Wood processor collaboration project

[Keddowes]

I'm new to TBN and I have enjoyed reading all these great threads!

I would like to build a wood processor utilizing the equipment I have as much as possible, my neighbor is a welder and has agreed to assist me with the fab work.

I heat my house with a central boiler outdoor wood furnace which we have named General Sherman.




My idea is to build the processor on our gooseneck stock trailer, stripping it down to the deck.






I have the following items available for the project.

22ton northern tool log splitter 6hp b&s - horizontal or vertical -working



25 ton yard machine log splitter 6hp b&s -horizontal or vertical -working






Honda 8hp 1" keyed bore






Permco 30gpm dump hydraulic pump






1982 3.2 4 cylinder diesel motor out of a chevy luv truck




Dearborne buzz saw for a ford 9n tractor belt driven.
Ms310 stihl chain saw 20" bar
Husqavarna 20" chain saw
Homelite chain saw with 20" bar and bow saw
Kubota L35 tractor

I have found so many great ideas on building your own wood processor and log splitters, however I'm not that well versed in hydraulics. I thought I would open it up to the forum to help me design and build the best possible wood processor I can with what I have or can salvage from parts, tractors trucks etc... I have some good connections for salvage equipment, just don't know what would work and what would be more trouble then it's worth.

I hope this forum can help and I look forward to starting this project.
Side note I'm currently building a grapple for my kubota bucket.

Thanks
Kevin

 

[Keddowes]

Forgot to add my idea,

Building on the gooseneck
Use the diesel motor for power source with the dump hydraulic pump
Table to except long logs anywhere from 8 to 16 foot long
Buzz saw connected to hydraulic arm to cut wood
Log splitter to split logs,

Thanks again
Kevin

 

[jimmysisson]

If the buzz saw (cordwood saw??) is what you use to cut lengths, will it be always spinning? They have a lot of inertia so start/stop would put a big hydraulic load on the motor/pumps. So if it's always spinning you have to be very aware of the safety of something hitting or falling against the blade. Many commercial processors use chain saw parts driven hydraulicly, which stop/start for cuts, probably for that reason.
To me the main thing is designing the rig from the operator's end first. Ie, your motions in using the machine should guide the design. So when it's done you can operate without too much wasted motion or physical stress.
So often guys design stuff around what parts they have, then later figure out it would have been better if this valve was over here, or you had to step on a pedal but couldn't do so if holding that valve open.
I don't have an OWB but I thought one advantage was you didn't have to split your wood? Just curious.
Jim

 

[Keddowes]

Thanks for the input,

Yes I envisioned the saw blade running continuous.
The buzz saw has it's protection hood which we could modify to make safer if necessary. We could even make the hood spring loaded to cover the blade completely, then when lowered let the contact of the log allow the hood to rise as the blade cuts.




Most of the processor I have seen have the operator at the saw and split location. The table could be to the operators right. this is what we were thinking. I'm right handed so we thought the operator location would be on the right rear side of the trailer.

As for the OWB, We split for a couple of reasons,
1. It makes the logs lighter so my children can load furnace (or wife???)
2. Easier to load.
3. Found split wood burns hotter thereby the draft opens for less time to recover.

 

[Keddowes]

Looking for a way to move logs to the saw via
the trough... Any good places to pick up chain conveyor parts cheap?

 

[aczlan]

Looking for a way to move logs to the saw via
the trough... Any good places to pick up chain conveyor parts cheap?

Get a used or broken hay elevator. $2-600 and you will have all of the parts you could need.

Aaron Z

 

[Keddowes]

Thanks for the idea, I'll check around and see what I can find.

Thanks

 

[250quality]

I used #55 elevator chain on mine. Got 60-70 cord done so far and the chain is startin to wear. My bad though cause its riding directly on the steel trough. Gonna put some nylon under it and re-place the chain.

 

[kubotakid USA]

I wouldnt waist my time using a light weight hay elevator chain, Your asking for problems, You can get a heaver chain threw your tsc and other farm stores pretty reasonable, Id weld tabs on chain to make it grip the log theres lotsa good ideas out there, study the pro built units,.. Eric

 

[jimmysisson]

That Honda engine won't run a 30 gpm pump, so the luv diesel it is. Maybe geared up so it can run moderate rpm and quieter. Set the feed chain in a trough so the log doesn't rest on it but the dogs catch the log.
Any reason why the log advance and the splitter ram can't travel at the same time by the same piston stroke? They go about the same distance and if the top of the ram is smooth the falling chunk should land ok for the next stroke. I keep looking at videos where the operator has to move 4-5 levers to run one cycle. Keep thinking there must be a simpler strategy...
Jim

 

[Keddowes]

Thanks for the input... I agree keeping it simple is what I'm trying to achieve. My hydraulic connection and I will have to explore just that 1 lever two functions. I'm almost done with the grapple project will be moving to the wood processor next

 

[Keddowes]

Anyone know of a good place on the internet to find salvage tractors to take hydraulics from. Was thinking a backhoe hydraulic system would work great for this processor