Ideas for splitter cylinder length. European methods? Multiple rounds at once?

[Scooby074]

Im in the process of designing a splitter. I intend on having about 25 GPM 2500-3000 PSI and am going to use a prince Autocycle valve, with a 4 way wedge and need to decide on a cylinder length.

Im curious if anyone over here is using the European method of splitting wood where they split longer rounds, say 3-4' into quarters to dry, then cut to length ~16" before use, usually on a small buzzsaw.

Ive noticed that some of the pro splitter companies, (splitfire, timberwolf plus others ) give the option of longer cylinders up to 4'. I know that outdoor boilers can take a large split, but im wondering about doing the Euro method... Or perhaps splitting several rounds at once, in one cycle of the ram. This could be a time saving. The cost difference between a 4 or 5" dia x 24 and a 36" or 48 cylinder is negligible, so thats not a concern.

If anyones interested, heres a couple videos that illustrate the different methods:

Multiple rounds in one cycle:
YouTube - Binderberger Spaltgigant 40to. mal anders, Fastest log Splitter

YouTube - Posch splitmaster log splitter

Splitting longer individual "rounds":

YouTube - Spaltgigant 40 Tonner im Einsatz

YouTube - SplitMaster 26 30

Cutting the dried long splits for burning (also shows nice stacks of long splits):

YouTube - Wipp Sage


YouTube - CutMaster 700

Am i missing something here? Why the 4' method? Trying to think outside the box... maybe this is a better way???

 

[moose13]

I must be missing something as well because i don't see the time savings.
The first video it seems about a 1/4 of their wood is smashed into junk. They would have been better off with a 4 way wedge than that contraption they are using. And cutting to size after split? Hmm not me, the trick i have found in all aspects of firewood from cutting to burning is HANDLE IT LESS. The more times you touch every piece of firewood the less efficient you are. I fall a tree, chunk it up to 18-19", load trailer bring home, kid rolls chunked wood off back of trailer directly to me and the splitter, split, stack. DONE, enjoy cold adult beverage.

Are you looking into processing firewood to sell or just home use?
These methods might work if you had a few helpers.
Like i said maybe i am missing something too.

 

[Scooby074]

Just for me right now. If i ever get around to building a processor, then maybe ill look at selling.

This 4' method seems to be the main way of doing things over there. They must figure its better.

I agree with handling wood the least amount possible. With the 4' system, i think it would save on stacking, as you only have to handle wood 1/3 the time. I dont cut trees off my own land so processing the log into 16" rounds in the woods doesnt work for me. Mine arrives in 8' lengths. I hate stacking and leave my wood stacked outside, covered, till i burn it. If I had a tractor that could lift a full pallet of stacked wood, id likely go that route instead. Processing the long splits before taking a days wood inside might not be that bad???

I dont like the multi-wedges they use either, Wastes alot of wood.

 

[crash325]

Long wood dries out more slowly than short wood. Most of the drying is out the end grain and the cracks that develop.

Cut to length = 1 trip to the saw - Also you only need to stack it 1 time.

A lot more time to enjoy and adult beverage. :thumbsup: :licking:

 

[Scooby074]

Another euro clip dealing with cutting bundled 1m splits. "Now thats a chainsaw!!!!"

YouTube - Buendelsaegen

 

[crazyal]

I'm not sure if I would want to deal with some of the larger rounds in a 4 ft length.

 

[jimgerken]

Looks like they eventually cut them down to about our standard 2 foot length anyway, in various ways. Not sure what playing with the four-footers buys them.
YouTube - HOLZundTECHNIKlutz's Channel

 

[Scooby074]

I'm not sure if I would want to deal with some of the larger rounds in a 4 ft length.

Im pretty sure they are 1m in length, so approx 3'... But yeah a 3' round could be a handfull.....

Looks like they eventually cut them down to about our standard 2 foot length anyway, in various ways. Not sure what playing with the four-footers buys them.
YouTube - HOLZundTECHNIKlutz's Channel

Some seem to burn even smaller pieces. If i was to guess i'd say these pieces were 6". I do like the stacking/wrapping system at the end though. Interesting. Looks like baler wrapping.
YouTube - Growi-Bündelsäge mit Reinigungstrommel

YouTube - Spalter auf der KWF 2008

This seems to be the common process over there. Many of the foreign videos showcase this technique. Few of the euro videos showcase our cut to length and split technique with a manual splitter. In most of those videos a firewood processor was used.

The technique of binding into rolls is familiar to me. When i worked in a sawmill, the stickers would arrive in rolls like that. When they would get gathered up in the planer mill, they would re-bundle them into rolls using the same technique of a round frame to stack in, and a strapping system to hold the roll in proper shape. Those would then be lifted back into the sawmill by a grapple. Applying this system to firewood is new to me

 

[glastron23]

Don't know about you people but the less i handle wood the better, like Moose said cut-split-stack-reach for a cold old.....
now HERE is a CHAIN SAW
YouTube - V8 Chainsaw 6

 

[Scooby074]

Don't know about you people but the less i handle wood the better, like Moose said cut-split-stack-reach for a cold old.....
now HERE is a CHAIN SAW
YouTube - V8 Chainsaw 6

I'm All about the cold ones!!

But i hate stacking. Stacking 32-36" pieces would cut my stacking in half. The number of "cuts" would be the same in the end, however most of the cuts after the initial sectioning of the log would be automated or semi automated. Plus youd end up with half the splitter cycles.

I think thats why the europeans adopted this system.

Check out this really unusual processor. Looks like a manufactured unit. What a crazy wedge system!

YouTube - Fendeur léger FM66 Roto

edit: Looks like it was built by these guys (Aficor) out of Switzerland. $ http://www.aficor.ch/en/index.html