Tractor PTO Baler Wood Log Splitter 4 Way Wedge Design

[@lewiemcneely9143]

I like the wedge idea a LOT and that rig is one that you just DO NOT mess up on.

[@vanottey1]

The only problem with the wedge is that on logs that are not straight on the bottom it has a tendency to go vertical on the wedge end.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

@@vanottey1 Maybe do away with the small part on the bottom. That might help. It's a good idea though. Minimal strain.

[@vanottey1]

@@lewiemcneely9143 Yes, It should be a little taller or I can cut the first one off and sharpen it.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

@@vanottey1 It's way too fast for me. I'm a hydraulic man myself but that wedge is still a good idea with anybody's rig. Makes it as easy as it can get having to do the work anyway. Better it than me!

[@purchases1]

My uncle lost his thumb by a last second wood adjustment using this same baler, splitter type of machine. there would need to be a lot of mods made before I would use it. I have a hydraulic homemade splitter that gives you instant control. It's good that you mentioned the "keep your hands out of there" warning. Thanks for sharing. It still gives folks an idea of what can be done if you try.

[@Hugh1966]

Your wedge design is simple and brilliant. Well done my friend .

[@glenkelley6048]

THANKS for a great idea. There are lots and lots of old square balers around, unused and just waiting to be converted into machines like this!

[@bowlweevil4161]

great idea like Glen said there's lots of those old bailers not being used any more, cheap

[@joeromanak8797]

I was hoping that the firewood would come out the others end in a neat bundle with a string tied around it. I guess you threw away a few too many parts. Oh well, it works this way too so good job. 😎

[@ElderlyIron]

Excellent work! I have an IH 47 wire baler that I can't bear to scrap. I've thought about this for years. First, to lop off logs, testing to find out what the max diameter the blade could handle. Second, to put a gearbox in front of it to increase torque and slow it down. Since the ring gear is always on the same tooth at time of impact, I thought that preventing the shock load might let it live longer. Also a bit safer. Not that it's "safe"!

[@STEVENRAY18]

I do not know whether you like people calling you friend or not but my friend you have the most creative wood splitter I have ever seen and on top of that it's got a ton of power and it's damn fast very good job totally awesome

[@mossturn01]

Splendid machine. I've been planning on building one myself as my hydraulic splitter's good but too slow. I've found an old Jones baler so can start the build soon. May shorten the stroke as we can't burn anything longer than 1ft in the stove. Fordson major tractor to power. Thanks for the vid. Stay safe. Regards, Ian.

[@funnyfarm5555]

I would make it so if you ever wanted to sell it you could go back to a 16-18 inch stroke. One could use a spacer on the push block or make it so you could move the wedge.

[@vanottey1]

I used it just yesterday with my son; need extra wood for our many single digit nights here in West Virginia lately. We still have most of our limbs and digits.Thanks!

[@alanyoung7655]

Grew up baling hay with 2 of those balers in their original configuration.... never would have thought of making 1 into a splitter.... your wedges are great and she certainly does the job but would hate to see you come to any harm .... whether a feed hopper could be thought up or somthing n save your limbs from danger....remember you never miss anything till it's gone.... good video and full Mark's outta ten for thinking outside the box👍👍

[@vanottey1]

Thanks! I've made a couple modifications since this video was done. The wedge design works well on perfectly shaped rounds but some of the others have a tendency to ride up the wedge. It's easy enough to cut it off if I decide to do that in the future.

[@shdwwzrd69]

So how is it running 7 years later?

[@ChileExpatFamily]

A++ for ingenuity on this one. I used to have an old New Holland Hay baler just like that one that was a pain. Low cost and simple, but I will say that I love my log lifter. Also I do have a 4 way that slips over the top of my wedge and I am not sure you could see it in my video but it works the same as yours basically but your design is nice. Jim

[@vanottey1]

I have a log lifter too. It's called a skid steer. I just didn't use it for the demo. I am building a passive solar earth sheltered house for my retirement. I plan to do a set up where I have retaining walls so everything is at an elevation to minimize bending over.

