Texasmark1
Well-known Member
As mentioned, the weather turned out absolutely STELLAR today curing the months of cabin fever in one day. I was really anxious to put the cabin project to the test so I did. I have some pictures.
Just to get the playing field level, this is not a whoopie for me. Yeah it is for me personally, but I am not out there seeking attaboys. I have them inside me. This is is intended as a motivator and possible direction to take for those interested in the same thing.
I had to put more money into it than I wanted, due to the pump requiring what it required, aka no lateral pressure like one would get from a V belt attached directly to the pump shaft.
However, I have about $700-800 in it and no way can you touch this kind of performance for that kind of money. Yeah I know I had the cylinder and home made splitter and those costs were already covered, but still.
One note before I post the pics, is that I wanted this to be a one man show. I did not want to lift anything so I deliberately made it close to the ground.
If you will notice I have a "hand truck" dolly or whatever you want to call it to haul the big guys to the splitter whereby I roll them onto the table. No lifting.
Cycle time unloaded for the 4" x 24" cylinder was 7 sec. extended which supported my calculations and 6 seconds for full retract; faster than calculated, but per the education I got on the www which I posted, I made the control valve 3/4" return line with a drive line of 1/2" and that did the trick. However in most logs I run 16 to 20" logs to fit my "Earth" brand wood stove so I don't run the piston all the way back.
The 2 stage pump is fabulous. You run out to the "resistance" at your high speed rate on your first stage of the pump. As soon as you hit the log the pump kicks into high pressure mode, meaning that the forward advance is very slow...specks are in the pump sales brochure. But it only takes a second of the high pressure thrust to "bust" the log and then the resistance to the pump drops way down, the pump goes back to low pressure fast acceleration mode and in a matter of a second or two the log splits and falls to the ground.
I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Worth the price and the effort if you are inclined.
Mark
Just to get the playing field level, this is not a whoopie for me. Yeah it is for me personally, but I am not out there seeking attaboys. I have them inside me. This is is intended as a motivator and possible direction to take for those interested in the same thing.
I had to put more money into it than I wanted, due to the pump requiring what it required, aka no lateral pressure like one would get from a V belt attached directly to the pump shaft.
However, I have about $700-800 in it and no way can you touch this kind of performance for that kind of money. Yeah I know I had the cylinder and home made splitter and those costs were already covered, but still.
One note before I post the pics, is that I wanted this to be a one man show. I did not want to lift anything so I deliberately made it close to the ground.
If you will notice I have a "hand truck" dolly or whatever you want to call it to haul the big guys to the splitter whereby I roll them onto the table. No lifting.
Cycle time unloaded for the 4" x 24" cylinder was 7 sec. extended which supported my calculations and 6 seconds for full retract; faster than calculated, but per the education I got on the www which I posted, I made the control valve 3/4" return line with a drive line of 1/2" and that did the trick. However in most logs I run 16 to 20" logs to fit my "Earth" brand wood stove so I don't run the piston all the way back.
The 2 stage pump is fabulous. You run out to the "resistance" at your high speed rate on your first stage of the pump. As soon as you hit the log the pump kicks into high pressure mode, meaning that the forward advance is very slow...specks are in the pump sales brochure. But it only takes a second of the high pressure thrust to "bust" the log and then the resistance to the pump drops way down, the pump goes back to low pressure fast acceleration mode and in a matter of a second or two the log splits and falls to the ground.
I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Worth the price and the effort if you are inclined.
Mark
