Making a wood splitter with your own hands. How to make a wood splitter with your own hands - accessible instructions with drawings and photos

A self-made wood splitter is a mechanism designed to facilitate the process of splitting large logs for heating a stove or fireplace. The attractiveness of the tool is expressed in the fact that anyone can make it themselves from inexpensive materials.

Device classifications

The design has many classifying factors. Wood splitters are distinguished by:

  • field of operation (private use, large enterprises);
  • tree laying method (vertical, horizontal, mixed);
  • engine type (electric, gasoline, tractor traction, combined);
  • method of transportation (mobile and stationary);
  • principle of operation (hydraulic and screw (cone)).

Homemade wood splitters are most often equipped with an electric or gasoline engine. The remaining parameters are individual and selected for personal needs. For everyone who is scratching their heads with the question: “How to make a wood splitter with your own hands?” We will provide assembly instructions for the hydraulic and screw unit.

DIY hydraulic wood splitter

More often hydraulic system To operate the device, it is borrowed from the tractor. Can also be used Electrical engine tractor driven or petrol. The hydraulic wood splitter includes the following components:

  • bed;
  • pump;
  • oil container;
  • motor;
  • hydraulic cylinder with stop;
  • blade;
  • distributor.

It won’t be difficult to make a wood splitter with your own hands with drawings, photos and instructions. a lot of work for people who have at least a little understanding of the mechanics of a hydraulic installation.

For convenience, we will show a drawing of the mechanism and compile a short assembly guide.

Instructions for assembling a hydraulic log splitter:

  1. We fix hydraulic jack on the bed.
  2. A wedge-shaped blade is mounted on the other end, which will allow you to work with logs of different volumes and lengths.
  3. In the middle of the structure we have a platform for laying logs. When interacting with the jack handle, the stop will press the wood towards the wedge knife, which will successfully split it.
  4. After splitting, the springs will return the stop to the starting position.

Such a device is not distinguished by its high speed of operation, however, whatever one may say, it is much easier than chopping wood with an ax.

DIY screw (cone) wood splitter

The operating principle of this type of wood splitter lies in the ability of a rotating metal cone to split logs due to the existing threads on the surface.

Don't try to make a cone yourself. This is a very labor-intensive and painstaking task. It will be more profitable to buy a ready-made version, correctly made and suitable for your future design.

To make a screw type, you should use this article and watch a video about homemade wood splitters.

This is one of the most common tools for splitting wood. It is easy not only to use, but also to assemble with your own hands.

Instructions for assembling a screw log splitter with a cone-shaped splitter:

  1. Decide on the power source for our unit. The example drawing shows an electric motor.
  2. It is necessary to select the correct cone. Depending on the size of the device and the logs being split.
  3. Make a plan for the location of all elements of the device on the desktop.
  4. Make bases for the entire structure. The working platform looks like a steel table with a fixed splitting shaft.
  5. Weld a kind of keel to the table to prevent log particles from getting under the rotating device.
  6. Attach the power supports for installation and place the splitter in its working position.
  7. Connect the motor. The device is ready for use!

It is preferable to mount the engine under the table. It will be protected from accidental damage and wood chips.

Operating principle of a cone log splitter

The power unit (in our case: electric motor) imparts rotational motion to the cone. You should carefully bring the log and gently press towards the cleaver. The cone smoothly cuts into the structure of the tree and splits it in half.

Screw wood splitter with engine from washing machine is the most convenient and functional option for home use.

In addition, it is possible to avoid the cost of purchasing a new engine. It can be used by removing it from an old washing machine.

A wood splitter is an indispensable device in a private home or country house. A large amount of information on the Internet allows you to make a wood splitter yourself using video or text instructions. The flexibility of the design allows the use of a wide variety of components. There is always the opportunity to select and build a unit to suit your individual conditions and needs.

Design and operation of a homemade wood splitter - video

Before the beginning heating season owners wood stoves and solid fuel boilers are stocked with firewood. Buying or preparing logs in the forest and then bringing them to your own yard is not big problem. And cutting round timber into logs using a chainsaw or a circular saw will not be difficult. Many hours of exhausting labor creeps up in the form of a heavy cleaver, wedges and a hammer, with which the logs are split into logs.

Such an unproductive and labor-intensive method simply could not be ignored by home craftsmen trying to mechanize this work. One of the devices that can easily and quickly chop firewood is a cone splitter. Considering its simple design and the ability to use improvised materials in the work, we suggest making a mechanical screw cleaver with your own hands. In addition, everything that is required for this can be purchased in the online store of accessories for screw wood splitters at manufacturer’s prices. The catalog contains cones different diameters, fastenings and ready-made kits that only need to be attached to the walk-behind tractor or engine.

Screw cleaver - what is it?

The simple design of the cone log splitter is very effective if you need to chop several cubic meters of firewood

You can split wood without much effort using a screw splitting splitter. To understand how this device works, it is enough to remember how, in the process of unsuccessfully screwing a screw into wooden slats or a bar, these objects split at the point of physical impact. It’s easy to combat this phenomenon - just pre-drill a hole for the self-tapping screw, and it will go like clockwork. The principle of splitting wood when screwing in a screw was used by home craftsmen in the design in question. But a simple screw does not move the fibers apart enough, so it was modified by greatly increasing the taper and reducing the ratio of thread depth to tool diameter. The result is a screw, which is a symbiosis of a wedge and a self-tapping screw. The device is easily screwed into wood thanks to the threaded part and breaks it along the fibers due to the multiple increase in the diameter of the tool.

