Converting a woodsplitter into a firewood processor

[kiotiken]

Just did some figuring for an average cycle time for a 5" vs 4" cylinder.

5" 53,014 lbs push
24" @ 6.5 inch/s = 3.69 s. - Cylinder return
10" @ 1.4 inch/s = 7.14 s - First 10" into the round
14" @ 5.5 inch/s = 2.55 s - High pressure kicks in

5" cycle time = 13.38 s

4" Cylinder 33,929 lbs push
24" @ 11.4 inch/s = 2.14 s
10" @ 2.1 inch/s = 4.72 s
14" @ 8.6 inch/s = 1.63 s

4" cycle time = 6.35 s.

Less time spent with a sledge hammer knocking stuck rounds out... priceless.

That's a big hit for the cycle time, more than double. To me, to have a productive processor, it all comes down to the splitter's speed. I've still got to give this some thought...

 

[Scooby074]

28 gpm.. should help. Mines 22.

I wouldnt get that bogged down chasing seconds. In practice so long as your pusher is retracted when you are finished cutting, thats all you need. You really are limited by cut speed at that point.

Thats what I am frustrated with, I can cut faster than my pusher retracts, so I have to either wait for a full retract, or pause halfway though the cut.

And dont think too much about speed reduction on the HP side. My splitter rarely shifts into HP. Probably 90% of the time it stays in LP, and even then it only shifts for a second until the wood cracks. Full strokes on HP are very rare.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Ken, are you planning on a build? You aren't far from me and I'd like to check it out once you get going if you don't mind

 

[kiotiken]

Ken, are you planning on a build? You aren't far from me and I'd like to check it out once you get going if you don't mind

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/324028-firewood-processor-build-thread.html

Where abouts are you in Ottawa?

 

[muddstopper]

Just did some figuring for an average cycle time for a 5" vs 4" cylinder.

5" 53,014 lbs push
24" @ 6.5 inch/s = 3.69 s. - Cylinder return
10" @ 1.4 inch/s = 7.14 s - First 10" into the round
14" @ 5.5 inch/s = 2.55 s - High pressure kicks in

5" cycle time = 13.38 s

4" Cylinder 33,929 lbs push
24" @ 11.4 inch/s = 2.14 s
10" @ 2.1 inch/s = 4.72 s
14" @ 8.6 inch/s = 1.63 s

4" cycle time = 6.35 s.

Less time spent with a sledge hammer knocking stuck rounds out... priceless.

That's a big hit for the cycle time, more than double. To me, to have a productive processor, it all comes down to the splitter's speed. I've still got to give this some thought...

Your figures are just estimate times really. Theory only works in the perfect world. If you are going to do multiple splits with your 4in cylinder, you can expect the pump to stay in the low flow/hp mode than it does in the high flow low pressure mode. This will increase your times considerably. Where as the 5in cyl will shift to high flow low pressure much more faster. My splitter has a 5in cyl and a 28gpm 2stage pump, cycle times around 12sec in large dia, 6way splits, I can make five folks tongues hang out splitting with it. Working by myself, i can split a 6x10 trailer load in about 20 min, and not break a sweat. Before the 6way wedge and 5in cylinder, I had a 4in cyl and 4way wedge and i could fill the trailer in about 20min working by myself, not breaking a sweat. Yep the 4way cylinder was faster than the 5in one, but splitting 6ways instead of 4 made up the difference. Just to throw more theory at you, My processor build should be able to do 12way splits, with twin 4 1/2 cylinders and 50 tons. Dia capacity of rounds is 27inches. Cycle times of 6sec. with 30in stroke and 60gpm. Theory says if i split max capacity of 27"x30" rounds, I should be able to split a cord every 3 min. Of course that means I have to saw a round every 6 sec also, and with a 29hp hydraulic chainsaw, it could be possible, but I aint hanging my hat on doing so.

If your serious about doing 6way splits, go with the 5in cyl. You will have fewer hang ups, and split times will still be faster than you can saw it.

