On the quarry weighbridge - weighed in at 1.93 tonnes, without the log splitter or any load...

alongside some potential spares at the quarry

designing the log splitter - so far just the ram and a salvaged beam

Bernie using the gas axe to cut up some 20mm plate to make the top mounts

more designing of how the ram will be mounted and the dimensions of the cutting knife. New lathe in the background.

drilling out the top mounts using the pillar drill

Using a cutting tool to make the 35mm holes in the fabricated top mounts

Using the lathe to easily drill out 25mm holes inside some 35mm bar to make up adaptor pieces for the cutting tool

Top mounts, mounting pin (to be shortened), and strengthening box below - all ready for welding up next time

Once top mounts are welded in place, they are cleaned up

Top mounts and strengthening box sections welded in place

beam cleanup and holes plugged - will be cut down to size once stroke of ram and blade are known

Slider made up and designing the cutting wedge

not sure of this open top wedge design yet

time to unravel a manila winch rope

and then construct a Back splice and an Eye splice (with the help of a book and a tin of Export...)

So this is going to be a one-man vehicle then once all the chainsaw gear is loaded up....

another friday night in the shed - this time making the splitter wedge - second design

up close welding

revised splitter wedge before tidying

and this is the wedge cleaned up after about two hours with various grinders

Couldn't drill or saw the hardened steel ram pins, so used a tungsten carbide parting tool in the lathe to cut down to size

The carbide tool cut through the pins very effectively

another friday night, this time with a 2am finish- welded the wedge to the slider with ram mounts, shortened two pins - took 6 hours...

shortened pin in place - still need to add locking bolt on other side

wedge welded to slider, pin mounts made and drilled, and hardened pin shortened to length

still need to add pin securing bolt

need to tidy up knife front at the base still

knife now welded at front and tidied up with various grinders and flap discs

should be sharp enough......

don't think it will break quickly - still need to design and make a pin retaining mechanism