and a rack with teeth. At the right moment, the gear rotates until it engages the teeth of the actuator. The pusher moves the block onto the stationary knives. It splits into smaller elements.

• The crank mechanism receives torque from the gearbox. It is converted into translational movement of the pusher. Switching on (off) is regulated by a constantly open clutch. At the right moment, the operator engages the clutch, the crank begins to rotate, causing the connecting rod to move forward. The cycle ends with the return of the crank and connecting rod to their original position.

• Split nut and lead screw. The engine turns on, the rotation of the shaft is transmitted to the lead screw. At the right moment, the split nut is connected, the rotating shaft moves it, acting on the pusher. To return, the direction of rotation of the shaft is changed (a reverse rotation gear is used).

Such devices do not have high performance, but they take up relatively little space. They are installed in woodsheds (rooms for storing firewood). There they also split the bars into small logs and wood chips.

The machine includes:

1. An electric motor transmits torque from it to the actuator.
2. Drive and driven pulleys with a V-belt, a reduction V-belt transmission helps to increase torque and also reduce the rotation speed on the main part of the device.
3. The cone is the main working body. A persistent conical thread is cut on the conical surface. When rotating inside the body being destroyed, the conical screw part cuts deeper, pulling the log towards the support.
4. A wedge is an auxiliary device that helps destroy a drawn part.

The mechanism is simple, it is controlled by one person. During the work, you have to feed the block of wood onto the cone. Its design is more complex. The thrust thread is cut with a pitch of 7 mm.

Making your own wood splitter

Many residents of rural areas, as well as summer residents, have questions: “How to make a mechanical wood splitter with your own hands? How difficult is it to make a wood chopping machine?”

Even more questions arise during the manufacturing process. You can start with the simplest device. Having mastered the techniques of working with it, you can move on to making more complex wood splitters and more.

Step-by-step guide to making a spring log splitter

To complete the work you will need the following tools:

• Angle grinder (grinder) with a set of cutting discs and cleaning flap wheels.
• Welding machines and modern inverter-type household devices for welding steel structures are relatively small in weight. The process is carried out using direct current, so the welds are neat, and the molten metal of the electrode completely fills the joints between the parts.
• Clamps will help connect the parts to be welded.
• Measuring and marking tools will help produce blanks for future designs.

Materials needed:

1. Channel No. 10...16 (the number determines the height expressed in centimeters).
2. Profile pipe 40·60 mm (30·60 mm).
3. Rail 300…400 mm long.
4. I-beam No. 12...16.
5. Corner No. 30...50.
6. Bushing from the car suspension (it may have wear).
7. Pipes with a diameter of 40...70 mm.
8. A suspension spring for a passenger car, for example, from a VAZ.

Before starting work, a preliminary design is drawn. Some craftsmen have mastered engineering design programs, with the help of which they can work out the details of a future product. Manufacturing details are shown below.

An approximate diagram will help you navigate the process of manufacturing the installation.

The support is made from the channel. A stand is welded to it. It is best to use an I-beam for the rack. This type of rolled product has high rigidity. Under prolonged loads, it is quite difficult to bend such an element.

To ensure stability of the base, jibs are welded to it. Additionally, stops are created from the existing pipes; they will prevent a possible fall of the entire product.

A support for the spring is cut from the channel. A square hole is sawn through it. This will allow you to securely fix the element on the rack in the future.

The installation height of the support is determined by the length of the existing spring. At the same time, they focus on the height of the entire wood splitter, as well as its ease of use for humans. It is convenient to lift a load located at waist height. You will have to lift it slightly above chest level.

All these considerations will allow you to choose the height of installation of the spring support on the strut.

The corners are used to make jibs. They will hold the support. Then, when the wood splitter is dynamically loaded, there will be no displacement of the supporting surface.

To fix the lower end of the spring, you need to make a cylindrical clamp. A small piece of pipe is used to make it. It is advisable to select a pipe according to the inner diameter of the spring. Then it will not move during operation.

