Firewood Processor Recommendations

[CentaurG2]

Been doing about 1 cord per hour myself with no help. If I was processing soft wood I can see myself doing about 1.25-1.5 cords per hour. So far I have not had an issue with the logs dropping incorrectly into split chamber. And for the final portion of log on the deck it does a full 180° (into split chamber) and has not failed me yet.

The one issue I have with logs that aren't "cut" straight they try riding up the splitter shear or cylinder plunger. I'm thinking about welding spikes or something to give the plunger a good bit on the wood... any ideas? Maybe adding some narrow tack welds will be enough.

Why is the wood not getting cut square? Is it just the two ends that were cut with the handheld chainsaw?

 

[Case1030]

Why is the wood not getting cut square? Is it just the two ends that were cut with the handheld chainsaw?

Only happens with logs that are twisted. I know those aren't ideal but I have no problem feeding them through, other than when it comes to splitting.

 

[nathan4104]

Gotta love the crooked logs! I don’t know if 2 of 10 of my 8’ birch are ever straight. Then therefore don’t get cut square, luckily my machine does not have a hold down arm, so I can manhandle it to cut straight (and they are generally small enough to handle easily. My machine has a couple bolts on the pusher face that help to ‘grab’ some of the not square pieces , too much outta square obviously won’t work without having it just right....

 

[kz1000]

I like this wood processor!

 

[Case1030]

Gotta love the crooked logs! I don’t know if 2 of 10 of my 8’ birch are ever straight. Then therefore don’t get cut square, luckily my machine does not have a hold down arm, so I can manhandle it to cut straight (and they are generally small enough to handle easily. My machine has a couple bolts on the pusher face that help to ‘grab’ some of the not square pieces , too much outta square obviously won’t work without having it just right....

That's a good idea. Could weld a few small nuts onto the pusher face.

 

[Case1030]

View attachment 785798 I like this wood processor!

I question how much work gets done!

 

[cantoo]

I welded my initials on my Speeco and welded bumps on another splitter I had.

 

[Ptsiteworx]

I don't think those will do much good. The dyna has a textured push plate and crooked logs can still ride up. Won't hurt I guess.

 

[CentaurG2]

Only happens with logs that are twisted. I know those aren't ideal but I have no problem feeding them through, other than when it comes to splitting.

If you are having problems with the crooked wood you can try a couple of things. The easiest is to try cutting and dropping another piece onto the crooked piece. On the processor I ran, in small stuff, we used to cut a number of pieces to fill the splitting chamber before hitting the ram. You can also try welding something onto the face of the push block or if you can weld well, using a piece of tire and some epoxy. Not permanent but it should work. If it is still giving you trouble you might be able to weld a spike to the center of your star wedge. The old LaFont ss used to have a big spike right in the center of the wedge. It kept the from getting thrown out of the splitting chamber and pre-split the wood before it hit the flutes. I always liked the design. There is a picture of a Lafont splitter with wedge on a rival web sight. Google search should find it. Good luck.

 

[Case1030]

Nearly finished the wood elevator. Still on the lookout for a dual chain ear corn elevator but next to none around my area. Hopefully this unit lasts me until I come across one.

 

[nathan4104]

Nice project case.
A dual chain or a belt will end up working better than the one chain in a V. If you get to changing that one around, make the bottom flat and add some bars on the chain? Or if you can find, add a second row of chain. Make some sort of deflector/guard around the sprocket and keep an eye around it to keep it clean or every little chard of wood will jam it up and possibly derail the chain! I made a ‘trash rack’ for my splits to slide across before they go up the conveyor to get the dirt/chips small bits out.

 

[Case1030]

Nice project case.
A dual chain or a belt will end up working better than the one chain in a V. If you get to changing that one around, make the bottom flat and add some bars on the chain? Or if you can find, add a second row of chain. Make some sort of deflector/guard around the sprocket and keep an eye around it to keep it clean or every little chard of wood will jam it up and possibly derail the chain! I made a ‘trash rack’ for my splits to slide across before they go up the conveyor to get the dirt/chips small bits out.

Thanks for the advice about derailing. Might weldup some guard if possible. On the wood processor it also has a metal grate to help remove debris, but still doesn't get all of them.

 

[Case1030]

Tested it out yesterday. Few improvements will be done shortly.

 

[Iaff113]

Just call this guy



https://www.instagram.com/p/B7i88v_gLiM/?igshid=1q07weomx5gms


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Case1030]

Just call this guy



https://www.instagram.com/p/B7i88v_gLiM/?igshid=1q07weomx5gms


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lol I'd like to see him try elm or knoty oak.

 

[KiwiBro]

Lafont wedge spike:

 

[CentaurG2]

That’s the beast. LaFont made a very powerful and very fast splitter in the day. A three man crew could push about a cord an hour with it but without a lift, it was a lot of work.

 

[Jhenderson]

That’s the beast. LaFont made a very powerful and very fast splitter in the day. A three man crew could push about a cord an hour with it but without a lift, it was a lot of work.

I sell tree length to a guy who still runs one. It’s got a Wisconsin v twin for power.

 

[CentaurG2]

All of the larger models I have seen all came through with a Wisconsin v-twin. A lot have been re-powered with a Honda twin.

 

[KiwiBro]

This one is portable: