Firewood processor build thread

[kiotiken]

You're right, in the pic, it's a little over 4' to the log deck, but it's near it's max height and I'll probably never use it as high as it is now. The jacks let me lower it about another 12" so I'll have to play with a comfortable working height.

I'm trying to figure out what to do with the thing. I'm thinking about taking it to the back of the property and putting up one of those shelterlogic's for it. My tractor should easily be able to carry it with the pallet forks which is why I haven't bothered with an axle to pull it. My concern is actually removing it from my garage, I'll have take it out length wise and that means it'll be hanging 10 1/2 in front of the pivot points on my tractor. I don't know how much it weighs, but I'm getting a little concerned I'll be able to lift it like that.

Back out to it now.

 

[dave1949]

Could you swap out the "rear" jacks for jacks with dolly wheels, then lift the "front" end and pull it out?

 

[kiotiken]

Could you swap out the "rear" jacks for jacks with dolly wheels, then lift the "front" end and pull it out?

If my tractor won't lift it length wise out of the garage, I have a pallet with wheels on it that I use to move skids of firewood around that I'll put under the back of it to pull it out, but I'm still hopeful I'll be able to lift it. If it can't, that will make storing it a lot more difficult as well. I'd probably have to look at putting an axle under it in that case.

 

[kiotiken]

Looking good so far Ken.

What's the working height of it? Trying to scale off of other things in the pic, it looks like the log deck is 4' or so off the ground. If so, I'm guessing you'll have a platform to stand on rather than standing on the ground?

The jacks are a nice touch to get it level and stable but how are you going to move it? Or is it just going to be put in one spot in the yard and stay there?

Minimum working height is 41", I cranked it all the way down tonight. I was surprised it was that high, but it seems fairly comfortable. I'll be using this almost exclusively in the winter so I can always kick a little snow under the operators area if it is to high.

 

[kiotiken]

Tonight's update is pretty frustrating. I finished up the log deck and it took way too long. I was hoping to have the saw mount done tonight to, but that will have to be a project for tomorrow.

The log deck is adjustable in 1" increments, although with the processor on jacks, it's almost infinitely adjustable anyway. I'll likely leave it on an angle similar to the picture since I'm going to try it not being "live". I think it's going to work, but if not, next year I'll tweak it accordingly and consider a chain drive system or something.







My new 24" bar!

 

[kiotiken]

Update from Sunday night.

Chainsaw mount is nearly done, just need to buy a couple little pieces to bolt the saw to the mount. Log deck is still mounted on the wrong side. I'll have to get around to dismantling it and fastening the mounting brackets to the other side soon.


Stihl still with the 18" bar


The mount


The new 5" cylinder in place


I did some other stuff not worth showing. Lots of bracing to add and I need to come up with some kind of log holder as well. Since I have a 3 spool valve, some extra hoses and a bunch of extra cylinders I'm thinking of adding a hydraulic arm. Not sure if it would work to well with my sled design though, I want to hold the log without putting too much down force on it. I could do the scissor clamp, but I'd have to go buy more steel, and I'm getting pretty tired of doing that. I also want to make operation of this thing really simple and fast. One hand on the saw, the other on the splitter valve, no thinking.

 

[kiotiken]

Looking good so far Ken.

What's the working height of it? Trying to scale off of other things in the pic, it looks like the log deck is 4' or so off the ground. If so, I'm guessing you'll have a platform to stand on rather than standing on the ground?

The jacks are a nice touch to get it level and stable but how are you going to move it? Or is it just going to be put in one spot in the yard and stay there?

CDN Farm Boy, did you ever get my PM?

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

CDN Farm Boy, did you ever get my PM?

Just now, PM returned thanks

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Looking good so far. How many hrs you figure you have into it at this point? By the look of it, several more of finish welding to go yet?

 

[kiotiken]

Looking good so far. How many hrs you figure you have into it at this point? By the look of it, several more of finish welding to go yet?

Thanks. I haven't been tracking my hrs, and I don't think I want to know! I'd guess I have at least 60 in it so far, with many, many more spent thinking, planning and gathering. I'm not the fastest in the world, that's for sure. I'm trying to take my time and do it right the first time, although, it doesn't always turn out that way.

So far, almost everything is only tacked together, which has saved my bacon a few times. I have a TON of welding left to do. That doesn't bother me, it's the prepping that I'm not looking forward to.

 

[kiotiken]

Todays update isn't really an update since I had to take a couple steps backwards. I realized a couple days ago the the pusher plate was 1/2" off centre. As much as I wanted to pretend I didn't notice, 53,000# pushing 1/2" off centre and therefor also on an angle, had to be fixed. I can't figure out how I could have been so far off. Unfortunately, part of the pusher plate piece was fully welded, one of the only things I've welded and not just tacked.

