Adding a stable base for a chopping block

[Noyade]

I have a chopping block (pine I think) for cutting chips/kindling and splitting wood.

It's 650 mm high and 250 mm in diameter.

Perfect height for me.

But when you split wood - it tends to topple over, so you keep lifting it back with each axe strike.

I want to make a low profile base out of an old plough disc - to hold it steady - hopefully.

[Noyade]

The plan was to weld steel tube on the disc and 'insert' it into the block.

I found a piece of 25 mm (outside diameter) steel tube.

So I drilled out the bottom of the block.

The drill got very hot - but I managed 400 mm depth.

[Noyade]

I cut a piece of steel to fit the plough hole and welded into place.

[Noyade]

It was now I discovered a significant problem...😣

[Noyade]

I greased the pole and impaled the block.

But no way could I get that block down to the base.

I was 'stumped.'

And that's where I am at 1400 hrs on a lovely Sunday afternoon.

[MitchellMc]

Interesting project @Noyade.

Sounds like the pole and hole are a very similar size. Could it be air-locked? Perhaps it's acting like a piston, preventing it from going fully in. I wonder what would happen if you popped a small hole at the base of the post or from under the base into the bottom of it.

Mitchell

[Noyade]

Quite possibly @MitchellMc 

Plus I think friction, even with grease, proved too much.

I took a sledge hammer to the block and then turned it over and sledged the plough end.

I was making progress - then I noticed it was leaning.

Upon examination I diagnosed Intussusception with a fissure. The pipe was rupturing at the base from the downward force.

[Noyade]

I gave up on this and hack-sawed it off.

The 25 mm pipe was never coming out. I ground it off.

Looked for something stronger - solid steel.

Internal diameter of the wedged tube is 22mm.

I found 22 mm external diameter pipe with a steel rod insert that fitted very nicely.

I think I was very lucky with this.

[Noyade]

I welded both ends and then onto the disc...

[Noyade]

Greased it up. Steel into steel now. I gave it a test run and it felt good.

Bingo! 😁

The fitting is tight - but not too tight.

The best part now is I can 'rotate' the block on the steel rod for that perfect level.

Stability is 100% better.

The leveling bolts were already in place. Years ago I used the disc as a base for an electric floor fan for my son which broke.

He hated it so we bought a new fan.

New use now.

Cheers!