Above 1200 Sq/FT 50x40 Mountain Shop

[dan1554]

Went with some picture frame window trim. Still finishing it up and trying to decide if I should add cove cove molding. Decisions decisions.

This is the first time I've ever used a table saw, and it seems like a super power being able to rip things to size.

I've said it a bunch before, but between young kids and work, things go really slow, and it makes it hard to call things "done". I mean truly done. Good enough is nominal around here, but trying to buck the trend.

 

[dan1554]

Heating the shop office now means we're going through wood much faster so I needed to spend some time splitting. Last year I picked up a non-running splitter from a neighbor for $100. Threw a new $20 carb on it, and was off to the races. That was until the 'easy access' oil drain the PO put on it decided to work its way open from the vibrations and dump all of the oil on to the ground. I caught it when the engine started smoking. Too late. Pulled it in to the garage, gave it new oil and ditched the oil drain valve for a regular bolt. Ran it for a minute before the bottom end exited the case.



So fast forward a few months, and I picked up the cheapest vertical shaft motor I could find - a new briggs with 2x the power and electric start. Its too much power for the hydraulic pump to use efficiently, so I've been running it a hair over half throttle which saves on fuel and noise. Maybe one day I'll start fiddling with a different pump and turn it in to a fast-action finger-severing machine.



Ultimately I'll get the funds together to grab the air-water heat pump and some solar panels, but for now, its wood.

 

[SilverJimmy]

Running your splitter @ 1/2 throttle is probably a good idea. I got a splitter from my father after he passed. He had used it when he lived off-grid, split a lot of oak and madrone and ran the splitter wide open. The vibrations have caused the thing to crack in a couple spots. The motor plate will be an easy fix, I can weld it right up, but the oil reservoir being cracked is going to be tough to fix. I really don’t think I can ever get the cracked area clean enough to do a good weld repair. I think I’ll have to build a new tank, but out of thicker material. And like your splitter the oil tank is also the main body and where the axles and wheels are attached. Nice Crusher too, we have a 1992 that is almost to 300k, I think it’ll outlive me!

 

[dan1554]

@SilverJimmy Yeah the vibes on the old engine were pretty awful. I could see it tearing things apart if it hadn't decided to put itself out of its misery. Thankfully this new unit seems better balanced, or isn't rattling in its bearings. Anyway cheers to fixing up splitters and old LCs. Heres a better shot of the new engine partway through install, and the carnage on the old.