I picked up a hydraulic power pack a few years ago that was being scrapped, but it runs. It would seem like a firewood processor would be a good use for the unit. I'm not a hydraulic guy, but can fab and weld well enough. I have an old square baler i was thinking of using as a frame, although I'm not married to the idea. I'd like to have the splitter work with the processor, but also be able to add a side lift for big wood. Any thoughts? Thanks.
I have an old welding table that I've thought of doing the same. Just need to take the time to formulate a plan.
I have a palletizing sissor lift (i think that's what you call it) it has several cylinders and a 1/4" thick 6'x6' steel deck. There's. Other steel framing that would be useful as well. It came from the box plant where my brother worked that closed and they were going to pitch it. I just showed up with a trailer. I'm sure there will be pressure gages, valves, hoses and other stuff needed, but would think I could build something decent for 2k'ish, even less if i scrounge some valves.
I can weld and fabricate, and know a lot about hydraulics, and while I do not need a processor, have thought about them many times. The design I thought was best was the angled variety that uses the woodsplitter ram to also advance the log and then cut it via a hydraulic chainsaw, then as it is advancing the log, also splits the proceeding piece. In my way of thinking, it is a simple design that is really good in a DIY situation because it loads, splits and cuts in a small simple package. As a person that has built a lot of implements, I have found the simpler they are, the more apt they are to work. In short; keep it simple. Do not quote me on this, but I think a Canadian from New Brunswick named Duncan had a commercial version that I always felt could be home-built easy enough. In his case, he found a commercial unit that was used and rebuilt it which was probably best, but always felt it could be easily home-made. (Note: I have NOTHING against firewood processors, it is just that with a pot bellied stove, I want to go 100% mechanical firewood via firewood chunks, so for my needs, I want to make a firewood chunker that is all).
