Firewood Processor build

[tcrote5516]

Man that's some nice work! Looks like anything a major manufacturing company with full R&D, whse full of tools and a whole pack of engineers would develop and you did it yourself! Great work! I too can't wait to see a video of this thing making quick work of a tree.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Log advance proposal. A track with a dog on it. Winch shuttles dog forward to advance log, spring loaded dog can pass along next log and grab the end. So really winch could drive a sprocket. Weld chain to a bar and sprocket rolls bar back and forth. I made something like this, machined winch drum to accept sprocket welded to a pipe. Setscrews hold pipe to winch spool.

I saw a unique log advance on a norweigan wood processor. Crazy cool. Will try to find video.

http://youtu.be/1c2zcKYFiog

 

[hedgerow]

A few more to get this up to date
Hope to get a lot done this week with some time off

If you don't mind I have lots of questions on your saw build. Found your build by searching looking for ideas to belt drive a saw just like you are going to do. Is that bar a 404 or 3/4 what size shaft for the drive sprocket. Size of the drive sprocket? What rpm do you think your saw will be running at? I am building a roller track with a saw at the end and didn't want to spend the money to go hyd on the saw as I already have my splitter set up with a 28 two stage pump and a 18 hp v twin. I am just trying not to buck as much wood with a regular chain saw any more.

 

[skeets]

You could set it up with a ripper type chain like on an old BU1hydro motor to power it forward one tooth say ever 6 feet and drive the log to the stop and after the ends clears a spot the chain would run back under to pick up the next log

 

[hedgerow]

tpmx was hoping to get some information on your belt driven saw.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

tpmx was hoping to get some information on your belt driven saw.

TPMX has not been on since 12-6-14, try a PM, if he set it up right he'll get a notice on that.

 

[Cal270]

Great Shop & Build!

 

[hedgerow]

TPMX has not been on since 12-6-14, try a PM, if he set it up right he'll get a notice on that.

Thanks I will try to P.M. him.

 

[tpmx]

I have finally been back on the processor and have a video of the belt driven
saw making its first cut
Its not a great video but does show the saw is going to work
Its cutting a 10 inch dia wild cherry log
I have made several cuts with it and so far so good
I am just hand feeding it because I have to finish welding up the hydraulic tank
so I can hook up some things to test the hydraulic feed
I am getting closer but still along way to go
Here is a link to it on youtube
I attempted to upload it here but since its a .mov format it won't let me here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej41jO05ugQ

 

[Tooljunkie]

Actually very impressive the way it goes through the log.
There are a few wood processors where saw is manual operated, the feed is more accurate then trying to dial it in for different wood. Its usually faster.

If you go hydraulic, a simple stop bolt on hydraulic control lever will regulate flow,like feathering the control.

The processor i ran was very slow drop on the saw, simply due to cutting mixed wood species, had to adjust for every wood type.

Keep up the great work, i like where its going.

 

[tpmx]

Thanks
I was surprised it cut as well as it did
Danzo actually has a article on their site of things to think about on building this and they say studies done a few years ago show hand feeding was at least 20 percent faster then hydraulic just for the reason that once you set the pressure for one wood type it may be two fast or to slow for another
Hand feed you can feel the saw cut and just put the right pressure on it
I really like the Blacks Creek model of processor for home/small amount use
One is hand feed and belt drive and its impressive for the speed
Not a high production unit but nice for what I am after
I just can't justify the price and I just like to build things
I figure within the next month I will be about done with it
Basicly needs the hyd tank finished and some holes drilled and tapped
Finish welding the frame and run hydraulics
I think I will build it complete and cut this winter with it then tear it down in the spring to sandblast and paint plus change anything that didn't work as I thought it should
Thanks for looking and I look forward to comments,they always help

 

[ShaunBlake]

Awesome saw!

So you decided on hydraulic feed, what mechanism will you use, a pusher? What length did you plan for? Will your logs be small, or do you plan to add some stabilizers to let you put bigger logs on the trailer?

 

[tpmx]

I am going to try hydraulic feed and if I am not happy with the cycle time I will
build a simple arm to try hand feed
I was just hoping with hydraulic feed my wife would be able to help
she is looking forward to running it and figured that would be easiest for her
She runs the other splitter now anytime I'm out cutting wood
I am putting stabilizers on each corner in the 4 short pieces of box tubing that I will be able to level and stabilize it with
I am planning a log lift on the side but for now I will use the Kubota to load logs
I have a B3200 with loader that I built pallet forks for to use to move logs with
The processor will cut 18inch id but thats really close to max and may be pushing it some
Going to try to make a good walk around video today with a better picture of each system and I ll look for opinions and ideas for something others see that may be better
I have watched so many videos and try to pick out the ideas I like best
I had to just quit changing things every time I see something else I liked

 

[ShaunBlake]

...
I have watched so many videos and try to pick out the ideas I like best
I had to just quit changing things every time I see something else I liked

Well, I'd be the last one to urge you to quit that! However, I can sympathize with seemingly never-ending projects. My "solution" sometimes is to keep the latest incarnation and use it, but begin a new-and-"much"-"improved" model.

