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Firewood Processor Built From Scratch
"Over the years we've built a complete low cost firewood cutting and splitting system that has saved us a lot of time, money and labor," says James Goetsch, Merrill, Wis.
Some components of the system Goetsch uses were built by his father as long as 50 years ago. Other components are much newer.
One of th
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Firewood Processor Built From Scratch WOODLOT EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous 32-5-30 "Over the years we've built a complete low cost firewood cutting and splitting system that has saved us a lot of time, money and labor," says James Goetsch, Merrill, Wis.
Some components of the system Goetsch uses were built by his father as long as 50 years ago. Other components are much newer.
One of the newest is a conveyor that's used to deliver firewood into a trailer. The V-shaped conveyor measures 10 ft. long and 5 in. wide at the bottom and has 14-ga. metal slats spaced 2 ft. apart. It makes use of ordinary link chain. Power is supplied by a 1/16 hp washing machine motor mounted on top of the conveyor. The motor belt-drives a shaft that chain-drives the conveyor. A bicycle sprocket and chain are used to gear the motor down and reduce chain speed. A 1 1/2-in. pulley serves as a slip clutch.
The conveyor is supported by an A-frame made from wooden 2 by 4's, with a pair of conduit rods providing reinforcement.
A small circular saw, belt-driven by a 5 hp Briggs & Stratton engine, is used to cut logs to firewood length. Both the saw and engine mount on a 2-wheeled wooden stand that Goetsch sets up at the base of the conveyor.
"My dad made the stand 50 years ago, but he used a 1 1/2 hp electric motor instead of a gas engine to drive the saw. If I want I can pull the unit behind my 4-wheeler."
His dad also built an I-beam mounted wood splitter that's designed to split large chunks of wood up to 2 ft. in diameter. The wedge is built from mild steel that's hard surfaced to a point and is powered by a 7 1/2 hp Briggs and Stratton engine. A homemade 12-volt electric winch is used to lift large chunks of wood up onto the I-beam.
"My dad built this splitter more than 50 years ago before any commercial splitters were on the market," says Goetsch. "Split wood drops directly into the conveyor."
The winch mounts on a vertical shaft that has a horizontal arm at the top. The shaft is free to pivot at the bottom. The cable rides up over a spool and pulley mounted on the arm and is equipped with homemade tongs. A handheld remote control is used to operate the motor.
"The winch has a capacity of 1,000 lbs. so it'll lift even the biggest chunks of wood," says Goetsch.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, James Goetsch, 8011 Meadow Dr., Merrill, Wis. 54452 (ph 715 675-4203).
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