How to add a log lift to your splitter and more

Just things you can do to an entry level splitter to make it more productive and easy to use.

[@Richardson501]

Ok, I'm now going to use your video to build my table. I'm 63 and struggling to either lift or role my logs to the splitter. I like seeing details you provided with this video, you have helped a lot. Thanks. I do suggest that as you get older, find a way to raise your bed so your not bent over like you are. If I can come up with a way, I'll post it for all to copy. Back again, with how well your splitter is handling those rounds, might I suggest welding a horizontal blade to your vertical blade. If you do, be sure the new blade is off set from the vertical about an inch or so so that the cylinder isn't trying to split 4 ways at one time.

[@cappy208]

And You Sir are a perfect example of ‘getting it done’. Thanks for sharing.

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

Thanks for the kind words, enjoy your day.

[@philliphall5198]

I like how you cover it up and take care of it, shows you know what it means to have something you worked hard for over the years 😊

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

Thanks for the kind comments and yes I try to take care of it as it has taken care of me for over 30 years. At 77yrs I needed those updates to be able to continue putting up my own wood and helping others.

[@TheGoatShowMan]

That cable and pulley system is genius. Well done! Many thanks.

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

Appreciate that!

[@TheTorkerman]

Great video of a great modified splitter, fantastic job, and thanks for the inspiration to modify mine.

[@Meadowmuffinfarms]

Smart. Easy to make out of most scraps. Thanks for showing..

[@tombergschicker1087]

Some great ideas. I bet you have some more. Please keep sharing. Thanks.

[@phillipmullis7904]

Always more satisfying to build it then buy it. Can see you adding a another blade to make it a 4 way splitter. Good work.

[@garylaszewski7380]

If you can fabricate such a good device, there is no reason manufacturers cant create similar log lifts! Congratulations! The Eastonmade Ultra would be the perfect machine for a log lift.

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

Thanks for the kind comment and I’ve wondered the same thing🤷🏼‍♂️

[@curtdavis4002]

Amazing! For a 30 year old splitter she looks great and running fine!

[@SuperCreeky]

Great video, I have often wondered what the six million dollar man was up to these days. When I saw that slow motion throwing action, now I know!!!

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

😂🤣

[@arlenepeterson5907]

Nice video! Thanks for sharing!

[@devriescustomleather1109]

Nice work and well done vid. pretty nice beads as well.

[@Alan_Hans__]

Firstly I have to say that I love the 6 million dollar man like slow motion effects and sounds when you threw the first couple of splits towards the camera. The plastic is UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weigh polyethylene) ? If you could make a pinning system at the rear where the cable attaches then you could just use a simple pin to hold the lift table in place. What would be even easier would be if you made a latch there so that as soon as the table lifts it stays there and you release the latch when you're ready for the next piece. Great video and great work.

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

Hi Alan, I appreciated your comments as well as your suggestion for using a latching system. There was another comment similar to yours and I took yours and his advice and it has made all the difference in the world! Thanks so much!😊

[@russellbelliveau1694]

This is a sweet setup, well built! Thanks for sharing, I see you also use a pickaroon, game changer when it comes to firewood eh. Great video thanks again I will use this idea for a lift table for mine! 😊

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

Hey thanks Russell for the kind comments. I checked out your splitter and it’s a lot like mine and should work well with that type of lift. Good luck with your build! An interesting side note; I see your located in Saskatchewan, and that’s where my maternal grandmother was born (Halifax) Anna Sanford in the late 1800’s…small world!

[@colindgrant]

Well done!

[@philliphall5198]

Very cool and nice 👍

[@mikem1956]

Thanks. Just added to my list of projects! 😎

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

Thank you Mike for your comment and you won’t regret adding a lift especially if you do a lot of splitting of large and or heavy rounds. It’s sure saved my very old back!

[@johnscheffler1514]

Nice set up.

[@mikew9292]

Great video, my suggestion would be to raise the entire splitter to a more ergonomic/comfortable height

[@victorwolf2702]

I raised my 8 inches higher Man oh man that helped a lot with my back

[@MindOverMetalTV]

Best build I've seen

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

Thanks for your comment

[@peethaselden9014]

Hey! I grew up in Hornbook California! Live up north now. I love that lace tell the day I die. The worst part about it is that it is in the state of California. 5, or 10 round magazines? Good thing in Siskyou County, the only crime is getting caught. If your still there when the police show up, your slow, hurt, or an idiot. Nice splitter.

[@123456773934]

simple and genus!!! i like your fire place tool you saved on your grinder wheel! what is the nut for on the weddge???

