Doppelsäge = double saw. Anyone ever use one? Interesting concept for a firewood processor. Doppelsäge 3 - YouTube
Probably has something like this: Wallenstein WX930 25-Ton Horizontal Gas Log Splitter 48-Inch Stroke (logsplittersdirect.com) or this: Wallenstein WX330 25-Ton Horizontal 3 Point Tractor Log Splitter 48-Inch Opening (logsplittersdirect.com)
They sure do have a different approach to firewood production in Europe. Definitely some nice equipment but... different. That looks like the 2nd time that wood in the video has been handled after it was drug out of the woods. I've never been there but kinda under the impression that they have no big wood left or not the abundance of what we're used to here. It's possible that all the great videos (and cool equipment) are firewood dealers and not like most of us either with wooded land, scrounging or tree services gladly dropping off truck loads. A lot of videos include equipment taking small 3-4" rounds and "chunking" them into what I'd call scraps. I'd like to learn how those are utilized and firewood availability for the average household "over there" if there's a member who knows or lives on that side of the globe.
I know nothing about it, but I'll take a guess. If you're a serious processor: 1.) Skid logs out of the woods, then cut to 48" in the yard. 2.) Split at 48" in the yard, then stack with some type of fork lift. At that size you would have pretty stable stacks that you could make a lot bigger than you could with 16" splits. Maybe on railroad ties or something to get them off the ground. 3.) Season the 48" splits. They'd actually season, since they're split, unlike in log form. Maybe an extra year to season? 4.) Once seasoned, do the finish cut, and conveyor up into your delivery truck. Offhand, the 2 benefits I see are taking a lot of the hand work out of processing firewood, since you can handle 48' splits with equipment, and actually getting the seasoning done when it's still in fork lift size splits.
Interesting idea to be sure. However, considering what it would cost to build one, would it be cost effective?
No idea what it would cost to make one (perhaps they sell them commercially across the pond?), however if I had my choice, I would prefer this over a standard typical firewood processor. I always have 4' logs in the wood lot due to the ease of that length when dragging scrounges out of the woods by hand, and that length is what fits in my ATV trailer and Otter sled. If I was going to invest in something along the lines of a processor (for personal use), I would have to weigh the cost of a new splitter that would take 48" lengths and the Doppelsäge versus using my current splitter and a standard processor. Like SloMoJoe said, I like the idea of stacks with 48" splits, so that would be great, however the downside (other than the obvious cost) is that the Doppelsäge would tie up the tractor (unless you can get a non-3-point hitch model). Never going to happen, but I can appreciate the concept.
I read an older post (2014) on another site from someone in Austria who said that many people cut firewood in 1-meter lengths and then split and stack those to dry. He stated that the double saws are growing in popularity for the simplicity of cutting those 1-meter splits into equal lengths of firewood. Apparently, there are several companies that are making these commercially.
After looking at the video for the double saw, it has me reconsidering a 3-point cordwood saw. Screwloose, in an older thread (How Far We've Come! | Page 2 | Firewood Hoarders Club) you mention how a cordwood saw is more efficient than a chainsaw. Over the course of an average year, I end up with a lot of 4-foot sections which, after a while, really become a PITA back breaker to buck into 16" rounds. In that same thread, amateur cutter mentions the speed in which three people operating the cordwood saw can process firewood. I was wondering how much more efficient a cordwood saw would be for a one-man operation (versus bucking all the 4-foot lengths by chainsaw)? I'm only about 135 miles from New Haven Power Equipment so I could drive over to get a new cordwood saw. Vermont Woodsman Buzz Saw (newhavenpower.com)
Far more common than you would think. Plenty more designs than that one. The vertical revolver design looks to be more efficient. Stacking 4' splits like cribbing is extremely stable and transportable. When seasoned the wood does NOT Have to be stacked after cutting so a lot of wood is just tossed into piles in a "wood room"
In Europe they use a lot of cone screw splitters. The simplest of them are just attached to the rear PTO. Not much of other apparatus behind them, no table etc. so the length of the log is used as a lever in contact with the ground to stop them from spinning and killing people. About four feet is just right. Saw quite a few videos of them in action years ago when I was interested in making a screw splitter. Goes pretty fast,easy and safe with small diameter logs. All their wood seems to split easy. I’m sure they’d hate hickory.
We used to tag team lengths as a family. 4 people. 2 handing the wood. 1 on the saw and 1 tossing the cuts onto the dump truck. It’s certainly faster than a chainsaw. Around 2010 it became a one man show,,,me Built a tray to catch the cuts. Back the tractor into the pile at an angle real close. Grab em, cut em and toss em. As long as your limber and energetic it’s almost as fast as four people. Must’ve cut 100 cords of sticks over the years, maybe more. Stopped doing it in 2017. Biggest complaint is drying the wood correctly. Fresh cut saplings don’t dry in four foot lengths. At least not black birch which was predominant. I’m talking one season. Cut and toss it in the basement. Lots of sizzle. While the cordwood saw is fast it’s still too much work for the return (sticks). I’ve grown to hate sticks. The women will keep everything down to 1/2”. Last pile in 2017. We usually had four times that every year. Did bring it out again in 2020 to clean the edges of the field. But this time it was cut and stack not cut and burn.
When I was a young man we spent many hours with a buzz saw and yes, you can cut a lot of wood fast with the right men. The last time I used it was the last year my sons were still home. I miss it.
If I went the route of a cordwood saw, I would still be splitting the rounds (down to about 3" or so). Everything would then be stacked outside for at least 1-1/2 years (except oak of course) before going in the woodshed so would still have time to dry. I don't process anywhere near the cordwood that you do; however, I always have stacks of 4' or longer logs and I was thinking of the cordwood saw to alleviate the repetitive process of bucking those down to rounds.
