Log deck and green chain

[Percy]

@Percy do you need both cylinders to function properly?
Or do you have two just to move the really heavy stuff?

My math tells me that each cylinder push about 1000 lbs at around 120
Psi so that would equal 2000 pounds. But the  cylinder stroke is just under 20 Inches and the wiper moves nearly 30 inches so it is over driven by about 30 %. So I'm guessing 1400 lbs push at the wiper bar. I push 16 foot 10x10 off no problem but the arc of the wiper and the action of the rollers  makes it work quite well. 

[twobears]

can anybody tell me a good place to buy air cylinders? I,am having a tough time finding the bigger cylinders at a reasonable price or even finding them at all...thanks

[Crusarius]

can always get them from mcmaster. I am sure ebay has them cheap. as for longevity your guess is good as mine.

The prices on mcmaster actually seem pretty cheap to me. a 3/4" shaft 10" stroke cylinder for $52

oops just found the correct ones. $250+ that seems more like it.

[twobears]

 ya from what i've seen the cylinders we would need are in the $250/$300 range each.i've looked in alot of places.i was hoping you folks knew of a cheaper place.i need several for what I have planned.

[nativewolf]

@Percy man that is a nice explanation.  I might suggest that anyone wanting to see the saw conveyor wiper/kicker etc in work should check out your youtube videos.  You have a nice video of the whole chain working along and kicking slabs, boards, etc. Thanks again!

Ok, watched the embedded video as well...now I see how you powered the whole roller outfeed.  neat.  Might try to copy some of that thunking.

[Stuart Caruk]

I went to a sawmill auction and bought a 14' long 5 strand set of green chain that I wanted to use  as an infeed log deck. I paid $300 for it. Riggers wanted $750 to remove it, but since I had the right skills and insurance I went in and cut it out myself. Interestingly anything in the line of a transfer chain, green chain, log deck, etc was running at least $3000 for a small section IF it was located where it was easy to get out with a forklift. Mine was in the bowels of the building, a royal PITA to remove, but by simply waiting until stuff around it was removed life was easy. I cut 2 strands off and kept the rest intact for my deck. The blue parts were the deck I bought at the auction.

I had some 1/4" walled 10" tubing lying around, so I built a solid base to support it after pouring a concrete pad.



Since I own a fab shop, I flame cut some stop loader arms and bought some cylinders from northern toolhttps://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=position"> Note:Please read the Forestry Forum's postion on this company to power them, working out the geometry in a CAD system.



It's powered by a spare LT40 hydraulic pump / valve assembly a buddy gave me. It easilly loads 21' long 36" diameter logs, but I mostly load it with 12- 14' logs that are destined for siding. It makes the work go fast, and when I'm out of logs, I quit for the day.

Total cost including concrete and travel time is about $1750. Money well spent in my book.  I found a place locally where I can buy surplus #78 chain for about $3 a foot, then realized it's not much more to buy it brand new. It runs just fine on flame cut sprockets. I've built a small deck to feed my wifes SkidSteer firewood processor. Simple stuff to put together.


They have loads of #78 chain used that sells for around $3 per foot, and some oregon turns (basically 4" channel bent into a U shpae to turn the chain around at the far end. The sprockets used to drive the chain are simpl flame cut and welded affairs.

[moodnacreek]

I have almost the same thing as the above stop and load that I built. But it is not on the log deck, it is along side the board out feed and loads the green chain.

[PAmizerman]

I have not looked into purchasing air cylinders yet but I'm getting close. Maybe this winter. Following

[PAmizerman]

I have watched Percy's videos several times and messaged him as well. Thanks for the info @Percy . I'm sure I'll be bugging you more when I finally get into the building phase.

Nice work @Stuart Caruk 

[nativewolf]

though he hasn't been on so much since he got his circle saw @4x4American has a series of good videos where he describes his workflows and his changes in attempts to get to efficiency and $.  He had a wm 70 humming but went out and bought a circle saw.   @YellowHammer @Percy and @Stuart Caruk and @4x4American have either exhaustively documented their process and reasoning (very helpful) or they have videos or both.  Not only good greenchain/log deck ideas but also overall workflow.