[@ChileExpatFamily]

Yes I have titanium bars in my neck and they want to add more but I will not let them for now. Even little logs are to far away for me to pick up now much less a nail on the floor I dropped. It is no fun. I wish I had a skid steer or bobcat. I really need a tractor and would like to buy one this coming year that has a front end loader on it. This would make my little place much easier to work on. I grew up on a farm and managed it till I was 20. So I love farming and a good diesel tractor. Jim

[@davidr1483]

outstanding RE-use of an old piece of equipment...now I'm on a quest to find an ole baler. I have a question (or 2) and a suggestion. Does the plunger tray have a valley for the log to sit centered on the blade? (suggest making a V bed to ride in). Q? How many pounds of force would you guess the plunger pushes? 10, 15, 20 tons? I'm wondering how small of a compact tractor could handle this machine (Ford 1200?). Thanks again for the great ideas.

[@vanottey1]

I did weld sheet metal on each side to help keep the log centered. I can only guess it puts out 5 tons of force. Your Ford puts out 13.5hp at the pto which should be plenty. Most of the splitting power is stored in the flywheel. Your tractor will stall on the tougher pieces but overall it's faster than a hydraulic splitter.

[@vanottey1]

David, if you look at around 3 minutes in the video you can see a piece of thick sheet metal I added to both sides to keep the log centered. It doesn't keep it perfectly centered due to the spacing but I made it so it would accommodate a 17" log. Hard to say on the force. Maybe 5 ton? I think any tractor with a pto should be fine. I run my 59hp tractor at idle. It stalls now and then. You will likely stall a 16hp tractor at idle too. You can run up the rpms but then the plunger will move faster. Watch it! You could probably do a lot less work than I did and not make a new ram. You could get by with the original as it comes, not add a beam and attach a wedge at the bottom and top where the bale goes through.

[@kevinashby3784]

That's a great machine We used to have an old baler on the farm. I wish we'd have kept it now. Have you considered adding an auto feeder. ? Great Video.

[@vanottey1]

That wouldn't work as it will stall on some knotted pieces. I usually have a bucket full of rounds in my skid steer sitting at wait high on the other side.

[@danielkindred1793]

I LOVE THE ROTATING HAMMERS NICE DEATH TRAP

[@vanottey1]

The wedges were cut from a backhoe/excavator bucket edge welded to teeth. 3/4". I have 1" but felt that was too thick and the 3/4" is thick enough. The little piece in front was from 1/2". I've split with a Stickler, Bark buster and hydraulic. The Stickler and Bark Buster will go through anything but all three are a lot slower than this OSHA approved unit. This thing is a lot more fun than the others.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

That's a fine rig and there are trackhoe buckets setup like your wedge which is a fine idea. Teeth staggered for loosening hard material letting the pressure bear on one tooth at a time instead of all at the same time. Too much machine for me. I like my old slow hydraulic because I've got arthur and don't move too swift. Good idea and it's not THAT weak!

[@christopherarnold3855]

i really like your design on that wedge!

[@vanottey1]

Thanks. I haven't seen another I like better.

[@John-ls6hz]

Very good design..

[@Freetheworldnow]

I will have to try it on mine.

[@vanottey1]

On some logs it doesn't work as intended. It has a tendency to pop up on the wedge end of the log.

[@edhansen8531]

@@Freetheworldnow jñ

[@hossman1364]

That thing kicks butt!!!

[@comucall]

Awesome machine, works and doe's as you wanted , well done👍

[@joeh4295]

Have you considered a hopper on the side to load multiple pieces? This would keep your hands away from the Piston.

[@bosdad7]

you need a roll in feed ramp to keep you hands farther from the ram. Nice job !

[@samskeeter1]

Have you still got both your hands?

