log "cradle" for splitter- material?

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I want to fab removable side log supports for my 28 ton hydraulic splitter. I called it a "cradle for lack of a better term, but I want to be able to roll logs into the ram and retain the larger pieces for additional splits without having to bend down and pick them up again or walking around the splitter when they fall off the I-beam. I want them removable without tools because sometimes I have rounds so large I use it in the vertical position but I prefer to do most of my splitting horizontal cause its easier on my old back. I'm looking for material suggestions. I thought about welding square stock or tubing, 2 stubs to each side of the I-beam at a slight upward angle and fitting an 18x24" wing for a half-rack on each side. 1.25 sq tube strong enough to not bend under a 100 pound oak round? I sometimes bring rounds over to the splitter with the tractor loader and roll the bigger ones onto the I-beam. I spose I should someday build a roller rack or table at the right height too but for now I'm just looking to mod my splitter.Hope my description makes sense, I'm a dummy when it comes to illustrating with anything other than a pencil or chalk.
Reply:Here is mine:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ard&highlight=I leave it attached all the time, it just rests against my tire when flipped up for vertical splitting.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Excellent! Catch table eh? Works for me. What is the material for the frame of the catch table?
Reply:I believe that was 1"x1" square tube and matching angle iron on the outside.Looks like 1" x 1/4" slats.Basically whatever scrap was under the cutting table Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:I built something similar many years ago for our splitter and it has saved me many a back pain.It attaches with two 5/8" pins on the tray into sockets attached to the splitter.All I have to do to remove it is pick up on the tray until the pins come out. I really should straighten out that stop bar someday. Here is a picture of a simple tool that we never split wood without. I bought a cheap but comfortable Harbor Freight screwdriver, cut the end off and rewelded at a little less than 90 degrees and cut grooves in the blade to give it more grip. This allows you to put the blade of the screwdriver into the split right at the wedge as soon as it starts and pull on it to break the piece free,SAFELY.With dry wood, the splitter only has to travel a couple of inches, if that, before you can separate the pieces from the log, saving wear and tear and gobs of cycle time. My brother and I figure it saves 40 % off our cycle times, and there are never fingers in harms way.
Reply:My dad built a splitter about twenty years ago with a vertical boom that lays up and down via hydraulic cylinder. Splits wood for three families every year. I've never ran one that lays down, seems like a lot of extra work putting the wood up on the cutting bed. Most of the stuff we split is between 16-48 inches.Miller trailblazer301gLincoln sa200Miller251Miller spectrum 625Victor oxy-acc2002 Chevy duramax 3500 dually 4x4
Reply:This how I done mine
Reply:Some great ideas! Thanks fellas! Now I know what I want to do with mine. I can't get it out of the wood shed yet because there are 3 BIG oak logs (all over 30" and 10-12' long) frozen to the ground and in the way. I couldn't break them loose with the tractor loader to move them yet but I'm looking forward to fabbing a catch table and a crash cage for the motor when I can move it into the heated shop. (it was only 22 degrees below zero this morning) I can clean and service and repaint while I have it in.