Wood splitter table/ramp?

[Innovate1]

Getting ready to split a bunch of good sized oak rounds and thinking about how to improve efficiency and reduce the effort. Typically for the big rounds the splitter is put vertical and the rounds flopped on the splitter - basically laying on the ground and it is broken down to smaller pieces. Lots of bending over and scooting the big chunks of wood around on the ground - wanting to minimize that. Then shift to horizontal where you can do the work standing. Planning to put a shelf on the opposite side of the rail to catch pieces so I don't have to bend over and pick them up as much - have found videos of that sort of thing. Thinking about some sort of ramp to roll or slide the bigger pieces up to the work area so I could do some of the moderate size chunks horizontal rather than vertical with less lifting but not sure that is really going to be that useful - the pieces that big will be hard to deal with the large split pieces and keep them up on the working area. Looking for ideas or what others have done...

 

[NUTTSGT]

This is one area where I like my old school splitter that has the bottom of the beam about 10" off the ground.

However, it ***** bending over. It's nice to have the wife sit on a chunk of wood and run the valve lever.

 

[Prospecter]

I've wondered about using a hand truck to slide the big ones on to the splitter when using it vertically. Haven't tried it. Just wondering.

 

[zak77]

I had some 36" pieces of oak to split last year so took the tires off my splitter to get it as close to the ground as i could then used some pallets as "tables/ramps" to roll the rounds up onto then onto the splitter. Worked pretty good.

 

[Innovate1]

I had some 36" pieces of oak to split last year so took the tires off my splitter to get it as close to the ground as i could then used some pallets as "tables/ramps" to roll the rounds up onto then onto the splitter. Worked pretty good.

Some of these were that size but I cut them into smaller pieces. That big is really hard to handle even rolling them.

 

[alfadan]

What kind of splitter? Do you have a tractor with loader?

I built a table for my TSC 25 ton. It helps a lot. I don't do a lot of vertical splitting, though a piece of plywood under the wedge helps scooting the rounds into position.

Getting your process more efficient every year is half the fun I think!

 

[jack stand]

Looking for ideas or what others have done...

Simple, it's time for a mini excavator!

 

[larry_g]

Over in this thread, https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/firewood-lets-see-your-setups.524059/#post-10388117
I show how I do it. 99% of my splitting is done in the vertical mode. A couple of things help here. One is a pick-a-roon to reach out and pull in a round while sitting. As mentioned above have a platform built up so the anvil is flat with the ground, NO lifting or balancing on the anvil. Have steel toed boots so you can use your feet to assist in moving the wood. I custom cut a round to sit on so that it is the right height for me. I only get up to move a few rounds close to the splitter so that I can reach them with the pick-a-roon when needed. Once split a quick toss into the tractor bucket to move it to the woodshed. Throughout the process I am doing minimal lifting of wood.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Innovate1]

Simple, it's time for a mini excavator!

Or a firewood processor!

 

[jack stand]

Ya but still gotta lift stuff, but long stuff.
Get both.

 

[Beauregard]

Having the Wife (Supervisor-Safety Manager & Quality Assurance) running the hydraulic handle helps a ton.

 

[Firebrick43]

Convert it to a vertical table splitter. I built one a decade ago and it wonderful as no bending over or pieces falling to the ground after being split.

Mine is 3 point mounted and completely self made but this gentleman basically built a new frame to mount a vertical horizontal splitter on.

 

[Innovate1]

Having the Wife (Supervisor-Safety Manager & Quality Assurance) running the hydraulic handle helps a ton.

If you are suggesting that someone else run the control from the person loading the chunks for splitting that seems like a great way to smash some digits or a hand. Several years ago I had a friend suggest that and it very quickly became apparent that one bad move or miscommunication could be serious injury and we abandoned that plan. If your suggesting just get someone else to do it all that's a great plan.

 

[Firebrick43]

If you are suggesting that someone else run the control from the person loading the chunks for splitting that seems like a great way to smash some digits or a hand. Several years ago I had a friend suggest that and it very quickly became apparent that one bad move or miscommunication could be serious injury and we abandoned that plan. If your suggesting just get someone else to do it all that's a great plan.

A neighbor of mine growing up lost two fingers this way as his 17 year old nephew was running the controls

 

[WisJim]

I used a car ramp, the metal one used in pairs for oil changes, to roll rounds onto the bed of our splitter.

 

[Beauregard]

Like all things Wife related, clear concise communication is the key.
Eye contact and a nod work well for us. Being raised on a ranch, she understands machinery. She has been my side help for years in many dangerous endeavors. I trust her work. But you are exactly right, introducing a second worker in certain applications can be hazardous because it side steps built-in safety features. When we were young I would stand in the bucket of a loader to reach some projects. She was on the loader controlling the rollback. Stupid way to work, I know, but I trusted her work.

