Firewood processor build thread

[Scooby074]

Can you use an automotive radiator? I was thinking that potential pressures that you'd have in the return line would be greater than what an automotive radiator would safely handle.

I wouldnt use an automotive rad.

 

[aczlan]

I wouldnt use an automotive rad.

Why not? Its an all aluminum radiator in a line that would be going from a 3/4" line attached with hose clamps View attachment 407504
to a 1 1/8" radiator (and then back into the tank preferable with a larger hose). It should be well under the 25-30PSI that is normal for a car such as that radiator was intended for.
The Bailey radiator has a 30PSI pressure relief bypass, so if you are really worried about it, put a boiler pressure relief in there.

Aaron Z

 

[Scooby074]

Why not? Its an all aluminum radiator in a line that would be going from a 3/4" line attached with hose clamps View attachment 407504
to a 1 1/8" radiator (and then back into the tank preferable with a larger hose). It should be well under the 25-30PSI that is normal for a car such as that radiator was intended for.
The Bailey radiator has a 30PSI pressure relief bypass, so if you are really worried about it, put a boiler pressure relief in there.

Aaron Z

Pressure spikes. Considerably more than 30psi are possible.

 

[mikefromnh]

You can get radiators with a 30 psi relief bypass.

 

[muddstopper]

I dont know what psi the newer radiators are rated for, the old ones usually had a cap rated for around 14psi. Unrestricted Return line hydraulic pressure can hit 250psi pretty easily. Especially if the return filter is after the cooler. I would look at some of the old Jacobson mowers in the bone yard and try to rob a hydraulic oil cooler off of one of those. I would also look on ebay, sometimes you can find new/obsolete stock for a fraction of new. In all honesty, those new car radiators now have plastic endcaps and a rubber Oring to keep them from leaking. I would be afraid if the pressure didnt burst the radiator, the hydraulic fluid might eat up the oil ring and cause a leak.

 

[kiotiken]

Interesting ideas about rads but at this point, I'm going to try and avoid using one. Having started this project without any experience with hydraulics, I trusted what I was told when I bought all the parts. I shake my head now because some of the issues I've had seem so obvious now, including the tank size, but at the time, I didn't think twice about what I was told. The tank size is just wrong, plain and simple. Exactly how big is should be is up to some debate since the machine is using hydraulics intermittently and it's a two stage pump but no matter how you slice it, everything I've read says it's way to small. So I'm going to start by changing the tank and hopefully that will allow me to avoid having to add any type of rad.

So, I'm almost 100% decided at this point to buy the tank I posted a link to earlier. It's 37 gallon capacity with 30 gallon of usable fluid capacity. I priced out building my own tank and I'd save about $100 doing it, I'm just not sure in the end it's worth the time I'd spend doing it. It also doesn't include any consumables for welding/cleaning or paint, so in the end how much would I really save?

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

I think you'll be much happier with that tank, I agree with the sizing. Everything I've found says tank size should be equal to pump capacity or greater.

At some point, there should be enough fluid capacity that a cooler is unnecessary. I'd double check on the sizing that there is no doubt it will be enough. I'd hate to see you see you still have to add a cooler later with all you've been thru

 

[mikefromnh]

I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not, but can you keep the 10 gallon tank in place and add the 37 gallon tank in paralell?

 

[kiotiken]

I think you'll be much happier with that tank, I agree with the sizing. Everything I've found says tank size should be equal to pump capacity or greater.

At some point, there should be enough fluid capacity that a cooler is unnecessary. I'd double check on the sizing that there is no doubt it will be enough. I'd hate to see you see you still have to add a cooler later with all you've been thru

I think it would get tossed in behind the shed for a couple years while I cooled off if that happened :laughing:

 

[kiotiken]

I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not, but can you keep the 10 gallon tank in place and add the 37 gallon tank in paralell?

hmmmm... interesting idea. I really don't know if that could be done. I have two 55 gallon barrels mounted on the back of my box blade, I use it as a zamboni in the winter for my rink. The two tanks are joined together with 1.5" pipe and go to the water bar on the bottom. When you attach a garden hose to one tank, the water level in that tank will stay much higher than the water level in the other tank. Of course, I'm attaching the hose to the air vent of the first barrel, not sure if the air vent on the 10 gallon tank (which would be the first tank) would make any difference.