Pretty handy firewood setup

NH-Murph · September 12, 2015, 12:55:00 PM

I have been putting off firewood until I picked out an OWB because I wasn't sure how big the firebox would be and that tells me how long to cut the wood. I finally chose a boiler and have settled on 36" wood.

Found this splitzilla on Craigslist and bartered off a deer Rifle for it. It will do 4' wood, but has a block on the ram making a 38" opening. It has a 5" cylinder with a 3" rod and 36" stroke. I have no idea where the pump came from, but it is a monster. It's powered by a nice running Wisconsin TJD motor. It's an animal! Splits absolutely anything.

It goes right from the splitter into the tractor bucket. Once the bucket is stuffed full, simply curl the bucket down to put the ends of the wood on the ground or pile and back up. Stays stacked and I don't have to touch it again till it's going in the boiler! I'm diggin' this 3' wood!

It winds up being just a little over 36 cubic feet per bucket, so that's a little over 1/4 cord per bucket load.

thecfarm · September 12, 2015, 06:46:02 PM

That will get the job done.

cutterboy · September 12, 2015, 08:12:47 PM

Wow, that splitter is a monster. Nice set up you have and nice tractor.

timberlinetree · September 13, 2015, 06:12:11 AM

Nice job!

Peter Drouin · September 13, 2015, 08:08:55 AM

Nice when things work out like that. 8)

Bruno of NH · September 13, 2015, 11:26:44 AM

Nice splitter !
Bruno

NH-Murph · September 13, 2015, 07:09:20 PM

Thanks fellas. I have been so beat up, broken, smashed and crashed over the years that I have to try and make the more physical jobs as easy on my body as I can. This is about as good as I can get it on my budget! Had my 19th orthopedic operation last winter... I'd like to not see #20 for a few more years!

Warped · September 13, 2015, 10:32:40 PM

If your profile age is right you better make things easy....and that splitter will do it. I looked for something like that and found nothing so grabbed a new 27 ton, but really wanted a seasoned monster. I have little patience once I make up my mind to buy ;D

coxy · September 14, 2015, 07:58:02 AM

nice splitter that long wood is nice but will grow old ;D I get better burn out of 2ft wood don't seem to get hung up in the stove and don't seem to smash my fingers as mush filling the stove

Jeff · September 14, 2015, 08:11:14 AM

Are (were) you an extreme sports kinda guy?

gspren · September 14, 2015, 08:33:24 AM

My OWB will take a 40" piece but 36" is better so I mostly cut 18" and stack 2 rows in the fire box. Some of the small limbs that don't need split I'll leave long but at 63 I would rather cut to 18". One good thing about a big splitter like yours it's easy to split shorter when you want.

4x4American · September 14, 2015, 09:40:48 AM

Holy cow, 19 orthopedic operations! You're a bruiser!

NH-Murph · September 14, 2015, 10:45:40 AM

I had big plans to make a run at professional motocross, but my body just didn't hold up. I had the speed and stamina, but not the luck! Also had a couple bad industrial accidents. A few years back I had a 400LB boiler tube fall 50 feet square onto my head. Almost didn't make it through that one. Back in my early 20s, a D8R had it's way with my leg, and I was 26 months of operations and PT learning to walk again. My body will be well used when they finally roll it into the dumpster!

4x4American · September 14, 2015, 11:00:00 AM

Good grief, you really are a bruiser!

NH-Murph · September 14, 2015, 11:19:58 AM

Lol... I guess so. It takes a heck of a nurse to haul out my medical record in one trip! Beat up from my feet up!

gspren · September 14, 2015, 07:36:20 PM

When you get to my age you'll be an authority on arthritis medication.

r.man · September 14, 2015, 09:21:35 PM

Gspren, I know experienced OWB users who experimented with wood lengths and have settled on shorter rather than longer. They are of the opinion that long wood wastes heat up the chimney compared to shorter wood. This should not be true with a gasser but I can't be sure they are wrong about a normal OWB.

coxy · September 15, 2015, 06:16:49 PM

Quote from: NH-Murph on September 14, 2015, 10:45:40 AM
I had big plans to make a run at professional motocross, but my body just didn't hold up. I had the speed and stamina, but not the luck! Also had a couple bad industrial accidents. A few years back I had a 400LB boiler tube fall 50 feet square onto my head. Almost didn't make it through that one. Back in my early 20s, a D8R had it's way with my leg, and I was 26 months of operations and PT learning to walk again. My body will be well used when they finally roll it into the dumpster!

I ran snowcross for 2 years

NH-Murph · September 16, 2015, 09:55:53 AM

Snowcross is no joke... I sure wouldn't want to get hit with those studded tracks and carbide skegs! These days, I stick to my '72 Elan for the winter 8)

chrissheerman · September 24, 2015, 12:31:38 PM

nice setup nh murph. I also like the description of where your from I may have to be a copy cat on that because thats same area as me.

NH-Murph · September 24, 2015, 08:17:19 PM

Unity... I'm just off Unity Rd in Newport! Howdy Neighbor!

49er · September 25, 2015, 04:37:42 PM

I have an outside wood heater that I made back in the early 80's. I have not used it sense I put in a geo-thermal heat pump. It will take four foot wood. And if the wood is small that's the length I cut it. But, when the wood gets bigger and full of knots I might only cut it ten inches. I have never had a wood spliter nor do I want one. I just use my saw more. I don't make pretty neat stacks I just pile it in bins. I know many will think it is not very efficient but it has always worked for me.

NH-Murph · September 25, 2015, 07:24:47 PM

I am slightly OCD about my woodpiles. I don't use a string to keep them straight, but they are right there in the yard, so I like them to be fairly neatly stacked. I like doing firewood. Nobody bugs me, and I get some quality Me time. Plus I like the exercise.