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

Thanks for your comments! The bolt welded to the front of the wedge is for the pvc tubing to slide down on when I tarp the splitter.

[@martinadams6067]

That's an awsome setup yoi have. You look like someone who's over 6 ft. I'm surprised you figure a way to raise it up about 4 or 5 inches. Two thumbs up.

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

You are correct, I am over 6 ft and should have raised it before I made all the other improvements. Actually it is very comfortable to run as is as is and sometimes I sit on a high stool ie semi standing if I’m going to be at it a long time. Even though low, it’s really saved out my old back. Thanks for your comment.

[@stanleykeith6969]

Great Video, I noticed that you are bent over, it would be nice if the splitter was a little higher for your back. Thanks for sharing. Todays date, 11/23/2022.

[@michaelfrancis1715]

Great ideal

[@fricknjeep]

hi there real nice job john

[@nutgrower2957]

Love it! I saw another one similar, but I like that you put a hook to hold the table up for a log holder. Curious: why did you make a ladder instead of a smooth piece of metal or wood? Seems like it would be easier to slide on a flat surface. I have a 3pt. hitch splitter that NEEDS a lifter like yours. I am 65 and those logs don't feel so light anymore!...hahahaha...they never felt light, who am I kidding! Also curious: I am kind of surprised that your splitter can handle such a tall wedge. I would love to add some height to my wedge, but fear I might not have enough force to push some of my knotty and crotchy logs through. Thanks for posting the video. I can use your ideas while using materials that I already have. Nice work!

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

Thanks Nut Grower here’s a link kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnXKipZridCIi6M to a more recent video and you can see I made more improvements. Made a better larger out-feed table and a simpler way to hold the lift ladder up. On the wedge vs power ratio, I built the wedge years ago with that in mind since the splitter is only 28 tons and you can see it’s not a blunt ¥ but a lesser degree angle> so on the tough stuff it literally cuts through the wood and the easy stuff pops like you’d expect. And the lift ladder ended up that way because that’s what I had on hand at the time. I will say that I would build it that way on purpose again since it helps keep the big half splits on the ladder and not rolling into the work area. Thanks again for the comment!

[@ALL4SCUBA05]

Wow. You must be an engineer. That's so genius. Is that the original wedge? Its so tall, which is advantageous for those size rounds. I've seen four way splitter adapters that slide over that style wedge. I wonder if it will work with yours.

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

No just an old retired Caterpillar mechanic, but that said, in the field many times when no parts were available we had to come up with solutions to get the equipment up and running. No the taller wedge is something I built and installed 30 years ago due to the large rounds that I often deal with. As far as the four way wedge, I’ve thought many times that I would build one, but my old machine is only a 28 ton and with the knots in most of the wood I split I actually think that many times it would slow me down. At any rate, thanks for your kind comments!

[@ke6bnl]

nice job, would a bungie cord work work for holding the cable and if flexable enough it could stay connected to the cable at all times

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

Yeah Ed that was my first thought too but I haven’t been able to find any spring or bungie that the lift table has enough weight to overpower and is still stout enough to hold the cable tight enough...thanks for the comment and I’m still looking for that perfect spring/cord setup🧐

[@stevesanders3992]

If you had a hook welded on the beam that held the cable it would also keep tight and hold the load up

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

@@stevesanders3992 Steve, thanks for the comment...darn, don’t know why I didn’t think of that! I now have a spring that has enough extension to leave connected and the lift ladder has sufficient weight to go to the ground, but I like your idea and wouldn’t have to reach over and hook the chain. Thanks 😊

[@mikeadams2339]

Do the pullies for the lift double lifting power?

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

No it is a one to one ratio, they just get the cable where it needs to be. That said, because the cable is at the end of the ladder, it has maximum leverage in that configuration.

[@johnr5545]

Nice god bless

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

Thank you!

[@stevesanders3992]

Looks like you should lift the splitter up to keep your back straight.

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

Couldn’t agree more and knew that shortly after building the lift. Yep hind sight is 20/20 for sure. The lift was just an experiment, but had I known how good it was going to work, I would have raised the beam on the axle first, but now everything would need to be dimensionally changed so generally I split in a different place than where I did the video ie a bit of a side hill with the low side wheel run up on a 4X6 to level the splitter and I work from the low side. Thanks for your comment👍

[@rexhavoc2982]

Time for a 4 way slip on wedge.

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

Yes I’ll probably build one at some point, thanks for the comment.

[@slackoutdoors]

New Sub here. i Like the lift. great Idea! #slackoutdoors

[@siskiyouwoodsmann4279]

Thanks Slack, just checked your channel out…good luck with your channel!