[@darkfactory8082]

Hello. Nice idea, just one concern about the side flanges... I would cut out a portion around the splitting wedge, because it looks dangerous sticking your hands in like a box, while the thing is cycling.. Just as a mechanical view, the splitting part should be open, so you're free to avoid the ram.. Nice job though.. Cheers.

[@vanottey1]

I actually did just that several months ago; not entirely but I made it so the split pieces fall onto a platform. Thanks.

[@charlesreece3210]

I am building 1 of these machines now. Im using a i ternational baler i pulled from the valley i know has been there 30 + years. The plunger will be riding on casters keeping it in original box. Needing to shorten the axle but unsure once i cut it if i can reassemble.?? Any suggestions on that.

[@vanottey1]

harper reece What do you mean by shortening the axle?

[@lonniejohns8895]

this design limits the size log you can get in the hopper but for a flywheel style splitter it works quite well,

[@vanottey1]

17" max which is plenty. I have a Barkbuster that mounts on the back of my Kubota L245H that will split anything.

[@darrylt1031]

impressive set up...I like it....wondering how much fuel the tractor uses?

[@vanottey1]

It idles around 1000 and I bump it to 1100; so very little. I made a couple modifications. I have a wider tray for the wood after it goes through because sometimes the pieces are still too big and need to go through again. I cut the sides some aft of the wedge. I bought a Bark Buster to split the tough pieces. I mount that on my 25hp Kubota L245H.

[@patb9375]

You should put your other pair of gloves up for bid! Nice use of old baler. You cannot be slow.. Like any power tool it can be dangerous, smart idea to put the wedge further back at the top.

[@noelisaac1222]

Hello Van, if you haven't been killed by this machine yet, can you send a pic of the beam underneath and how far forward it goes? i cant tell on the video how you have it set up, but i have an extra parts baler I am going to do this to. thanks.

[@1ebmwe1]

Looks like a old ih 46 baler. I have one and does not really work well would love plans on how to build this

[@booserobert]

Nice machine, made in the U.S. by Americans...

[@vanottey1]

robert boose Thanks Robert. I checked out several of the videos on your page. Very interesting. Do yourself a favor. Get the book The Great Controversy and read it. It will pull together many of the things you already understand but will show the reason behind it all.

[@booserobert]

van Jesus is coming , this is saw-tawn world right now, times will even get worse because of sin...but Jesus will come to get his people when the Father in Heaven say it time, we have the Holy Spirit right now to guide us and teach us all truth... take care Robert....

[@vanottey1]

robert boose You are absolutely correct! Get the book!

[@leowaisanen1672]

Clever fellow !

[@donbraden8533]

Nice machine great job

[@naturetamer]

hey van, Good job I like it, I wonder if it would split red elm?

[@vanottey1]

+Joe Gaukel Probably, as long as the pieces weren't too big or knotted.

[@williamgiboney5939]

so your walnut are worth more as firewood where u live?

[@sertifiednerd]

love your machine anyway

[@454943jdc]

how well does this work on green oak or cherry?

[@1995jug]

OHSA approved.

[@sschr6203]

And ul listed

[@slackoutdoors]

New sub here! Love this splitter. #slackoutdoors

[@d-op1502]

you should keep a pick or something to use instead of hands when one gets stuck.

[@vanottey1]

I've got a small sledge sitting on the splitter when hands aren't enough. I've got a home made pickaroon too.

[@arnoldstafford2900]

That's cool

[@wesleycallison2079]

Walnut can give you a chimney fire.mix a lot of lighter wood in when you burn it. Safety first. You probably know that already.

[@vanottey1]

Any wood can give you s chimney fire. The problem is a buildup of creosote. Usually from burning with little air.

[@wesleycallison2079]

True but who wants to run their stove wide open. Everyone who has poo. pooed me has had a chimney fire

[@lrandol456]

The video is 3 weeks old so I assume u lost a limb by now... Lol. I like it and would use, but that's not saying much. Good luck

[@jacobm6524]

Is this machine still working today? I'm planning on building one and was curious on the durability

[@vanottey1]

Still in use. I added and subtracted some sheet metal in the splitting area. I bought a Barkbuster for my tractor for the tough pieces.

