My WoodEze firewood processor

I've built many "things" that I could have bought…….. at less than half price, even if I figured my time at minimum wage

It is fun though and "tweaking" your new splitter will be just as much fun

 

Some updates: I finished the PTO pump mount and made a mount for the Flow control valve. Just need to get some new hoses made/plumbed in.

 

Bringing her back to life

 

I agree with both of you, but as with all things in life it seems...IT DEPENDS!

I look at my log loader trailer and do not see $18,000 dollars there, BUT to think I could have started from nothing would have been almost impossible I think. There is a lot of moving parts and geometry to engineer out. But now that I have it, there is not a single part that I could not fix, replace or improve on. My warranty is up, which limited "modifying" it, so lots of welding rod and steel to buy now.

But it is amazing too what can be built. Things do look daunting until you just start. That is the key...just start! It does not have to be a furious flurry of activity start, but to start is the key. On projects, any project, something in motion tends to stay in motion and so the work progresses along. And no matter who you encounter; in person, online, your greatest mentor...for every person that says it can be done will be fifteen detractors that say it cannot. You can choose to listen to them, or not...the choice is yours.

I have found that in the middle there is ALWAYS a big hurdle, and that is looking at what needs to be done, looking at what has been accomplished, and then getting frustrated because of the amount of work invested. Yet pushing through that and realizing the mid-way blues is inevitable enables me to keep going. If you don't believe me, read the book of Nehemiah in the bible. Not only did he have a daunting project of rebuilding the walls, he had the mid-way blues, but through good leadership, kept going and gave a strong finish. Yep always leave some motivation for the end and finish strong.

I hope this is not just psychobabble because I want people to feel encouraged that they can build projects for themselves. To me the biggest issue is just keeping things simple. Complex machines can be home-built, it is just best to build them in a series of simple movements first.

How do you eat a roasted elephant: one bite at a time.

 

I knew the speedup was coming, and IT STILL scared the poop out of me!

 

Did Wallenstein buy the patents to the Woodeze because I just got their product catalog and theirs looks identical? I was surprised, but they had 4 different models or so. Same design though. Maybe they just copied it though, you know how those foreigners are (all the way from Canada).

 

The wally is different. It uses the winch to pull the log all the way through it.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

Plus the saw is manual, there are no rear wheels, and it's not nearly as heavy duty as the WoodEze

 

Oh that isn't any good. I really like how the Wood-Eze advances the log.

 

Another update. I made a heavy mounting plate for the winch with a fairlead on it. The PO had welded some re-bar to help guide the cable in...
Before:

After:


I ran it last night after work for the first time since I made the pump mount and added the fairlead. I ran six 12' to 20' logs through it in 45 minutes. No speed record for sure, but on the plus side I never had to lift anything heavier than the winch cable, I wasn't all sweaty or tired at all! I think I can gain speed with experience and a few more improvements:
1. I want to re-locate the winch button near the winch itself or convert it to a wireless remote. Right now the button is near the operator's location, but this requires that you walk around the machine, play cable out, hook up the log, walk around the machine, actuate the button to winch the log in, walk around the machine, unhook the cable, then walk around again to begin processing. Moving the switch would eliminate two trips per log.
2. I need to find a way to release the winch into free spool easier. Right now once the log is winched up the tension on the cable is so tight I need to use a hammer to knock the release lever into free mode. Maybe lubing the drive lug/hub will help? It would be much faster if it worked the same way my 3-point logging winch operated. Any suggestions here would be appreciated!
3. I need to add a cable hook and/or a spot to keep a Peavey near the winch end. I had a couple of logs I processed last night that I struggled to get the cable under/around.

Photo from last night:

 

The new mount looks a lot better. Would a set of log tongs speed things up? What about a choker chain with a rod on it to help get it under the log?

 

Tongs actually sound interesting and I have a set I could try! That might help with my winch release being so tough as well....

 

First it looks great.. you have a real talent for making stuff work and look good.. most people would have thought that just junkmetal... if they did know what it was

 

My wife, for example!

She was shocked when it was delivered....

 

I would like to be a fly on wall for that conversation! it looks pretty works well and when your done still enough energy to take her to to dinner.. she might have to admit you were right! ahhh that will never happen

 

You got that right Lyle. Apparently I haven't been right in 29 years!

 

What size pump are you using?

 

It's a Prince; 21GPM