Firewood processor

[davel745]

Any one have a firewood processor?

I am thinking of getting one.
Wolverine Firewood Processor model A-14-22

Comments will be appreciated.

[haypoint]

Lots of different manufacturers and a wide range of speed. There is a nice one made in Evart, MI by an Amish machine shop. They also make a bandsaw mill and a machine that makes cedar rail fencing. There is a youtube clip of a firewood processor that attaches to the loader on a skid steer.

[Big Dave]

Here we go. Shaking my dream cage. I drool over the one that fits on the skid steer. Cabin Fever posted the vedio on here once. Maybe he can again. I salavate toooo much over these things. Hope you can get ya one.

[farmerstac]

Looks good, but I would have to cut alot of wood to justify the cost.

[Bandit]

My late friend in Maine bought a Prentek Processor ( Now Multitek ) after I saw one running at the Northeast Loggers Show in Niagara Falls back in " 85 " or " 86 " He has used it in his full time firewood business up until his death in Feb. 2012
He did replace the motor and pump last year with a New John Deer Diesel W/Higher HP and Bigger pump upgrade from Multitek for $ 20,000 last year .
It cost $ 78,000 when new with the financing , so I would say He got his money's worth out of it .
If I was going to get back into firewood again , but at 67 I don't see the wife and daughter going along with it , I would take a close look at Timberwolf .
And start out with a TW-5 or a TW-6 Log Splitter and a Firewood Conveyor .
TW-5 ( 25 Ton and a 10 Sec. cycle time )
Log Splitters | Firewood Processors | Conveyors | Timberwolf Wood Processing Equipment
Or the
TW-6 ( With 25 Ton. and a 8 Sec. Cycle time )
Log Splitters | Firewood Processors | Conveyors | Timberwolf Wood Processing Equipment
http://www.timberwolfcorp.com/pdf/TW_TW6_review.pdf
And one of these conveyors
Log Splitters | Firewood Processors | Conveyors | Timberwolf Wood Processing Equipment
Log Splitters | Firewood Processors | Conveyors | Timberwolf Wood Processing Equipment

Log Splitters | Firewood Processors | Conveyors | Timberwolf Wood Processing Equipment

Multitek North America LLC - Firewood Processors, Screening Systems, Conveyors and Wheel Crushers|www.multitekinc.com

A few sites to research
As there are different opinions as to Saw , Split , Or just smash it open .
Firewood Processors Chomper Rainier
TimberWest Magazine September/October - Tech Review - Wood Processing
Timberline Article Search Results

Multitek Inc
Bandit
Ps
Back in 1985 , I won a bid to cut and harvest 240 cords of firewood off the state of Mass for $ 3.00 a cord .
I ended up taking in a partner with a truck , farm tractor ,storage yard , and a Brute Log Splitter made in Vt.
After we cut it with his tractor , I moved to Maine and bought a JD 440 A Skidder and cut there for 4 yrs.
Brute is Now Built-Rite and and I would take a good look at there products if I need a splitter , having used them before , same person , new company name .
BUILT-RITE YOUR #1 SOURCE FOR FIREWOOD PROCESSORS, WOODSPLITTERS, CONVEYORS, AND RIM CRUSHERS
Bandit

[Copperhead]

Since no one else thought of it first . . . mine is 13 yrs old and runs on peanut butter and jelly. Just sayin'

[davel745]

I appreciate the comments. I too like Bandit am 67 and I can’t cut handle the cut off pieces so good anymore. At 10 grand it is about the same as setting up a furnace and ducts and stuff like that and then I will have to pay for the fuel to run the furnace. I already have a wood stove set up. I get my wood for free. Although I bought my wood this year for 400 but I may get two years worth out of it. I have a tractor now and the wood is free for the cutting.

[haypoint]

Years ago, the company that builds the Iron Mule, built a buzz rig with a log splitter built onto it. Both ran ff the same motor. Not quite a firewood processor, but two guys could cut and split a lot of fire wood without much effort. If you have lots of 8 foot "logs" that one person could lift, it wouldn't take much to build one. The circular saw blade is run off a belt and the log splitter is run off a hyd. pump hooked to the same engine. One guy loads the logs onto the saw table. The saw table pivits into the saw blade. When the piece is cut, the second guy grabs it and lays it into the splitter. There was a nice guard around the saw blade, like the guard on a electric Skil saw.

I have designed a wood procesor to cut and split hardwood slab wood rapidly. Just need to get it beyond the drafting table and on the welding table,

[Sawmill Jim]

Originally Posted by davel745

I appreciate the comments. I too like Bandit am 67 and I can’t cut handle the cut off pieces so good anymore. At 10 grand it is about the same as setting up a furnace and ducts and stuff like that and then I will have to pay for the fuel to run the furnace. I already have a wood stove set up. I get my wood for free. Although I bought my wood this year for 400 but I may get two years worth out of it. I have a tractor now and the wood is free for the cutting.

From my chair it still an't free wood ,tractors and saws can break at idle .I had a log deck to build a large processor with but am putting it in the scrap collection . Even at $400.00 a year divide that in to ten grand ,i'll stay in my chair and sit on my cash . Logs to use with a processor need to be straight and near the same size too.

I can take a flunkey and chain saw and run circles around one ,pay the flunkey and still have $9,500 . Looks like the $400.00 would still been easier

[haypoint]

Originally Posted by Sawmill Jim

From my chair it still an't free wood ,tractors and saws can break at idle .I had a log deck to build a large processor with but am putting it in the scrap collection . Even at $400.00 a year divide that in to ten grand ,i'll stay in my chair and sit on my cash . Logs to use with a processor need to be straight and near the same size too.