Dismantling the parts


Back together


Added some grease zerks.


Bracing, lots of it and more to come. Everybody was so worried about the light angle not holding up under the pressure (as was I), but I was worried the whole end would simply be pushed over!

 

[kiotiken]

Just went to the door to let the dog in and found this! I should have all the hydraulics now.

 

[dbaer78]

I'm really looking forward to seeing it in action. How are you going to fix your saw to the saw mount?

 

[kiotiken]

I'm really looking forward to seeing it in action. How are you going to fix your saw to the saw mount?

You and me both! As for the saw, I bought a couple 5/16 fine thread nuts to match the ones that are on the side of my saw (to hold the bar in place). I wanted to buy some 5/16 fine thread couplers, but I haven't been able to find any. I'll weld larger coupler nuts to the fine thread nuts I bough so that the bolts coming from the saw have some room but I'll have something to fasten bolts from my saw mount. I'm fighting with spacing issues right now since that moves the saw a little more than I wanted on my saw stand, I may have to cut the mount loose and move it a little.

 

[aczlan]

You and me both! As for the saw, I bought a couple 5/16 fine thread nuts to match the ones that are on the side of my saw (to hold the bar in place). I wanted to buy some 5/16 fine thread couplers, but I haven't been able to find any. I'll weld larger coupler nuts to the fine thread nuts I bough so that the bolts coming from the saw have some room but I'll have something to fasten bolts from my saw mount. I'm fighting with spacing issues right now since that moves the saw a little more than I wanted on my saw stand, I may have to cut the mount loose and move it a little.

What if you put a plate on that bolted under the nuts (ie: two holes for the bolts and a third for the adjuster)?
Might even build a replacement side cover if space is tight...

Aaron Z

 

[kiotiken]

What if you put a plate on that bolted under the nuts (ie: two holes for the bolts and a third for the adjuster)?
Might even build a replacement side cover if space is tight...

Aaron Z

I like that, I like it alot actually. I won't be building a replacement cover, it's shaped for the saw and far beyond my abilities to do, but I'll be looking at what space I have to rig up a plate as you suggest. Thanks, great idea.

 

[kiotiken]

I ran out to the garage for an hour when my wife took the kids to swimming lessons. I was too tired and just not up for going out again for my regular night shift last night, so here's an update from the hour I had. I'm adding bracing while I ponder the issue of a log holder. Since I went to bed 2 hours earlier than I normally do last night, I stared at the ceiling for a while and came up with a few ideas on that. Productivity is dropping way off as I spend more time trying to figure out what to do next and how to do it. I think all I have left is the log holder, finish the saw mount, permanently mount the tank and engine, figure out how to mount the valves and then weld it all together. I need to get this thing painted and out of the garage ASAP.

Here's the extra bracing from yesterday.


OK, this is the last brace I have in mind for the cylinder attachment so if there's still concerns about it being strong enough, let me know. Solution ideas are always nice too...

 

[kiotiken]

What if you put a plate on that bolted under the nuts (ie: two holes for the bolts and a third for the adjuster)?
Might even build a replacement side cover if space is tight...

Aaron Z

Aaron, something like this?



Here are a few pictures of the saw mount complete. This was one of the things that I worried about figuring out the most and it turned out to be relatively easy to build. I'm very happy with the results, even though I would have liked two bolts, so I'm adding pics so others can see what I did and get ideas for their projects.


Parts are two pillow blocks, mechanical tube, 1/2" rod to fit inside the tube and through the pillow blocks, a piece of angle welded to the tube and two pieces of plate welded to the inside of the angle.


I decided to add a saw stop with some of the extra tube/rod I had. Now if I can just find the bolt I had for it...




Oh ya, here's the 24" bar installed on the saw. I only spent an hour in the garage again last night and half of that seemed to be untangling the chain!

 

[aczlan]

Aaron, something like this?
View attachment 398345

Looks great!

Here are a few pictures of the saw mount complete. This was one of the things that I worried about figuring out the most and it turned out to be relatively easy to build. I'm very happy with the results, even though I would have liked two bolts, so I'm adding pics so others can see what I did and get ideas for their projects.
View attachment 398347

If you wanted a second attachment point, you could add something to go over the side handle, or you could extend your plate into the triangle shaped corner (toward the rear of the saw) and add a 2nd bolt there.

Aaron Z

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Since pics dont load worth a crap on my phone, I can only see one of your latest bunch and that is of the new mounting plate on the side of the saw.

Am I missing something or are the nuts only on a couple threads? Is so, I think you are asking for trouble with them backing off