Author Topic: Firewood processor anyone? (Read 22248 times)

archertwo · « **Reply #20 on:** December 11, 2009, 03:42:28 PM »

It's a log lift I bought from a friend. He wasn't using it on his Hakki Pilkki 1X37.
I had to "left hand" everything on it except for the bottom pieces and add 9" to its height to fit my rig. It was made to go the other way so there was a lot of cutting and welding involved.
You'll notice the "hitch" attaches the log lift to the processor otherwise it would be pretty tippy.

Al_Smith · « **Reply #21 on:** December 13, 2009, 09:03:36 AM »

First of all I'm not dogging anyone that has a processer just posing a question .

By the time you cut log lengths ,haul them to a pile then load them into a processer I would think you could easily buck to length ,split and be done with it .

All I've ever seen besides at lumber shows is 12 inch stuff you can easily handle by hand if in firewood length .In the log though it takes machinery or a couple of corn fed husky fellows to move around .

The big ones that make short work of a 36" log cost around 80 thou a pop and you need a big front end loader to handle the log at 50 grand a pop for a used one .

Maybe I just don't see the big picture .

woody1 · « **Reply #22 on:** December 13, 2009, 09:21:30 AM »

AL,
You have good points. I think the big thing is AGE and having the money to buy the toys you need to make the job easier. In my case I already had a loader and the equipment to haul and drag. Sure, you can chainsaw, hand split, hand load and have your wife rub your back.

. But, then again, you could walk to town instead of taking the car, too.

Woody

Al_Smith · « **Reply #23 on:** December 13, 2009, 10:37:36 AM »

Ha Ha .Well I suppose you could bowsaw it too and split it with a hatchet if you so desired .

In my case I have a shed full of saws and a homemade splitter that will cut though anything,sideways if I desired which I don't .

Those high priceed contraptions might have a place providing you handle huge amounts of firewood in an area the trees are taken down and hauled in log lengths.

I've heard for example in the Mich. UP it's standard operating proceedure to buy 20 cord log length and cut them down to firewood size .That doesn't apply in this neck of the woods . Fact is I've never paid a dime for firewood in my life even when I sold the stuff .Whatever works I guess .

archertwo · « **Reply #24 on:** December 13, 2009, 03:26:02 PM »

Al, all the logs I make into firewood I cut myself, haul myself and process myself and most of the time I do it all by myself.

Woody1, you hit the nail right on the head with this one.

Quote from: woody1 on December 13, 2009, 09:21:30 AM

AL,
You have good points. I think the big thing is AGE and having the money to buy the toys you need to make the job easier.

Woody

I'd much rather make my toys than buy them if I can though.

My processor can take a little bigger than 12" even if it is small compact unit compared to most.
This is a pic of the biggest log I've put through up to now. I can't go much bigger than this one though.

The saw blade is 18" long. The beech tree is 22" at the widest point. I had to use one of my other saws on the first three blocks to cut completely through this one.

Hilltop366 · « **Reply #25 on:** December 13, 2009, 07:57:03 PM »

Archertwo looks like you could make a sawmill too and save those bigger ones! Nice looking rig you have looks like some extra valves for an expansion of options? I too enjoy the process of making my own toys when I have the time. I don't have a good place to work in right now hope to make a work shop in the next year or so until then it's limited to nicer days and when I can borrow a little space in my brothers garage.

Al_Smith · « **Reply #26 on:** December 13, 2009, 08:02:18 PM »

Quote from: archertwo on December 13, 2009, 03:26:02 PM

I'd much rather make my toys than buy them if I can though.

Oh I'm just razzing you guys .Besides I really have no room to talk because at this moment I'm building a bandsaw mill myself .27 feet of track,capable of 38" of log by 22 feet or so as if I ever could find a straight log that long .That's another subject though rather than processers .

woody1 · « **Reply #27 on:** December 13, 2009, 09:19:08 PM »

No problem Al..We know your stirring the pot.

You'll be buildin' a processor too. My buddy came up to my processor last week. I was cutting big stuff with my chainsaw and throwing up onto the processor. He said "What the heck are you doing ?" I said it was easier to cut the big stuff and throw it up, than it was to load it on the deck and process it.

Some things just don't make scence.

Keeep up the razzin" We love it !
Woody

Al_Smith · « **Reply #28 on:** December 14, 2009, 05:39:29 AM »

Quote from: woody1 on December 13, 2009, 09:19:08 PM

You'll be buildin' a processor too.

