Firewood options? Processing....

[swinny]

I run an 84hp tractor and just use it for the loader, have sawhorse in bucket. to save picking up logs. If you are doing lots of firewood 40 cube a year I reckon processor is worth it as your fatigue will not kick in as much as with a handheld saw.

 

But for the outlay of machinery if you are a not doing high volume, its a toy like a combine stood most of the time.

 

I try and do 2-3 hours at a time sawing and did a 6hr stint over a week ago with a fiskars x27 having not built up gradually have suffered dead arms and sleepless nights:thumbdown:

 

It is the eternal question that keeps cropping up.

 

I do like the sound of the saw horse into the bucket idea! Maybe a good put on or trial

 

All suggestions greatly appreciated.

[swinny]

One thing also is that i want to make the logs uniform in length, so i can say to customer that the logs are 9-11" long

 

Can't be helped with the rings but the lengths can all be cut to the same size.

[Goaty]

Have a look at the end pages of this thread about sawhorses

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/firewood-forum/33895-oregon-easycut-sawhorse-review.html

 

 

To give you an idea for sawhorse design, I currently use the oregon in a bucket but plan a more effective design for using with the bucket.

 

When I get round to it.

[swinny]

Wonder if its worth trying to knock one up....

 

Bucket on my tractor is only 3' 6" long

 

Do you mean make a saw horse with a little ramp at the rear, the logs roll down it into bucket?

[Chris Gagen]

a pto converter is a short piece that fits on the 1000 pto shaft on the tractor, (21 spline female side) and allows you to fit a 540 rated implement pto (6 spline male side)

1000 RPM 540 RPM PTO Shaft Extension (4 5/16") | eBay

 

Although don't buy one from the states, they are available over here, just this was the first image i found...

 

It's not 100% ideal in as much as the implement may be running a touch fast for what it should do even with the tractor just idling, but the fuel saved is tremendous.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

We now do about 300 m3 a year and still feel not quite enough to go down processor route yet!

[Chris Gagen]

I do maybe 80 - 100 cube per year, I have found my japa 700 indispensable.

I don't think it's just the volume to be considered, also how long you can see yourself doing firewood for.

[Woodworks]

We now do about 300 m3 a year and still feel not quite enough to go down processor route yet!

 

Hats off to you, that sounds like a lot of work. Is that just you or have you got a small army with chainsaws and splitters? We have done maybe 80 m3 and are already wondering about a processor or possibly hiring someone in with one for a few days.

[gensetsteve]

We have a hakki pilki processor but at least half the cord we buy wont go through it. We have a 10 tonne vertical splitter. with one on the chainsaw and the other on the splitter we process 1 cu metre an hour inc lunch break. With the right cord the processor does 4 cu an hour average.

So to get 150 cu metres ready is a few saturdays. I would not spend 3k on a processor unless I was going to do 150 tonnes in the next few weeks. If I were you I would deliver and get a Polish lad.

[eggsarascal]

does it need the converter? what is a converter?

 

there's a hiliki pikkie on ebay for 1300 quid.... they seem to hold strong money 2nd hand... maybe too strong

 

This one ? Hakki Pilke Eagle Firewood Processor,log Sawbench, Log/cone Splitter | eBay.

 

I sold that to him a few months ago for just short of 1200 quid, he's a member of arbtalk.

 

Get one of them and keep ya splitter