Hydraulic chain saw

[brandoro]

Hydraulic Tree Trimming Tools - Stanley Hydraulic Tools

Take a look at the above site, might be close to what you are looking for.

 

[Pennsylvania Weldor]

Since posting my original question I have learned a little about what I need. Sorry for not mentioning my application. I would like to build a firewood processor. The operations would go in this sequence.
1. Load log onto deck
2. Advance log to required cut off length
3. Part off- have cut piece drop onto splitter
4. Split log into required number of pieces
5. Pieces would then fall to converoy and load wagon

Assuming that the conveyor runs continously, no two other operations will occur together. I have a small saw mill that I power with a 1600 cc VW engine. I have a flyball govenor on the engine that controls the speed of the transmission output in 3rd gear at 600 RPM. The saw was originally designed to be powered from a tractor PTO. One of the axels terminates in a 1 3/8 six spline shaft and is connected to the saw mandrel through a standard telescoping PTO shaft. The other shaft drives a hydraulic pump that powers the saw carriage. I am running out of space. More to follow in the next post.

I am also thinking about building a firewood processor. I've researched several web-sites, watched lots of you-tube videos, etc, about these things. There are pros and cons to them all. I did find one I really liked, but $59,000 was a little out of my price range. I have been looking for a hydraulic chain saw for my project also. Have seen some processors that use a large circular saw blade run by a hydraulic motor and fed with a hydraulic cylinder. In line was installed a flow control valve to "adjust" the feed speed of the cyliinder for different wood species. I may go this route. Saw blades, arbors, etc are more available than the hydraulic chain saw. I've already acquired some of the pumps, control valves, hoses, etc for the project. I'd like to see yours after it's completed.

 

[jezorek]

Pa Weldo,

I have completed the chain saw and tested it. It works well. I still need to build the rest of the device. If you would like some details on the construction, let me know.

Leigh

 

[SPYDERLK]

Since posting my original question I have learned a little about what I need. Sorry for not mentioning my application. I would like to build a firewood processor. The operations would go in this sequence.
1. Load log onto deck
2. Advance log to required cut off length
3. Part off- have cut piece drop onto splitter
4. Split log into required number of pieces
5. Pieces would then fall to converoy and load wagon

[snip]
I am running out of space. More to follow in the next post.

Glad your saw works. Obviously you got the chain speed up to a good point by using a larger drive sprocket than on most chain saws.

Note that you dont run out of space. The message window scrolls down when it fills up. So you can keep writing.
larry

 

[EdK]

I too am interested in building a firewood processor. I have good fabrication skills but little hydraulic know-how. I understand the hydraulics in a wood splitter but that is about my limit. Adding a hydraulic cutoff saw and a motor or two to advance the log is beyond my limits. I'd like to keep it fairly simple for now - no live log deck or outfeed conveyor (however it would be nice to add "hooks" for the addition of a live deck later). I did score a commercial hydraulic chainsaw to kick off the project (8GPM @ 2K PSI). I think I'd be satisfied with this set up on a pivot without any kind of auto-cycle.

I have perused product literature, watched youtube videos and humbly acknowledge the commercial offerings are much more complicated than I'm describing but I do not need 250, 500, etc. cord throughput. While I have no need for one of those $15-50K commercial rigs as I do not have a thriving firewood business, I do cut and split 12-15 cords a year now and having plenty of access to logs would like to consider starting a small business with the machine. This seems realistic to me as some folks are successful with just a splitter and a strong back.

One question that immediately comes to mind is whether one can use a typical logsplitter two-stage pump to run the cut-off saw and log advance motor or not. Perhaps there is another design method... (of course I realize a basic single stage pump would work).

Is this scale machine consistent with anyone else's needs. Any suggestions on how to work out the hydraulics? Not looking to have it done for me as I'm willing to study up but a team effort or some coaching would be appreciated.

Ed

 

[chisler]

check out this web sight for splitting the fire wood you can get all the logs you want delivered by your local tree service for free if you take the big stuff nobody els wants and that is where all the wood is. i have used this thing and it is amazing!!! hands free log splitter

 

[Ductape]

Looks like a machine Dr. Evil might use to kill Austin Powers.

 

[jimgerken]

I too have watched all the Utube videos on processors and am impressed with the complexity. I especially like the ones that use a blade for cutoff. I feel the blade would run longer hours without attention than a chainsaw type. One thing that concerns me though. The wood that grows around here ain't all straight like telephone poles. And a lot of it is way bigger than these machines would accept. I get the feeling a guy would be doing extra work lining up perfect poles to feed the thing, and still having to deal with the odd and large stuff with the same old seperate equipment.

 

[dynasim]

Is 3500 rpm the appropriate speed. I have a feeling(but don't know) that my chainsaw goes a bit faster than that.

Chris

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Most of my gas chainsaws are rated at 10-13 thousand rpm. I don't run them that fast often.