I stumbled across this video a few years ago without even knowing what a kinetic log splitter was. My family and I do a fair bit of firewood every year and the old hydraulic splitter (as good as it is ) was just too slow. So I decided why not try to make a kinetic splitter to make life easier every wood season. After some more research I built my own kinetic log splitter. My flywheel is much heavier than yours appears to be and is powered by a 5hp motor that is very fuel efficient. I used a double row sprocket that I found laying around (heavy duty mind you) for the pinion and made my own rack by welding the chain to suit that sprocket onto some reinforced RHS tubing. Long story short, it’s an amazing machine that I am baffled by its efficiency every time I use it and with only minor tweaks since I built it a few years ago, it still runs strong. I am contemplating putting up a video of mine showing how I built it and how it works. Maybe that’s something I will get around to one day.
@МиколаМякущак-у1о8 ай бұрын
Хочу посмотреть видео вашего дровокола,где я могу его посмотреть
@georgem.kokindajr.9416 жыл бұрын
Great video! I like the rack and pinion idea, but it looks like you need two 75 pound flywheels, or just a heavier one.
@Alan_Hans__8 жыл бұрын
Awesome work Gary. Based on what I've seen on some other kinetic splitters I'd be guessing that your flywheel is either too light and/or isn't spinning fast enough. Your stroke is longer than most but you can hear by the immediate drop in revs that it's the reduction drive through the motor, rack/pinion that is doing the work rather than the momentum of the flywheel. There's other videos up on kinetic splitters (in particular by nathan36340) using motors as low as 3hp with no noticeable reduction in motor rpm's.
@marvinmacon96735 жыл бұрын
Alan H p
@rowgler18 жыл бұрын
"Just build one"? !, you say. I'm impressed. I have a Supersplit kinetic splitter so I appreciate your machine. I just bought it. I don't even have the skills to copy it much less reinvent it. Chain drive is a nice touch. Also the cable pulley on the spring return. Kind of steampunk. If the fly wheel was heavier it wouldn't bog down as much. Your machine has a longer reach so that will slow the flywheel on the tough stuff. I also notice that the spline shaft is higher than on my machine. Take care that the forces don't bend it into an arc, if it starts, reinforce it. Good job.
@curtispomykal84328 жыл бұрын
Cool splitter! My uncle had a home made splitter to. He put on a "+" type wedge on the end. It quarter the wood in one stroke. We're what America is really made of!
@DanielDartez4 жыл бұрын
I didn't know what a kinetic splitter was till I googled and came across your video.. Very Impressive..
@basspromike6 жыл бұрын
Man that thing really shines splitting those long small diameter logs, way faster than hydraulic
@skbigelo8 жыл бұрын
Pretty ingenious. It wouldn't work as well on the wood we have in the PNW as it tends to be much bigger, but I can see the usefulness for the wood you have. I'm thinking I may just need a bigger flywheel, though. When you go to do your second split on the log, keep the two pieces of the log together, rotate 90 degrees. You can then cut into 4 pieces. Saves one splitting step. I do it all the time. It works pretty good with pieces up to 12 inches in diameter. Above that I have to set the second half aside like you are doing in the video.
@sambo55628 жыл бұрын
You need to configure your activation handle to be activated by a foot pedal which is attached to the handle by a steel cable. This would free up your right hand to hold on to your material being split. Another suggestion would to put a little more of a broad head on your cutting tool. Reason for this is I noticed every log you spitted you had to break it on open to separate the two pieces just split. A broader axe head would split the logs more efficiently.
@TheIdeasGuy8 жыл бұрын
It would also be more likely to stop tougher logs stone cold dead. The thin blade slices easily, which is ideal for a setup like this. The best way to prevent the issue you mentioned, would be to move the blade a few inches closer to the engine end. Have another look at the contraption and I think you'll see where I'm coming from mate
@sambo55628 жыл бұрын
TURFA - I understand what you have said. Yes, that would be a solution, I think. However if you move the blade closer to the motor as you suggested. Then you are limiting the lengths of wood you can split. This may or may not be a issue. Another thing which would be helpful for the Operator. Would be to install guide wings on each side of the main I beam. This would act as a trough to hold the wood being split, along with centering the wood as it is pushed through the blade.