Screw log splitter diagram

Depending on the design of the drive, there are several types of screw splitters. In some, the screw is mounted directly on the shaft of the electric motor. In this case, the requirements for the power unit are quite stringent - the electric motor must be low-speed (no more than 500 rpm) and sufficiently powerful (at least 3 kW).

The scheme in which the cone is installed directly on the electric motor shaft is suitable only for low-speed power plants

In other screw splitting schemes, electric motors of any type are used, and a reduction in rotation speed is achieved through the use of mechanical gearboxes, belt and chain drives. In this case, a pulley (sprocket) of small diameter is installed on the shaft of the power unit, and a large one is installed on the shaft of the wood splitter cone. The ratios of their sizes are selected so as to reduce the rotation speed of the electric motor to an acceptable 300 - 500 rpm. Sometimes, when using high-speed motors, it is impossible to achieve this without significantly increasing the diameter of the driven sprocket (pulley). In this case, an intermediate shaft and a double (stepped) transmission are installed.

Simplify the design as much as possible mechanical cleaver while maintaining high performance, it is possible by installing an electric motor with a gearbox

All structural parts are mounted on a durable frame, which is equipped with a folding table for ease of work.

To the advantages cone splitters can be attributed:

  • simplicity of design;
  • the possibility of manufacturing at home (almost all components, except for the cone, can be found in your own backyard);
  • high equipment performance;
  • low installation cost;
  • operation of the unit does not require operator qualifications.

Unfortunately, simple and reliable design screw cleavers are not without their drawbacks. A huge disadvantage of a cone log splitter is that wood with intertwined fibers is an insurmountable obstacle for its gimlet, so root and particularly knotty logs will have to be cut in a different way. The second drawback is the incomplete separation of the logs into logs. Often you have to finish cutting a large log into two separate parts by hand, and not everyone can do this. I would also like to note that it is impossible to make a log splitter cone without using a lathe. Of course, this can only be partially listed as a disadvantage, since there are many offers on the Internet for both the manufacture and sale of screws of any size.

Requirements for a cone splitter

The design of the screw splitter should ensure not only high reliability and performance, but also safety during operation. Therefore, when choosing the design of the unit and its manufacture, it is important to adhere to the requirements for equipment of this type and the recommendations of the craftsmen who have tested the machine in action.

Flexible transmission is a simple and affordable way to change the speed of rotation of the propeller when using high-speed electric motors

  • the electric motor power should be in the range from 2 to 4 kW;
  • to reduce the number of revolutions, it is recommended to use a gearbox or flexible transmission;
  • rotation speed of the cone screw - no more than 500 rpm;
  • the machine must be equipped with an on/off button (magnetic starter) and a residual current device (RCD);
  • the cone shaft is mounted on bearing supports;
  • the cone must have a persistent thread;
  • when driving with a belt, it is better to use double-ribbed pulleys and a pair of V-belts;
  • During operation, the supply of logs must be carried out with their vertical orientation, otherwise the screw may jam and damage the installation.

You should not follow the lead of the “craftsmen” who offer the simplest design a wood splitter, in which a shaft with a wedge-shaped screw is clamped into the chuck of a powerful electric drill or hammer drill. Such a device not only has low efficiency, but is also very dangerous, since it will not be easy to hold it in your hands with the increased resistance of the wood. If you still decide to use this scheme, then try to secure the tool to solid foundation to use it in the traditional way.

To obtain a mobile design, an internal combustion engine is used to drive the machine

What is needed for making

Making an “iron lumberjack” does not require the use of scarce parts, so most components and blanks can be found at home or in the garages of friends and acquaintances. Here's what you'll need during the process:

  • cone (you can grind the screw yourself or purchase it on the construction market);
  • shaft (if you make your own threaded wedge, you can use a suitable hub from agricultural machinery);
  • pulleys or sprockets;
  • drive belt or chain from automobile or motorcycle equipment;
  • bearings with housings (supports for car driveshafts are an excellent option);
  • steel profile pipes or corners for the bed;
  • metal sheet with a thickness of at least 4 mm for the desktop;
  • electric motor;
  • wiring;
  • switch or magnetic starter;
  • bolts and nuts M8 or M10.

Most parts can be used from old automobile or agricultural equipment. The only thing that may be difficult is making a conical screw. However, you should not even try to cut this part using a grinder, as some “authoritative” sources advise. The time spent is not worth the resulting misunderstanding, which can only indirectly be called a screw. Moreover, in operation this “carrot” will not even come one iota close to the efficiency that a cone made by turning will give.

Main components of a cone log splitter

If you plan to use a wood splitter as mobile installation, then you should take care of durable metal wheels in advance. A truly mobile design is achieved using a gasoline or diesel engine as a power plant.

