Logistics of firewood hauling and splitting?

Green Acres Homestead · Mar 10, 2014

Verticaltrx said:
Update: Still working out the best methods, with an outdoor wood boiler in our future I decided to ramp things up a bit. We brought one of the big tractors down from the other farm and hooked up my little log arch seen here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/164138-building-small-3pt-hitch-logging.html I designed it with my B3200 in mind, but I guess it's plenty heavy duty holding up to the 2550 and some big logs: <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=295678"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=295680"/> Anyone want to guess what that weighed? It was 30" on the big end and 24" on the small end, 30' long, fresh Red Oak. Got it all cut up and split into loadable pieces, including the crown that tree will be three heaping truck loads. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=295681"/> I'm guessing I'll need between 8-10 cords of wood for next winter which is what I'm working on now. To increase production further I'm thinking about making an inverted splitter to go on my B3200 loader to bust up the big pieces. Then I'll try to find an old hay elevator to convert into a log elevator which will dump directly into the C60 dump truck. Process will eventually be as follows: -Skid logs in as long of lengths as reasonable to a landing -Limb and buck logs there -Split big pieces with inverted splitter, smaller stuff on standard horizontal splitter -Toss split pieces onto elevator which will dump them into truck (14' bed with 4' high sides) -Haul to house, dump split wood in front of shed that houses OWB -Hand stack into shed where it can be thrown into boiler Still have a few parts of the puzzle to work out (build), but I think it will be a good system.

no guess. Ok weights 6000 lbs a cord. See the pic below.
So you have .93 of a cord which should weigh 5500

Jim L · Apr 7, 2014

NHmitch said:
Thats a very nice tractor! Are the wheel weights original to the tractor?

Sorry for taking so long to respond. Forgot all about this post lol. Thanks for the complement.The weights were an option for '55 to '64 ford tractors AFAIK

Green Acres Homestead · Apr 16, 2014

Gordon Gould said:
I understand what you are saying about chokers. But I think you will find that the longer you use them the less often they will unhook themselves. You just learn instinctively somehow how to set them. I remember when I first started using them - haul the winch cable and choker 100' - hook up to a log - come back to tractor and start winching - log doesn't move, just the tinkling sound of an empty choker - @#$%& !! - hardly ever happens any more. Locust sounds like an interesting wood. I have never seen one. I hear you on the winch vs other stuff. They are hard to justify. But remember, they will last a lifetime. If you spread that money over 20 years times the cords you use a year the price per cord might look better to you. Have fun and work safe. gg

ifyes you get use to them. Two things so you do not loose the load with chains is if you are using a chain with a hook, rap the chain around the log so the open side of the hook faces away from the tractor.;the open side of the hook should be looking down the log. The number two thing is use gravity to keep the chain tight so it does not slip loose. Instead it slips tighter

Gordon Gould · Apr 19, 2014

My woodshed has two sdes. Each holds a years worth of wood plus a little. I load the shed as I cut and split the wood without trying to think about which rows to put the big stuff or little stuff in. As I use the wood if I come to a section that has to much small wood for the current weather I just set the small stuff aside. So in the spring I have mostly small wood left which is just right for the quick little fires that we need at nite or in the morning. I took this pic this morning, we used more wood than normal this year. Each side hold 3.5 cord which is plenty for our little house.

Before I start refilling the used side I will empty what is left and put it in front on next winter's side where I always leave a little room. It will be good to start the season with next fall when small fires are good. That way I don't end up with real old wood in the back of the shed.

Cromberg · Apr 20, 2014

Gordon,
I absolutely love your wood shed! What a great idea to have two sides! That way you can put green wood into the empty side and by the time you use up the opposite side, the wood is seasoned (at least it would be out here in the Calif. desert mountains). Your rotation plan makes good sense, too. Beautiful shed construction! Nice job!