@marvinmagathan85487 жыл бұрын
JIM Short
@leroybullied77056 жыл бұрын
Where he has his rack mounted to the push block he loses about 6 inches of the racks length.
@kimchan2108 Жыл бұрын
I was a bit worried with a large number of fake reviews but I am very pleased with the results. Bit of background, kzbin.infoUgkxmKn8dCAXovWn8_cLYoosGLVrVrpwlIMc I need to split approximately 1.5 cords of wood and didn't feel like destroying my back. I purchased this anticipating to have a few issues splitting wood but have only come across a few logs of elm where the stringy nature of elm made it more difficult to split. Overall its not a necessarily fast process but it also isn't a very arduous one either. I came and went fairly often to do different tasks but once I stayed and got into a system I could easily split my pieces in a fairly timely manner.
@Don.Challenger8 жыл бұрын
Very good. It appears to consume the logs as fast as they are loaded. And not half as scary in operation as I first thought ( though some shrouds around the motive parts might be in order )
@justinmahar52088 жыл бұрын
Don Challenger you are a safety gay.
@tomkissinger77138 жыл бұрын
Don Challenger Jj
@aguyandhiscomputer8 жыл бұрын
First person I have seen to put the flat side of the cut log down. Someone finally gets it.
@aguyandhiscomputer8 жыл бұрын
Nevermind... he went back to the curved side down...
@regsparkes65078 жыл бұрын
haha,...always get's ya !
@aaronhumphrey20096 жыл бұрын
Ingenious. Just needs a few tweaks, rubber bump stops, chain/ belt guards, split wood trays on each side
@CanadianBriar5 жыл бұрын
that's one impressive design and build! well done :) I really like to see old bits and pieces given a new life and being reused rather than just tossed. if you lived closer i'd hire you to make me one! i'm no where near handy enough with metal to do that.
@MGszamanVlog4 жыл бұрын
Hi great job , can I use part of your video to my compilation homemade inventions and projects
@Tellyfive7 жыл бұрын
Perfect speed for a splitter. Fast enough to be efficient but still safe
@SteelyPaw7 жыл бұрын
I gotta tell you, for what you have in it, that is a very ingenious design, works great and fast too. Some rubber bumpers at the back of the ram will cushion the return stroke.
@josephbrandtner77136 жыл бұрын
Very well engineered! Just curious, where did you get the rack & pinion?
@antoniodicappo4038 жыл бұрын
After several hours of operation, can you see and damage to the rack or pinion gear as the gear engages randomly and also under high stress the rack would want to jump off the pinion.
@marksalamack61337 жыл бұрын
Your "product" is really well done ..someone below did mention that the rack and the gear are available on amazon...thanks for that information Could you explain the fuels?..sounded like you mention coal gas and wood gas...they sound like by products of this process...Thanks for showing us " how it's done" Mark
@bedebill4 жыл бұрын
Brilliant machine , thanks for posting
@kafoure938 жыл бұрын
Awesome machine. Great job building it yourself. I personally would go with a bigger engine for extra torque to drive through the bigger logs and you shouldn't have to wait as long for the flywheel to get back up to speed. Harbor freight has a great and cheap line of engines that would be great for this.
@johnfranklin40388 жыл бұрын
Get a piece of an old tire and bolt it to the I beam for a return stopper so it doesn't damage your washers
@SmokymntnEd8 жыл бұрын
Gary, Very nice Job. I can't imagine he amount of time you put into that design.
@FatherOfTheParty Жыл бұрын
Brilliant piece of kit. Well done
@ponkkaa8 жыл бұрын
Pretty darn clever! Does need a cup holder though.
@MJorgy56 жыл бұрын
For all the naysayers: The teeth won't strip on the rack or pinion because there is no prevalent force acting on the rack until it contacts the wood being split, at which point, the teeth are in mesh. I'd hate to see these guys try to understand a manual transmission, or how to shift gears without using a clutch. Cool machine!
