Building log splitter

Have you thought about building it so it can split on both strokes. My local rental shop's splitter is made from 6X6 or 8X8 square tubing and the cylinder is inside it pushing and pulling the double sided wedge. The wedge is outside on top of the tubing and the tubing has a long slot in it. Inside the tubing is a sliding block and the wedge is joined to it. Both ends have a stop for the blocked wood and as you spilt one you drop another and it splits it the other way. I have used both types and the splitting gets done twice as fast with these. Here is a picture of one

Truth! There are a number of "metal dealers" in my area, all look about the same in the phonebook. There is definitely one "best" one for this sort of thing -- and someone may know of a guy with a chunk of that in his yard or field he might be ready to part with. I know where there is one in Ohio. It's in a vinyard of all places. I bet my neighbor, who occasionally does construction right after demolition work, could come up with one if given some time to come across it.

Bet on it!

The guys in Mnpls will talk on the phone about a ton or more, but they won't bother checking the dropracks. They're busy! Ya gotta go and see what they have, or get a tip from someone who was recently there.