[@curtisjohnson7502]

Jacob M in

[@Iliketoweldandbraze]

I would learn about hydraulics seems so much safer to me but maybe I'm just not careful enough

[@sschr6203]

☠️ death trap

[@joshleemartin]

safer than a motor cycle

[@mottthehoople693]

who used walnut trees for firewood???

[@vanottey1]

The large logs were sold for lumber. I split the unwanted pieces.

[@mottthehoople693]

@@vanottey1 wow we guard our walnut trees with our lives...from people who would steal them and the blasted cockies who steal the walnuts

[@davidgaylord2035]

i think you should stick with the 4 way splitting it appears that 2 way just mutilates the wood

[@vanottey1]

The 2 way is more likely to cut through large or knotted pieces.

[@ziomek-zs2ym]

Niebezpieczna ta łuparka palce szybko można stracić

[@vanottey1]

That's true, but it's possible with your chainsaw also. It is not a machine for those who are careless.

[@skeets6060]

OSHA will be calling you tomorrow

[@vanottey1]

If they come around here they'll get loaded ON the splitter!

[@Omahabigbill]

@van If they do call you sir, it will be because that weasel skeets ratted on you!

[@k.compton8995]

I have a pair of gloves just like that

[@JohnSmith-ju4dl]

One of these days your glove or sleeve is gonna get caught on something and you won’t be able to move hour hand outta the way fast enough. Only a matter of time before you have pancakes for hands.

[@keithmartin7831]

I'd like to see real wood split. But one thing for sure he ain't gonna overload anything with the wood he is splitting.

[@cautiouslyoptimistic6185]

Farming has never been an easy life.......it would be even more difficult with one hand !! With your ingenuity , I'm sure you could build a much safer hydraulic wood splitter . Yes, you would still have to be careful , But it would be much safer than that frankenstein contraption you're trying to feed !!! That SOB would have a terrible bite .

[@funnyfarm5555]

Yes, those aggressive point on push plate gotta go!

[@vanottey1]

Yeah, I ground them down and made some other changes. One of these days I'll repost with a shorter video plus my Stickler splitter plus a homemade splitter that attaches to a 7.5 ton excavator.

[@cautiouslyoptimistic6185]

Walnut is expensive wood to burn for fire wood !

[@vanottey1]

Pieces that are small, crooked...etc aren't worth much. That was what was left over after I logged the trees.

[@funnyfarm5555]

They only use the trunks for woodworking. limbs have swayed and twisted to much in the wind over the years.

[@zlindauer5315]

gunstocks. former sawyer at american walnut co. way to make that bailer work!!!

[@johnbekkers5201]

why do people cut wood in the winter you should be inside in the warm with wood you cut in summer

[@навигатор54]

Очень к месту сделаны боковые щиты.они лишают последнего шанса спасти руки если что не так, не дай Бог.

[@davesaam7693]

Need to watch hands carefully. Be nice to have a control.

[@jimposey8848]

i want one

[@jamesoncross7494]

That thing is super dangerous. Someone is going to get seriously injured. I'm no safety wimp. One slip and bye bye.

[@phatrides222000]

wait till the red hats see this! lol

[@jeffprostar1909]

Kids don't try that at home are any where else

[@sertifiednerd]

your braking my heart burning walnut. I have sold wood like that for 1000 per cord.

[@vanottey1]

That's what was left over after logging it.

[@butchmcintyre5196]

hand getter

[@BigBUCK0075051]

Looks like an accident waiting to happen. Be safe

[@vanottey1]

Thanks! I give it lots of respect. Now and then a piece will fly. No injuries...................yet.

[@MrWhatnext]

OMG .... That machine ain't for pussies.