When making a machine, you will need tools that any “handy” owner will have:

  • welding machine;
  • electric drill with a set of drills;
  • Bulgarian;
  • hammer;
  • set of wrenches;
  • tape measure, marker.

Any enamel for exterior use is suitable for protection against corrosion. It is only important to thoroughly prepare the metal surface for painting, so if necessary, prepare a metal brush (manual, or in the form of an attachment for a drill or grinder), a primer and a rust converter.

Preparatory work: approximate dimensions and drawings

Before taking up the tool, it is important to draw up at least a simple sketch diagram with the location of the main components and parts of the machine and indicating its main dimensions. In addition, you will need a diagram electrical connections, to work on which you can connect a familiar electrician. Presented to your attention are diagrams and drawings ready-made structures will help you configure the wood splitter correctly and avoid mistakes in its manufacture.

Layout of a log splitting machine

The most important step in the process of creating a mechanical cleaver is making a wedge, so let’s look at this in more detail.

The best material for a cone is tool steel, but not every turner will undertake to make a part from it - the metal has increased hardness and requires special handling. Most likely, the screw will be made of the most popular grade of structural steel - St 45. In this case, it is better to strengthen its threaded part with any in an accessible way- hardening, nitriding or carburization.

Long-term and efficient operation of the cone is ensured only if it is manufactured correctly. When placing an order with a turner, be sure to specify that you need a screw with a 1:2 taper and a persistent double-start thread with a pitch of 5 - 6 mm. Regular metric thread not suitable due to rapid wear. In addition, the standard screw thread fits into the wood much worse.

The size of the screw wedge and the value of its taper are directly related to the maximum size of the logs to be split, therefore, when determining the parameters of the drill, you can use the table.

Table for calculating cone sizes

The approximate dimensions of the bed depend on the operator’s build and can be:

  • height - up to 80 cm;
  • width - up to 60 cm (with folding table 100 cm);
  • length - up to 85 cm.

The most commonly used scheme is with a bottom-mounted electric motor. This will protect its rotating parts from chips and chips. If an internal combustion engine is used as the power unit, then it is installed at the same level as the wedge. This arrangement is more convenient both during startup and during operation, when it is necessary to adjust the rotation speed of the wedge, fill the tank with fuel, etc.

The cone installed on the frame of the circular saw eliminates the need to make another metal work table, makes the design universal and allows you to save space when storing equipment under a shed or in a shed.

In the process of designing a cone log splitter, they must provide a method for tensioning the chain or belt - using an additional sprocket or roller, slide, etc. It would also be useful protective cover mounted on a chain or belt drive. It can be bent from sheet metal and secured to the frame with screws.

Pay attention to how well the flexible transmission protection is arranged.

Step-by-step assembly instructions

After drawing up a drawing of the future design and preparing the necessary components and materials, you can begin assembling the mechanical cleaver. It is best to use ready-made instructions and carry out the work in strict accordance with the plan.

  1. Using an angle grinder, metal corners and profile pipes are cut into the sections necessary for the manufacture of the frame.
  2. A rectangular table cover and bottom shelf are cut out of a metal sheet 4–5 mm thick.

    Bed assembly

  3. Using a welding machine, the parts of the upper and lower frame are connected, after which the legs are welded to them.
  4. In the mobile version, axles are welded to the frame, on which the wheels are mounted.

    Wheel mounting

  5. Install the tabletop and shelf.
  6. Assemble the electric motor support frame and attach it to the frame.
  7. Mount the electric motor and install the drive pulley on its shaft.
  8. The cone working shaft assembly is assembled, for which the bearings are pressed into the housings. After this, the shaft is mounted and the pulleys are installed. The assembled unit is secured to the frame with bolts and nuts, having previously drilled holes in the tabletop. Once assembled, the main shaft should rotate easily. The pulleys can be installed on a keyed connection or secured with side screws, having previously made recesses on the shaft.

    Installation of the main shaft and electric motor

  9. Install the belts and check the straightness of their trajectory. If necessary, the shaft with supports is shifted by drilling a couple of additional holes. When rotating, there should be no radial and axial runout, otherwise the belts will constantly fly off and quickly wear out.

    Cone installation

  10. Using a keyed connection, a screw cone is installed on the drive shaft, after which it is secured with screws. During operation, the cone may get stuck in the wood so that it can only be removed by reverse rotation. Since reverse in this design is problematic to organize, you will have to turn the wedge using gas key. You can avoid its slipping by making flats on the protruding part of the shaft.
  11. Install the divider.

    The logs should be placed on the wedge in a vertical position. Otherwise, the screw may jam or break.

    You should be careful when splitting logs with large knots, as well as logs from the butt part of the round timber. The process in this case can go unpredictably - with jamming of the shaft, sharp rotation of the log, throwing large chips to the side, etc. An increased speed of rotation of the cone is also fraught with danger - too high speeds will not make it possible to control the work, so it is better if the number driven shaft revolutions will be within the recommended limits.

    To make a cone log splitter with your own hands, you will need minimal skills in working with plumbing tools. One day spent on its manufacture will pay off in the future by saving time and effort. It is only important to follow safety rules when chopping wood, and then this simple activity will not bring surprises.

