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Firewood chopsaw- for the small user

Started by DMcCoy, October 27, 2014, 12:43:26 PM

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hedgerow

Quote from: bandmiller2 on January 01, 2015, 08:28:21 AM
Very clever designs but chainsaws are an expensive high maintenance machine, and a pain in the butt to file in position. What about replacing it with a large electric cutoff saw and carbide tipped blade. Frank C.
I like the circular carbide blade cut off saw Idea. I run a 36 in on my gas engine power buzz saw but you are limited to the size of wood you can cut. I looked at one in a 60 inch size to cut big logs but the cost of the blade and the hp to run it runs into a lot of money. If you were cutting wood for a living the circular blade would be the way to go a lot less sharping.

Philbert

Quote from: bandmiller2 on January 01, 2015, 08:28:21 AM
Very clever designs but chainsaws are an expensive high maintenance machine, and a pain in the butt to file in position. What about replacing it with a large electric cutoff saw and carbide tipped blade.

Does not have to be a 2-cycle engine driving the saw chain.  Could be electric or hydraulic.  Make the chains easy to swap out for filing.

Philbert

DMcCoy

The slippery slope tilts ever farther toward building a processor...  :laugh:
If my log supply was all consistent diameter all decisions would be easier. 
Going from @28" to 8" is such a difference.  I have modified my splitter and built a new conveyor (pics and descriptions later) so I'm comfortable with the splitting and piling process(s). 
I'm leaning toward some sort of elevated table for cutting rounds off big logs and a ramp to the splitter, or do you just put a 32" bar on the end of the roller conveyor and find some way to advance the heavy logs? Do you sort your logs to sizes sending them to different areas until cut and then back to a common table be split.
:)   

DMcCoy

Had a very close call.  The cable system that holds my saw up came loose dropped the saw with chain still turning.   No injury but a bruised forearm from the guard and bruised sense of security. 
I will be making some modifications, this was luck, no need to push it.

sawyerf250

@DMcCoy what about putting a cover over your chain that pivots when you start cutting into your log, serves two purposes 1 being it keeps you safe and 2 it keeps wood chip off of everything. Also what about using a large spring instead of the cable and bucket system?
Massey Ferguson 375 w/838 loader, Wallenstien Fx 90 winch, 3 Husqvarna chainsaws

lopet

I have a similar outfit. Anything less than 5'' I won't split and  run it through the "poor man's ctl processor".
Like others said , if the saw is balanced at the "right" point you wouldn't need counterweights and pulleys.



 

A hair pin is holding the saw bracket in the tube. Easy to remove and fuel up.

 
Make sure you know how to fall properly when you fall and as to not hurt anyone around you.
Also remember, it's not the fall what hurts, its the sudden stop. !!

DMcCoy

Lopet-   Looks like a nice setup you have, and very similar.
Thanks for the pictures.  So simple! <- that is a compliment.
Mine needs some modification for safety - I got lucky.
Thanks again

lopet

I ve read about your close call, but I don't understand why the saw was still turning.  Throttle stuck ?

Thanks for the compliment. As you can see in the picture my bracket is attached to the bar screws and and has a piece of shaft welded on a ninety degrees angle underneath the saw for your pivot point. Then  you weld on a piece of tube to your cutting table where the shaft fits through. It has to be a tight fit or the saw will bind as you're cutting. A bit of grease once a season makes things even smoother. At the bottom I made a stop with a threaded rod, so the saw does not cut any deeper as it has to.
Maybe that will help you to improve yours.  I ve built countless things and most of them needed to be modified or improved. A few things didn't work at all and got cut up again.  ;D
I use my 372XP for that job, as she has plenty of power and a bigger fuel tank as my Stihl saws.
If you need a better look, I can take a picture of the bracket alone.
Make sure you know how to fall properly when you fall and as to not hurt anyone around you.
Also remember, it's not the fall what hurts, its the sudden stop. !!

DMcCoy

Yeah the throttle is sticking a little and I was just wanting to get a small pile cut up.  Dumb-dumb.
I attach my saw with a plate and the bar bolts and there is plenty of room to do what you have done.
Me too - I've built plenty of stuff that doesn't work out. 
The ones that work the best are usually simpler designs.

ckhenshaw4

Hey lopet,
Was wondering if you could take a couple of close up pictures of your saw mount bracket that you made ?  Am working on making a firewood processor, and would like to see your mount.
Also, is your infeed rollers powered at all, or do you move the log forward manually ? 
Thanks.
Getting TOO old to "man handle" wood anymore. Looking at building a firewood processor.

lopet

No, rollers aren't powered. Wish they were.  It works better with two people, as I don't have enough  mmmpf in my left arm to pull them ahead, while my right hand  runs the saw. That's usually the only time of the year I am asking my wife to assist.
Unfortunately  last year she told me that it was last time. Ended up spending $ 250 for chiropractic treatment :( . May as well hire somebody to help from now on, as I have to pay for anyways. ;D
We may do 15-20 cord this way and the heavier stuff runs trough the processor, which I can run easy by myself.

Will try to get some more pics tomorrow. 
Make sure you know how to fall properly when you fall and as to not hurt anyone around you.
Also remember, it's not the fall what hurts, its the sudden stop. !!

lopet

Hope that will give you a idea.


  

  

 
Make sure you know how to fall properly when you fall and as to not hurt anyone around you.
Also remember, it's not the fall what hurts, its the sudden stop. !!

Hilltop366

Lopet, would adding a hand winch (or electric if close to a source) to pull the log ahead be practical?

I was thinking a cable to pull the log or perhaps one like this if your wood is straight enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM3GHS08x30

lopet

As I just chop them and don't split, they go trough a lot faster.  Still think paying somebody to help works the best, at least for me. If I really had to do it myself I think I would have a feeder roll on top and a live deck with only one layer of logs on it. But like I said, it doesn't make sense to me for such amount.  For me it's just a way to salvage the limb wood, which I mix   with the split body wood while I am loading it.  Customers don't mind 10 or 15% limb wood, some actually asked for higher percentage for whatever reason.
Make sure you know how to fall properly when you fall and as to not hurt anyone around you.
Also remember, it's not the fall what hurts, its the sudden stop. !!

ckhenshaw4

Quote from: Hilltop366 on March 12, 2015, 07:59:27 PM
Lopet, would adding a hand winch (or electric if close to a source) to pull the log ahead be practical?

I was thinking a cable to pull the log or perhaps one like this if your wood is straight enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM3GHS08x30

This winch type system, is how I am looking at building mine.  Looks rather simple to construct. 
Lopet, do your end rollers still roll then with it like that ?  Can't really tell if your bracket it on top of the rollers or up a little ?
Getting TOO old to "man handle" wood anymore. Looking at building a firewood processor.

lopet

Make sure you know how to fall properly when you fall and as to not hurt anyone around you.
Also remember, it's not the fall what hurts, its the sudden stop. !!

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