Log Splitter Hoist

I added a cable hoist to my old log splitter to allow me to lift heavier logs onto the log splitter cradle to be split. The lift is mounted to the splitter on a standard 2 Inch receiver hitch.

[@martinbenton742]

I too am in my 60s. I've been looking for an easy build drag and lift for my splitter. I'll look no farther! You made the perfect, easy, working lift. My opinion. Thank you!!

[@mikeh8228]

I am 75 years old and when I was a youngester like you, I also came to realize I needed to save my back, so here is my resolution. Also, I do not have the various equipment needed to built your set up. I went to Harbor Freight and purchased their manual 10 ton log splitter. Then I set it down close to my main splitter. I set some metal car risers, about 10" high, next to the 10 ton splitter. I can roll those big boys on to the 10 ton splitter, and break them in half or even quarters, which I can then pick up easily and split with my table mounted splitter. Everyone has to come up with their own idea of how to handle this situation. So far as getting the big rounds to my set up, either my son or wife will drive here Kubota tractor and dump them next to where I can work on them. I really love splitting wood when it is either raining or snowing, as my entire work area is on our covered 12' by 40' back porch! Even well lit so I can work at night!

[@alchampion340]

I like my splitter vertical, but thanks for showing me that that may be coming in the near future. Have a blessed day.

[@woodcraft70]

I have used mine vertical and horizontal, but my default setting seems to be laying it flat. With my wonky back, I try to minimize the amount of time that I spend bent over.

[@FredFlintstone21]

​Wow! Cool idea! I hear ya on being bent over splitting vertical. So I took a big round chunk of wood, put it by the splitter, threw a cushion on it, can split vertical with ease now.

[@jaredhildebrandt7210]

Built a hydraulic/ATV winch version long time ago! Works awesome and saves the back!

[@kevinaltizer]

Great idea and looks like it serves its purpose well! I've had an idea for some time to build a lift using an old steel yard trailer. I just want to be able to pick up and load the log segments for transport.

[@woodcraft70]

You should check out a youtuber by the name of Matt Cremona. He build an A-frame winch to load BIG logs on his trailer to be hauled to his sawmill. Very impressive for a DIY guy.

[@nickgrebeldinger9302]

Well done sir . Keep the ideas coming

[@charleshall7378]

Nothing dumb about that idea. I’m from Ontario, Canada and I made one similar. My hoist is a hydraulic motor and run by the pump used to split the wood with a separate control valve. I also used about 1/4” cable 50’ long so I can drag the blocks from a distance right up onto the bed. Instead of log tongs I use an old set of ice tongs for block ice to drag and lift the blocks. It all works well.

[@woodcraft70]

Great ideas. Thanks.

[@FredFlintstone21]

Pretty impressive how fast your winch moves the wood!

[@woodcraft70]

It moves even faster when my grandson runs the crank.

[@FredFlintstone21]

@woodcraft70 Oh I bet! I was rolling up huge wet oak stumps up a 6 foot ramp into my dump trailer and I was thinking of this video, as an easier way to load heavy rounds in my trailer when I don't have access to my tractor/loader

[@olensnider2808]

HELLO JERRY, DID SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO MY TRACTOR OPERATED WOOD SPLITTER. WITH ONE DIFFERENCE, BOUGHT A 2" X 24" HYDRAULIC CYLINDER , MOUNTED HORIZONTAL ON MY I BEAM WITH A PULLEY ON THE END OF THE RAM SO THAT GIVES ME 48" WORTH OF LIFT. DID THIS TO MINE ABOUT 8 YEARS AGO, NOW ALMOST CRIPLED WITH LOW BACK ISSUES. SURE SAVES ME A LOT OF PAIN. JUST THIS YEAR MADE LIFT EYES WITH 1/2" LAG BOLTS SO ON VERY LARGE PIECES I CAN USE MY 3/8" BATTERY IMPACT TO SCREW DIRECTLY INTO THE LOGS. SAVES A LOT OF TIME FOR MY BACK, ALSO LEAVE THE BIGGER SPLIT HANGING ON IT WHILE BREAKING IT DOWN

[@woodcraft70]

I had an opportunity to purchase a used 3-point splitter, minus the cylinder. Finding a cylinder would have been easy, but I decided not to buy it. I feel like my 6.5hp B&S engine is more economical to operate than my 35hp tractor.

[@cmotto.1]

Good ol boy right there!

[@willamettehops]

Good idea, might be nice if you could take the hoist off to use it vertical still. You could add a 12Volt Badland winch instead of the crank one. Not too expensive at Harbor Freight.

[@woodcraft70]

Thanks for commenting. The hoist is really easy to take off. I just pull the pin and slip the hoist out of the receiver hitch. I thought about using a 12volt winch, but then I need to add a battery, cables and a battery box.

[@dmmartin1958]

Smartest thing I've seen.

[@woodcraft70]

Thanks!

[@franktoledo6342]

I split alot of wood that nice you don't use hydraulic fuid or gas when using a manual log lift . I just tell worker to cut the logs in half works just fine. Work as a team more wood gets split sell more wood.

[@richardhowe6218]

I think that's a great idea!! Thanks!!