Harvesting firewood requires considerable effort: it needs to be sawed, split, and stacked to dry. Most of the effort goes into chopping wood. A wood splitter can make the process easier and faster. They are presented in sufficient quantities, but cost a lot of money. At the same time, you can make a simple wood splitter with your own hands from scrap metal - pipes, corners, etc. Everything will require literally several thousand - if there is no metal, you will have to buy it.

Mechanical wood splitters

If the volumes of firewood harvested are small, a mechanical wood splitter can easily handle them. They are distinguished by their simplicity of design, a minimum number of complex components, and also by the fact that the costs are minimal, even if the farm does not have suitable hardware.

Simple DIY wood splitter: mechanics

The simplest mechanical wood splitter resembles a well crane. The design is one to one, only instead of a bucket a cutter and handles are attached. The connection between the rack(s) and the crossbar can be made as simple as possible - hinged. All you need is good lubrication.

The principle of operation is probably clear to everyone. The block of wood is placed on a stand, the lever is sharply pulled down, due to the force of inertia, the cutter gains significant force and splits the block of wood. The process is repeated until logs of the required thickness are obtained.

It’s easy to assemble such a mechanical wood splitter with your own hands, literally, from what you have - pipes, a corner of any size, you can even use an ax as a cutter. In addition, such a design can be made collapsible so that it can be transported.

There are many disadvantages. Chopping wood requires a lot of effort. Moreover, more effort is put into stopping the progress of the cleaver after the log has fallen apart. The second disadvantage is that such a wood splitter takes up a significant area, because the longer the lever, the less effort you need to put in. However, even such a primitive mechanical device greatly reduces the complexity of the process.

One option is for the cleaver to be welded to square pipe, filled with concrete

In this design, the cleaver must be heavy. Therefore, the blade itself is welded to an all-metal blank. A more affordable option is to weld it to a pipe (round or square) and fill it with concrete. Agree, anyone who knows how to handle wood can make such a wood splitter with their own hands.

Spring log splitter

There is a modified design of a manual mechanical wood splitter, which, with a smaller size, chops wood better and requires less effort. In this model, the main working unit is a spring, which is fixed to the frame, and its upper part rests against a stationary crossbar on which the cleaver is fixed.

In this design, the main force - to hold the cleaver after the log has split - is taken over by the spring. Accordingly, the main thing is to select the spring and stop so that minimal effort is applied, but it is sufficient to split even complex, knotty blocks. The spring support can be made movable. Then you can adjust the parameters to specific conditions. In reality, “reconfiguration” is required for a specific person. If one person will work with the tool, then you can do everything stationary, selecting the height experimentally.

It is equally important to make a movable joint between the frame and the lever on which the cleaver is attached. The best option- bearings. They must be of high quality, preferably self-leveling.

The minimum height of a homemade wood splitter is about 800 mm. But then you will either have to work bending over, or install the machine on a table/bed. A more comfortable option that requires minimal effort is made to suit your height. Determine at what height it is convenient for you to have the log standing, add the height of the log itself to this figure, and get the height of the bed. In this case, you will also have to bend over, but only when you place the block on the stand, and not every time the cleaver is lowered.

You can work with one hand or come up with a clamp for installing logs (more secure) Movable joint assembly and spring attachment - several options

To add mobility structures, a frame is welded, with wheels attached on one side and stops welded on the other. Making such a wood splitter with your own hands is somewhat more difficult, but if you have a spring and bearings, this is such a difficult task.

Vertical inertial wood splitter

Another easy option for self-made. To make such a wood splitter with your own hands you need two larger pipes and smaller diameter. You will also need a heavy plate - the base, and, in fact, the piercing part - the cutter/cleaver.

The design is one of the simplest, requiring little effort. A thick-walled pipe, or better yet, a pin, is fixed to a massive platform. Height is about a meter. This is the lead pipe. A cleaver moves freely along it, which is welded to the rings of a pipe with a slightly larger diameter than the leading pipe. He chops wood in the following way: lift the cleaver up and release it. You can accelerate down a little. Due to gravity, the log splits.

A heavy cleaver is the key to success in this model

But this mechanical wood splitter does not immediately split all the logs. To increase its effectiveness, you can add a weight to the cleaver. It can be “added” if necessary. The second option is to hit the column a couple of times with a hammer. This method is good if the cutter is stuck in the wood. An alternative is to lift the log together up and lower it sharply. But it's easier to swing a hammer.

Electric wood splitters

A manual wood splitter, of course, makes it easier to prepare firewood, but it still requires considerable physical effort. Not as much as they are spent waving a regular cleaver, but still... The electric motor helps make the effort even less. Wood splitters are made on its basis various designs. But making such a wood splitter with your own hands is more difficult. Here the device is more complex, and at least minimal electrical knowledge is required, preferably.

Screw (conical)

One of the most common models is conical or screw splitter. The only difference between them is the absence/presence of threads on the piercing element, which in this model is made in the form of a cone.

The logs split due to the fact that a cone rotated by a motor cuts into the wood, gradually tearing it into pieces. For large logs, first the edges are chipped off, then the middle is torn.

