Firewood processor build thread

[woodchipper]

Nice to see your improuvements Ken. Still following your build with interest.
I hope you hydraulic issues will soon be something from the past... Your new jumbo tank will certainly alleviate your over heating issue! Are your connections done, so you could do a test run before going any further into your build?

 

[kiotiken]

Nice to see your improuvements Ken. Still following your build with interest.
I hope you hydraulic issues will soon be something from the past... Your new jumbo tank will certainly alleviate your over heating issue! Are your connections done, so you could do a test run before going any further into your build?

No, connections still aren't done. It's stalled again. Something unexpected came up so it's been pushed down the priority list yet again. Hopefully I'll get at it again by the end of the week.

 

[kiotiken]

One thing that I see that is concerning is the outfeed section. I'm wondering if splits will jam into the sides that taper in. You may already know that it's ok since you've already run yours.

We decided to narrow things up by funneling things vertically. Then we will be adding the wings to the conveyer as well. This is all in theory however, we still have not made any further progress...

Tried to add image from my phone and the app keeps crashing.... Here.

Oh man I hope it works, I'm done having to solve issues. I have a 24" run off so I think that will give the wood some space to jockey for position. It's 16" at the narrow end and the biggest rounds I'll cut are 18", MAYBE 20". Either of those are still too large after they go through the 6 way wedge and need to be re-split anyway. That's a big reason I have the 24" chute at the end, so I can re-split before they hit the conveyor. I'm thinking the 6 way wedge needs small "wings", basically turning it into a 12 way wedge for larger pieces. I'm considering using 1/2" plate, half as wide as the cross pieces (which are narrower than the main vertical splitting wedge). Since I've pushed a couple pieces through sideways against the grain, I think it could handle it. I just need to make sure it won't jam.

 

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

It may be just fine, I really hope so. I can't say that I didn't see it and cringe knowing what you've gone through already.


This was my first design, I think it was you that suggested my box wouldn't work, then I modeled the split and found out my wedge, splitter cradle, and outfeed wouldn't work. Determined this from modeling a half split block.


Here is the current design where I modeled a full split

It is all dependent on widths and depths of your outfeed in comparison to the diameters that your splitting.

 

[kiotiken]

I wasn't going to update this thread again until the processor was done, the video was made and I could show all the updates I'm working on. Well, the wood processor gods don't seem to want this project to ever finish and I'm now under doctor orders not to work on it for one to two weeks (more on that in a minute), so I might as well give a quick update.

I started working on it again on Monday. I first figured out how to attach the conveyor to the processor. This is what I came up with.


Then I mocked it up.




That's were I stopped taking pictures, but I managed to paint the frame that holds the new tank, I drained the old tank and hooked up the new tank. I even added 5 gallons of fluid that came out of the old tank, and there are no leaks with it just sitting there. On the conveyor, I mounted the electric motor from my cement mixer with a bracket on the side. I finished welding the conveyor and painted it. I was just about to take the flap disc to clean up the tensioning system to allow it to move smoothly then install the springs when I had a little accident and the reason I'm not supposed to work on it for a little while.

Last night at 11, I was going to use the grinder as I said above. My extension cord was plugged into a drill that was 6-8 feet away and that was wrapped around the base of a ladder. The plug end was on my side of the ladder, so being lazy, I just pulled gently on the extension cord to pull the drill free instead of walking the whole 8 feet and having to reach down to unplug it by hand. It didn't come loose, so I gave it a quick yank. The end of the cord flew straight up and hit me squarely in the eye. It doesn't sound like that would be a big deal, but I've never been hit so hard or been in so much pain. I knew I messed up my eye but I couldn't see, so I went in the house, woke up my wife and we inspected the damage. It scared me enough to instantly agree to go the the hospital, and I won't go to the hospital for anything. We had to wake the 3 kids up and drive the 40 minutes to the General hospital because that's where the eye institute is. I was seen right away, told there was internal bleeding and swelling and that I needed to come back the next morning for another follow up. I was back again today and they confirmed the bleeding was stopped but it was still an issue and there's still lots of swelling. I was told I can't lift anything heavy because straining can cause the bleeding to start again.

It was both the most painful injury I can remember and the scariest since I felt like I was in a deep fog, which was apparently blood behind the eye and has thankfully cleared now. Even so, I still have my fighter pilot 20-15 vision in that eye, not bad for an old fart!

I only need 5 or 6 hours to finish it. See you in a few weeks...

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Wow, sounds like you got lucky. I'd figured since we haven't heard from you in a while that you were done getting kicked in the stones on this project.... Apparently I was wrong.

I hope the recovery goes well for you.

PS. In the spirit of TBN, we want pics of the damage ;-)

 

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

Glad to hear that you will be OK!
My wife only has vision in one eye and she is VERY protective of the other. Doesn't like the kids shooting or throwing ANYTHING in the house if she is around. For if she ever lost the other she would be blind and unemployed. Not a pretty predicament.
Amazing how those things you do a hundred times sometimes come around and bite you...

Again, glad that you will be alright and here's to a speedy recovery.

 

[kiotiken]

I hope the recovery goes well for you.

PS. In the spirit of TBN, we want pics of the damage ;-)

Glad to hear that you will be OK!

...

Again, glad that you will be alright and here's to a speedy recovery.

Thanks guys, I'm going to live, but I agree, you can't mess with your eyes, I'll follow my dr's advice and take it easy for a couple weeks. Here's your proof although the real damage is on the inside apparently.

 

[ultrarunner]

You did right... sometime folks don't come in until the pressure as done permanent damage...