There is a slot in the top of the rack. A bushing is installed in it. Then it is boiled. When installing, you must maintain perpendicularity to the rack. The hub axis must be parallel to the ground. For welding, a conductor is used that will allow the specified conditions to be met.

The shaft is installed in the sleeve. A rocker arm is welded to it (a channel is used). A small piece of pipe is mounted on the lower part of the rocker. The upper part of the spring will be fixed in it.

In order for the rocker to move freely, a window is cut into it; its dimensions depend on the parameters of the rack.

A profile pipe is welded to the rocker arm. A chisel is installed at its end. These tools are made from carbon steel U9...U10. The hardness of this metal is HRC 60...63. This tool will last a long time. During operation, it is easy to sharpen it using an angle grinder and a grinding wheel.

The wood splitter becomes operational. A load (part of the rail) is welded above the chisel. For ease of use, the handle is welded. To reduce damage to your hands, wear rubber elements. They will dampen vibration upon impact.

To work, you will need to install a large piece of log. Logs will be placed on it, which will have to be cut.

The log is held with one hand. They raise the cleaver and then strike.

The cleaver goes down. The fragment located below splits. The chisel goes lower. If a complete split occurs, the point hits the wood support and does not become dull.

Organization of the production process

After making the wood splitter, you will have to start chopping firewood. In order for the work to be done easily, it is necessary to properly organize the production process.

The sawn fragments should be placed on one side. To get less tired, the distance should be only two or three steps.

It is advisable to place the chopped logs on a cart. The volume of the cart is small; no more than 30...40 kg of firewood will fit into it.

After filling, they need to be transported and placed on a woodpile. While the chopped firewood is being transported to the storage location, you can take a break from your main work. Changing activities is also a vacation.

Video: do-it-yourself mechanical wood splitter or how to assemble a wood splitter.

Conclusion

1. You can make the preparation of firewood easier by using wood splitters. The simplest types of these devices can be made by hand.
2. By following step-by-step steps when making your own spring device, it is easy to independently make a convenient impact wood splitter.

Owners of country cottages, who heat their homes using a solid fuel boiler or stove, annually prepare up to 12 cubic meters of firewood, depending on needs. It will take several days to prepare such a volume. To speed up the process, you can make your own cleaver - a special device for mechanized chopping of wood.

A mechanized cleaver will speed up the time of chopping wood and also save your energy

Types of designs

A cleaver is a modification of an ax with an extended handle (up to 1 meter) and a changed blade angle - about 35°. This tool is designed for cutting along the grain of wood. It will be ineffective to cut logs with it. The total weight of the product varies between 2-3 kg.

The cleaver is designed for chopping wood along the grain

Mechanical analogues, in turn, have some of the same characteristics as manual ones. Today, private farms use both manual and automated models. They are mainly divided into 3 types:

• hydraulic;
• spring (manual);
• electric (screw and rack).

Based on the characteristics of each model, it is necessary to decide which one to make, based on the required volume of firewood and the price of components.

Spring cleaver review:

Spring models with lever

This model of mechanical wood splitter works by increasing the impact of a manually stretched spring. A stand is pre-installed under the blade of the structure, on which the material for cutting is laid out. It is not difficult to work with such a tool. It is enough to place the log under the blade with one hand and split it with the other.

The design includes the following elements:

• a frame made of a profile or round pipe with a mandatory horizontal extended support;
• a lever connecting the support and the cutting element;
• on the side of the support (frame of the structure) a spring is attached to the lever, which will intensify the impact during operation;
• On the back side of the lever there is a weight (also to enhance the impact), a cutting element and a handle for convenient cutting.

Mechanical spring cleaver:

Moreover, the design can have not only such components and shape. The main thing is that during operation the firewood is held firmly on the stand and does not tip over. For example, you can do without a support and attach the lever to adjacent structures or a wall.

The diagram of a spring cleaver will help you understand in detail the system of operation of the device

A homemade cleaver for chopping wood has a number of significant advantages:

• easy production;
• low cost of materials and components;
• the product can be used without electricity;
• Frequent vibrations of the structure thanks to the spring mechanism make it easy to chop wood into any pieces.

