Four way splitting wedge

[merc_man]

gonna make a four way wedge. Anyone got any pics. my wedge on the champion splitter is skinny for coupl inchs then get wide. Would like to make one that will slide over wedge

 

[merc_man]

This is kinda what i had in mind. Any thoughts how thick the part that slides over wedge should be? I was thinking 1/4 to 3/8".

 

[the GOAT]

Here's mine.

I used a piece of 3/8" (I think) tubing for the collar. Which I mangled in the first hour of use. It was a little loose of a fit which didn't help. The collar actually started to tear when I hit a knot... Glob'd some 7018 on it and added a filler piece so there was so much slop and it's been fine for 30-40 cord since.

The wings are 5/8" x 8" long with the bevel facing up. I angled them up slightly. Not sure what the thinking was but probably wouldn't angle them up again.

The little 1/4" triangles on top of the wings made a big difference when I added them. Keeps the splits going in a straight line all the way through the wedge.

So...if I did it again I'd use 1/2" for the sleeve and make it a tight slip fit. Otherwise I've been happy with it... Saves a lot of time.

 

[USMC615]

Merc, here's a couple of pics of my 4-way slip-on for my 20-ton Dual Split.

 

[mirage]

That sure is some thick steel to solder

 

[PhysAssist]

Hi,
I have one of these that we use on our splitter purchased from Loews, and it works very well.

I initially drilled and tapped a hole in the back of the splitter's wedge to hold it on, but the bolt
broke off very quickly in normal mild use, so now we just use it in the slip-fit fashion, which is good because it allows some slop, and it is easily removed if we want to just use the main wedge, which can be very helpful in splitting large or stubborn knots or really twisty wood.

YMMV,
PA
FWIW, I believe the backstrap on it that fits around the splitter's wedge is either 1/4" or [less likely] 3/8"- as all it does is retain the 4-way on the main wedge for the return [decompression] stroke.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Here's one a friend of mine made in his welding shop:

We split this much in two days with it:

Three guys (including me) were working. I was a younger man back then.