@bruno6408 жыл бұрын
I like it!!! I made one once out of a single trailer dolly and a hydro stat reverse/fwd., to turn the input shaft. But this one beats the "technology" of mine all to pieces....!☺
@eCitizen13 жыл бұрын
It looks like you could you a heavier flywheel. Great job though. Do you know what your gear reduction is?
@HolzMichel7 жыл бұрын
hey Gary, during the walk around i noticed the main drive belt being loose and was wondering about it until you went thru the paces with the machine. the belt is supposed to slip so the engine doesn't stall in a tough chunk of wood. so my point of ponderance here is how well a centrifugal clutch would work in this system?
@michaelblock43976 жыл бұрын
That is sweet, aspen, white ash are strategic grain. The bug hit here also, the thing I can see a wood that is all branches it might not have the power to push through it. That’s where hydraulics excel, your right it’s fast.
@GraceEagle55 жыл бұрын
Outstanding homemade creativity! How can I make one?
@GarnettM8 жыл бұрын
Works good , -- Idea -- slide a 10" rubber hose or so on the upper side of the cable so the pulley hits the hose and slows the return like a drag should stop real slow ..
@antoniodicappo4038 жыл бұрын
This is a nice unit. Can you please describe a few parts more specifically? Regarding the rack. How wide is it and how thick is it excluding the teeth and including the teeth. How many teeth per inch or teeth per foot? What is the length of the rack? What is the total diameter of the pinion and how many teeth does it have? I'd really appreciate you help here. Thanks.
@drumcrazy72 Жыл бұрын
Great work mate. You’d be a handy guy to have around.
@dosstheboss1008 жыл бұрын
good job and hella stroke add more weight to wheel or a secondary wheel how does it work on knotted stuff
@MaroLuva7 жыл бұрын
Have you thought about putting a damper to slow the rack when it returns? Should save you from having to grab it and slow it down
@aguyandhiscomputer8 жыл бұрын
Oh baby, that wood is so knotty. It needs a spanking.
@itsmebernie7 жыл бұрын
aguyandhiscomputer xD
@ohrealy15 жыл бұрын
Nice job , I saw the allen bolts on the collars holding the drive cog on the shaft are they the ones with a woodruff key slot in them and if they are do they hold okay for this. By the way if the wheel/bearing that presses the rack onto the drive wheel goes past 90 degrees it should stop it kicking back. Thanks in advance.
@TheChrismsanchez13 жыл бұрын
Excellent! I love the history of the repurposed parts. This use to be..., this is off of a... 👍
@regsparkes65078 жыл бұрын
I wonder, Gary, have you calculated the force created by this splitter,...I'd guestimate around 2 to 3 tons ?? Another great idea from 'The Mechanical Mind of Gary' !
@robinbennett59948 жыл бұрын
It's meaningless to calculate the force for this type of splitter - just like an axe. The flywheel stores energy and will deliver it as quickly as required to split the log. If you attempted to split a block of steel, the machine would generate hundreds of tons of force and break itself.
@regsparkes65078 жыл бұрын
Excuse me Robin, but I don't think it's "meaningless" to 'wonder' about the mechanics of a given object. There is a better way to 'question' a comment, than to outright insult somebody. Your thoughts may agree or disagree with others, that's your privilege, as it is mine to ask what I did.
@robinbennett59948 жыл бұрын
Oh, sorry, it totally wasn't meant to be offensive - just to explain why the physics of this sort of machine are hard to compare to a hydraulic splitter. A kinetic splitter has an almost unlimited amount of force but a limited amount of energy stored in the flywheel - while a hydraulic splitter has an almost unlimited amount of energy (the fuel) but the force is limited by the maximum hydraulic pressure.
@regsparkes65078 жыл бұрын
Now, that's better, and I accept this explanation . I agree with that too,...." a body at rest and a body in motion " or something like this,..... etc., etc., hey ? Cheers Robin !
