The Firewood Wrapper Build Thread

[Circle B MN]

Thought I would share with my friends my adventure in firewood wrapper building. I looked at a a few other wrappers on the internet, got a general idea what needed to be done, drank a beer or two, and started welding....

First thing you are going to need is one of these or similar....

<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000624.jpg">

Should be a must have for any man's shop. You have no idea the kind of mayhem you can become involved in with the ability to fabricate "stuff"...

I started with the wrapping arm. I found a 1" shaft in an old blower to use as the main axle. The arm is roughly 42"? long, I can get exact measurements for those that care to duplicate. I chose 11 gauge rectangular tubing so as to prevent flex. May be over kill, but it was a cheap drop cut at the steel shop. After drilling a 1" hole in the center of the arm, I welded a steel collar with set screw to each side. You want to have the shaft inserted for this process to keep it all in line.

<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000623.jpg">

<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000621.jpg">



cont.....

 

[Circle B MN]

<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000625.jpg">

<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000626.jpg">

 

[Circle B MN]

Next on the build was the inside wood holder thing. 14 gauge square tubing, which by the way makes up the majority of the build. Made a frame with a 9x9" inside dimension then welded a 9x9" scrap of 3/8" plate in the back of it. Drilled 1/2" holes in the center of the plate to hold the flange bearing.

<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000628.jpg">

<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000629.jpg">

At this point I found a problem...and a solution...

The inside wood holder thing is supposed to "float" on the end of the shaft, which it does. But being that the flange bearing is self centering, the holder will sag. Took a couple of beers to figure out the fix. Get the bearing square, remove the grease zirt, and replace it with a set screw. The bearing works as it should and now it is in a fixed position rather than self centering. You will need to remove the set screw, and insert the zirt to grease it, but with the low RPM's of a hand crank unit I think the maintenance interval will tolerate this action.

 

[Circle B MN]

At this point you are on the down hill side. More 14 gauge tubing is used to make an upside own table of sorts. I did use 2x2 3/8" on each end of the table to give it some weight, and I had a couple of scrap sections handy.

<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000640.jpg">

One leg has the outer wood holder thing attached to it at a height equal to that of the inner holder. The opposite leg has a short section of tube with a little flat steel to hold two 1" pillow blocks. The other two legs are equal in height and hold 1/2" pillow blocks for the crank shaft.

<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000639.jpg">

 

[Circle B MN]

After that you put together all the drive parts. I found some 35 pitch chain and sprockets on the internet cheap. The one on the hand crank shaft is smaller than it should be and gives you a 4:1 ratio to the wrapper. It's getting swapped out for a different one with a better ratio, hopefully closer to 1:1

<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000643.jpg">

<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000644.jpg">

<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000642.jpg"

All it needs now is a nice handle for the hand crank and a threaded rod with spring to hold the wrap. The floating inside wood holder thing sits perfectly still during testing. I'm into the whole thing for under $200, a bit of beer, and some quality time alone in the shop.:msp_thumbup:

 

[lfnh]

Very nice Guns. Picked a good winter project.
Like to see some in action photos sometime.

Thanks for sharing. :msp_thumbup:

 

[Circle B MN]

Very nice Guns. Picked a good winter project.
Like to see some in action photos sometime.

Thanks for sharing. :msp_thumbup:

Thanks. I'll get a chance to work on it some more this weekend. I should have the new gear by then and make a proper handle for it as well as mount the wrap holder. Get a little paint on it and I believe it will do just fine.

 

[Iska3]

Looks like you did a good job on that. That should be a real time saver.

 

[Circle B MN]

Got a new bigger drive gear in the mail this week. Much easier and faster wrapping. Added a counter weight ( a must have ), crafted a handle for the drive, and got a bit of paint on it. Been doing some wrapping in the shop since it is a single digit morning. Seems to be working just fine. Sure glad I built instead of bought....

<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000654.jpg "><br>
<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000657.jpg"><br>
<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000658.jpg"><br>
<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000655.jpg"><br>
<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000656.jpg"><br>
<img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/vcblick1/WP_000665.jpg"><br>

 

[Iska3]

Nice Pics!! I knew you could do it.
What would you do different?

Rep sent

 

[Circle B MN]

Nice Pics!! I knew you could do it.
What would you do different?

Rep sent

Next one....purple paint with yellow trim.... or perhaps a cheese head edition in green and yellow...

 

[lfnh]

That wrapper sure looks like it does a good job.
Nice work ! Reps sent.

 

[jeeptj19992001]

take a movie of it in use.

 

[sbowman871]

Nice job Guns. Fellow weldor rep on the way,

 

[Circle B MN]

take a movie of it in use.

I'll have to try that in the morning. It may turn out that I am better at fabricating than I am of movie making.....

 

[woodman6666]

Looks good! How do you maintain tension on the roll of plastic to make tight bundles? A spring and nut for tension.

 

[Steve NW WI]

Looking good Guns! I expect to see them bundles in finer gas n gos in the north Cities soon.

One of these days, I gotta get up and see your setup. One of these days...

 

[Circle B MN]

Looks good! How do you maintain tension on the roll of plastic to make tight bundles? A spring and nut for tension.

I started out with a spring and nut but have found that on my setup max compression is what is needed to keep enough tension on the wrap. That could change as I near the end of the roll. As it is, I am very pleased with the end result.

 

[Circle B MN]

Looking good Guns! I expect to see them bundles in finer gas n gos in the north Cities soon.

One of these days, I gotta get up and see your setup. One of these days...

At the very least I should meet you for a sipper. I have been several time to the Log Cabin in Hudson, else there is this one bar in Siren that I have visited on the west side of lake. Don't know the name, but have found my way back to it on more than one occasion.....

 

[Patrick62]

A far cruder machine

I got started on this the other day, got a bunch done today.
It works!!! Clocked out at 25 RPM, just about right!!!
View attachment 223579
View attachment 223580View attachment 223581

I worked out a rather interesting method of tension on the roll. Used clips thru holes, and made the caps indexed to the pins, and added a spring with preload washers on the back side. Works like a charm.