The main disadvantage of the design can be considered the low level of safety. During operation, you can automatically place your fingers under the cutting element. Also, although using such a product makes the work process easier, you still have to work hard: you need to swing the lever and quickly add firewood.

Review of the crowbar cleaver:

Cutting logs with knots and so-called “slingshots” is much more difficult. To do this you need to go to one place several times. But even this does not always help, so you have to turn the log over to the other side and strike several more times.

Electrically driven products

Mechanical models of wood splitters with an electric motor, compared to manual ones, significantly facilitate the worker’s work. But the cost of such products is much higher. You will have to spend a significant amount on an electric drive and all the necessary components.

Do-it-yourself conical threaded wood splitter:

Such products have two varieties - screw and rack. They consist of the following elements:

1. Screw models. The cutting element is a metal cone with a thread. It is cut in the opposite direction relative to the rotation of the shaft. During operation, the cone, thanks to the screw, goes deep and splits the log into two parts.
2. You can make a firewood splitter with a rack and pinion transmission. The operating principle is complex, as is the design itself. The blade is installed in a horizontal position on the table top. A log is applied to it, and on the reverse side it is pressed with a toothed rack. Due to the rotation of the gear, the rack presses the deck against the blade and splits it.

When using mechanical wood splitters, remember safety precautions

The rack model has only one element of the classical design - the cleaver blade. As an alternative to an electric motor, you can use a conventional single-cylinder gasoline engine. It can be removed from an old motorcycle. You can also install a power take-off shaft from an agricultural walk-behind tractor.

When making a mechanical cleaver with your own hands, you will have to spend money on the production of a cone and a guide rail. All other elements, such as an electric or gasoline motor, a tabletop, can be found on the farm, removed from old equipment, and the like. But you won’t be able to make the cone and guide rail yourself without special skills; you’ll have to order such work from a turner or mechanic.

Making a cleaver is a labor-intensive and costly process, but its benefits will pay for it in full

If we talk about safety during operation, then the rack and pinion version is more preferable in this regard. The log is always under the frame, and you just need to take care of your hand. The cone version is much more problematic.

The deck can vibrate and spin randomly, while a person will not be able to hold it, since the motor remains on. There are times when clothes get twisted onto the log. The consequences can be severe. Therefore, special care is required during operation.

Ax cleaver:

If your budget is small, it is not recommended to make this type yourself due to the high cost of components. It is better to purchase factory analogues. The basis of the structure is the support frame. Besides, The hydraulic splitter consists of the following elements:

• Electrical engine;
• high pressure hydraulic cylinder;
• oil pump;
• oil tank with filter;
• blade, mostly cruciform;
• iron pusher.

Factory designs can cut logs with a force of 5-10 tons, while immediately dividing them into 4 parts. The design works as follows:

1. The motor starts. The pressure in the system rises to the required value, and the remaining oil is returned back to the tank.
2. When you press the control handle, the liquid presses on the cylinder, which, in turn, pushes the guide with the log towards the blade.
3. After the deck has split, the device operator moves the handle to reverse mode. The liquid begins to put pressure on the piston from the other side, which returns it to its original position.

A hydraulic cleaver will help save energy when chopping wood.

Labor costs when performing the work are minimal, since the operator simply places the decks and turns on the drive. Safety is also at a high level, since the person’s hand is far away while the device is moving.

Nuances of choice

The most difficult thing to make yourself is the rack design. It is necessary to grind the guide rack and the gear drive to it. You also need to correctly calculate the subordinate number and rotation speed. Other models of cleavers are much simpler to make, which is why it is recommended to make them at home.

The design and its type should be selected depending on the working conditions, the availability of materials and the budget for construction.

When choosing a cleaver, take into account all the nuances; this will protect yourself from unnecessary costs.

1. If there is no electricity in the house or it appears only from time to time, then it is better to choose a simple budget model with a manual drive.
2. The construction of a cone model with an electric drive is a little more difficult. To do this, you need to prepare a motor with a power of 1-3 kW. This way you can get an automatic cleaver model for relatively little money.
3. For people with limited physical capabilities, such as pensioners, it is better to make hydraulic models. But the difficulty lies in the expensive components. You can weld a metal reservoir for liquid yourself.

