Todays Project - What did you do today?

[stevec]

The mild(ish) temperatures today urged me to heat up the shop and get some work done on the new log splitter I brought into the shop last fall.
Incredibly I forgot to reinforce the top of the H beam I used for the splitter. I say "incredibly" because the first splitter I built had to have a thicker plate added to the top of the H beam where the pusher slid.

Some people don't learn.
.
Here's the new ½" x 6" steel plate ready for welding to the H beam.

   

The plate is beveled as well as the H beam for the weld bead.
It also has 3 slots for welding down the centre and will be welded at both ends.
I had to sledge hammer the H beam that the log pusher had bent up due to unforeseen (and unremembered forces ) in order for the new plate to lie properly on it.

The log pusher had to have the collar for the ram moved up ½" to compensate for the new new slide plate.

I decided to try turning the boring bar in my boring head 180° and run the mill in reverse to cut off the weld.

       


That procedure worked quite well, I was relying on the weld penetration not being too deep. I had not been concerned when I welded it because the only strength required would be retracting the pusher. I had to use a thin cut off wheel in a couple of spots but once that was done the collar pried off quite easily.

       




While disassembling the splitter for the above mods I decided to reposition the hydraulic filter, as it was if I were to unscrew the filter over ½ the fluid would have tried to pour onto the ground. Turn an elbow, add a longer nipple and re-route the return hose and that problem is solved.

   

More to report after the welding and reassembly.