I would like to build a hydraulic chain saw for parting off logs for firewood. Does any one have any recommendations for specs on a hydraulic motor? i.e. Flow rate, cubic inches per revolution etc. I would assume that some where about 3500 rpm would be required. What about pump capacity?
Hydraulic chain saw
- Thread starter jezorek
- Start date
- Views: 61476
3RRL
Super Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2005
- Messages
- 6,931
- Tractor
- 55HP 4WD KAMA 554 and 4 x 4 Jinma 284
Hmmm, interesting idea.
Just out of curiosity, why did you pick hydraulic?
It seems to me that is a difficult and heavy way to make a chainsaw, but you probably have a good reason. I think most saws go about 10,000rpm or more so flow would be an issue. Your power source, sump, hoses and motor weight would be considerable. Consider also you can get a pretty good bucking saw, light weight, portable and fast for under $400 bucks.
I love to hear your story and see your concept though.
Just out of curiosity, why did you pick hydraulic?
It seems to me that is a difficult and heavy way to make a chainsaw, but you probably have a good reason. I think most saws go about 10,000rpm or more so flow would be an issue. Your power source, sump, hoses and motor weight would be considerable. Consider also you can get a pretty good bucking saw, light weight, portable and fast for under $400 bucks.
I love to hear your story and see your concept though.
Ductape
Elite Member
Before you build one, take a look on ebay. Though they are pretty expensive...... i've seen a few sell for fair money. Hydraulic saws are common in bucket trucks (power company, tree service)....... i've got to think you can find one on ebay much cheaper than you can build one.... no?
bjcsc
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2007
- Messages
- 559
- Location
- Johns Island, SC
- Tractor
- JD 5225, JD 555B, JD 333E, JD 225DLC
My buddy just bought one for a chipping operation he's starting up. Should be here next week. I'll check it out and see what it has and post back to this thread. I'm not sure how applicable it will be as I think it has a pretty tremendous bar on it...
bigshovel
Gold Member
I used to work at an equipment rental yard in the early 90's. We rented a hydraulic concrete saw that was a glorified chain saw. It would cut 18" of concrete, that saw had two hydro hoses and a seperate generator and pump. It was a handfull to operate and repair. Stanley bostich made that particular model along with hydro jack hammers. I have seen a few other manufacturers around but I'm confident it could be converted to a wood saw. That unit then was in excess of $10000.
Good luck'
Brad
Good luck'
Brad
bjcsc
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2007
- Messages
- 559
- Location
- Johns Island, SC
- Tractor
- JD 5225, JD 555B, JD 333E, JD 225DLC
Well the saw same today. It has a 6' bar so I don't think it's going to help you much...
Since posting my original question I have learned a little about what I need. Sorry for not mentioning my application. I would like to build a firewood processor. The operations would go in this sequence.
1. Load log onto deck
2. Advance log to required cut off length
3. Part off- have cut piece drop onto splitter
4. Split log into required number of pieces
5. Pieces would then fall to converoy and load wagon
Assuming that the conveyor runs continously, no two other operations will occur together. I have a small saw mill that I power with a 1600 cc VW engine. I have a flyball govenor on the engine that controls the speed of the transmission output in 3rd gear at 600 RPM. The saw was originally designed to be powered from a tractor PTO. One of the axels terminates in a 1 3/8 six spline shaft and is connected to the saw mandrel through a standard telescoping PTO shaft. The other shaft drives a hydraulic pump that powers the saw carriage. I am running out of space. More to follow in the next post.
1. Load log onto deck
2. Advance log to required cut off length
3. Part off- have cut piece drop onto splitter
4. Split log into required number of pieces
5. Pieces would then fall to converoy and load wagon
Assuming that the conveyor runs continously, no two other operations will occur together. I have a small saw mill that I power with a 1600 cc VW engine. I have a flyball govenor on the engine that controls the speed of the transmission output in 3rd gear at 600 RPM. The saw was originally designed to be powered from a tractor PTO. One of the axels terminates in a 1 3/8 six spline shaft and is connected to the saw mandrel through a standard telescoping PTO shaft. The other shaft drives a hydraulic pump that powers the saw carriage. I am running out of space. More to follow in the next post.
I want to take advantage of the saw mill power plant for the firewood processor. Using hydraulics seems like the way to go. I have a an 11 GPM Prince PTO pump that I can put onto the spline of the VW engine in place of the saw mandrel PTO shaft.
I have several chain saws that are in the 3-4 HP range. When cutting firewood with these saws, one generally rocks the saw to minimize the contact area. On the firewood processor, the saw will be hinged at the back so when cutting, the chain contact will start out minimal, build to the full diameter of the log and then diminish. I think I need about 8 HP to do this at a decent rate. Hydraulic motor HP= Torque (in. lb) x RPM/63025. I found a Haldex motor that yields 133 in. lb at 3508 rpm and 8 GPM. This will give me about 7.5 HP. Close enough. Sorry to be so long winded.
