Build a kindling cracker - PEP BB metalworking.sand.kindling

Had a blast with this BB! Perfect "excuse" to get my weld helmet out again.

Entire project was built with scrap steel out of a steel hopper.
I chose to place my splitting blade at the top of the cracker so that I can easily sharpen the steel as needed without busting my knuckles.

I don't own or have access to metal stamp letters so I chose to use my dremel.

I'm not a tall person and had to move it lower so I could use it propperly lol Hubs took a video but i can't get it to load. I attached a screen shot instead.

Here’s my first attempt to build a kindling cracker. The key points of my design are: substantial mass, a dimensional stable base, a low aspect ratio along the log’s path, the supports for the splitting edge drive the log apart in the last few inches of stroke, uses a standard 6 lb splitting wedge instead of sharpened sheet metal. All these design choices should hopefully reduce how often logs bounce back when struck and prevent the logs from being cut instead of splitting.



Minimum requirements:
 - Cage accepts wood at least 8 inches in diameter (9 or more inches preferred)
 - Bolted to a chopping block
     - Lots of knots in the block if it's a soft wood (possibly a taller than average chopping block)
     - The creation does not have to be centered on the chopping block
 - Stamp, etch or chisel “made by XXXX” somewhere on it where XXXX is your name

Provide proof of the following as pictures or video (<2 min):
- Your creation at two points of construction
- The finished product with a tape measure showing the the size of the wood that can enter
- The stamped/etched/chiseled name

I call my kindling cracker my ugly child.

Minimum requirements:
  - Cage accepts wood at least 8 inches in diameter (9 or more inches preferred)
  - Bolted to a chopping block
      - Lots of knots in the block if it's a soft wood (possibly a taller than average chopping block)
      - The creation does not have to be centered on the chopping block
  - Stamp, etch or chisel “made by XXXX” somewhere on it where XXXX is your name

Provide proof of the following as pictures or video (<2 min):
 - Your creation at two points of construction
 - The finished product with a tape measure showing the the size of the wood that can enter
 - The stamped/etched/chiseled name

Clarifications
 - This is the metalworking badge so the part above the stump should be entirely made of metal

I made a kindling cracker. I signed my name.
How silly of me. I forgot the "made by." Now there it is.

Thank you, staff! I really appreciate whoever looked back over this submission to approve it 😇 that means a lot to me.