@nickfunk5978 жыл бұрын
Robin Bennett not true hydraulic is the was to go just depends on you set up if you want more force just add a bigger cylinder small pump big cylinder huge amounts of force and less wear and tear
@coburnlowman7 жыл бұрын
Where and how much are those racks and pinion gears? I would really like one of these. For a home built one it layed out well. I only wander how the chains will last. Chains typically don't like a quick shock like when you engage the gear to the rack.
@joewoodchuck38247 жыл бұрын
What keeps the gear mesh from grinding before they fully engage? Seems like any other design would grind, yet this doesn't.
@tjones44673 жыл бұрын
Hi Gary! Cool machine and I'm eyeing a build myself... I'm not in the know but why have you selected 14.5 pressure angle on your rack and spur as opposed to the supposedly "improved" 20 pressure angle? Again I know what the advantages are of both but why did you select this pressure angle. Thank you for sharing your project video. Inspirational to say the least!
@derickchetty3 жыл бұрын
Great video bud. Tell me, what size is the rack? Do you know how many ton pressure it's doing?
@bill48m7 жыл бұрын
I wish I was your neighbor, great design. Great idea.
@brandonrichter69108 жыл бұрын
my only concern is the life of the rack and pinion teeth, i noticed it not engaging well more than a few times. due to the sloppy nature of the system for engaging it, id suggest a longer handle on it so you can apply more down force on it to avoid skipping, which will destroy it pretty quick.
@dearthworm7 жыл бұрын
This is an honest question, not a criticism - I don't know the answer. In machine design, is this a normal or advisable way to employ a rack and pinion system in this way, i.e. having the rack engaged onto a moving pinion? I would be concerned about tooth wear or breakage at the engagement point.
@itsmebernie7 жыл бұрын
Javier Fauxnom technically not a great idea, in most applications, but the speed of the pinion is quite slow, so it is really not spending much time in contact without being engaged. Many machines have been designed and built with a rack-and-pinion engagement like this, including the low-speed on the ram of my Sheldon shaper. The official instructions are to slow the speed down, and just ram the control handle in place, engaging the gears. They actually planetary, but same deal.
@sgsg53886 жыл бұрын
Looks like a good machine for splitting toothpicks to make smaller toothpicks. There is nothing on that machine that would stand up to the 2 foot diameter red oak that I am often splitting.
@davidoickle17786 жыл бұрын
Have you considered a shock absorber to "catch" the pinion when it retracts? A hydraulic plunger of sorts. Well done!
@michaelhoward24508 жыл бұрын
I built one similar to this it has a 36 inch rack and Pinion and 100 pound weight on each side I run three and half horsepower Briggs & Stratton . mechanism which engages the rack down onto the pinion is a lot different than yours you do not have to hold it down it releases at the end of the stroke i've had great success with this machine. Yours is a little different keep up the good work I had to improve mine a little getting the bugs out . Good luck with your build.
@patp6308 жыл бұрын
Michael Howard
@MrGordy618 жыл бұрын
Michael, Just a thought the commercial kinetic splitters advertise it as a safety feature that when you release the engagement lever for the rack, the rack will stop in mid stroke and retract.
@Anonymous-rj7gc7 жыл бұрын
Kinetic is the word. barely functional and awesome and home made. Perfect!
@Iowarail8 жыл бұрын
My father refused to get a splitter, said you heat 3 time with wood, once cutting once splitting it with a maul and then burning it. R.I.P Pacca.
@dominicrodriquez67367 жыл бұрын
love it things that are made by a person are awesome because he built it with his hands and his own brain that is what a lot of people are lacking in today s kids the world is moving to fast to show people great job on it
@markyasaitis60508 жыл бұрын
Splits that soft popal pretty good, like to see if it could handle some oak or elm.
@jeffreyshanholtz59978 жыл бұрын
locust!
@bigbluegpr7 жыл бұрын
There are videos all over KZbin showing kinetic splitters doing an excellent job on hard woods such as oak, elm, and locust.
