Logan

Wilsons are just seriously busy, I reckon if you give them a firm order they'll do what's needed, like plastic guards replaced with metal, fully enclosed underside, they'll do what's specified and paid for I would say. A lot of the machines they sell don't need massive guarding. I've found them helpful generally, especially when I've kept the chat short and shown them the money!

just looked that up jon, sounds good spec, do you know good place to buy where prices are not same as buying a chainsaw? Cheers, John.

billets or rings? Making billets in beech, thick blade can shatter log instead of splitting. Maybe bolt on side pieces, if they can't be raised clear. 1" better for seasoned fragile wood, as you said.

Yes, time sadly restricts these projects. Well, for large volumes, if you swing a log off the heap and it's "larger" diameter stuff e.g. >14" or larger, then the crane is handling a good fast load, and for cutting say a 4.4m log into 4 x 1.1m bits, for one tape measure hook up and 3 thigh level cuts ( where you can rest on the saw for a while as it's doing it's job...) you get 200kg cut to length in fairly enjoyable fashion. If its all 4" or 6" or 8" run of mill firewood, it's a lot of creeping around measuring and cutting, you have to make maybe 24 cuts (per 200kg) all down nearer the ground, not always as enjoyable if you're working through 100 tonnes. So one answer is like a large sawhorse, drop the log(s) in, the larger ends all up the saw end where a hydraulic gate then swings up hopefully pushing the ends together then the saw drops down and cuts the ends off to whatever length it's set to. Crane off cut bits, move logs along to butt board, cut and go again. Beauty. So the 4' circle saw would handle several 8" diameter logs in the cradle. Maybe. Cheers, John

Over in Japan (which is truly excavator world) I was surprised how much they go for riddle buckets, instead of screens. So much so that at least some of the excavators there have some allowance made design wise for this, though I can't remember what this is. Anyway, they have buckets of the slatted type mostly, and you can see them all week long shaking there way through the heap. From what I saw, they shook a pile of fines, tipped the rubble off on another pile while hooking out bits of steel. Then they loaded the fines onto trucks by gently using same bucket, getting it to bridge in the slats, or if really fine using just the leading edge. Very patient job. oh and it really knocks the pins out, all the riddle buckets were on worn pins. Better shake once they've got sloppy, hey.

Don't think there are any! They all leak, or hold in the sweat.

cheers graham. The Yankee ones are built large tho, as you say for big old saw logs. Chainsawing the bigger logs is ok productive, it's the run of the mill average firewood size cord that takes most time. I'm bit surprised that Peasgood wants to cut larger logs with circle saw, you reckon it's quicker (less chain sharpening!?)

Either way the log needs holding. With fixed blade you get to use both hands to hold the log, bracing the whole cradle and log against the top of your thigh etc. Once cradle pulled clear of blade the last piece gets dumped off the cradle. With one hand pulling a moving blade, it will be a challenge to hold a log still with the other hand, going by my experience with chop saws. Good luck tho. Can you build a hydraulic chop saw about 4 foot minimum diameter blade with adjustable length cradle and hydraulic butt board, as I want to get such a thing for cutting logs 1.1m long and feed by log loader?!

Safety when it comes to tossing the last piece of log past the blade, if you're hand feeding? If you're pulling blade by hand this last toss of log might mean you cross arms?

Yes, the silent generator would be a good way to go, it'd be mostly there hey, and quiet running. When I see these at auction it usually seems the engine is struggling. I'll have to try and get to the auctions more.

Ha, half way through there Steve I thought "he got them!" but they were stolen from you (us!) at the final bid! My dear old dad, sadly gone, went and bought one day a new Kubota 4 cylinder eng, a great looking pump, then found the correct SAE (?) mount, made a frame and built himself a water cooled 40kw pack. I helped build it, it was easy enough to help with all the design done. Sadly still, this all got sold off later. Now, I wish my memory was better, I might remember how it all went! Sure if I had a few weeks off logs, put some research in, I could probably spend a lot of time and money on this! Ha.

Hi Callum, that's the kinda thing, bet someone has similar thing over here already, eg fuelwood or jas w. Know you of such packs Steve? Don't know why they want trucks of product in that length Difflock, but the company that run that slasher have a smooth looking op of feller buncher, grapple skidder, stroke delimber that runs them through pole length. Then that The saw to put product sideways across truck. Makes for a neat load?

Cheers Broonie that is the one, though a chainsaw head is becoming more common. Those circular saw slashers sure to cut in a hurry tho!

From what I've seen, the ones they use in north America are built large and have large oil flow requirements to match them to a 20-30t excavator. I'd like to take trip over there and have proper look.

! Yes, that's what I'm thinking. Trouble is, haven't seen one this side of Atlantic. Would make a fun welding project, just need a bar saw off something hydraulic.

Fan was noisy on ours and blew fuses. Ordered replacement from our local valtra dealer, kept on shelf until had time to take roof off (about a year later) of course was wrong shape fan and wires different so back on phone, yes there 2 types, a few days lter got exactly right one and the job was then mucho easy and I had a fine day.

The posch looks good. Trying a rotomat (kretzer) for now. Our Balfor with conveyor is good saw but feel like a crazy rabbit shagging a wall after a long day of it. Or something like it.

Ah it could be that I'm using a phone in the woods, so it's the m. YouTube, should delete the m if you're not camped in the damp woods. Yes, am using 8t case excavator and grab for loading splitter, would be nice to stay in the cab and drop logs in saw and regrab the 1.1m bits and drop them neatly on the splitter. Chainsaw for now though.

Hi Difflock, that link works ok when I click it, shows a red "slasher" cutting pole length stuff down into shortwood. Would be ideal for feeding 1.1m logs onto the horizontal splitter, remove some of the chainsawing. Might need it to do 1000 tonnes a year!

Yes Steve I'd say you are right on those points if firewood is a stand alone venture ie main source of income. Depends how many distractions you get mixed up with, doesn't it!?

This here's the sort of thing I'm thinking of, for cutting the cordwood down to 1.1m ready for splitting. Anyone have anything like this or know how to make one, let me know. The hyd gate is key here. http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=Ao7gWDuI6JA Cheers, John.

Or put an 18" bar on it, not crazy at all. You'll like it.

yes and make it a 9 tooth rim, boy it'll hum along then! Good for snedding! Chains might need another link though...

Hi there renew'john, sounds good, nice and simple. What sort of money would those IBC crates cost then, if wanting to buy 700 to 1000 say? Cheers, John.

Ah 20tonnes is a lot more fun. Yes, raising a family and making living in forestry contracting and selling firewood. Quite obviously, when I think about it, I must be a bit mad, a loony. I'll keep at it for as long as I can. Definitely want to fettle the process to make it less hard work on the ole body though. Cheers, John.