Firewood processor build thread

[kiotiken]

Keep going, I am still following. I'm wanting to take my old poulan splitter and convert it to a small processor. I pickup ideas from everything I see them put them to work. thanks for posting. LUTT

Great, thanks, I was starting to think I was talking to myself. I considered doing what you're thinking about and maybe I should have. I did the same thing, took ideas and saw what worked and what didn't.

 

[dbaer78]

The push plate slides inside a track similar to the top sled. It is very loose fitting to allow some movement from side to side, but fits tight to prevent the plate from being pushed up. In addition to that, the push plate is secured to the top log sled and therefore uses it as a guide. I didn't just suspend the push plate from the top log sled because I don't know how much force may be transfered vertically and I was worried about bending the sled. I'm still a little concerned I have the push plate guide undersized, it's only using 1 * 2 - .125 rectangular tube. Again, combined with the top sled (also built with 1 * 2 rectangular tube), I think it'll be fine, but I still have no idea how much vertical force there may be. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/build-yourself/397374-firewood-processor-build-thread-img_20141105_084534-1-jpg"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/build-yourself/397375-firewood-processor-build-thread-img_20141105_083035-1-jpg"/>

Well the best (only?) thing to do is just get her going and if it bends or breaks just fix it and make it better. One thing I would recommend is a replacement wear surface on your splitter head slide area. There's more wear there than you'd think, especially if you use it a lot. Just ask my old woodsplitter! 5 years of semi commercial use and the slide on it is looooose. I've removed all the shims and added a wear strip now she's getting loose again...

 

[kiotiken]

Well the best (only?) thing to do is just get her going and if it bends or breaks just fix it and make it better. One thing I would recommend is a replacement wear surface on your splitter head slide area. There's more wear there than you'd think, especially if you use it a lot. Just ask my old woodsplitter! 5 years of semi commercial use and the slide on it is looooose. I've removed all the shims and added a wear strip now she's getting loose again...

I never thought of a wear strips. I sat there and studied it for a while last night but don't think there's anyway to add something like that now. I am going to be adding grease zerks to the main slide, I was thinking 4 per side, maybe I'll think about greasing the bottom guide as well.

 

[kiotiken]

Here's what got done last night. I only get out to the garage around 10 pm and get an hour or two done per night. I was surprised how long this seemingly simple little project took. Going to bed, I realized that a large log could put a lot of force on it if it catches a knot, so I'm going to add bracing to this one too.

Log stop, adjustable from 12" - 20". Doubt I'd ever change it from 16"

 

[Rustyiron]

Well... for what it's worth, here's another update, I'm not sure anybody's still following this thread.

Just listening & learning!! Thanks for posting.

 

[muddstopper]

Well... for what it's worth, here's another update, I'm not sure anybody's still following this thread.

I'm still following your build, and a few others are as well. One thing tho, your build is scattered over a few other threads and makes it hard to keep up with whats going one. For instance, your thoughts about a 4in or 5 in cylinder, their in another thread, if one didnt see the other thread, they might not know you are having second thoughts about which cyl to use.

 

[kiotiken]

Just listening & learning!! Thanks for posting.

Awesome, thanks.

 

[kiotiken]

I'm still following your build, and a few others are as well. One thing tho, your build is scattered over a few other threads and makes it hard to keep up with whats going one. For instance, your thoughts about a 4in or 5 in cylinder, their in another thread, if one didnt see the other thread, they might not know you are having second thoughts about which cyl to use.

Ya, I agree. I was just responding to a conversation that was already going on about the cylinder size, that's why it's posted there, but I have asked a couple questions in the welding section and again in the thread you mentioned. I am no longer considering changing my 4" cylinder for a 5", it's a done deal, I was at Princess this morning and picked up the new cylinder. I think that discussion saved me a LOT of grief.

 

[kiotiken]

Here's the latest update...

The pump came! Well, they tried to deliver it at least, but nobody was home. Why does that matter you ask? Because there's a $119+ COD charge I called UPS and was told some of it was tax since I'm in Canada and it came from the States but $65 of it was a brokerage fee. I'm not impressed. Most people I know refuse to use UPS because of those types of charges and I usually try to avoid UPS as well, but I didn't ask this time.

The other news is that all the material and drawings have been delivered to the welding shop to be built. They'll have them done next week.

As I mentioned above, I returned my 4" x 24" logsplitter cylinder and picked up a 5" x 24" cylinder. I was worried about speed, but I really should be more concerned about pushing large rounds through a 6 way wedge.

Last night started with a lot of thinking. I grabbed my chainsaw for the first time to see how it might fit into all this (important?). I confirmed what I was thinking, this processor is being built for my son. Unfortunately, he's only 4 so I'll have to make due till he's old enough. See... he's a southpaw and the saw needs to be mounted so it's operated with my left hand. That puts the hydraulic levers on my right hand, so that might not be a bad thing. Because of all the thinking and also because I needed one more 1.5" x 6' square tube, I didn't get a huge amount done.

The not so live deck coming together. It will actually be installed on the other side, but there's no room since the processor is on my side of the garage and I'm not allowed on my wifes side :laughing:



Brackets that allow the whole thing to fold up.


I picked up the rest of the hydraulic parts while I was at Princess Auto this morning. Another $850, ouch!


On the note of the cost, my $2500 original thinking is now being replaced by $4500 - $5000. This stuff adds up really quick.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Looking good so far Ken.

What's the working height of it? Trying to scale off of other things in the pic, it looks like the log deck is 4' or so off the ground. If so, I'm guessing you'll have a platform to stand on rather than standing on the ground?

The jacks are a nice touch to get it level and stable but how are you going to move it? Or is it just going to be put in one spot in the yard and stay there?