@lewiemcneely91437 жыл бұрын
I'll stick with hydraulic too. I had a 15 ton with a 5-horse Briggs that would split knots all day long running about 1/3 throttle. Just had 2 sticks it wouldn't split and one I just moved a bit and it split it. The other I halved with a saw and it finished it off. Oak, black-gum, sourwood, hickory, it didn't matter. Up to 2 feet through didn't matter either. Knowing HOW to turn a stick saves you and your splitter. Hydraulics all the way and mine was set running 2400 p.s.i. and never blew a hose. 2500 p.s.i working pressure but 24 was enough.
@maximefortier93005 жыл бұрын
What happens if the log is too hard and does not split ? Is there any fuse somewhere like a shear bolt something else ??
@JFPSolar7 жыл бұрын
Very nice build. It seems to do what you want it to.
@zeroquanta61308 жыл бұрын
one thing I have always wondered and I think you showed it but did not explain it. When it comes to the end the wheel is able to slip. Otherwise it would have a violent end point. When it came to the end the engine would STOP! It has to slip. Fist up, Fight for Truth. Very good video.
@Nordic_Mechanic8 жыл бұрын
It runs out of rack and the pinion then spins freely. that's why it cannot hit the stationnary plate.
@zeroquanta61307 жыл бұрын
THat's not what i meant. When it comes to the end, "THE MAIN GEAR" still wants to push more gears down the line. OR when you have a log where it can NOT split and it stops the driving gear on top, well then the other gear does NOT stop, WHY because the belt slips and it gives you enough time to LIFT up on the handle.
@Nordic_Mechanic7 жыл бұрын
Zero Quanta ok let's use pinion (the round normal gear), and rack ( the flat gear) for the sake of clarity. If the ram has enough force to break the log : The pinion pushes the rack until it runs off it and dissemgage. Then the pinion can turn and the rack doesnt move. No hard stop. The lever lifts the rack over the pinion without engaging it as it retracts from the spring. . so the maingear(pinion) doesnt want to push more rack down the line as there is no connection then. Thats the normal operation that is intended. It does not try to push more. In fact, if all logs would break, the belt slippage could be nil and no violent end points would be met And yes, if the ram doesnt finish it's travel because the log is too hard to crack. A hard stop causes the belt to slips The first scenario is the most prevalent, though
@zeroquanta61307 жыл бұрын
Veikra: Ooooooooooooooooooooooooo, I didn't know the rack ran off (past) the pinion. That's what I wasn't getting. THANKS, Wheeewwww!! I will have to watch the video a gain. Nonetheless, these things are great time savers. Fist up, Fight for Truth.
@dadgad686 жыл бұрын
Great job sir. Nice build.
@kirkjohnson93538 жыл бұрын
Any videos about running engines on charcoal?
@stevensevede49288 жыл бұрын
reminds me of the Amish around our area with levers and pulleys on shafts at the saw mills. alot of thinking went on constructing this cool works nice good job.
@mlb6d95 жыл бұрын
Nice work Gary!
@54dwr13 күн бұрын
I'm wondering where you got your rack and pinion from?
@robbooth79047 жыл бұрын
Fantastic! great job of engineering.
@joshward78966 жыл бұрын
Holy Crap! we musta come outa the same egg! I made a ratchet type that ran on an electric 1/2 hp motor. The flywheel was from an old cordwood saw. Onlyest thing is the need for grease on that rack....involute gears need lube!
@rocr628 жыл бұрын
Quite the contraption... if you like picking your nose with your elbows. Seriously. I appreciate the engineering and know how to put this together and the video was entertaining.
@iceflameproductionz5 жыл бұрын
what thickness shaft did you use for the bulldozer clutch plate flywheel, and also thickness of shaft for pinion
@davidmartin51794 жыл бұрын
Absolutely amazing. I love building my own stuff also.
@stevesoutdoorworld43404 жыл бұрын
I love it! Who sells the rack and pinion?
@joewoodchuck38245 жыл бұрын
What keeps the gear teeth from jumping and chattering until they engage?