I can take a flunkey and chain saw and run circles around one ,pay the flunkey and still have $9,500 . Looks like the $400.00 would still been easier

I disagree.
A processor can handle large and small logs. It can handle most crooked ones, too. Getting a flunky to run a chainsaw hard for 8 hours a day, safely, isn't likely. I seriously doubt a flunky can cut and split 8 cords in 8 hours, as a small processor can do.
You are correct, there's no free firewood and machines break.

If I buy 8 foot lengths at $50 a pulp cord and cut and split into three face cords that sell at $50 each, I’m adding $100 an hour to my wallet.
If I can crank out 40 pulp cords of firewood each week, that’s $4000. Pay a Flunky $20 an hour and pour $200 in fuel and upkeep each week and I’ve got $12,000 in my billfold the first month.
Oh, I almost forgot, you’ll need to run an ad on Craigslist, but you can still do that while sitting on your wallet.

[Bandit]

Dave
You all ready have a tractor ?
That makes things a lot easier , just get a 3 point splitter . I have No personal knowledge of them , but it looks like they build them for the rental market .
Logsplitters by Iron and Oak - The Leader in Firewood Processing Products
Iron & Oak Commercial Log Splitters - PRODUCTS
They don't show there 3 point hitch model in there catalog , but Bailey's does ?
Bailey's - Iron & Oak Tractor Mount PTO Powered Woodsplitter

BUILT-RITE PTO 18 TRACTOR POWERED COMPACT PROCESSOR
Log Splitters | Firewood Processors | Conveyors | Timberwolf Wood Processing Equipment
Log Splitters | Firewood Processors | Conveyors | Timberwolf Wood Processing Equipment

[Bandit]

My buddy averaged 2 to 3 cords an hour cut , split , and loaded in the truck .
Some days less , some days more ( like a whole truck load of mostly straight 14/16 in. logs )

[haypoint]

Here is the info on the machine I mentioned in #8. Gafner makes the Iron Mule Log Skidder and at one time made this. Not quite a firewood processor, but a whole lot cheaper than a processor and easier than a chainsaw and a splitting maul.

Mobile log sawing and splitting machine

[Sawmill Jim]

Originally Posted by Bandit

My buddy averaged 2 to 3 cords an hour cut , split , and loaded in the truck .
Some days less , some days more ( like a whole truck load of mostly straight 14/16 in. logs )

Lot of difference in a $78,000 processor and a $10,000 processor too . That ten grand one hat a winch to pull the logs with . In this area you would be in a hurt . I got a pile of hickory logs left over about 24'' or larger on little end . Put them on that ten grand processor

[davel745]

I figure it will work out in the end to be the same as getting set up for heat from natural gas or oil. The cost is going to run about 10000.00 installed. The unit I am looking at has a built in winch and a chain saw for cutoff. I can sharpen a chain saw and I can cut the logs that will work best on the machine. I just bought a JD 5083E tractor and can skid the logs to the processor. Right now I have a yard full of 30 foot long logs and it is getting hard to bend over and mark and cut part way through the log and then turn it and finish cutting through it. And if I nick the gravel it has to be sharpened. Then the butt has to be picked up and but on the splitter and split and taken to the storage area and stacked. I work all summer doing this work I figure the splitter will extend my wood burning capability for 15 more years. And cut down on the actual work I need to do. And maybe speed up the job to a week or so to get it done.

[Sawmill Jim]

davel745 Sounds like you want a new toy If i can buy my wood for $400.00 bucks delivered that is what i'll do . When i was cutting wood or a bundle of slabs i cut them on the forks of my fork lift . I still got a forklift and a tractor with a front end loader . I found skidding logs on gravel will embed small rocks that a saw chain will find ever time .

At the sawmill i power washed a lot of logs due to dirt i had very little gravel . My saw had 40 some odd carbide teeth in it and one little rock would chip a $4.00 tooth . The sharpener wheel cost $110.00 just the wheel .

Anyway just have fun . I didn't retire i just quit

[Bandit]

Dave
On my landing , I just rolled the logs onto some 8 in. to 10 in. pieces of cord wood and using a good pro chipper chain , I made my first cut from the side into the bottom , then just came down from the top and let the piece drop .
My buddies in Maine that I was cutting for thought I was Nuts , but it worked for Me .
Bob

[Bandit]

Dave
Do You want to sell firewood ? or just make it easier for You to cut and split it for Your own use ?
Bandit

[Bandit]

Haypoint
I almost bought an Iron Mule for the Firewood I had to cut in Mass. the Water Conservation land that the wood was on loved the idea , but My buddies in Maine convinced Me that it would be almost useless in the maine woods , as it was too small .
Plus they found a JD 440A for Me with a rebuilt motor and a broken Transmission for $ 4,000.
a lot less then the Mule
Bandit

[Sawmill Jim]

I had a 440a once . Always wanted a Iron Mule i guess just to have it .Last skidder i had was a 225D Timberjack with a new 353 you know they are positive track on all wheels . Had a 160 Barko loader on a semi trailer it had the 453 on it . Those old motors will scream .

Except for splitting here you can find a dangle head Bell tree cutter on the cheep i bet you could cut a bunch with that thing . I had a buck saw but that would made a real processor but it to is gone now too.

I'm down to a forklift ,tractor with loader ,circle mill, a large resaw and that log deck .