Firewood processor build thread

kiotiken · Nov 8, 2014

You're right, in the pic, it's a little over 4' to the log deck, but it's near it's max height and I'll probably never use it as high as it is now. The jacks let me lower it about another 12" so I'll have to play with a comfortable working height.

I'm trying to figure out what to do with the thing. I'm thinking about taking it to the back of the property and putting up one of those shelterlogic's for it. My tractor should easily be able to carry it with the pallet forks which is why I haven't bothered with an axle to pull it. My concern is actually removing it from my garage, I'll have take it out length wise and that means it'll be hanging 10 1/2 in front of the pivot points on my tractor. I don't know how much it weighs, but I'm getting a little concerned I'll be able to lift it like that.

Back out to it now.

dave1949 · Nov 8, 2014

Could you swap out the "rear" jacks for jacks with dolly wheels, then lift the "front" end and pull it out?

kiotiken · Nov 9, 2014

dave1949 said:
Could you swap out the "rear" jacks for jacks with dolly wheels, then lift the "front" end and pull it out?

If my tractor won't lift it length wise out of the garage, I have a pallet with wheels on it that I use to move skids of firewood around that I'll put under the back of it to pull it out, but I'm still hopeful I'll be able to lift it. If it can't, that will make storing it a lot more difficult as well. I'd probably have to look at putting an axle under it in that case.

kiotiken · Nov 9, 2014

CDN Farm Boy said:
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?

Minimum working height is 41", I cranked it all the way down tonight. I was surprised it was that high, but it seems fairly comfortable. I'll be using this almost exclusively in the winter so I can always kick a little snow under the operators area if it is to high.

kiotiken · Nov 9, 2014

Tonight's update is pretty frustrating. I finished up the log deck and it took way too long. I was hoping to have the saw mount done tonight to, but that will have to be a project for tomorrow.

The log deck is adjustable in 1" increments, although with the processor on jacks, it's almost infinitely adjustable anyway. I'll likely leave it on an angle similar to the picture since I'm going to try it not being "live". I think it's going to work, but if not, next year I'll tweak it accordingly and consider a chain drive system or something.

My new 24" bar!

kiotiken · Nov 10, 2014

Update from Sunday night.

Chainsaw mount is nearly done, just need to buy a couple little pieces to bolt the saw to the mount. Log deck is still mounted on the wrong side. I'll have to get around to dismantling it and fastening the mounting brackets to the other side soon.

Stihl still with the 18" bar

The mount

The new 5" cylinder in place

I did some other stuff not worth showing. Lots of bracing to add and I need to come up with some kind of log holder as well. Since I have a 3 spool valve, some extra hoses and a bunch of extra cylinders I'm thinking of adding a hydraulic arm. Not sure if it would work to well with my sled design though, I want to hold the log without putting too much down force on it. I could do the scissor clamp, but I'd have to go buy more steel, and I'm getting pretty tired of doing that. I also want to make operation of this thing really simple and fast. One hand on the saw, the other on the splitter valve, no thinking.

kiotiken · Nov 10, 2014

CDN Farm Boy said:
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?

CDN Farm Boy, did you ever get my PM?

CDN Farm Boy · Nov 10, 2014

kiotiken said:
CDN Farm Boy, did you ever get my PM?

Just now, PM returned thanks

CDN Farm Boy · Nov 10, 2014

Looking good so far. How many hrs you figure you have into it at this point? By the look of it, several more of finish welding to go yet?

kiotiken · Nov 11, 2014

CDN Farm Boy said:
Looking good so far. How many hrs you figure you have into it at this point? By the look of it, several more of finish welding to go yet?

Thanks. I haven't been tracking my hrs, and I don't think I want to know! I'd guess I have at least 60 in it so far, with many, many more spent thinking, planning and gathering. I'm not the fastest in the world, that's for sure. I'm trying to take my time and do it right the first time, although, it doesn't always turn out that way.

So far, almost everything is only tacked together, which has saved my bacon a few times. I have a TON of welding left to do. That doesn't bother me, it's the prepping that I'm not looking forward to.