My firewood processor: a learning process.

[Guy37]

Your first 6way is very similar to what I have on my splitter,View attachment 511307.The difference is my whole wedge is height adjustable. I can leave the wedge lowered and use the top wings as a 4way, or raise it to use as a 6way. The wedge is raised and lowered with a hyd cyl using a lift arm. Since the wedge just sets on top of the armView attachment 511310. it can float up if a split gets wedged under it. I have found that even with a 6way wedge, I still have a lot of resplitting to do. Even if you manage to split a 24in dia round into 6 even splits, each of those splits is still 12 inches wide. Since I usually split a lot of large dia wood, I have built a 12way box wedgeView attachment 511311 I will be using on my processor if I ever get it finished

A wedge controlled by an hydraulic cylinder would have been ideal, but for me, I thought it was outside of my league. You're right, larger pieces need to be resplitted. But with my 6 ways, I'll keep resplitting to a minimum. Your 12 ways box wedge looks like a skillfully made monster worthy of a commercial processor. I wonder what kind of cylinder or cylinders you're gone use to push the wood through. Thanks for your comment.

 

[4570Man]

Your first 6way is very similar to what I have on my splitter,View attachment 511307.The difference is my whole wedge is height adjustable. I can leave the wedge lowered and use the top wings as a 4way, or raise it to use as a 6way. The wedge is raised and lowered with a hyd cyl using a lift arm. Since the wedge just sets on top of the armView attachment 511310. it can float up if a split gets wedged under it. I have found that even with a 6way wedge, I still have a lot of resplitting to do. Even if you manage to split a 24in dia round into 6 even splits, each of those splits is still 12 inches wide. Since I usually split a lot of large dia wood, I have built a 12way box wedgeView attachment 511311 I will be using on my processor if I ever get it finished

Have you tried your wedge? Here's a wedge I built but it's yet to be tried.

 

[muddstopper]

Have you tried your wedge? Here's a wedge I built but it's yet to be tried. View attachment 511411

No, I havent finished my processor, between a torn rotator cuff and total knee replacement, I havent done much of anything for the last year. I bought the motor to pull the pumps with before Christmas, but I keep putting off any fabricating.

Hard to say how well your box wedge, or mine, will work. With enough tonnage pushing the wood it will be come, bleed or blister, Bust, split or break. The set back of your secondary wedges should help prevent some of the binding. I cant tell fro the pic if all the wedges are set back, or just the 4way. I designed my wedge with each split being set back behind the one before it. The first single wedge starts splitting 2 inches before the 4way, then 2 more inches back to the circle and another 2 inches back for the diagonal wedges. The circle wedge is also angled wider in the rear than it is in the front to allow the wood to spread while splitting. As for tonnage, I have 2-4.5inx2.5inx30in stroke cylinders.

 

[4570Man]

I have 2 separate boxes that makeup my wedge. I'm pushing with a 5.25" cylinder.

 

[rd_macgregor]

I thought of your project (and other similar ones) when I ran across this youtube clip:
Handyman Corner - Log Splitter - YouTube

I'm betting the thought you put into yours will pay off....compared to Red's version of a firewood processor!

 

[Guy37]

After splitting dozens of face cords of firewood, I can say I learned a lot about fabricating and
using my processor. Is it up to my expectations? Not completely. It still is lots of work but
not hard as expected. Very few things have changed from my original design. The most
important one being replacing the deck with lifting arms. It was supposed to be used by
two people. Unfortunately I had to work it by myself most of the time. So, after cutting and splitting
3 or 4 logs, I have to move on the other side for resplitting the large pieces. Being too far from the splitting valve,
I use a stick to make it work. Not what I had envisioned. Can I change it so that it can split logs
up to 16 inches in one go with all parts the size I want? I could, but that would need a complete overhaul
of the processor. This one does a decent job, but not the one I want. So, I am going to let it as is, and go for
a new one. I learned a lot in working on this processor and I hope to learn more on the next one. Now I know
the end result I want and it can only be achieved with a box wedge. What is needed to make a 20x20 inches box
work efficiently? Motor, hydraulics etc... Well, that is my next thread.

 

[davedj1]

Thanks for the update and I'm glad you learned and want to build your processor 2.0 I wish I had the need for one because I would love to build one.

 

[steveareno]

My dad started a splitter and I may or may not keep this design using 2 large loader teeth and part of a bush hog blade for the splitter. Thought everyone would open their eyes and maybe drop a jaw and a few chuckles. Dad is one of the greatest welders I have seen and can make anything with anything.

 

[4570Man]

I made a box wedge and it failed. Do your homework better than I did.

 

[Guy37]

My dad started a splitter and I may or may not keep this design using 2 large loader teeth and part of a bush hog blade for the splitter. Thought everyone would open their eyes and maybe drop a jaw and a few chuckles. Dad is one of the greatest welders I have seen and can make anything with anything.
View attachment 578855

He did it with spare parts and imagination, great. My guess it would work nicely. It you keep the design, make it a 4 ways. Good luck.