Firewood processor design almost done.

   / Firewood processor design almost done.
  • Thread Starter
#21  
Yes it is great improvement not only in hours but in hard labor. A friend of mine saw my processor and ordered one for himself, but it is a slightly different style, as we doesnot want to use another machinery to lift the logs on the deck, while he is skidding 30ft long logs from the forest. This is the current design so far, and its a paid job so I have to have it ready in 2 weeks :confused2:, maybe thats a better approach you may be interested in, as it utilizes a winch to pull the logs. Screenshot from 2018-12-24 06-39-48.png
 
   / Firewood processor design almost done. #22  
Yes it is great improvement not only in hours but in hard labor. A friend of mine saw my processor and ordered one for himself, but it is a slightly different style, as we doesnot want to use another machinery to lift the logs on the deck, while he is skidding 30ft long logs from the forest. This is the current design so far, and its a paid job so I have to have it ready in 2 weeks :confused2:, maybe thats a better approach you may be interested in, as it utilizes a winch to pull the logs. View attachment 584210

Great ideas with the processors, looks good. The design above is what I am going to build. I got the idea from the wallenstien processors. I Have a Honda engine already and just ordered the pump, cylinder, and auto cycle valve. I plan on using my chain saw like whats in the wallentien video. One of the main reason for this Type of processor with the winch log feed and the chain saw cutter is because the engine/pump combo I have is small. Honda GX160 with 11 gpm pump. It will be fine for my personal processor.
Firewood Processors | WP8 Series - Trailer | Wallenstein Outdoor Power Equipment
 
   / Firewood processor design almost done.
  • Thread Starter
#23  
From Wallenstein i improved (imho) the negative thing that the splitter is at the opposite side of the operator. It is very often a need to adjust the log or something. For this build I will use a 16hp from Harbor Freight, for some reason I love how robust and cheap are some Chinese products :) and use a 2-stage pump 22gpm/7gpm with a 5in cylinder. Another thing I do not like on the wallestein is the 2 rectangle profiles for the splitter instead of a W-beam. My calculation show that it is not even close as strong in side-bending force when a knot hits the horizontal knife on the 4-way. I also going to use the full auto cycle valve (extend & return) because the customer wants to use a mechanical chainsaw, so he does not have to keep his hands tied there. Hud-son has a similar model the Badger, which again has some negatives. The controls are above the wheel, which again is not a convenient location for the operator if you do long hours there.
We will see, the design is still evolving :) :)
 
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   / Firewood processor design almost done. #24  
I have contemplated a few changes on the wallenstien platform also, and agree with you on the position of the log splitter. I will most likely put the log splitter directly inline with the feed table. The direction of flow will also be from the front of the trailer to the back of the trailer so I can position the trailer directly in front of my wood shed. That way I can cut and split and the wife can take it from the outfeed chute and stack it. The basic design will be very similar to the one in the link below. I like how simple but effective it is. I love how at 1:09 in the video you can see the chainsaw operator toss his cigarette but in the saw dust pile.
Firewood Processor - YouTube
 
   / Firewood processor design almost done. #25  
Enjoy fab & the invention of things. Saw something similar on YT that made sense to split the cut log as the splitter cylinder traveled L to RT. It takes less time to saw the wood than it takes to split it. Doubling up on the splitting stage could boost production. Having to wait for the splitting ram to come back home might suck.
 
   / Firewood processor design almost done. #26  
It would definately boost production for a fire wood business, but IMHO the extra designing and fab work involved to make this work, isn't worth it, at least not for me. Then you have the issue of dealing with wood coming off both sides of the trailer which would create another issue that would have to be adressed. According to my calculations with the equipment that I will be using the complete cycle of my splitter from start to finish should be in the 12 second +/- range. This time will be used to position the log for another cut and cut it. 12 seconds might seem like a long time to some but the whole process will be a lot quicker and a lot less handling than the "old school" way I am doing it now. Drag the wood out of the bush, block the wood, load the truck, take it home, unload the truck, lift every piece onto the splitter and split. I'm getting to old to keep doing this, I need to work smarter not harder.
Of course this is only my opinion
 
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   / Firewood processor design almost done. #27  
Polemidis, What size I beam do you plan on using for the splitter?
 
   / Firewood processor design almost done. #29  
It would definately boost production for a fire wood business, but IMHO the extra designing and fab work involved to make this work, isn't worth it, at least not for me. Then you have the issue of dealing with wood coming off both sides of the trailer which would create another issue that would have to be adressed. According to my calculations with the equipment that I will be using the complete cycle of my splitter from start to finish should be in the 12 second +/- range. This time will be used to position the log for another cut and cut it. 12 seconds might seem like a long time to some but the whole process will be a lot quicker and a lot less handling than the "old school" way I am doing it now. Drag the wood out of the bush, block the wood, load the truck, take it home, unload the truck, lift every piece onto the splitter and split. I'm getting to old to keep doing this, I need to work smarter not harder.
Of course this is only my opinion

Hope we aren't hijackin this thread ! Please forgive us

I'm toying with idea getting into the firewood business. Having moved to the country a few years ago and own a few acres that could be used for FW processing, my wife keeps shooting my idea down, but she can see how valuable FW is having a fireplace that was our only source of heat last winter. We now have a brand new central heat & air 4-ton 16seer heat pump that seems to be kicking butt so far keeping us warm with very low electric bills. I purposely ordered the unit with a small 10kw backup heat knowing the fireplace could take up the slack when necessary. At 54 y/o I have a bad back, but the more exercise I get, the better it feels so Hmmmm. My neighbor has 100's of acres of land out here and says I may cut all I please having done an inventory last year to see hundreds of cords of wood available downed trees etc...

Trying to picture just how many times the wood is handed from harvesting to buyers door step. I have a 4'X8' trailer and Explorer 4WD XLT which seemed to do the job hauling loads of 8'-0" logs back to the house to be cut to length while on the trailer hanging off and then split by hand using a sledge & wedges. Tell me that isn't hard work, but I did it and kept us warm and save money buying the wood from a crook in town selling apt stacks for $70 each.

Everytime I see one of these machine setup Rude Goldberg contraptions (inventor of the Mouse Trap Game), I get thinking just how neat it would be to design/build one. I'm a mech engineer CAD designer. I also have a crap ton of tools welders etc to do just about anything I'd need to do. My mind says I can do this while my body says no. If there was some way to work smarter-not harder like you said, I might be able to pull this off.

Another question for you guys...what do you do with all the sawdust? Probably not a good idea to have a lot of it near the foundation of the garage inviting termites and other bugs.
 
   / Firewood processor design almost done. #30  
That processor is nice but it's way overkill for what I need. As for the saw dust, I just lay a poly tarp down where I do most of my cutting and haul it away with the tractor
 

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