Oh and recheck your math, 4cyl cycle time =8.49 not 6.35

4in @900psi=11,300lbs force 5 1/2tons in high flow mode 5in @900psi=17671lbs force 8 3/4tons in high flow mode

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/324028-firewood-processor-build-thread.html

Where abouts are you in Ottawa?

Between Carp and Almonte

 

[davedj1]

scoob, I just re read your entire build thread, very nice work!
I like how you find things that need fixing and or improving and just do it, that's about how I operate.
The thing I found with my splitter is I need a larger cylinder for more power.
I have a 5" x 30" cylinder in the shop waiting for my processor build.
Keep up the good work!
One thing I noticed reading was when you have your ramp in the up position you have two legs with open bottoms exposed, good place for rain to get into and freeze and split them open, don't ask me how I know.
dave

 

[Dead Horse]

Less time spent with a sledge hammer knocking stuck rounds out... priceless.

18 out of 20 times I can rock a stuck round off the (4 way) wedge, sometimes I put a small round (<4) sideways against the ram and the stuck round and slowly "roll" the stuck round up and off the wedge. for really tough situations, I keep a 4' piece of chain with a chain hook on one end near my splitter. Wrap the chain around the round and the the end of the ram and simply back off the ram slowly. This pulls the stuck round off the wedge every single time. The idea came to me one year when all the beating with a maul made absolutely no difference on a stuck apple stump I tried to split.

 

[mx842]

Your figures are just estimate times really. Theory only works in the perfect world. If you are going to do multiple splits with your 4in cylinder, you can expect the pump to stay in the low flow/hp mode than it does in the high flow low pressure mode. This will increase your times considerably. Where as the 5in cyl will shift to high flow low pressure much more faster. My splitter has a 5in cyl and a 28gpm 2stage pump, cycle times around 12sec in large dia, 6way splits, I can make five folks tongues hang out splitting with it. Working by myself, i can split a 6x10 trailer load in about 20 min, and not break a sweat. Before the 6way wedge and 5in cylinder, I had a 4in cyl and 4way wedge and i could fill the trailer in about 20min working by myself, not breaking a sweat. Yep the 4way cylinder was faster than the 5in one, but splitting 6ways instead of 4 made up the difference. Just to throw more theory at you, My processor build should be able to do 12way splits, with twin 4 1/2 cylinders and 50 tons. Dia capacity of rounds is 27inches. Cycle times of 6sec. with 30in stroke and 60gpm. Theory says if i split max capacity of 27"x30" rounds, I should be able to split a cord every 3 min. Of course that means I have to saw a round every 6 sec also, and with a 29hp hydraulic chainsaw, it could be possible, but I aint hanging my hat on doing so.

If your serious about doing 6way splits, go with the 5in cyl. You will have fewer hang ups, and split times will still be faster than you can saw it.

Oh and recheck your math, 4cyl cycle time =8.49 not 6.35

4in @900psi=11,300lbs force 5 1/2tons in high flow mode 5in @900psi=17671lbs force 8 3/4tons in high flow mode

I was wondering about putting a 2 cylinder setup on my build but couldn't find out if that would actually double the pushing power. I have a couple 4", 30" long cylinders I came across. Been looking for a 5 inch one but haven't been able to find one yet......cheap that is.

 

[kiotiken]

18 out of 20 times I can rock a stuck round off the (4 way) wedge, sometimes I put a small round (<4) sideways against the ram and the stuck round and slowly "roll" the stuck round up and off the wedge. for really tough situations, I keep a 4' piece of chain with a chain hook on one end near my splitter. Wrap the chain around the round and the the end of the ram and simply back off the ram slowly. This pulls the stuck round off the wedge every single time. The idea came to me one year when all the beating with a maul made absolutely no difference on a stuck apple stump I tried to split.

I like the idea of the chain. I used to use a small round and jam it between the end of the cylinder and the stuck log to release it on my splitter (the knife head moves on that one).