I have several chain saws that are in the 3-4 HP range. When cutting firewood with these saws, one generally rocks the saw to minimize the contact area. On the firewood processor, the saw will be hinged at the back so when cutting, the chain contact will start out minimal, build to the full diameter of the log and then diminish. I think I need about 8 HP to do this at a decent rate. Hydraulic motor HP= Torque (in. lb) x RPM/63025. I found a Haldex motor that yields 133 in. lb at 3508 rpm and 8 GPM. This will give me about 7.5 HP. Close enough. Sorry to be so long winded.
Sorry no answers here... But I did use a hydraulic chain saw in a bucket truck and it was the greatest thing ever... I decided not to work for the company but it was a fun "interview". Owner said; "see that tree, take this bucket truck with a hydraulic chain saw and take it down..." Less then 10 mins, I had a job offer... 
Looking forward to what you and the others can come up with...
Looking forward to what you and the others can come up with...
brandoro
Platinum Member
Hydraulic Tree Trimming Tools - Stanley Hydraulic Tools
Take a look at the above site, might be close to what you are looking for.
Take a look at the above site, might be close to what you are looking for.
Pennsylvania Weldor
Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2008
- Messages
- 48
jezorek said:
I am also thinking about building a firewood processor. I've researched several web-sites, watched lots of you-tube videos, etc, about these things. There are pros and cons to them all. I did find one I really liked, but $59,000 was a little out of my price range. I have been looking for a hydraulic chain saw for my project also. Have seen some processors that use a large circular saw blade run by a hydraulic motor and fed with a hydraulic cylinder. In line was installed a flow control valve to "adjust" the feed speed of the cyliinder for different wood species. I may go this route. Saw blades, arbors, etc are more available than the hydraulic chain saw. I've already acquired some of the pumps, control valves, hoses, etc for the project. I'd like to see yours after it's completed.
SPYDERLK
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2006
- Messages
- 12,628
- Location
- VA
- Tractor
- JD2010, Kubota3450,2550, Mahindra 7520 w FEL w Skid Steer QC w/Tilt Tatch, & BH, BX1500
Glad your saw works. Obviously you got the chain speed up to a good point by using a larger drive sprocket than on most chain saws.jezorek said:
Note that you dont run out of space. The message window scrolls down when it fills up. So you can keep writing.
larry
EdK
Silver Member
I too am interested in building a firewood processor. I have good fabrication skills but little hydraulic know-how. I understand the hydraulics in a wood splitter but that is about my limit. Adding a hydraulic cutoff saw and a motor or two to advance the log is beyond my limits. I'd like to keep it fairly simple for now - no live log deck or outfeed conveyor (however it would be nice to add "hooks" for the addition of a live deck later). I did score a commercial hydraulic chainsaw to kick off the project (8GPM @ 2K PSI). I think I'd be satisfied with this set up on a pivot without any kind of auto-cycle.
I have perused product literature, watched youtube videos and humbly acknowledge the commercial offerings are much more complicated than I'm describing but I do not need 250, 500, etc. cord throughput. While I have no need for one of those $15-50K commercial rigs as I do not have a thriving firewood business, I do cut and split 12-15 cords a year now and having plenty of access to logs would like to consider starting a small business with the machine. This seems realistic to me as some folks are successful with just a splitter and a strong back.
One question that immediately comes to mind is whether one can use a typical logsplitter two-stage pump to run the cut-off saw and log advance motor or not. Perhaps there is another design method... (of course I realize a basic single stage pump would work).
Is this scale machine consistent with anyone else's needs. Any suggestions on how to work out the hydraulics? Not looking to have it done for me as I'm willing to study up but a team effort or some coaching would be appreciated.
Ed
I have perused product literature, watched youtube videos and humbly acknowledge the commercial offerings are much more complicated than I'm describing but I do not need 250, 500, etc. cord throughput. While I have no need for one of those $15-50K commercial rigs as I do not have a thriving firewood business, I do cut and split 12-15 cords a year now and having plenty of access to logs would like to consider starting a small business with the machine. This seems realistic to me as some folks are successful with just a splitter and a strong back.
One question that immediately comes to mind is whether one can use a typical logsplitter two-stage pump to run the cut-off saw and log advance motor or not. Perhaps there is another design method... (of course I realize a basic single stage pump would work).
Is this scale machine consistent with anyone else's needs. Any suggestions on how to work out the hydraulics? Not looking to have it done for me as I'm willing to study up but a team effort or some coaching would be appreciated.
Ed
check out this web sight for splitting the fire wood you can get all the logs you want delivered by your local tree service for free if you take the big stuff nobody els wants and that is where all the wood is. i have used this thing and it is amazing!!! hands free log splitter
jimgerken
Veteran Member
I too have watched all the Utube videos on processors and am impressed with the complexity. I especially like the ones that use a blade for cutoff. I feel the blade would run longer hours without attention than a chainsaw type. One thing that concerns me though. The wood that grows around here ain't all straight like telephone poles. And a lot of it is way bigger than these machines would accept. I get the feeling a guy would be doing extra work lining up perfect poles to feed the thing, and still having to deal with the odd and large stuff with the same old seperate equipment.
dynasim
Platinum Member
Is 3500 rpm the appropriate speed. I have a feeling(but don't know) that my chainsaw goes a bit faster than that.
Chris
Chris
Treemonkey1000
Veteran Member
Most of my gas chainsaws are rated at 10-13 thousand rpm. I don't run them that fast often.