Taper and thread parameters

First, the cutting part was machined into a smooth cone. If you use a smooth cone, when working you have to lean quite hard on the block so that the cylinder “bites” into the wood. Much easier the process is underway, if there is a thread cut on its surface. In this case, the block seems to be screwed onto a screw, and then splits.

The main thing is to make the cone with thread correctly. If there lathe and work experience, you can try to do it yourself. If not, you'll have to order it. The threads are made in different ways, but the following parameters are considered optimal: pitch 7 mm, depth 3 mm (minimum 2 mm). Another important point is that the depth of the seat on the motor gearbox is at least 70 mm.

If you have a cone with a thread, making this wood splitter with your own hands will not be difficult.

Electric motor and gearbox

You need an electric motor that is powerful enough (2 kW and above, or 5-9 l/s), but with a low rotation speed: 250-600 rpm. At 250 rpm and below it chops very slowly, and if the rpm is more than 500, it is dangerous to work, as it can tear the log out of your hands.

If you manage to find an engine with such parameters, you can attach the made lance (screw) directly to the crankshaft (pictured above). If there are more revolutions, you need to install a reduction gear or make a chain or belt drive to reduce the rotation speed.

The ratio is calculated depending on the engine speed. For example, there is a 900 rpm engine. By making a 1:2 gearbox we get 450 rpm. Just the best option.

Transmissions can be belt or chain. Chain ones work many times louder, require constant brushing, and it usually costs more to grind sprockets with the required parameters. A double belt drive is desirable (as in the photo above). In this case, there will be less slippage.

Chain drive is noisier, but more reliable “Extension” for the screw - to keep the working area away from the motor or belts/chains

Where to place the motor

If the design includes a gear, it is better to place the motor at the bottom and secure the screw itself on the working surface. Choose the height of the working surface to suit your height so that you don’t have to work at an angle.

A safer model. Making such a wood splitter with your own hands will make your life much easier

There is also such a parameter as the height of the screw above work surface. The gap from the table to the cylinder should be around 8-20 cm. It should not be placed higher - it may turn small diameter logs. Optimal distance— 8-12 cm. Even small-sized logs do not turn.

Hydraulic wood splitter

A hydraulic wood splitter is the most powerful, but also the most complex and expensive to manufacture. In addition to the frame, engine and cutting knives, you need a hydraulic cylinder of sufficient power. They are not cheap. In addition, you also need an oil tank and a pump.

A hydraulic firewood splitter develops considerable forces, which is why metal of considerable thickness is used in its manufacture - 6-10 mm, depending on the drive power. The developed force is quite enough to break the log into 6-8 logs at a time. That’s why knives are made in the shape of a “star”.

When making knives, they are spaced several centimeters apart from each other. So that there is only one at work. For example, first - horizontal, then - vertical, then - right and finally - left. At the same time, strengthen each of the knives by welding reinforcing plates at the back. It is advisable to use hard steel, having previously sharpened it according to the same principle as for cleavers.

Video on the topic

Plenty for suburban buildings operate on wood. In the 19th century, cutting firewood was done by hand, but with the creation of mechanical wood splitters, human labor became noticeably easier. The very first devices were steam-powered and could not be built at home. Nowadays, you can assemble a wood splitter with your own hands. Drawings, photos, instructions will help you do this without any problems.

This device allows you to cope even with large logs and logs.

Read in the article

How to choose a wood splitter: product features

If your farm needs a wood splitter, then it is important to decide whether to buy ready product or assemble it yourself. When implementing the latter option, certain skills will be required. For example, you can study the catalog of components for screw and cone wood splitters from any manufacturer and assemble a reliable and productive unit yourself.


Other equipment options work on the same principle: a motor moves special knives onto the log, and when pressure is applied to them, the log splits. To create quality product It’s worth studying the information on how to make a wood splitter with your own hands and what type of device is best to choose.

Installations operating on this principle there are a lot of them and they differ from each other according to certain characteristics:

  • according to the log laying method. There are vertical and horizontal mechanisms. Vertical type devices are considered more powerful and can work with thick logs, but for a crooked log you should choose a horizontal device;
  • the maximum possible values ​​of stacked firewood. Depending on this factor, equipment is divided into industrial and household;
  • drive types. For household use It is enough to use an electric unit with a power of about 2.5 kW.

In addition, the mass of household tools matters. You can design such a product yourself.

Classification of wood splitters

To understand the drawings, photos and instructions of something you created yourself, you should know what types of these devices there are.

Classification of wood splitters is made taking into account the type of drive:

  • a simple option using gasoline or diesel fuel, which is characterized by autonomy and high efficiency;
  • for small volumes, mechanical type devices are recommended;
  • Stationary options include models that operate on electricity.

By design features and the splitting principle, the wood splitter comes in the following types:

  • electric wood splitter with a vertical log arrangement;

  • rack type device;

  • screw has great power;

  • hydraulic.

For everyday use, you should choose hydraulic and screw versions of the wood splitter with your own hands. The video demonstrates how to make such products yourself.

Characteristics of models with a cone-shaped cleaver

In electric and diesel devices, a cone-shaped cleaver is used, which splits the trunk using mechanical pressure and due to the movement of the tip of the cleaver. This requires little effort and minimal fuel consumption.