 

[Innovate1]

Here's an interesting lift. I just rent a splitter when needed so looking for something I can just easily add to it temporarily. I am going to add a table to the side with some lumber and maybe use a ramp. Will see how it goes.

 

[Firebrick43]

My vertical table splitter log lift is cable operated and hooked to the ram via a idler pulley to redirect

Post in thread 'Vertical table splitter build'
https://www.arboristsite.com/threads/vertical-table-splitter-build.256007/post-5018933

 

[scooby074]

If its just a splitter you get a loan of, look at the hydraulic tables available at HF. Theyre adjustable height and you can use it in the shop the rest of the year when youre not splitting.

If it was your splitter, I would have suggested turning the splitter vertically and adding a hydraulic log lift.

 

[jaw22w]

I built this splitter 42 years ago. About 3 years ago, I added the side arm lift. The lift will pick up anything I have tried to lift. Some big stuff. It is even a lot handier because it gives you a table to work off of instead of picking them off the ground again.
Pretty easy deal to add to most any log splitter.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

What kind of splitter? Do you have a tractor with loader?

I built a table for my TSC 25 ton. It helps a lot. I don't do a lot of vertical splitting, though a piece of plywood under the wedge helps scooting the rounds into position.

Getting your process more efficient every year is half the fun I think!

Bingo.

I position the splitter so I can load logs with the loader and turn and put the splits right into the woodshed.

The half of the first piece split goes Bach into the bucket while I work on the other half.

 

[alfadan]

I tend to get most of my rounds in the summer and load them onto pallets waiting for fall and winter to split right onto the racks to season. It's too hot for me to split them right off the truck and split them immediately, though that would be the most efficient.

 

[Innovate1]

I just put a plastic pallet next to the beam on the back side up on some rounds to get it to height. Sloped slightly toward the beam. Works pretty well as I can push part of the chunk there while I split up the pieces. Still have to life the big rounds but had an energetic teenager for help. Sure it could be improved but it was quick and easy and a big improvement from stooping over to pick up the pieces.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Like all things Wife related, clear concise communication is the key.
Eye contact and a nod work well for us. Being raised on a ranch, she understands machinery. She has been my side help for years in many dangerous endeavors. I trust her work. But you are exactly right, introducing a second worker in certain applications can be hazardous because it side steps built-in safety features. When we were young I would stand in the bucket of a loader to reach some projects. She was on the loader controlling the rollback. Stupid way to work, I know, but I trusted her work.

Ding ding ding

This is the correct answer. The person running the valve is doing exactly that, running the valve and following the commands of the split person.

They're making no decision on what, when and how to split. ... just follow directions.

 

[kenners]

In true Garage Journal fashion - I went out and purchased the log splitter with the log lift. Not as much a pain in the back.

 

[Spareparts]

A friend of mine's splitter is backwards, yes backwards. The splitter head is at the ball hitch end. He has a plate that folds up and then lays it on his tailgate. When he splits the wood it just pushes into the back of the bed. The beam is massive and he built a pocket on the end to put
different wedges, single, 4 way and a 8 way. Wisconsin 4 cyl engine (off a old hay baler) 8" cyl 3" rod and at least a 25gpm pump log lift.
Every thing you would want a splitter to be, Just a country boy using what is available to make things easier on his back. Next time I am out there I'll take some pictures.

 

[paredown]

I used a car ramp, the metal one used in pairs for oil changes, to roll rounds onto the bed of our splitter.

This is my system for getting rounds into the pickup when I'm out picking up wood. The splitting is most often with the Dirty Hands 25t running horizontal, which is about the same height as the tailgate, so I roll the rounds out of the truck and straight onto the splitter.

You can have the occasional problems though--I had one get away from me and crack the tail light...

 

[scooby074]

A couple things that will really help your back IMHO.
Pulp tongs and a Pickaroon. The Pickaroon is particularly helpful. That one is only about 18" long, but its long enough to stop you from having to stoop down to pick up rounds. For under $100 you can have both tools. Your back will thank you.

 

[Boilerhouse]

To answer your question, many years ago, I rented a horizontal log splitter, and to help get the heavy blocks up on the bed, I used heavy planks as a ramp and a fridge cart, and it worked well.

Almost 15 years ago, I built a wood splitter with a log lift. I roll a heavy block on the lift, then hand load smaller blocks onto the lift, and split away. I also have a large outfield table so splits don't end up on the ground until I am done reducing them to size. It has split many cords over these years.