[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: Splitting wood

[Bob Korves]

I work in the heavy trucking industry, selling parts.  There are large 
hydraulic jacks that are powered by air (manual backup).  These jacks are 
also available as part of a hydraulic press.  It would be pretty easy to 
re-rig one of these as a log splitter, even without losing the original 
functionality.  Many of these heavy duty jacks also have a quick action 
feature, where the hydraulic ram moves at a much faster pace until it 
encounters resistance.  For some examples see here:

http://www.buffalohydraulic.com/category_2_Hydraulic_Presses.html

Something like this is really not too difficult to build if you have 
metalworking skills, scrap steel and an air/hydraulic bottle jack of around 
8-20 tons.

You will, of course, need an air compressor.

But wait!  A little further searching and air/electric log splitters already 
exist.  Doh!

http://www.logsplitter.com/log_splitter_12_ton_hydraulic.htm
http://www.westcoastminisplitter.com/

Note that these will be much slower, but no less effective, than ordinary 
hydraulic splitters with gasoline engines.  You wouldn't want to split all 
your wood this way.
-Bob Korves

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lawrence Lile" <LLile at projsolco.com>
To: "Chris Green" <pojeros at telus.net>; <Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org>
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 3:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: Splitting wood


>I always wondered if you could weld a wedge onto a handyman jack and
> split wood with it?  I think they are rated at 4000 LB, would that be
> enough?  Or would they not have enough leverage?
>
> Lawrence Lile, PE, LEED AP
> Project Solutions Engineering