The device consists of the following parts:

  • a motor with a power of 1.5 kW, a number of revolutions of about 400 and a voltage of no more than 380;
  • the bed is a tabletop surface where firewood is stored;
  • The gearbox is used to control speed.

If you decide to make such a wood splitter with your own hands, then drawings, photos, instructions for it will be easy to find on the interior pages, and all components can be found at affordable price. Similar devices are used for small, and.

Features of a hydraulic log splitter

Using a hydraulic model, you can process a significant volume of raw materials in as soon as possible. The operation of the device is carried out by a motor and hydraulic equipment.

When assembling such a model, it is worth considering some features:

  • arrangement of logs vertically or horizontally;
  • permissible dimensions;
  • dimensions of the cylinder and features of the motor, which affect the power of splitting raw materials;
  • motor power.

It is more difficult to build such a unit than a screw product. This device has higher performance; it can be used not only for domestic purposes, but also for commercial ones.

Nuances of the rack and pinion option

IN rack and pinion device The cleaver is fixed to a rack, which moves using a gear drive. The log is installed between the thrust device and the cleaver. The log is split by pressing on a special handle of the equipment. After this, the gears mesh tightly, and the rack with the cleaver moves forward to the log.


The reverse movement moves the cleaver to its original position, and the split log is removed. Such a device operates from an electric motor and does not require complex maintenance.

For a rack and pinion unit, the following parameters are considered important:

  • possible length of the canvas;
  • a type of cleaver;
  • force that is applied to the workpiece.

A comment

Tool selection specialist at VseInstruments.ru

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“A rack-and-pinion wood splitter can be purchased as a factory-installed unit. Cone or screw models are not offered assembled. You can separately find a steel cone, and assemble the remaining parts from improvised means.

"

Step-by-step instructions: assembly features

At home, you can assemble any wood splitter with your own hands: drawings, photos, instructions will help you do it correctly. Each model requires a separate approach.

How to assemble a rack wood splitter with your own hands: visual drawings, instructions and photos

From the description it is clear that rack and pinion design you can install it yourself. To do this, you should adhere to certain recommendations and sequence of work:

Image Stages of work

Selecting a drawing.

Preparation of necessary materials.

Assembly of the frame. An important element is a supporting frame, it is made of a channel, I-beam or profile pipe.

Installation of structural parts. The pusher mechanism is being installed. You can install additional parts:, protective coupling.

A four-cut cleaver should be chosen.

It is better to equip the rack unit with a horizontal laying device, which is made in the form of a gutter.

Features of installing a hydraulic log splitter with your own hands: simple instructions, drawings and photos

Assembly of the hydraulic model is difficult due to the mechanism. You will need to find an oil tank, a special cylinder, a fluid flow control unit, etc.


First of all, the frame is made. It is better to mount it on wheels or a chassis to move the device to the desired location. The main hydraulic part is attached to the frame. Instead of a knife, a conical wedge is fitted, which is moved towards the log using a central screw.


Cleavers with motors are characterized by greater productivity. Their installation requires a hydraulic cylinder, an oil tank, a control unit and an electric motor. Such a device works faster than a mechanism with a jack. This requires less effort.

Using the control button, a command is transmitted to the distribution device to supply liquid into the cylinder cavity. As a result of this, the persistent heel moves in the desired direction.


This design does not have high operating speed, but it is distinguished by a certain convenience.

Helpful information! Most often, the hydraulic installation is taken from the tractor. A gasoline-powered engine is also used.

How to build a model of a screw wood splitter with your own hands: drawings

The easiest way is to assemble the screw unit yourself. To do this, you need to buy a screw cone for a wood splitter. You will also need a powerful, strong frame, a reduction gearbox and a shaft.


First of all, the motor and gearbox are mounted to the frame. A cone is attached to the shaft, and the mechanism itself is connected to the reduction gearbox using a motor. Important points to consider during assembly:

  • the nozzle cannot be directly mounted to the motor;
  • if you don't have electrician skills, then electrical mechanisms must be done by a highly qualified specialist;
  • Belt and chain drives are protected by a special casing;
  • The minimum rotation speed of the cleaver is 250-300 rpm.

This type of wood splitter works with the help of a rotating metal cone that splits logs due to a special thread. When assembling a screw model with a cone-shaped splitter, it is necessary to select the correct cone depending on the logs used. The base for the device has the form of a working platform with a fixed splitting shaft. A keel is welded to the table to prevent particles from falling under the rotating mechanism. The power supports are mounted, and the splitter is installed in the working position. Then the motor is connected.


A popular model of a wood splitter with an engine from. Three types of motors can be used: asynchronous, commutator or electronically controlled. The most common option is asynchronous motors. Older models have a separate winding for starting.

Chopping wood is an extremely tedious process, fraught with danger and taking a lot of time and effort. That is why many people who have to regularly perform this work try to purchase a special wood splitter or even make one themselves. Of course, to assemble a wood splitter with your own hands, you need drawings, photos, and instructions. But in addition, you need to know which model to give preference to.

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What types of wood splitters are there?

So, before answering the question of how to make a wood splitter with your own hands, you need to decide which model is the best solution for a specific user. Today, the three most common options are:

  • hydraulic;
  • electric;
  • manual (inertial).