 

[archertwo]

I just finished reading all 45 pages of this thread. Great work on the project. It's all trial and error till you get everything like you want it.

I hope your eye is doing better and was wondering if the processor was splitting as you expected seeing it's been four months since you posted an update.

 

[archertwo]

I just finished reading all 45 pages of this thread. Great work on the project. It's all trial and error till you get everything like you want it.

I hope your eye is doing better and was wondering if the processor was splitting as you expected seeing it's been four months since you posted an update.

 

[kiotiken]

I just finished reading all 45 pages of this thread. Great work on the project. It's all trial and error till you get everything like you want it.

I hope your eye is doing better and was wondering if the processor was splitting as you expected seeing it's been four months since you posted an update.

Wow, I thought I was the only one who read all 45 pages, and it took me months! No long term effects from the eye injury, just a good lesson learned, thanks for asking.
The processor is working extremely well. My biggest problem with it now is dealing with the massive pile of wood that it spits out. I still haven't finished the conveyor system so it piles up in front of the machine, to the point where I've actually started pushing the machine backward. The concern that was raised about my new chute being a pinch point and clogging isn't an issue at all, it is doing it's job perfectly. Having to stop and load my bags, carry the bags away and set up a new one really limits production. If you're bagging the wood, it's really a two man operation, one to operate the processor, the other to deal with the bags. The other issue I still need to deal with is powering the 12V fan for the hydraulic cooler. I'm still using my battery charger.
The next round of enhancements is to add an axle so it can be towed, it's too heavy for my tractor now, I can literally only lift it 2' off the ground, and I struggle to do it. Also, I'm going to build a structure that will allow a canvas tarp to snap on so that the machine has it's own shelter built in. I'll be able to take the canvas tarp off to tow it but not have to worry about a permanent shelter for the processor. I currently have it tarped, but I want something that doesn't look so bad and is easier to use.
I took two videos and have been meaning to post them to youtube but haven't had the time or figured out how to edit two videos into one. I'll get it done soon and post a link here.

 

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

Having to stop and load my bags, carry the bags away and set up a new one really limits production. If you're bagging the wood, it's really a two man operation, one to operate the processor, the other to deal with the bags.

That is what we are finding too. You can get more than double the work done in the same time by having 2 people. I guess the nice thing I've found about ours is that the infeed rack holds almost a perfect two bags worth. And with the tipper we have 2 bags set up. So when running with 1 person by the time your are done running the logs out you just end up doing everything. Tie and remove the bags, set 2 new bags up, and load the logs.

We are just going to tarp ours for the winter. I'd be interested in what you do with yours.

 

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

Forgot to say but I'm really glad that it is running well for you. At the last posting it seemed like you were a "little" frustrated. So great to hear that you have worked the major bugs out.

Some of it is just figuring out what will run through it and what wont. Be it the log size or knots. The guy who delivered our 5 loads of logs had built and sold a processor of his own. From the start he told us to cut out and gnarly knots, that it was not worth the potential issues.

He was right. It's not worth spending 45 minutes trying to get a stuck split back off the wedge. Using chainsaws, sledgehammers, wedges, digging bars, and whatever else pops into your mind to try to get it off...

 

[mx842]

I wonder why every time you see a video from some factory that is trying to sell their latest and greatest wood eating machine they always are splitting nice clean straight logs? Me thinks there may be a reason for that.:laughing:

 

[muddstopper]

I am sure i will find out a few things wont work like I want them to when I get mine going. With 50tons of splitting force, it will be come, bleed, or blister, if the wood wont split, something is sure to break. I just got to get thru therapy so i can get back to building the blasted thing.

 

[Agvg]

I wonder why every time you see a video from some factory that is trying to sell their latest and greatest wood eating machine they always are splitting nice clean straight logs? Me thinks there may be a reason for that.:laughing:

Production equipment demands a certain quality on the raw materials it uses.

 

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

I am sure i will find out a few things wont work like I want them to when I get mine going. With 50tons of splitting force, it will be come, bleed, or blister, if the wood wont split, something is sure to break. I just got to get thru therapy so i can get back to building the blasted thing.

We only ran the splitter at 2000 PSI (20 tons) for the first 25 or so full cords.
Right now I have it at 2500 PSI (25 tons) but it worries me a bit. I really don't want to clean the wedge off the back of the machine.

Our design wouldn't have a chance at 50 tons, no question. the beam would be in the shape of an upside-down C and the wedge would be gone. Be careful when bringing that relief pressure up!

 

[muddstopper]

With a 12 way wedge, I plan on plenty of beef to support the wedge. I bought a old forklift mast I plan on modifying to hold the wedge. I have to widen it some, but plan on braceing it off the processor frame in two places,(each side), as well as off the Hbeam itself. I have came up with a ideal to use two 30gpm pumps to saw and split with. It will work sort of like a 2 stage pump, but not exactly. 30gpm will be supplying the saw at a low pressure and when the saw isnt running the flows will combine to supply a full 60gpm to the splitter. I have to come up with a control valve that will flow the 30gpm and has power beyond to make it work, and I will need a flow control with a pressure reducing valve to cut down the pressure and allow a little adjustability to the saw motor. I only plan on using about 700psi at the saw, but will be able to turn it up to 3500psi if it even hints at bogging down

 

[archertwo]

The other issue I still need to deal with is powering the 12V fan for the hydraulic cooler. I'm still using my battery charger.

Ken, if you're using the bigger of the oil coolers from PA you may have to run an alternator to have enough juice to keep it going. I'm using the bigger one with bypass on another piece of equipment I have and it draws 16+ amps. I wired a fused circuit to the tractor's alternator. That solved the problem.