[@davekana8388]

That works, good ol’ American ingenuity!

[@kebo57]

My solution to lifting heavy rounds is to just not get heavy rounds in the first place! If I can't lift it without straining myself too much, then I just don't mess with them.

[@olensnider2808]

LIKE YOUR IDEA, THE OTHER THOUGHT WITH USING MY 28HP DIESEL TRACTOR IS PRETTY FUEL EFFICIENT. I HAVE A HARDY OUTSIDE WOOD STOVE HEATING A 3000 SQ FT HOUSE, MY DOMESTIC HOT WATER AND 600 SQ FT SHOP. SO I USE A 6 FOOT DEEP 3 ROW DEEP AND 10 FOOT HIGH BY 24 FOOT LONG WOOD SHED ATTACHED TO MY SHOP. AND ALL THE OTHER THE OTHER THINGS I USE TRACTOR FOR, ONLY USE ABOUT 35 GALLONS PER YEAR. MY OTHER THOUGHT IS I DID NOT NEED ANOTHER ENGINE TO MAINTAIN.

[@kastamD]

Nice simple build!

[@woodcraft70]

Simple is as Simple does. That's me.😁

[@Lens-KeepingBusy]

You rock dud I love it I will make my own, thank you, I put one on my trailer, did a video today but it’s not out yet, I like your idea 👍 thanks 🇨🇦

[@woodcraft70]

You're very welcome. Glad it helped somebody. And thanks for subscribing. I would really like to see your trailer version. I have been thinking about one of those as well. I would like to mount an electric winch, at the front of my trailer, which I could route a cable through for a hoist at the back. That way I can use the winch to drag large objects onto the trailer, or lift them onto the back. Keep thinking outside the box.

[@Lens-KeepingBusy]

@@woodcraft70 yes for sure 👍

[@fricknjeep]

hi there looks good . best to all john

[@mikeh8228]

Like we say, here in Arkansas, that is spiffy dandy! HA HA

[@charlescossel7948]

der, ya, kinda.... what was that?

[@mikeh8228]

@@charlescossel7948 as a hippie would say, man, that's cool! HA HA

[@Jester3775]

I might be tempted to rig it up in a way, in which that the winch was lower, seems like it would be easier on the shoulder, long-term. Very cool though.

[@woodcraft70]

That's a good point. There is practically zero effort in lifting a 200 pound log. But, if you are prone to ahoulder problems, it would certainly be beneficial to have the winch mounted lower.

[@jeanvaljohn3921]

Your best muscle is between your ears ! Probably added four years to your wood processing

[@SpynCycle57]

Ever have it try to tip over backward on the larger pieces?

[@woodcraft70]

No so far. But, I have considered adding outriggers, just in case I need to lift something heavier than the 200 pounders that I have been picking up. Another thought is, on heavier pieces that have to be dragged longer distances, run the cable through a pulley attached closer to the bottom to lower the angle of pull.

[@inthebackyardwithdel438]

AWESOME !! I see my next project !!!!! 👍🏻🇺🇸🪵

[@robertpronovost3839]

How much you spent roughly? Oh ya love it

[@woodcraft70]

@@robertpronovost3839 I spent Roughly $50. $29 for the hand-crank winch and $19 for the rollers. The rollers came in a set of 4, so I could have saved $10, if I had kept searching for a pair. The other parts came out of my scrap pile, so I guess those are sort of free.

[@colonelhessler1]

Love it

[@inthebackyardwithdel438]

Do you have a link for the rollers ?

[@woodcraft70]

HYDDNice 4PCS 2.3"(60MM) Groove Wheel Sliding Gate Roller Sliding Gate Roller Steel Heavy Duty Rigid Caster with Bracket (U-Type Groove Wheel) a.co/d/aJN5tOF

[@woodcraft70]

I bought the rollers on Amazon. I added the u-shaped piece on top of the top roller to keep the cable from jumping off the roller. I have never had it jump off, so it was just an added precaution.

[@inthebackyardwithdel438]

Thank you very much for the info . I really appreciate it !!

[@JeffBenjamin-r2d]

What length are your pipe sections

[@woodcraft70]

The bottom section is 2.5" ID x 18". The top section is 2" ID (2.5" OD) x 36". The boom section on mine is 14".

[@wallymacmillan3013]

Exacting what I've been trying to design,...

[@robertpronovost3839]

Good deal

[@budwilliams6590]

Get rid of the hand crank boat winch. They are not for lifting. It's dangerous someone will get hurt. Replace it with a 2000 lb. 12-volt ATV winch.

[@woodcraft70]

@@budwilliams6590 Great advice, but I will be careful and save the extra expense of the 12 volt winch. I have never used the winch to lower a chunk, but I know how dangerous that be, if I lose my grip on the crank handle. Sort of like when I used to crank start my old Farmall tractor. I knew guys that slipped and the crank handle flew back and broke an arm. Thanks again for your concern and safety tip.

[@alanhow3575]

Mate, put a leccy winch on it. So much easier.

[@woodcraft70]

I just put my grandson on winch duty. Much less expensive than an electric winch and faster than any I have seen.

[@Lens-KeepingBusy]

I subscribe