Author Topic: Firewood processor anyone? (Read 6709 times)

Hawkshoe · « **on:** May 12, 2009, 08:37:10 pm »

I was checkin out these build it yourself processors (ebay item #110332462200) from Miller's Wood Cutting. It almost looks like something I can do. Anybody build a processor before?

Al_Smith · « **Reply #1 on:** May 12, 2009, 09:25:58 pm »

To ever justify one a person would first have to cut firewood by the hundreds of tons .In addition have access to acres of pecker pole type wood .

I've seen many on display at lumber and forestry shows .Some claim 4 cords per hour .Very impressive but 80 thousand bucks buys a lot of saws and pays for a lot of help .

Besides that they are cutting 12 to 18 inch stuff and smaller .By the time you load it up and haul it to a site to use a processer you could have sliced and diced the whole mess anyway with a good saw .

John Mc · « **Reply #2 on:** May 13, 2009, 12:07:48 am »

An interesting looking piece of equipment, and a good deal cheaper than the "store bought" firewood processors you see. But from watching the video, it seems rather slow cutting. The log in the video is not all that big, but when I timed one of the cuts, it was over 30 seconds. At that speed, I'd be inclined to just use my chainsaw.

John Mc

bandmiller2 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 13, 2009, 06:07:34 am »

Processors require support equipment and like smaller straighter logs.I would say if your selling fire/stove wood and have equip.their worth it.If your cutting for your own furnace your better off with a good saw and a splitter with a lift for heavy chunks.Frank C.

Al_Smith · « **Reply #4 on:** May 16, 2009, 08:45:36 am »

I think a good tiltable splitter would serve the average person much better than a processer .

After years of swinging an axe and maul I finaly built one last year .Firewood is a lot of work no matter how it's done but that splitter certainly made things easier on my tired old bod .

A strapping young man can out split a splitter but you can't out last one .

Hawkshoe · « **Reply #5 on:** May 16, 2009, 10:11:34 pm »

Yeah, I know they are major bucks, but I am lookin at tinkerin around with salvaged parts. My wife will make sure I don't spend more than $2.98 building anything. Past experiences have made her wiser than I! $:-\$

rebocardo · « **Reply #6 on:** May 20, 2009, 11:06:55 pm »

> A strapping young man can out split a splitter but you can't out last one

I agree

Al_Smith · « **Reply #7 on:** May 22, 2009, 10:02:10 pm »

Out last,a short story .

I've been a gear head all my life even as a little boy .When I was 14 years old I built a mini bike with a Briggs lawnmower engine .My good friend ,even to this day was born with a silver spoon in his mouth .He had a 10 speed racing bike and could hit 40 miles per hour .Yes he could out run me,maybe for 400 feet then the good old Briggs passed him up at 25 miles per hour .

Reminds me of the age old story concerning a rabbit and a turtle .

mrcaptainbob · « **Reply #8 on:** May 23, 2009, 10:59:30 pm »

Visions of John Henry!

archertwo · « **Reply #9 on:** December 08, 2009, 08:18:23 am »

Saw this in the older threads and decided to respond.

An answer to your question.
Yes, you can build your own firewood processor. You can make it so it cuts up to 18" or more too.
It may not be the fastest thing around but you'll have the satisfaction of building it yourself. You never know it may even work.

I built my own using a chainsaw for the cutting instead of going hydraulic with everything and till last week I was running everything else with a 9HP Honda. Switched to a 15HP to make things easier on the engine.

John Mc · « **Reply #10 on:** December 08, 2009, 10:27:51 am »

Looks interesting, Archertwo. Any details, or perhaps a video of it in action you can share?

I'm involved with a group of landowners who together cut and process about 25+ cords of firewood a year, mostly for our own use - a kind of neighborhood firewood co-op. We might do more, if we were a bit more efficient at it. We've discussed ways we might upgrade our operation. Buying a commercial firewood processor is beyond us, and wouldn't make much sense anyway, given our volume. However, we still dream of something. We've got an engineer and an experienced welder in the group. We just haven't thought out what we might attempt yet.