@cowboy21858 жыл бұрын
the gear rack number is r4x4 4foot long 2 inch face. you guys can find it on Amazon . and the pinion is ( martin ) number s415 spur gear 14.5 pressure angle. high carbonsteel 4 inch pitch 1-1/8" bore , 4.25 od. 2.000" face width . 15 teeth and you guys can find it on Amazon too
@itsmebernie7 жыл бұрын
Cowboy 21 awesome thanks
@jeffjohnson27157 жыл бұрын
In the video at 1:25 you can clearly see the Martin label on the Spur Gear (pinion) and it is S412 not S415. Would like to verify the part number on the rack
@johnparkerthegimpygardener8 жыл бұрын
where abouts in pa. if close i would like to see it. i have a home made hydraulic made out of junk, have been using it for close to 30 years , changed the motor last year for a none junk one , worked on a fire wood crew many years ago and we had a commercial fly wheel one it was fast and would split oak all day long , fast . did a video on my home made one some years ago . also subbed your channel would be interested in how you make wood gas . thanks for the video
@leroybullied77056 жыл бұрын
Sweet machine, I like your reduce reuse recycle philosophy.
@mlionea4 жыл бұрын
How is it better than the hydraulic press?
@jheetman3 жыл бұрын
Nice tool you built there! what do you use to lube the rack gearing?
@gig7778 жыл бұрын
Wouldn't it be a good idea to install a guard around that flywheel and gear?
@henrywyche7 жыл бұрын
You should grease the moving parts. Good job!
@scottgerlach68678 жыл бұрын
Super amazing. wish I had one back in Mn.
@027joe8 жыл бұрын
do you think this unit could use a four or six way wedge
@oldgeeser7 жыл бұрын
Hi great vid , where did you get your rack and pinion set up
@bitsnpieces117 жыл бұрын
You could use some pieces of an old truck tire tread area to make a bumper for the return of the ram.
@avislimaye7 жыл бұрын
Simple Machine Easy to Understand. Good Done.
@RLNTEX8 жыл бұрын
I could not believe I watched all this but then so did 180,000 other people.
@bartdereu92677 жыл бұрын
make it de-activating itself when its fully extends. Otherwise, nice idea, but hydraulics work allot smoother and even as fast when you have the power beyond it. Or use a big accumulator, works like a hydraulic flywheel.
@erbro7 жыл бұрын
that's brilliant, great construction!
@mtnviewtow883 жыл бұрын
love this machine good job i have the dr k rapidfire from DR
@MrThenry19885 жыл бұрын
I like that. Been looking around for parts.
@csulb757 жыл бұрын
So you are the one responsible for Pennsylvania's deforestation problem.
@unioncreek6 жыл бұрын
Gary, Where did you get your rack and pinion and what the size. Good video, looking to build one soon.
@gorp278 жыл бұрын
Nice build.
@panzer63986 жыл бұрын
Looking good! I like the simplicity. Is that rack something you scavenged off something or just a stock rack? When the ram gets to the end of it's stroke, does it automatically disengage? It appears the handle drops when the rack stops moving.
@Moparmaga-13 жыл бұрын
I have this old 225 slant 6 & transmission I am going to make a log splitter out of, don't know how yet but will figure something out
@tylerwalton39305 жыл бұрын
Where can I get the rack and pinion to build my own???
@MrB829018 жыл бұрын
Great job, that took time and skill to design and fabricate. Thanks for the video.
@justinmahar52088 жыл бұрын
Good build mate, too job.
@littlewingpilot6 жыл бұрын
I'd like to know where you acquired the rack & pinion thanks
@kebo572 жыл бұрын
Yeah, I think your flywheel needs more mass (weight), and maybe a little more speed, (rpm's). Other, nicely done.
@shaggyda27588 жыл бұрын
Good-stuff!. very crafty! A few touch-ups & add-ons & it`ll be perfect. I like it when people 'think-outside the box'. Good-Luck with your future jobs.
@yragleffus7 жыл бұрын
For the amount of $$$ for the parts for that splitter, could you not have gotten a higher displacement pump for the hydraulic splitter? (More GPM's = More speed)