Firewood processor build thread

[kiotiken]

The leak should be fixed now, unfortunately, it's WAY too cold to try it right now. I also want to hear back about the supply line before going any further.

I thought I'd post a few pics of the fix and of the wood that was just delivered. It's a real mix this year where last year it was almost 100% sugar maple.

New fittings and pressure valve to stop the leak


The suction hose from tank to pump

 

[farmer2009]

How did they deliver the wood? Dump truck or knuckle boom.

 

[kiotiken]

How did they deliver the wood? Dump truck or knuckle boom.

Knuckle boom. He laid a few down as runners then stacked the rest on top. Been buying wood from him since 2006, I've always been happy.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Man, you aren't having any luck with this build are you?

I can't remember how your wedge is mounted. Is there a solid back brace across the bottom? If not can you cut out the bottom of the wedge itself so the 4 way would work? Won't help the 6 way any though.

Look at the bright side of things, I know for a fact we have plenty of frost (16" at my house) that the truck wouldn't have left any ruts that you had last year. And similarly to my dump wagon build, there is a whole bunch of us that have also learned from your misfortunes :-D

 

[Scooby074]

Well, I'm back... The logs were delivered today and they couldn't be better for testing this thing out. Most of them seem to be around 12" in diameter and straight as an arrow without a single crook.

So I'm good to go, try it out and make a video right? Not really, the guy I bought the wood from wanted to check out the processor since it was sitting there. He was blunt and honest. It's not going to work, the steel is to light and it's not going to withstand the forces. He also looked at the hydraulics and pointed out the tank and the pump are both 1" outlet/inlet, but the fittings and hose I have is only 3/4". He says not to use it as is, I'll be starving the pump for oil. I'll post something in the hydraulic section and ask the hydraulic surplus center on Monday, anybody here have any thoughts?
I also figured out another problem. The wedge is going to deflect the wood downward and it's going to jam with the back of the processor frame. I'm trying to figure out what to do.
I'm past the point of no return and I now have a pile of wood that I don't feel like doing with a splitter so I have to figure this thing out.

Youre using a 28gpm 2 stage Haldex (Concentric) pump?

I probably would not run it with a 3/4 hose particularly in this cold.. Are you sure the fitting on the pump inlet is 1" and not 1 1/4?

Checking the Parker hose flow chart for suction lines 1 1/4 should be whats spec'd. If its 1" on the pump, it seems like they are cheating a bit. 3/4 only will flow 10 ish for a suction line, less when the oil is cold.

Id probably plumb it with 1.25 from the tank then bush it down to 1" at the pump. And you really should have a shutoff first thing after the tank for future service and repairs, and the ability to shut the tank off when the processor is in storage.

I do like how your pump is set lower than the tank which keeps the pump primed. Pipe tape on hydraulics scares me and while up for debate, is a bad idea IMHO.

Id just go and try the wedge as is. If it jams, then rework. No since tearing it apart now, it may work fine.

Nice looking pile of wood.

 

[ajmaxham]

I used LOCTITE 545 (non-fouling for Hydraulic Fittings) on all of the IPT joints when I built my log splitter. It worked very well -- no leaks.

I would also use a longer suction line and not use the 90 deg. fitting at the pump.

 

[kiotiken]

Man, you aren't having any luck with this build are you?

I can't remember how your wedge is mounted. Is there a solid back brace across the bottom? If not can you cut out the bottom of the wedge itself so the 4 way would work? Won't help the 6 way any though.

Look at the bright side of things, I know for a fact we have plenty of frost (16" at my house) that the truck wouldn't have left any ruts that you had last year. And similarly to my dump wagon build, there is a whole bunch of us that have also learned from your misfortunes :-D

I keep reading your dump wagon thread, it just got a little over my head! I'm so happy to be contributing to everybody elses learning... wait, not happy so much :laughing:

One thought I had was to cut the bottom of the spitter head frame off. Like you say, that would solve the 4 way wedge problem but not the 6 way. I was then thinking of using those 1/2" X 6 pieces of plate that are cut off to build some type of hinged flap to stop the rounds from being driven down into the back of the processor frame. I'm just having a hard time seeing exactly how it would work out. I'm now thinking of having Custom Welding chop up the wedge, reverse some of the cross pieces and having them sharpen them so it doesn't come to a point in the centre but from on of the edges. Should allow one piece to push straight through.

I'm still really not sure.

 

[kiotiken]

Youre using a 28gpm 2 stage Haldex (Concentric) pump?

I probably would not run it with a 3/4 hose particularly in this cold.. Are you sure the fitting on the pump inlet is 1" and not 1 1/4?

Checking the Parker hose flow chart for suction lines 1 1/4 should be whats spec'd. If its 1" on the pump, it seems like they are cheating a bit. 3/4 only will flow 10 ish for a suction line, less when the oil is cold.

Id probably plumb it with 1.25 from the tank then bush it down to 1" at the pump. And you really should have a shutoff first thing after the tank for future service and repairs, and the ability to shut the tank off when the processor is in storage.

I do like how your pump is set lower than the tank which keeps the pump primed. Pipe tape on hydraulics scares me and while up for debate, is a bad idea IMHO.

Id just go and try the wedge as is. If it jams, then rework. No since tearing it apart now, it may work fine.

Nice looking pile of wood.

Yes, it's the 28 GPM. I think you're right, it's actually 1.25" You can see the fittings reduce into another fitting to reduce again from the pump. I'm done with PA, I'm going to the local hydraulic shop, it would have been a lot cheaper doing that in the first place. A shut off is a good idea. I did't like pipe tape either, I thought I was only using it on the low pressure return side, but there are a bunch of fittings put together that way now.

The wedge will jam, there's no doubt in my mind. I'll try it and see how bad it really is, that will help me deciding on what to do.

 

[kiotiken]

I used LOCTITE 545 (non-fouling for Hydraulic Fittings) on all of the IPT joints when I built my log splitter. It worked very well -- no leaks.

I would also use a longer suction line and not use the 90 deg. fitting at the pump.

View attachment 407151

I was using the 90 deg to make sure the hose is tucked out of harms way. I'll talk it over at my local hydraulic shop, at this point, if it helps get this thing working, I'm in.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

I keep reading your dump wagon thread, it just got a little over my head! I'm so happy to be contributing to everybody elses learning... wait, not happy so much :laughing:

One thought I had was to cut the bottom of the spitter head frame off. Like you say, that would solve the 4 way wedge problem but not the 6 way. I was then thinking of using those 1/2" X 6 pieces of plate that are cut off to build some type of hinged flap to stop the rounds from being driven down into the back of the processor frame. I'm just having a hard time seeing exactly how it would work out. I'm now thinking of having Custom Welding chop up the wedge, reverse some of the cross pieces and having them sharpen them so it doesn't come to a point in the centre but from on of the edges. Should allow one piece to push straight through.

I'm still really not sure.

While sharpening on only one side would solve the bottom piece of the 4 way, if the top side jams, the round still jams. I'd do as Scooby says and try it before cutting it up and modifying. Cut an 8' chunk off one of the smaller logs and try it in the 2 way first and then the 6 way since it's further from the top than the 4 way is from the bottom. If Dave is right and it (Gasp!) folds in half, the you don't have to worry about modifying the splitter.

When you do get to firing it up and actually trying to run a log thru, if you need someone to hold the camera or second set of eyes/ears for creeks and groans, I'd be happy to come over.

PS, the technical stuff is sorted out for now for my dump wagon. Welding and fabwork to resume shortly......