Author Topic: Wood processors (Read 12588 times)

mainiac · « **on:** December 29, 2007, 10:16:26 am »

Not really sure what board to put this into, so I will start here and see what happens.

I am wanting to expand/take the bending over out of my fire wood business. I am currently doing 25-30 regular cord of fire wood per year with a tractor, splitter, and chainsaw. I am confident I could go up to 75-100 cord per year the 1st year and up to 150-200 cord per year if I have the right processor. I also now own a truck that can deliver 2 cord at a time.

The machine I am leaning towards right now is a Timberwolf Pro-MP with a conveyor for the price of about 35K tax included.

I was wondering if anyone has experience with this machine or could recommend another machine for 35K or less that would meet these needs? If I could get the price down, I would like to add a small saw mill to go with it.

Thanks for any input.
Mainiac

Gary_C · « **Reply #1 on:** December 29, 2007, 10:30:39 am »

Take a look at Blockbuster. I know two people that have them and like them. Price may be similar after you get a conveyor.

Take a look at the picture gallery for member Corley5. I think he has a Blockbuster also.

letsgetitracing · « **Reply #2 on:** December 29, 2007, 10:40:22 am »

the mulitec is a decent machine for a store boughten one eiher the 1x or 2x they won the firwwod cut off at the competition just before escanaba this summer

www.multitekinc.com/

Ron Wenrich · « **Reply #3 on:** December 29, 2007, 11:23:31 am »

We have a multitek, and we can produce a trailerload of cut and split wood in about 6 hours.

What you need to do is start out with a budget and work backwards. How much machine can you afford? How soon do you think you'll outgrow it? Do you have markets? Do you have raw materials?

We only sell to wholesalers. That takes out a lot of the hassles of hauling to homeowners. We can also sell year round. Pros and cons on both sides of the market.

a old timberjack · « **Reply #4 on:** December 29, 2007, 07:07:15 pm »

timberwolf makes a hell of a unit. miltiteck does to, but 3 times the money ( if you were gonna get a new one. ) i used to work for a local saw shop that used to sell timberwolf. ( and i own some of there products ) there factory support is the best. also living in new england you will have parts in a day they are in rutland vermont.i been to there factory dozens of times and it is impressive.not playing favorites, also there machines ( even wood splitters ) are built with average parts you can get from a everyday hyd. shop not alot of hi tec parts. agian , i am not a salesman and tied in with them, but i been around this stuff all of my life and that is just my opinion .it is my first choice.........Brandon

mainiac · « **Reply #5 on:** December 29, 2007, 07:46:54 pm »

You do bring up a good point about the parts and support of them being in the neighborhood. I think that is one reason that I am shying away from the Blockbuster.

Anyone familiar with Built-Rite? I think they are in New England as well.

Mainiac

a old timberjack · « **Reply #6 on:** December 29, 2007, 10:59:57 pm »

this is a tuff one to explain, i will try to get it right, built rite is a excellant product also, years ago brute was formed ( awsome products ) they were in buisiness for x amount of years, company had inside problems, employees bought them out and some patents, and formed timberwolf if you look at some early brute splitters , they are the same as some t.w.'s. a few years later the old crew wanted to get brute back and running and but sold everything , including some patents, so they came back on the scene and formed " built rite " wich all make great productsif you play around on the internet and e-bay , you see a company out of n.y. called hudson, they have a deal with built rite and put there name on it, splitters and prossers. as far as i know that is kind of the story to the best of my knowledge, but PLEASE!!!! dont hold me agginst it. stick with timberwolf, you cannot go wrong.

evergreenforestmgmt · « **Reply #7 on:** December 30, 2007, 05:16:25 pm »

Timberwolf and Multitek are great products. BUT, very expensive. I too, am in the market for a larger processer. I currently have a Hakki Pilke 1x37. It is a pto powered 3 point hitch machine. Works great, but I am already pushing over 100 cords a season through it. I want to grow and would like a better machine. I have checked out both Timeberwolf and Multitek, but they are not in my budget.
You say that the Pro-MP Timberwolf machine is $35,000? For that little machine?? That's crazy. I'd do one or two things. Look around for a used Multitek or Timberwolf processor for around that price, that is already a larger machine than the Pro-MP that way you'll already have a large enough machine to handle your growth. Otherwise a couple of years from now, you'll probably want to trade or sell the Timberwolf machine.
Another option that I would check into is probably something a lot of people haven't heard of. It's the woodbine processor made my CRD Metalworks in Massachusetts. You can buy a trailer model self contained processor brand new for just over $40,000 brand new. They are built very heavy duty and best of all, uses mostly off the shelf parts that are easy and inexpensive to buy and find. Check out their website. www.crdmetalworks.com

