Large chainsaw recomendations.

[name_mike]

A couple of weekends for in experienced operators to process 100 tons of large diameter firewood no chance .I have a hundred grand of machinery and wouldn't even try.use processor friendly softwood and maybe.why waste hardwood on biomass?.jake

 

I said a couple of weeks, not weekends.

 

I also said I intended to use softwood.

[biggarlogs]

ok

sorry

[name_mike]

this sounds like the sort of size saw you would need 70cc-80cc good power to weight ratio also the dolmar PS-7310 OR PS-7910 would work well on a 18'' up to a the optimum 24'' which is perfect for this saw :thumbup1:

 

if the 24' wont cut the mtr lengths for splitting then you will have no chance of lifting them up for splitting without a grab or army of helpers :thumbup:

 

We're planning to use the posch splitmaster 30 with the hydraulic lift. We also have a winch for dragging them about. We've also got a tractor with front end loader but that will be tied up for the PTO whilst splitting.

[name_mike]

ok

sorry

 

No worries, Just out of interest what machinery do you have, I bet its some monster kit for 100K.

[biggarlogs]

if using chainsaw the idea of skidding logs around yard with winch not a good idea as you will be forever sharpening chain,better to use loader to lift and stack logs in line and back splitter into logs and split.i have a splitmaster 30 with 8 way wedge and it loves softwood.you will then need stillages to stack timber in ,and move with loader once splitting complete.the less manual handling the better!

[woody paul]

Thank you all for you comments and advice. To answer a few questions in one,

 

I have a 180kw system which is registered under district heating as it feeds two houses, One very large victorian (single glazing, solid walls etc) and a converted stables in the garden. Both are in a conservation zone hence no double glazing etc so they are inefficient and require a lot of heat to keep them warm.

 

100 tons still a lot of timber. I do work for a company how heat a 5 bedroom house, shop, restaurant and big greenhouses and they burn about 100 ton of bio- chip

 

As for saw bigger the better if you want to keep up with splitter.

[biggarlogs]

No worries, Just out of interest what machinery do you have, I bet its some monster kit for 100K.

 

poshe 360 +log deck

splitmater 30

manitou 1235

john deere tractor wit crane and front linkage

oh and a bobcat skidsteer to load splitmaster

and i only cut about 500 tons a year300 for me and 200 for cutomers

[Logsnstuff]

Thank you all for you comments and advice. To answer a few questions in one,

 

I have a 180kw system which is registered under district heating as it feeds two houses, One very large victorian (single glazing, solid walls etc) and a converted stables in the garden. Both are in a conservation zone hence no double glazing etc so they are inefficient and require a lot of heat to keep them warm.

 

As for the 100tonne, that not all to go through my boilers, Some is for family member's stoves and wood burners. The deal is I buy the wood and equipment, they provide some free labour and we all get the wood we need. We're currently producing our own firewood already and we're just looking to scale things up and make it a bit more time and labour efficient. Also, as i'm sure your all aware 100 tonne 'wet' is more like 70 tonnes once seasoned. Thats how much will be burned.

 

THE WORK!! - I am aware its a big commitment and its going to be a lot of work. I have an office job through the week so believe it or not getting out in the woods and doing some 'proper work' is actually enjoyable.

 

 

The reason I'm thinking of planning for bigger timber is that with the amount of firewood processors about all looking for 12" logs they can be in short supply and therefore more expensive (I'm happy to be corrected on this). If I plan for larger logs from the off then I can take any timber thats going.

 

"why not buy from an established firewood trader?" Seasoned softwood sells for £150 tonne minimum (again, i'd love to be corrected). If I was to buy our 70 tonnes of seasoned in that would cost me £10500 as opposed to the £4000 to buy in and process ourselves. It may be a couple of weeks hard graft a year but for that sort of saving its worth it.

 

Back to the original question about chainsaws, lots of food for thought, thanks.

 

 

just the first year at 100 tons you will soon put a value on your labour, it's not just 4k for the timber and then there's the machinery cost new saws, ppe for the family splitter, tractor. presumably you have basic learning of the saw but what about the other machinery not that I'm a fan of hse but I have seen people do some stupid things.

 

I didn't mean buying seasoned timber from a merchant but getting one on hire to process it for you as several people on here seem to hire themselves out. their experience should get it done far quicker than your going to manage on a weekend, or at least getting the bulk of it done with a bit left to play with.

 

I might have missed size of timber your going to cut I see talk of 24" bars I would call that mid level and a big saw would be once your over the 30", we use 15" and 18" for 60% of what we cut 24" for about 35% and 36" and 48" only if there's no other options. it can be fun to wield a monster bar for a half dozen cuts then you want to go small again.

[name_mike]

just the first year at 100 tons you will soon put a value on your labour, it's not just 4k for the timber and then there's the machinery cost new saws, ppe for the family splitter, tractor. presumably you have basic learning of the saw but what about the other machinery not that I'm a fan of hse but I have seen people do some stupid things.

 

I didn't mean buying seasoned timber from a merchant but getting one on hire to process it for you as several people on here seem to hire themselves out. their experience should get it done far quicker than your going to manage on a weekend, or at least getting the bulk of it done with a bit left to play with.

 

I might have missed size of timber your going to cut I see talk of 24" bars I would call that mid level and a big saw would be once your over the 30", we use 15" and 18" for 60% of what we cut 24" for about 35% and 36" and 48" only if there's no other options. it can be fun to wield a monster bar for a half dozen cuts then you want to go small again.

 

I may still go down the road of hiring people / equipment in, may even work along side them too. Theres a couple of people local who I've spoken to About labour and equipment hire. Everything is still an option at the moment.

 

As for chainsaw size I was thinking a saw with the capacity to run a 36" bar but most of the time I'd probably be using a 24" or 30" bar.

[shavey]

We're planning to use the posch splitmaster 30 with the hydraulic lift. We also have a winch for dragging them about. We've also got a tractor with front end loader but that will be tied up for the PTO whilst splitting.

 

that sounds a good set up you have there it should run nice and quickly

the 70-cc to 80cc will be light enough for smaller stuff and big enough for the big butts good luck in finding the right one ther are some good suggestions