Firewood processor build thread

[aczlan]

I thought about spikes but didn't want to have wood stick to the plate and be dragged back when the cylinder retracts. This is a similar design to my logsplitter although the nails on this one are bigger than the wire they used on it. I also thought about cutting pipe about 1/4" - 1/2" long and welding those around in a pattern. I guess it's something to add to the "we'll see how it goes" list!

Growing up, we had one setup with the spikes, but they only stuck out as much as the taper plus a thread or two, (ie: 1/4" or 5/16").

Aaron Z

 

[MNBobcat]

I would remove those nails on the pusher plate. You need the wood to be able to move around a bit where it can settle where it needs to be. If the wood can't shift, you'll end up bending metal somewhere. I bent the flange on a heavy steel I-Beam because I had spikes that prevented the wood from shifting a bit.

 

[SamEdward]

I would love to see when it is done and do update us

 

[kiotiken]

I would love to see when it is done and do update us

Don't worry, I'll post a video before Christmas of it running and again mid to late January after I get a load of logs.

 

[kiotiken]

I would remove those nails on the pusher plate. You need the wood to be able to move around a bit where it can settle where it needs to be. If the wood can't shift, you'll end up bending metal somewhere. I bent the flange on a heavy steel I-Beam because I had spikes that prevented the wood from shifting a bit.

Well, those nails are now pretty much part of that plate and with the cross pattern, would be next to impossible to cut out. I'm hoping the processor will be strong enough to not be damaged and have the pump going into relief. I guess I'll psy the price if I'm wrong.

 

[mikefromnh]

Is the paint dry?

 

[kiotiken]

Is the paint dry?

LOL, I'm getting to that! Its taken a lot longer to clean up than I expected, but what hasn't on this project. It might not be blue yet, but its a lot shinier.



There will be more progress today, stay tuned...

 

[kiotiken]

There will be more progress today, stay tuned...

Famous last words... Well, at the end of the weekend, I was right, there has been some progress on the paint...



(There's an LED worklight set up directly over that spot, the blue looks a lot lighter in the picture.)

So I started Saturday by continuing to prep the processor, mainly all of the removable pieces.



And I got the garage ready for painting.



I pulled out my trusty spray gun, dug the compressor out because I was smart enough to leave it behind the plastic curtain I set up, loaded up with pain, put on my mask and pulled the trigger...but, nothing happened I tried adjusting for more air and more paint, but nothing. Then I adjusted the pattern to be very narrow and I started getting paint, but it was very globby and hardly any. Eventually, I had to give up and started to clean the gun. At that point, I realized I couldn't spray the lacquer thinner through the gun either. It's a HVLP gravity feed gun that I haven't used since I restored my JD 955 about 4 years ago. At that point, I figured that I didn't clean it properly the last time so instead of fighting with it, I ran off and bought a new one at Home Depot. That ate all my time for Saturday, but I figured I'd get a fresh start Sunday.

Well, Sunday, I set up the new gun, loaded it up, got my mask adjusted just right and went to work! I pulled the trigger and... nothing I adjusted and got it spraying a little better than the first gun and accomplished what you can see in the first picture, then eventually gave up again. When I was cleaning it, I again couldn't get lacquer to spray so I started figiting with it some more. After a few more seconds the gun came alive and I had a perfect spray of blue lacquer thinner so I was all set again :thumbsup: So I loaded back up, adjusted my mask, pulled the trigger and... NOTHING

So, now I know I wasted $100 on a new gun and that the guy who sold me the paint was wrong about needing a 1.5 nozzle. The paint can and everything I found on line about my paint is very clear NOT to thin it. So at this point, I've heated my garage to room temperature for 3 days (it's currently -14 C here although my colourful language probably help keep things warm), blown a weekend, spent more money and got exactly NOWHERE!!! Since Home Depot was the only place to get a gun on a Saturday night, I got a cheap Porter Cable HVLP gun. I'm going to guess you can't buy new nozzles for them and I'll end up buying a much more expensive gun with a variety of nozzles. I'm thinking I probably need a 2.2.

So, tomorrow, I'll give my friend at the paint store a ring. I think the least he can do is give me a good deal on a new spray gun.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Man, that sucks. Apparently someone wants you to park outside this winter lol

 

[kiotiken]

Man, that sucks. Apparently someone wants you to park outside this winter lol

Ya, and I assume you heard what's on the way over the next couple of days, I'm not impressed, guess I need to go buy a snow brush!