Now let's look at each of these options in more detail, so that the potential user can choose the most suitable mechanism for splitting firewood.

Hydraulic

Perhaps exactly hydraulic wood splitter is the most popular. The fact is that it is he who has the greatest productivity.

When working with such equipment, you can easily and quickly cut almost any wood, including wet and durable wood.

The main element of this wood splitter is the hydraulic cylinder. A log is placed on it, after which the cylinder, under the pressure of the liquid, pushes the sharpened blade.

Thanks to the significant pressure, the work is completed in a second. High productivity 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 grades of steel so that you do not have to sharpen it often.

Alas, this type of equipment is the most difficult to manufacture. Therefore, to construct a hydraulic wood splitter with your own hands, drawings will not be enough - you also need to have considerable experience working with such mechanisms.

Electric wood splitter

A more budget-friendly option that also does not require special forces– observing certain technique safety, even a ten-year-old child can successfully work with it. The operating principle is similar to hydraulic. However, here the blade does not split the log under the influence of a hydraulic mechanism. Here's the main one acting force is an electric motor.

Thanks to more simple 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 location on a slight hill 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. First, you need to have a source of electricity nearby. However, in most dachas and private houses this is not a problem. Second, make sure the wiring can handle the additional load. A wood splitter with a gearbox, either a homemade one or a factory one, is equipped with a fairly powerful engine, and if the wiring is too weak, this can lead to knocked out plugs.

Manual (inertial) wood splitter

The layout of this type of wood splitter is simple, which ensures it a certain popularity. No engine is needed for manufacturing, and even a person who is not too accustomed to working with his hands can handle the assembly.

A blade is installed on a long, about one and a half meter, metal pipe. A log is fixed under it, on which a log is placed. After this, the user simply swings the main working part down.

Muscular force combined with inertia easily splits most logs that would be quite difficult to handle manually.

In some cases, the wood splitter is modified. For example, the working part is equipped with a spring at the bottom, the other end of which is fixed near the block.

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 problem log with knots.

You can also hang a small weight on the opposite end of the pipe - this will significantly facilitate the lifting process, although it will slightly reduce the impact power. Finally, on metal pipe

, in the area of ​​the blade, you can hang additional weight. It will be harder to lift the blade, but the blow will be much stronger.

The advantage of a manual or inertial wood splitter is its simplicity, unpretentiousness and the ability to assemble from improvised means. But there is also a minus. You need to have a certain amount of physical strength to successfully chop enough wood. And this will take much more time than when working with a hydraulic or electrical device.

Which wood splitter to choose The most common types of wood splitters are described above. They can be made by hand - some are simpler, others more difficult. But having a drawing, homemade wood splitter

Anyone can install it in their dacha.

Let's start with the hydraulic one. Its main advantage is high performance and ease of operation. But there is also a minus - it is complicated, 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 greater simplicity and power, which is not inferior to a hydraulic one. A very good solution for an ordinary summer resident - you can prepare several cubic meters of firewood with such an assistant without much difficulty. And in order to heat the bathhouse throughout the summer season, and during frosts to slightly heat the main living space, this will be quite enough.

Finally, manual wood splitter. As already mentioned, it is simple. Almost everything you need can be found at a ferrous metal collection point, paying no more than a few hundred rubles for the necessary components, and sometimes much less. But to work productively with it, you need to have good physical fitness.

Although it is easier to chop wood with an inertial wood splitter than with a regular cleaver, it is still quite difficult. Therefore, it should be chosen only by people who have remarkable strength, but who are unwilling or unable to work as a cleaver. However, if you need to chop just a few logs into logs, without risking your health (inept handling of an ax often leads to serious danger) and without getting too tired, this solution will be successful.

Classification of wood splitters

In addition to those models that were described earlier, there are others. For example, with a cone-shaped cleaver. Very convenient solution, most often created on the basis of electrical equipment. Using any sufficiently powerful engine (suitable from a pump, motorcycle or even a washing machine), you can easily produce high-quality equipment. The cone rotates at high speed - just bring the log to it and apply light pressure so that it splits along the fibers. There is no need to swing an ax - even an inexperienced user will take a matter of seconds to turn a heavy log into a pile of logs suitable for burning in a stove.

Drawing of a rack-and-pinion wood splitter.

Drawings of a rack-and-pinion wood splitter are also popular - many users want to make one 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 splitter it’s the opposite - the log splits on the blade. To do this, a blade is installed on a suitable platform (usually made of thick sheet metal). A block of wood is placed in front of it, on which the moving 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 scrap materials

Our people are distinguished by their ingenuity and love for non-standard solutions. Therefore, many craftsmen make a mechanical wood splitter with their own hands. It consists of a frame with a knife attached on one side and a tight spring on the other. A block of wood is placed on the frame (usually not very large so that it can be easily split in one go), after which the spring is tightened. This is done either manually or using a special gate. Then the spring is suddenly released. She puts swipe

on a log that splits with a knife. The mechanism is simple, but at the same time reliable, effective and does not require much physical strength.

