Mother’s Hydraulic Log Splitter

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Our hydraulic log splitter will do even more in its completely self-powered form. You can latch the hitch to your car or truck and tow the splitter to the trees, where it will either cut wood while still mounted to the hitch, or can be detached and rolled up to the job. Or you can pull the entire cutting assembly away from the chassis to tackle tougher tasks.
Our hydraulic log splitter will do even more in its completely self-powered form. You can latch the hitch to your car or truck and tow the splitter to the trees, where it will either cut wood while still mounted to the hitch, or can be detached and rolled up to the job. Or you can pull the entire cutting assembly away from the chassis to tackle tougher tasks.
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The easiest and least expensive way to build and use the hydraulic log splitter is to construct only the three-point tractor mount and the cutting assembly, and let your tractor be the power source . 
The easiest and least expensive way to build and use the hydraulic log splitter is to construct only the three-point tractor mount and the cutting assembly, and let your tractor be the power source . 

From the moment over eight months ago when MOTHER EARTH NEWS’ research team first planned to construct a hydraulic log splitter, the boys had far more in mind than mere economy. Of course, our inventors were bent on conserving your pennies every step of the way, but they also hoped to whip up a log lopper with professional features—plus a few capabilities that even the top-dollar models can’t boast—while limiting the cost to about half that of an equivalent ready-made unit. And that’s just what they’ve done!

You’d have to fork over well in excess of $1,000 to buy a splitter that can do the kind of work our firewood cracker is capable of handling. With almost 12 tons of force at the cylinder, this slicer divides logs as big as two feet in diameter and 21 inches long in less than five seconds. In fact, during our test sessions out at MOTHER EARTH NEWS’ Eco-Village property, we didn’t encounter a single oak chunk that demanded full power from the machines 5-HP gasoline (or, with a few adjustments, alcohol-powered) engine.

What Will It Do?

But sheer splitting power isn’t all that our fireplace feeder has going for it. We don’t know of another machine at any price that’s as versatile as this unit. After all, MOTHER EARTH NEWS’ mechanical lumberjack will work for you in three different modes!

Because its wheels are full-size, heavy-duty boat-trailer items, this splitter can be towed to a job by simply attaching its hitch to a 1 7/8″ or 2″ ball on your car or truck. (In fact, in many states a single-use, unsprung trailer is exempt from licensing … but be sure to check with your state officials before towing the splitter.) Once you arrive at the old woodlot, you can either split wood with the assembly latched in place, or undo the hitch and roll the motorized maul closer to your work. (To make moving easier, a pair of fold-out handles are attached to the splitter’s beam.)

  • Published on Nov 1, 1979
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