Corley5 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 30, 2007, 06:34:08 pm »

Off the shelf parts are what I like about Block Busters. The only thing I've found that can't be purchased locally is the saw chain drive sprocket. It's made especially for them. I stock a couple extras. Everything else I can buy locally from a bearing supplier, hydraulic shop or Car Quest

The same is true for the Bilt Rite conveyor I've got.

hiwayherbie · « **Reply #9 on:** December 30, 2007, 06:42:54 pm »

Mainiac, Have you checked out a Chomper that uses a shear blade ( no chains to sharpen). I have one and I am Happy with it. I cut a little over 60 + cords this past fall/winter part time. I plan to do 100 + this year, If my full time job will let me?

Their web site is www.chomper.net

thecfarm · « **Reply #10 on:** December 31, 2007, 09:38:07 am »

I finaly got to see one of those chompers in action.If I was looking for a processor I would have one of these.There is no loading area,everything is winched in on ground level.Does not matter how dirty the logs are.You know you will get dirty logs.You move the processor to the pile of logs.I was quite impressesed by the way it worked.You do need a convery to get the logs into a truck because it is at ground level.

Corley5 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 31, 2007, 09:48:25 am »

How's your Chomper work with frozen or dry wood

I stayed away from them because of the reports I got that the machine would crush these conditions of wood instead of shearing them. Chompers are the easiest to find used too

mainiac · « **Reply #12 on:** January 01, 2008, 05:04:39 pm »

Well, this is what I have found so far. Timberwolf $27.5K for a diesel pro-mp $5K for a 20' conveyor 5% sales tax puts it at about $35K.

A Multitek with the same capabilities diesel $54K + 30' conveyor $11K + sales tax = $68250 (ugh)

Blockbuster 18-20 with same capabilities diesel $32.5K + 30' conveyor $6.5K + $2200 shipping(no dealer near me)+ 5% sales = $43260.

Built-Rite prices compare to BlockBuster by the time I figured in the options to compare apples to apples.

I am still leaning towards the Timberwolf. I am not interested in a PTO version as I would have to be thinking of a new tractor to run it as well. Not that I don't want a new tractor, but a man must know his limitations.

Mainiac

Corley5 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 01, 2008, 06:57:41 pm »

Most of these manufacturers will take a well cared for smaller machine in on trade for a larger machine and give you a really good deal. This makes it easier to test the waters of your market without going all out the first season. It's easier to trade up than down

Just a thought

Corley5 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 01, 2008, 08:06:18 pm »

With this setup, Dad running the machine, me running the Bobcat loading logs and keeping the wood leveled off in the trailer/truck we can do a standard cord an hour easily. If the wood is all 8-14" diam it'll do even better. Do you have something with a loader to handle logs?

ScottAR · « **Reply #15 on:** January 02, 2008, 02:08:51 am »

Brrr!

mainiac · « **Reply #16 on:** January 02, 2008, 11:04:21 am »

I do have a Kubota B7500 that will handle most 12' logs that would land in my yard. I can think of an oak log or two that has gone through here that I would have to use the Ol' chain saw, but they would have been to big for any of the processors I am looking at any way.

ScottAR That looks like a nice setup. What size conveyor is that? Is that a BlockBuster processor?

With all the snow that Maine is getting, I am having a hard time figuring this out. 11" on Monday another 12" at least yesterday. 38 driveways to plow with 3 comm places on top of those-I'm a busy plowman.

Mainiac

beenthere · « **Reply #17 on:** January 02, 2008, 11:23:51 am »

mainiac
Are you text messaging the forum as you plow? Can't imagine with that much snow to plow, you find time to get on the forum....

Have fun plowing...

Corley5
Thanks for the pics...glad the weather was ok to split wood. Hope the logging is going well now. Wishin we didn't have so much snow in the woods, as getting around is tough in the 18" there now.

Corley5 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 02, 2008, 04:21:05 pm »

It was actually fairly warm at 33 degrees when the pics were taken

The snow is just about knee deep in the woods now but the forecast is for rain and maybe 50 by Monday with 40s by Sat lasting into Tues. I'll believe it when it's over

The processor is a 14-12 Block Buster and the conveyor is 24" Built Rite. I used hay elevators for the first couple years and just got the Built Rite last fall. It's a great piece of equipment and compliments the Block Buster very well. The 14-12 does a DanG good job too

Furby · « **Reply #19 on:** January 02, 2008, 04:27:03 pm »

Calling for 57° on Monday here with the coldest weather of the season the week after.

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Author Topic: Wood processors (Read 12588 times)