FIRE WOOD PROCESERS

[JN68]

Hello; I read the topics and the opions that everyone gives, it is very intersting. So here is what i was looking for,, iam looking at buying a small firewood proceser. The chunking with the saw, lifting, throwing into the truck is getting more and more harder to do.Does anyone have one, what kind,do you like it,could i build one. Thanks  JN

[Ron Wenrich]

We are running a Multi-Tek, which does about 2 cords/hour.  A machine like that would be hard to fabricate.  Its also hard to get enough logs to keep it running full time.  They have a really good infeed system, using a grapple type unit to hold the log in place and to advance it.

I have also run a Morbark processor.  It used a circle cutoff saw, and was quicker than a chainsaw.  The infeed was only a belt, and didn't work all that well.

I've seen some homemade jobs.  Some worked OK, some were a lot of work.  All seem to run on the same basics.  You need a power unit to supply your hydraulics.  You need a way of bringing the wood to the saw.  You need something to hold it in place.  You saw it to length and let it drop into a splitter.  Split it and drop it into a conveyor.  

You might want to check the sawmill exchange for some used units.  Its a lot cheaper than building, if you can swing the cash.  http://www.sawmillexchange.com/commerc.htm

[Kleek]

JN68,  I have been running a small pto powered 3 pt hitch processor made by Hakki in Finland.  It works great, up to 2 full cords an hour.  Main thing to realize before going to a processor is that you need the right wood.  For mine, under 15" and straight.  Then you have to be able to handle the logs.  Lots of logs, and fast, or your machine is sitting idling with your help waiting.  I still haven't decided if I make wood faster this way, but I do know my back dosen't hurt after 20 or so face cords.

[Scott]

JN, think theres a guy using one across from the Welsford goverment garage. Maybe you could take a look at that one?

[JN68]

HELLO; everybody. Ron i have seen a proceser like multi-tek and yes they need wood!!!! , and way out of what i want too put out$$.Nice units but iam by my self and was looking at one / two full cord in an hour?  Kleek; i have been looking very hard at one of those hakki procesers, A fellow one the other side of the peninsula has one, say's it works great! If not faster it sure would be easyer on the back! ;D
Scott i think that i know the place, the garage up where the rr tracks go across the road? chev 3 ton ? i did not know that he was using a proceser? thats great i will check him out.
Thank you for your replys/time, JN ;)

[theonlybull]

JN, there's one sitting idle, just below digby ( NS),  that looks like it could be made to work very well,  but hasn't been used in the last 6-7 years, for some un known reason.

[JN68]

Hello Theonlybull; any idea what type it is, maybe it needs some work done to it? Most of the proceser's ues an auto cycle hdy valve? Does any one know how it works,it is used on the spliter to make the ram go all the way out and then back in. The rest of the proceser is not too much to build.
 Thank you for the info  ;) JN