My Firewood Operation

Dave Gobis · Dec 1, 2014

Thanks guys. Yes, that is a Wallstein 45. My wife thought I was nuts when I bought it but as she is my helper, soon changed her mind. By far, my favorite attachment for tree work is this jaw called a tree terminator. I use that jaw to hold smaller trees while I cut them and save on the clean up or just to move logs around. Great to hold them for slicing down to size. That with the tree skidder is makes for easy dead fall cleaning. We would have a hard time living in the woods and keeping up the property without the power attachments.

Dascro · Dec 1, 2014

That's a pretty cool loader attachment. I don't think I've ever seen anything like that for a small tractor.

coldfingers · Dec 2, 2014

yes, that is a cool loader attachment. Liked that box blade winch also. Neat!

hutchman · Dec 2, 2014

I'd like to see a video of that in action. What kind of angle do you put on the blade? That would certainly open up new possibilities for going after logs.

Green Acres Homestead · Dec 2, 2014

Anybody have a Wallenstine firewood processor. If so how do you like it and what kinda of production do you get an hour. Any trouble with wood jamming or not sliding into place etc. ?

BrianWillan · Dec 2, 2014

gaproperty said:
Anybody have a Wallenstine firewood processor. If so how do you like it and what kinda of production do you get an hour. Any trouble with wood jamming or not sliding into place etc. ?

Not to derail your question about the Wallenstine processor, however, I found another Canadian made firewood processor.

Home

Much less expensive than any of the other firewood processor makers and has more standard features.

I have no affiliation with them, however from all of the videos I've seen they look to be a well built machine.

Cheers

Brian

Daves3032E · Dec 3, 2014

gaproperty said:
Anybody have a Wallenstine firewood processor. If so how do you like it and what kinda of production do you get an hour. Any trouble with wood jamming or not sliding into place etc. ?

I just bought a WP830 with the saw holder and 6 way wedge less that a week ago. I have only run about 1 cord through it so far, so I can't make a solid claims on production.

1st thing that I noticed was that the saw holder would not work with my MS 441 R C-M. The wrap handle interferes with the bracket to mount the saw (replaces the bar nuts). So unless I but another saw or another handle, I won't be using it

I have only used the 6 way so far and it performs very well. I was running about 20"-22" red oak (with minor crotches) with no issues. Pieces that size need to be re split - not a big deal. About 50% of the time I need to straighten the round on the beam before splitting.

There is no chip separator on this, so it all went into my trailer, which was OK for the one time I used it as it wasn't going to a customer (small time wood sales on the side). I will have to make one to go on the end of the chute (which will also increase the height of discharge).

The winch is easy to operate and has good pull.

Be sure the machine is level or you will starve the pump and blow to top off the fill tube and make a bit of a mess (done that).

I will be running it again tonight. I expect to be able to process about 2/3-1 cord per hour with it (highly dependent on the logs it's fed).

Overall I really like the machine as it's a big step up from my Deere model 52 and MTD 20t H/V.

POC · Dec 4, 2014

How do those bolt on bucket forks work?

Dascro · Dec 4, 2014

Mine are clamp-ons and they work fine for what I need and how I use them. They're really a big help when moving logs around and cutting them into sections. I also use them with a pallet to make a "work station" when I'm splitting the wood. Much less lifting and easier work flow.

Dave Gobis · Dec 8, 2014

I have the quick mount forks and clamp on type. For light duty, like moving smaller logs I use the clamp on. If I get to what I think will be a bucket bender, then I go to the forks. Love that processor.

bigcut · Dec 9, 2014

Dascro said:
I was moving some wood around this morning in my firewood area and thought I'd post some pictures of my B7610. One of it's jobs is to skid in logs, stack them and then "hold" them when I section them for the splitter. Just one of its' many jobs around here. I modified my already very useful box blade to accept an 8,000 lb winch that is used to drag trees up to the paths and then I use it to skid them back to my firewood lot. I added a remote control unit to the winch and that makes it even more useful when working away from the tractor. down in the woods The little B7610 never ceases to amaze me.

Dave

View attachment 400528 View attachment 400529

Hey Dave,
Your process sounds great...although I have a little difficulty envisioning it in operation...call me "slow". If you can, a video of the operation would really help the slow people like me in understanding the ingenuity of your idea. Just a thought.
John
PS: I'm originally from SW PA,

jodebg · Dec 9, 2014

Very nice design. The box blade was a great resource for the work you are doing with a B-series.

Thinking of getting a pair of clamp on forks for the bucket. What are your thoughts on these with the B-series?
I have a B-7800. What weight capacity do you use and make? Thanks.

Dascro · Dec 12, 2014

Thanks for the kind words John. Unfortunately I don't have a video of it in use. Basically, I simply added an 8,000 lb electric truck winch to my box blade (via welding a standard receiver hitch to the blade, with reinforcing) to winch logs from locations in the woods not reachable by the tractor to where the tractor is. Then I just skid them home with the tractor. I've yet to run out of battery power, but I don't work it professionally either. It doesn't perform like a Farmi or similar logging winch, but like I said, since I'm not a professional logger it does everything I ask of it for thousands of dollars less. Hope that helps some. Sorry for no video.

jodebg, the clamp-on forks work just fine for me on my B7610. They may not work well for others depending on use and experience. I was judicious in selecting the ones I bought. I sized them to the capacity of the B7610 and place them at the strongest points of the bucket (i.e. aligned with the loader arms). I feel they are sized in accordance with the tractor, it's abilities and how I use it (which goes beyond simply lifting capacity and weight). As far as bending the bucket, forks and such, never had a problem with that. But I have a fair amount of tractor experience over my life (growing up on a farm and still small beef operation) so recognize I have a "feel" others may not have. Would I put these same clamp-on forks on one of the high horsepower tractors... No Way!! Would I put a several hundred pound log on these on my B7610 and tear off across a field bouncing and such... No Way!!

Sorry for the long reply. In short, I like the clamp-on forks for my intended use.

Hope this helps.

Dave

jodebg · Dec 12, 2014

Thanks for the information.
Do you know the brand name on your set, and can you
tell me the rated load capacity that you selected?
This would be helpful when I go to select the appropriate set for
my b 7800. Thanks again.

cartod · Dec 12, 2014

Wow, that rear set up is fantastic! The front would not work well for me as it greatly reduces my lifting capacity and puts the pivot point too far forward. Nice job!

Dascro · Dec 14, 2014

Jodebg,

Winch attachment pictures;

I have no idea why the photos are upside down. Sorry.

jodebg · Dec 14, 2014

Thanks for the photos Dave.

Photos must have been taken with your new drone!

Where is the chain mounted for dragging the logs?

Dave Gobis · Dec 15, 2014

That is a nice set-up, clean job on the receiver. I got out and sliced some logs this weekend while I had the luxury of someone to saw. made a big heap of wood. Now if I could just figure a way to get them in the splitter without a processor.