Powerful Log Splitter Built With Safety In Mind

Powerful Log Splitter Built With Safety In Mind WOODLOT EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous After an accident cut off one of his son s fingers Nathan Overholt set out to build a better safer log splitter Now his son sits safely above the action and controls the hydraulics that lift and split logs while Overholt moves logs around Finished with Deere paint and decals the splitter looks more like a factory splitter than a made-it-myself project that started with an old I-beam Set up to be a stationary unit it can be pulled with a receiver hitch from the front or back A protective cover with a seat on top houses the two 5-in hydraulic cylinders that came off an old crane Overholt runs the hydraulic fluid through the axle tubing which acts as a reservoir I normally just use one cylinder because it s faster but when we have heavy logs I use both says Overholt explaining that he sometimes buys firewood logs up to 48 in in diameter Because of that he added a lifting feature An arm on one side has hydraulically telescoping forks to reach under logs lift them up and roll them to the table next to the splitter Once on the table Overholt moves the blocks around to feed the splitter which has a 20-in wedge he built up out of 1 1/2-in thick steel It splits wood up to 42 in long We ve used the splitter for six years and it works like a charm Overholt says It has electric start a pressure gauge and all the bells and whistles Overholt s main expense was the 13 hp Honda engine that powers the rig Besides using wood to heat his Russellville Ky home and shop and to boil down maple syrup in the spring he joins other volunteers from his church to split wood for people in need We usually get to do the big wood Overholt says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Nathan Overholt 4919 Stevenson Mill Road Russellville Ky 52276 ph 270 725-0320

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