John Mc

archertwo · « **Reply #11 on:** December 08, 2009, 11:04:40 am »

John Mc, I decided this summer to upgrade my logsplitter by making a totally new one using only the piston off my old one.
The log splitter I had was a store bought one that I got well over 30 years old. It was on its third engine, the newest being a 9HP Honda replacing the initial 8HP Techumseh and the 8HP Briggs & Stratton that had replaced the original. I'd already modified it a few times adjusting the beam height twice and adding a splitting table and a higher splitting wedge.
I decided to add a conveyor to the log splitter to boost its efficiency.
I added a directional control valve so I could run the conveyor separately when the piston wasn't travelling.
You'll notice the Charlynn motor hanging next to the filter behind the engine.

I then made a conveypor for it.

Added a one piece infeed belt that is easily removable for exchange when it eventually wears out.

Here's a pic of the idea I had in the beginning of my completed project with one minor addition. Check out the major diference between the first pic of the splitter and the second and no it's not that one has a conveyor attached to the splitter.

I know the pic's dark but notice the valve bank. That was the beginning of the processor idea I had been pondering for a while.

I'll post more pics if you want.

bill m · « **Reply #12 on:** December 08, 2009, 06:16:13 pm »

OESCO in Conway Ma. rents a firewood processor for about $380 a day. It runs off a tractor PTO and WILL do 5 cord per hour.

archertwo · « **Reply #13 on:** December 09, 2009, 11:15:49 am »

Mine won't do 5 cords a day if I'm by myself but I can cut the trees, bring them out and process 2 cords and be back home for supper.

I can also move it and set it up by myself to anywhere I have a pile that's ready to process and it will take 16 foot logs up to 18" at the butt with no problems.
The log lift is the heaviest part since I have to manhandle it into the truck box.

beenthere · « **Reply #14 on:** December 09, 2009, 11:39:57 am »

archertwo
In that last pic, I'm trying to sort out what all goes with the log lift. Just what is painted orange?

What's the unpainted frame? And the white bucket doesn't go with it?

You look to be real handy with the design and fabrication of things to make the work easier.

beenthere · « **Reply #15 on:** December 09, 2009, 11:41:59 am »

Quote from: bill m on December 08, 2009, 06:16:13 pm

OESCO in Conway Ma. rents a firewood processor for about $380 a day. It runs off a tractor PTO and WILL do 5 cord per hour.

Any pics of that processor in action?

bill m · « **Reply #16 on:** December 09, 2009, 01:49:43 pm »

Sawmill & Woodlot Magazine did a test on it. You should be able to see pictures there. If you call OESCO ask for Howard Boyden, he has run them a lot. They might have a video.

Al_Smith · « **Reply #17 on:** December 09, 2009, 07:28:31 pm »

I suppose a processer is an option .I personally could never see the need for one .

As far as making good time though early last winter we did good .5 men,one chainsaw ,2 splitters .7.5 cords split and stacked in 4 hours .All oak too,big stuff .

My buddy is a tree trimmer and sells the stuff .Another time with 4 men and one splitter they knocked out around ten cord in one day from a pile .

I've got 20 cords split ,stacked and tarped down I did myself but not in no 10 hours I'll tell you that .

About half a cord an hour for maybe an hour ,two hours at a stretch---not as young as I used to be ya know .

archertwo · « **Reply #18 on:** December 10, 2009, 10:39:43 am »

beenthere, the log lift is only what is painted orange in the pic.
The unpainted framework is mostly my welding table and a piece of an unfinished project on top.

stonebroke · « **Reply #19 on:** December 11, 2009, 12:12:22 pm »

Boy that log lift is pretty slick. How long did it take you to figure out how to make it.

Stonebroke

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Author Topic: Firewood processor anyone? (Read 6709 times)