How to make a manual wood splitter with your own hands Let's start from the very beginning simple option

– we’ll tell you how to make a manual wood splitter at home. In fact, it’s not even a wood splitter, but a simple device that simplifies the process of chopping wood and makes it safer.

  • To do this you will need:
  • a thick metal sheet (7-10 mm thick) measuring 150x600 mm – the future blade;
  • metal plate 5 mm thick and 300x300 mm in size - base;

metal rod (the cross-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. The 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 the log into the ring formed by the rod, resting it against the sharpened cross, and strike it from above with a sledgehammer - it will split into four neat parts.

If you want to make a spring cleaver with your own hands, you don’t need drawings - 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 passenger car);
  • a plate that acts as a knife (you can use an old cleaver);
  • hinge joint;
  • a piece of pipe whose diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the spring;
  • weighting material

When you have everything you need, you can start assembling:

  1. Using one channel as a base, weld a second one perpendicular to it.
  2. Prepare a site for installing the spring.
  3. Weld the pipe and spacers (corners) onto the base.
  4. Using a grinder, make a cutout on the beam through which the structure will be attached to the base.
  5. Weld the beam.
  6. Hang the beam with the hinge assembly onto the support.
  7. Install the spring.
  8. Fix the boulder on the moving beam.
  9. Weld the weighting material on top of the boulder.

The structure is ready - you can paint it to protect it from rust.

Carrot wood splitter

This is the popular nickname for a wood splitter that uses a screw to split wood. Here the design is more complicated - to assemble a screw wood splitter with your own hands, you will need drawings, photos, and instructions.

  • Before you begin, prepare:
  • the engine is quite powerful and provides a rotation speed of 200-250 rpm;
  • cone with 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 of a carrot wood splitter.

  1. Problems usually arise when searching for a cone - the easiest way is to order it from turners or buy it in a store; it is not too expensive. Now get started:
  2. Install the shaft onto the bearing and weld the flange at the back.
  3. Place the cone on the shaft and secure it.
  4. Weld the supports to the bearing to secure the structure to the table.
  5. Make a spacer between the engine and the shaft - use it to tension the chain.

Place 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 wood splitter , The hydraulic wood splitter is the most complex. Typically, the engine is a gasoline engine from a car or motorcycle.

  1. It’s worth warning right away - its creation will not be cheap. But the comfort of work and productivity fully compensate for the costs. So, what do you need to assemble a gasoline wood splitter with your own hands? and how much will it cost? – 14 000.
  2. Hydraulic distributor – 3500.
  3. Hydraulic cylinder 100x40x61 – 10500.
  4. NSh32 – 1500.
  5. Drive NSh – 4000.
  6. Hubs from a VAZ 1500 car.
  7. Engine pulley – 1000.
  8. V-belts – 900.
  9. 40 liters of hydraulic oil – 2500.
  10. Couplings and high pressure hoses – 2500.
  11. Flanges for NSh – 400.
  12. Metal plate – 1000.
  13. Metal profile – 4000.
  14. Fastening material – 700.
  15. Engine oil - 400.
  16. Rubber hose and clamps – 300.
  17. Paint – 600.
  18. 2 kg of electrodes f4mm and 5 kg f3mm – 1000.
  19. Wheels for an angle grinder (regular and clearing) – 700.
  20. Brush for applying paint – 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 proceeds as follows:

  1. Weld a 30x30 mm corner - a hub - to a 50 mm pipe. You should get two triangles.
  2. On the front axle, made from a 60x60 mm corner, weld spacers from a 30x30 mm corner.
  3. Attach the wheels to the axle.
  4. Weld a base onto the rear axle on which you will place the engine.
  5. Weld a strong channel frame.
  6. Assemble a movable structure from 80 mm channel.
  7. Weld a triangular platform from a channel that pushes the log onto the knife.
  8. 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 a comfortable and safe work. A piece of Kamaz spring will do. Fortunately, its production is relatively simple procedure– to make a firewood splitter with your own hands, you don’t need drawings. But you can’t do without tools - you’ll 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

You can use an empty propane tank as an oil tank. The work is as follows:

  1. Fill the balloon with water.
  2. Without pouring out the water, cut off the valve using a grinder.
  3. Create a sump - separate a quarter of the volume of the cylinder by installing a steel partition at least 10 cm high.
  4. Install a filter mesh equipped with a magnet 5 cm from the bottom. The filter will retain chips, increasing engine life.
  5. Weld the pipe - oil will flow through it into the pump. The fence should not reach the very bottom so that the pump does not suck up debris.
  6. Place 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 homemade wood splitter, made by yourself, that weighs a hundredweight or even more?

Equip it with small wheels, for example, from a garden wheelbarrow.

The most careful users also install brakes on the wheels.

But you can use several bricks to keep the structure securely in place.

What is the difference between a homemade wood splitter and a factory model?

The main difference is the cost. Even if you decide to make a hydraulic wood splitter, for the components for which you will pay about 50 thousand rubles, you will still save a lot. After all, the cost of a factory one starts at 100 thousand. There is no need to talk about screw or manual ones - they will cost several hundred or thousand rubles, because everything you need is available in many farms or can be purchased quite inexpensively.

Now you have a good understanding of the types of wood splitters and can easily make the right one.