Author Topic: Wedges  (Read 943 times)

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Offline armorer77

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Wedges
« on: September 24, 2012, 09:27:22 AM »
Some time ago there was a thread about powder fired splitting wedges . I have several blocks of wood that are too big to handle and would like to try such wedges . I am having no luck with the search function . Could anyone help? Thanks . Armorer77

Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Wedges
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2012, 09:40:27 AM »
I referred to mine as a powder wedge.
Be glad to loan it to you if needed.

Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline armorer77

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Re: Wedges
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2012, 09:46:51 AM »
How much is shipping ?  The blocks I have are over 48" dia. Ed

Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Wedges
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2012, 10:23:33 AM »
How much is shipping ?  The blocks I have are over 48" dia. Ed

I'll ship it one way, you ship it back.
(I'll weigh it tonight & send pix)

48" dia sounds like what it was designed for.  My step-dad said to put it between the log to be split and a BIG stump.  Wrap a chain around it as it had a propensity to go airborne.  It has a powder chamber, standard cannon design.

:)
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Offline flagman1776

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Re: Wedges
« Reply #5 on: September 24, 2012, 01:19:22 PM »
All I can say to the you tube videos "amazing"

Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Wedges
« Reply #6 on: September 24, 2012, 02:17:36 PM »
Here are pix of mine.  A commerically produced one.

14" long, 2" diameter

first chamber is 1" diameter 3" long, powder chamber is about 1/3 of the 2" OD and is 3-1/2" long.

Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Re: Wedges
« Reply #7 on: September 24, 2012, 02:19:56 PM »
and this side.

rib has a hole in it for a wire

Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline armorer77

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Re: Wedges
« Reply #8 on: September 24, 2012, 10:19:57 PM »
Thanks CW , that is what I needed . I have a piece of 4140 that will be perfect for that . Ed

Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Wedges
« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2012, 01:12:31 AM »
Thanks CW , that is what I needed . I have a piece of 4140 that will be perfect for that . Ed

Good.  Investment in a tool is much better than an investment in postage!

 ;D ;D ;D
Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline flagman1776

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Re: Wedges
« Reply #10 on: September 25, 2012, 03:06:33 AM »
Weld gusset to 'wedge', shackle a length of tractor chain to it...  other end to a tree so you can find it after.

Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Wedges
« Reply #11 on: September 25, 2012, 03:22:02 AM »
Weld gusset to 'wedge', shackle a length of tractor chain to it...  other end to a tree so you can find it after.

Not bad advice.

Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline armorer77

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Re: Wedges
« Reply #12 on: September 25, 2012, 09:33:53 AM »
Got it mostly done today . I am bolting the tether chain to it . Ed

Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Wedges
« Reply #13 on: September 25, 2012, 10:09:46 AM »
I want to see smoke and flame!

The long-thin powder chamber will give max focused pressure along it's axis - just where you want it.

Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline The Jeff

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Re: Wedges
« Reply #14 on: September 25, 2012, 10:13:46 AM »
Here are pix of mine.  A commerically produced one.

14" long, 2" diameter

first chamber is 1" diameter 3" long, powder chamber is about 1/3 of the 2" OD and is 3-1/2" long.


Do you fill both chambers with powder? Or just the 2/3" x 3-1/2" chamber? If you only fill the smaller chamber, what happens with the bigger one?


That's a really neat device and I'm halfway tempted to make one myself!

Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Wedges
« Reply #15 on: September 25, 2012, 12:28:38 PM »
I would fill ONLY the small one.  Then a bit of newspaper to hold it in place.

That would leave the larger opening to be filled with wood when it was hammered into the log.

It also puts the powder into an area surrounded by an adequate thickness of steel to handle the pressure.

Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline The Jeff

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Re: Wedges
« Reply #16 on: September 25, 2012, 01:15:39 PM »
Ah I see. I didn't consider needing the larger chamber to allow the wood somewhere to go when you hammer it into the log.

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Re: Wedges
« Reply #17 on: September 25, 2012, 01:57:45 PM »
I had not measured it before, but now that I know that it has a 1" bore I'll have to attach (temporarily) some trunnions.

 :) ;)
Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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