Self-production of a wood splitter

Making a mechanical cleaver for firewood with your own hands using a spring mechanism is not a difficult task, especially if a person has initial experience with welding. Although, on the other hand, bolted connections can also be used. In this case, the tools you will need are a grinder and a drill. They are not difficult to work with, so even without previous experience, making a wood splitter will not be difficult.

This diagram will help you make your own mechanical cleaver

The design of the cleaver can be any, the main thing is its power, quality of production and stability. But before production begins, it is necessary to make correct calculations and prepare drawings. In this case, it is not difficult for even a novice craftsman to make a firewood splitter with his own hands, and the quality will be quite good.

It is important to calculate what the optimal length of the lever will be in relation to the load on the blade. It is also important to adhere to the correct location of the spring and hinge, the distance between them.

Try to choose higher quality materials for your cleaver that will last you for many years

If you incorrectly calculate the dimensions of the structure, the product will not fully perform its function. For example, a cleaver can be very weak, so you will need to put in a lot of effort. The operating principle is easy to understand. The farther the spring is fixed from the hinge, the more power the cleaver will have, but at the same time the length of the lever should increase equally. You need to find the ideal place where the spring will have sufficient force, and it will not be difficult to subsequently raise the lever and tension the spring.

To produce a simple lever wood splitter, you can use available materials:

• shock-absorbing spring from a passenger car (VAZ or similar);
• a ready-made blade for a cleaver or a steel blank for self-production;
• a pipe whose diameter coincides with the diameter of the spring;
• steel pipes, profiles and other rolled metal for the manufacture of frames.

Conical threaded wood splitter:

To make hinges, it is not necessary to use a mechanism on bearings. The design itself turns out to be quite massive, so an ordinary shaft and bushing is sufficient. The same mechanisms are installed as hinges on gates.

The manufacturing process is also simple. In each individual case, it is necessary to rely on prepared calculations and drawings, and they may be different. All actions must be performed in the following sequence:

• measure and cut frame elements using a grinder;
• assemble the frame using welds or bolted joints;
• bowls are made and a spring is installed;
• At the last stage, the weight and the cleaver blade are attached.

If the structure is not very stable, then additional pipes are welded to the bottom to increase the supporting area.

Correct cleaver with your own hands:

The main thing is to adhere to general manufacturing recommendations and follow the drawing. For a simpler option, you can make an ax-shaped cleaver, but with an elongated handle and a heavy cutting part. Even the most primitive model will help the owner in preparing firewood for the winter.

The wood splitter is a modern machine designed for preparing firewood in both small and large volumes. In addition to its main function, wood splitting machines perform the function of trimming. Splitting firewood occurs quite quickly, conveniently and safely. In just 3-4 hours you can make a week's supply of natural material.

A homemade wood splitter is actively used in a summer cottage or suburban area, and more complex designs can be found in industrial enterprises.

1 Types of wood splitters

All wood splitters are divided into:

1. Household. This can be either a homemade wood splitter or a purchased unit that has low productivity. You can make a rack or hydraulic type yourself.
2. Professional. These include wood splitters and machines that have a large number of functions and high performance.

Depending on the position of the logs, they can be divided into:

1. Horizontal type. The log is placed on a horizontal trough. During operation of the machine, the log itself may move towards the knife, or vice versa.
2. Vertical type. The log is installed vertically, and a screw knife presses on it from above, dividing it into logs. Typically, this method of splitting is inherent in professional machines.
3. Mixed type. It combines two ways of arranging logs. Typically, such a mechanism is contained in wood splitting machines.

Based on the type of power supply, they are divided into models:

1. With electric motor. Their work is based on the action of a hydraulic pump. These are the easiest to use rack structures that can be installed even indoors. You can also make them yourself. The only peculiarity is the need for network access.
2. With a gasoline engine. These are more powerful and serious models that are used both in the industrial sector and for private use.
3. Tractor-mounted structures. They are used in farms, logging and other enterprises.
4. With combined engines.