Keeep up the razzin" We love it !
Woody

Actually no but I do have a couple more irons in the fire .

First off I help out a little bit with maintaining the saws and equipment for two tree service companies .As such I have access to all kinds of good saw logs and tons of firewood should I choose to take them .
Most of the big oak,which can be up to 4 feet accross is chunked and loaded with a skid loader .It takes 3 or 4 people to just roll a round into a tilt beam splitter ,like 500 pounds or so .
What is needed is a log arch that will handle a 3 foot log by about 16 feet . In addition a big splitter with a 6 way like a Timber wolf . Nothing pressing on those projects .I get to them when I get to them .

archertwo · « **Reply #29 on:** December 14, 2009, 09:29:56 AM »

Hilltop366, we already have a circular saw mill. My father built it 45 or so years ago so I don't have to make one of those.

We've put through many a log up to 36 feet and a few even longer than that through there but we mainly stay with 20 foot or less nowadays.

Al, not a problem.
Good luck with your bandsaw mill build. Post some pics.

When you get around to it post pics of the logging arch build.

Everybody loves pics.

archertwo · « **Reply #30 on:** December 14, 2009, 09:48:46 AM »

Quote from: Hilltop366 on December 13, 2009, 07:57:03 PM

Nice looking rig you have looks like some extra valves for an expansion of options?

Thanks, there is actually only one extra valve in the whole setup.
The first one in the 5 valve bank is not being used anymore.(was for the conveyor)
The second is for the 4 way wedge.
The third is for the log clamp.
The fourth is for the infeed belt.
The fifth is for the log lift.
Then there's a Power Beyond and the logsplitter valve.
After that there's the conveyor motor valve.

Hilltop366 · « **Reply #31 on:** December 14, 2009, 11:43:32 AM »

I guess when you add them up it takes quite a few valves.

And thanks for the reply, looks like your just up the road a bit in Claire, I'm just a few miles before town, my Grandparents (dads side) were origionally from the Meteghan area so when we make some contraption Dad says " ce la rig de cadet" (not sure of the spelling) You might be the only one on here that gets that.

Cheers

archertwo · « **Reply #32 on:** December 14, 2009, 03:24:35 PM »

Hilltop366, the pics in your gallery of used saws and of the wood stove. Would they have been taken at Joey's place?

I get it.

Some of the "Cajun" population down South might be able to figure out the of it.
It's probably not every day that you'll see "Acajun french" written on this website "si tu sais quoi que j'vuex dire".

When I started out all I wanted to build was a logsplitter with a conveyor attached and I happened by chance to have to put on a bigger valve when the new one I had sprung a leak.
Then all heck broke loose and many of the ideas I had ended up being built in the process.

Al_Smith · « **Reply #33 on:** December 14, 2009, 05:33:06 PM »

Quote from: archertwo on December 14, 2009, 09:29:56 AM

Al, not a problem.
Good luck with your bandsaw mill build. Post some pics.

When you get around to it post pics of the logging arch build.

Everybody loves pics.

Well I wish it were that simple .Try as I might the only forums I can post pictures on are those hosted by V-Bullitin and this is not one of them . Fact is on one that is hosted by VB I can't either . Either my security system blocks me or I'm just plain too stupid so I just don't even try any more . Simple things for simple minds and I'm pretty simple .

Hilltop366 · « **Reply #34 on:** December 14, 2009, 05:51:37 PM »

Yep thats Joey's, I went to the Vocational and took small gas at the same time, I try to stop in and visit him once and a while but it doesn't happen often. I don't know if you new of, or remember of back but in the 80's but there was a Kawasaki & Sachs Dolmar shop in Dayton next to the Austrian Inn Resturant anyway that was me.

My french is very limited from growing up in an mainly english area so I needed a little help with that so I guess I didn't really know what you were saying

If you keep at it the next thing you know you will just be putting that machine up against a tree and spitting firewood out the other end

archertwo · « **Reply #35 on:** December 14, 2009, 06:10:11 PM »

Al, it must for sure be your security system blocking you.

Hilltop366, I stopped by Joey's place to get some things the first time I brought the processor to the woods. He looked at it for a while then said, "Yeah, I think that can work."

I do put the processor pretty close to the trees that I cut but it will be some time between blocks if I have to wait for them to grow back.

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