 

[murphy1244]

Ya, and I assume you heard what's on the way over the next couple of days, I'm not impressed, guess I need to go buy a snow brush!

At least your Humor is intact.

 

[kiotiken]

At least your Humor is intact.

We'll have to see after the snow storm!

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Ya, and I assume you heard what's on the way over the next couple of days, I'm not impressed, guess I need to go buy a snow brush!

Or a remote starter ;-)

After 5 yrs of doing residential snow removal, I have developed selective hearing towards the weather, particularly in winter. I prefer the "wait and see" approach to the weather....far less stressful

 

[kiotiken]

Or a remote starter ;-)

After 5 yrs of doing residential snow removal, I have developed selective hearing towards the weather, particularly in winter. I prefer the "wait and see" approach to the weather....far less stressful

For years, I've parked in my garage at home and underground in a heated garage at work, I rarely even bothered taking a coat to work before February. As you know, Ottawa's known to get it's fair share of snow in the winter and I literally didn't even have a snow brush in my car. Oh well, I'll be parked in my driveway for this storm and I gave up my indoor spot at work to save $100 month, so one way or another, my cars getting buried this year.

So I just got off the phone with my paint guy. He's going to sell me a gun with a 2.0 mm nozzle for $75 (his cost I believe). On top of that, if it still won't spray, he'll swap the tip for a 2.5 mm. So, if I can figure out how to get there before 4:30, I'll give it another go tonight, otherwise I'll have to pick it up on my way to work tomorrow.

 

[mikefromnh]

I know you are running a chainsaw on your processer but I saw this and thought it was interesting.

The firewood processors chain saw |Fergusons Firewood Processor

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

I know you are running a chainsaw on your processer but I saw this and thought it was interesting.

The firewood processors chain saw |Fergusons Firewood Processor

That Parker F11 seems to be the motor to use. Have you seen anywhere to buy it that its not $2000+?

 

[kiotiken]

I know you are running a chainsaw on your processer but I saw this and thought it was interesting.

The firewood processors chain saw |Fergusons Firewood Processor

Yup, I looked at that build, very interesting, but he uses the P11 and that's a boat load of money. It also requires a big step up for me on the engine side as well. I'm building my processor for the next 40 yrs (assuming I make it into my 80's), so these things may be added down the road, but for now, the money it would take didn't seem worth it to me.

That Parker F11 seems to be the motor to use. Have you seen anywhere to buy it that its not $2000+?

I believe I was quoted $3500, there's a Parker dealer on Carp rd. If I'm not mistaken, there's now a P12 that replaced the P11, but that won't help you with price.

If I were willing to spend the money on the motor for the saw, a bigger engine, multi-segment pumps and a large resevoir etc, I'd move to a saw blade. They are much faster and require much less maintenance (sharpening a chain on a saw that's permanently mounted would be a PITA) and I just don't see the overall cost being that much higher. You might even be able to rig one up to be belt run off a 15-20 hp engine and save a bundle on the hydraulic side. Chainsaws need to turn around the 12000 RPM mark which is why your choices are limited for hydraulic motors, but you can turn the saw blade much slower.

 

[mikefromnh]

I read on another forum the sunfab scm-12 is a direct replacement. $1200.

 

[kiotiken]

I read on another forum the sunfab scm-12 is a direct replacement. $1200.

Never heard of that one, but it's good to know. I may do something like that in the future, especially if my saw ever needs to be replaced.

 

[kiotiken]

So I'm feeling blue this morning.









I didn't get all the parts done, but it was 1:30 AM and my gun ran out of paint and that was it for me, I wasn't loading it again. So I ended up buying the 2.5mm spray gun instead of the 2.0mm gun they thought I should buy. It still wouldn't spray well, even turned up to full material to the point that the needle popped out and running full air, but it much better than my 1.5mm gun at least. Eventually, I started thinning the paint, first just a cap full of lacquer thinner, then two. The last batch I made up to fill my gun sprayed very well, it was two very healthy cap fulls. The directions on the can are very emphatic about not thinning the paint, but I ran out of options. I'm not sure what the consequences will be but I thinned less than 5%, so I'm hoping it wont matter.

It was still tacky at 8:30 this morning, which is 7 hours dry time. That makes me nervous since it's supposed to be dry to the touch after an hour. The garage is at room temperature and was a few hours before I started and has been ever since. I guess we'll see...