Hey, how else can you prove to yourself that you really should have stopped at version #2?

 

[Tooljunkie]

Looking forward to next video. For hand feed, a lever /bellcrank to reverse motion from pulling up to pulling down. Also making lever adjustable for shorter/taller operators to place handle in their comfort zone. Will also help with different diameter logs. Could also set it up like 2:1 to move saw with less hand motion.
Dont know what you are running for the chain oiler, but the simplest setup was a needle valve from the hydraulic pump. Easily regulated, hyd oil is good enough for chain lube, and hyd tank is constantly getting fresh hydraulic oil.

I have run maintained and repaired two different types of processors, the knife type shears and splits in one motion, but mashes the wood somewhat. It does speed up drying though. It was simple and fast. Busy bee was the manufacturer.

The hydraulic saw was not a very efficient machine,and used the wrong style of controls for moveable wedge and splitter. Controls werent set up for two hand operation and conveyor was a poor design.it seemed like it was thrown together like a prototype. Cord king. Made in canada with china parts.

 

[tpmx]

Well I hate to say but I didn't get another video made,just got to busy
I do small engine repair on the side,mostly tav and motorcycle but also about whatever comes thru the door and right now I am swamped
I am going to work this weekend on the processor.
I will get the tank mounted and possibly the hydraulic valves.
To oil the bar I bought a 12v pump but haven't tested it pumping bar oil in the cold yet.
I am most likely going to go with a metered feed from the hydraulic system
Of the 12v pump can handle bar oil I am going to hook it up to the saw and run it only when the saws 12v clutch engages
There are so many ways to accomplish the different sequences on these,you
just have to pick the one that you can build with your abilities I guess
If I were to build another my conveyor would lay on somewhat of an angle
so that the saw is pulling the log into the low part of the conveyor
I have a sping loaded setup to hold the log down but it will also float on the cylinder rod,spring pulling it down,cylinder will lift it up for different size logs.
I was worried that if I put a hydraulic cylinder clapping the log down solid
that if you didn't real ease the clamp and attempted to run the conveyor it would possible break the conveyor belt
I will see if I have a picture of this and post it so youi can see what I have done
I read everyones ideas so keep them coming
I like the way each person looks at building stuff
I am too far along now to make major changes but little was can and will be done if needed

 

[Tooljunkie]

Your 12 volt fuel pump will work. It will pump chain oil, dont know how cold it has to be before it wont. Was on a micro switch of sorts and a 1/4" ball valve on inlet to regulate flow. But, the price of chain oil, and the worst thing ever was the oil slinging off the bar and chain. Better be upwind. Hyd oil didnt sling like chain oil. Sticky clingy chain oil. Would rather be tarred and feathered.

Had totally forgotten about the mess the chain oil made of my safety glasses, hart hat, my clothes , hair and the slime all over machine. Ya, dont use chain oil.

 

[tpmx]

I may go with the hydraulic oil and the 12 volt pump and use a ball valve like you suggest,Ill bring the pump on and off with the electric clutch on the saw
I have the hydraulic tank up on the mill to cut 4 more holes in for the return filters and the pickup lines
I have suction filters and return filters but the more I read the suction filters
are not a good idea.
I am going to try to get the tank done this weekend.
It is the last of the major items to fab up.
Some welding and drilling and tapping it should be ready to assemble enough to test everything and hopefully run some wood thru it
A friend stopped over tonight to look at it so we fired it up and made some cuts.
I am real happy with the saw
I am going to run the hydraulic feed cylinder at first and if I'm not happy with it I will go to hand feed
Thanks for the input and for following the build
I have a lot of pictures just need to put them somewhere so guys can check them out

 

[tpmx]

Got to work on the processor some this weekend while the weather was nice
The hydraulic tank is built and the valves are mounted
Heres a short walk around video to help show some of the parts
Several people have asked for this so I finally got a chance to shoot it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD8drrw0QSc

 

[Tooljunkie]

Nice. Drive roller for conveyor-wrap it in some of the belting and pop rivet it on, so you need less tension .rivets with large diameter head work well. A narrow strip wrapped diagonally will work better than one cross ways. Wedge needs a couple vertical pieces to guard cylinder, one stubborn block and cyl will bend.
You have a lot of time invested, should pay you back in no time.

I didnt get a good look at saw, is it a harvester bar?