Based on the principle, the work can be divided:

1. Hydraulic type, which you can do yourself. It is powered by a special hydraulic pump that puts pressure on the knife. He, in turn, exerts enormous force on the block of wood, splitting it into pieces.
2. Cone type. Firewood is cut using a threaded cone, which, as it rotates, cuts into the log, dividing it into parts. Just like a rack-and-pinion wood splitter, it is quite easy to make yourself. The only caveat is the need for a more powerful engine.

If possible, move everything designs are divided into stationary machines, which are entire wood splitting and sawing lines of industrial importance and mobile devices with wheels (hydraulic, screw, cone and rack type).

1.1 Making a wood splitter with your own hands

A homemade hydraulic wood splitter is an opportunity to independently make a unit capable of processing large volumes of wood. The power element in it is the cylinder. Its rod extends as a result of the pressure of the internal fluid. The motor and pump play an important role here.

The most difficult stage is the creation of the hydraulic part. It includes the following elements:

• cylinder with pusher;
• pump;
• unit that controls hydraulic fluid;
• oil tank;
• motor that drives the pump.

All these parts can be purchased independently or removed from tractor equipment that has failed. The frame for the wood splitter must be made of metal. For this purpose, angles, profile pipes or channels can be used. A homemade hydraulic wood splitter can be of a mobile type, if you attach wheels or chassis to the frame.

There are no specific schemes for how to make a screw, rack or hydraulic type. This is due to a large number of nuances that must be taken into account during the production process. In addition, each master has different possibilities in terms of the availability of components for handicraft production. To simplify the process, you can rely on the approximate designs of finished units.

1.2 Homemade wood splitter (video)

1.3 Step-by-step instructions

With minimal knowledge of drawings and metal processing technology, you can make a wood splitter in 1-2 days. To do this you will need to go through several steps:

1. The simple design includes a vertical metal frame that sits on a platform and jack.
2. The upper part of the frame is used to hold firewood, so it must be detachable. This means that the diameter and length values ​​​​will differ.
3. A simple design (screw or rack type) involves the use of a car jack. However, a more complex wood splitter will require the use of a hydraulic jack. As a rule, it is installed on a mobile or stationary type frame.
4. A wedge-shaped knife is mounted to another part of the frame, which will chop firewood. They can be of different sizes, since the knife is fixed in several positions.
5. In the middle of the wood splitter there is a bed designed for stacking firewood. As the jack handle rotates, the thrust part of the rod will put pressure on the wood, and the knife will split it.
6. The oil pressure in the cylinder will be released through the handle. The rod itself, with the help of springs, will take its original position.

2 Rules for using a wood splitter

Screw, rack and pinion and other types of household machines that are used for personal purposes are quite easy to use. To obtain split logs just place the firewood in the chute, which will squeeze them and push them towards the knife. The split product is collected in a special tray, which is replaced during the filling process.

A rack wood splitter, like any other equipment, requires compliance with safety measures during its use. They include the following recommendations:

• exclude loose-fitting clothing that can get caught between the parts. It should be quite tight-fitting;
• All protective equipment (goggles, gloves, etc.) should be used. Their use will protect the process itself;
• You cannot start operating the unit while intoxicated;
• the process of splitting firewood can begin after all wires and connections are carefully insulated;
• The unit is not used in the rain or in rooms with high humidity. Moisture can cause an irreversible process in engine operation.

• The wood splitter is installed on a flat surface;
• the workplace must be sufficiently free, without foreign objects;
• All types of wood splitters have recommended temperature ranges for operation. You can find them out by studying the instructions;
• the device is used only for its intended purpose;
• Broken or worn parts should be replaced in a timely manner. They can be identified by regularly checking the general condition;
• If an unexpected situation occurs, the device has an emergency shutdown button that can pause operation.

In general, wood splitters are indispensable assistants, both in the countryside and in industrial production. For your own use, you can make them yourself, following all the manufacturing stages. The result is an economical and extremely useful unit.