Homemade Firewood Processor - Got One?

[northumbriaforestry]

Hello,

We have really, really, got to get some sort of machine to get through our firewood. Have started looking around Google for others who have made their own & thought I'd see who here maybe able to offer some insight.

 

It needs to be trailer based, simple, petrol, able to take 3 meters lengths up to about 40cm & have a log elevator at the end.

 

All ideas & inventions welcome!

[nepia]

Will the elevator need to be attached? I'm thinking that an old bale elevator from a farm sale could be a cheap start for that part of it. Possibly self-powered too so it would be a separate entity but a cheaper alternative to an all in one machine.

[Busy Daddy]

They do come up on ebay sometimes

Have you tried caledonian forestry , why a trailer ? do you not have a tractor ? as there are lots of options with pto power

[northumbriaforestry]

Hi, thanks for the reply. I'm well aware of where I can buy a new or second hand one, but that's what I'm wanting to do. I would like to save the vast amounts of capital lost in buying one that will mostly suit my needs, & build one that will completely suit my needs. Yes I have tractors here, but would have a small petrol engine chugging away all day than a big tractor engine. Also if I want to send it out on a hire job I don't have to send a tractor with it.

Thanks though.

[Busy Daddy]

If you want to hire out you will need to have all the health and safty for it

If it is home made the buck stops with you

I bought a palax 8 years ago it is still worth what i paid for it

I get £250 per day for hire , it wont take long to get your money back

[northumbriaforestry]

If you want to hire out you will need to have all the health and safty for it

If it is home made the buck stops with you

I bought a palax 8 years ago it is still worth what i paid for it

I get £250 per day for hire , it wont take long to get your money back

 

Thank you for your input.

So you haven't built your own then as per topic.

[tommer9]

Thank you for your input.

So you haven't built your own then as per topic.

 

Although I cannot speak for the poster to whom you replied, but as you have mentioned wanting to hire out your machine, surely his post is highly relevant and constructive to your question?

Are you after advice about the pros and cons of building a processor, or simple yes or no answers in the style of a poll as to the numbers who have got one?

YOur thread title wasnt 'have you built one', but 'have you got one'.

[northumbriaforestry]

O.K

I'll start again.

Has anyone built their own processor? For their own use, forget hiring it. If you have, I'd be really pleased to hear about how you did it & what choices you made, or even better, would be great to see some pictures. I can't watch videos as the dongle in the woods here isn't fast enough, grr!

Thanks very much in advance.

[Cookie]

I've not build a processor but have built many other ag machines etc & if there's one thing I've learnt, that's even with good resources as I have, it will almost without fail cost you double what you thought it would when you started if you want any chance if it working efficiently and lasting any length of time. You'd get a good second-hand machine for what you'll spend building something that works any sense!

Also probably find a tractor sat on tick over running on red diesel over 8hrs will cost a lot less to run than a 12/13+ hp petrol engine.

 

Just a thought but good luck.

[Pierre]

We were in a similar position last year. My advice would be make the investment on a used processor (we bought a Posch, which has processed over 150 tons without a hitch). It'll pay for its self this winter assuming you have enough cord to put through it... good luck from County Durham Logs