SilentElk
ArboristSite Operative
Any have one of these? I am thinking about making one to bust up large wood so it dries better.
The last few years I have moved away from doing tree work. Although I still find myself selling firewood year after year. This last year I had 20 cords at best to sell. So 2 weeks ago I called all the local companies and gave permission to dump wood. No obviously rotton wood but hollow spots ok and to ask permission before they dump more than several loads of pure cottonwood. Now the wood is coming in, but I dont really feel like rolling 4' diameter to the splitter to break them up. A real pain the rear. Heck some will probably be bigger than 4' around. Cottonwood can be a pain to dry when it gets that big. I am sure many people wouldnt mess with cottonwood but I have been getting $160 a cord delievered no problem and considering with delievery I spend less than 4 hrs thats still not bad money. $220 on hardwoods so no question there is money there too. Heck, not to sidetrack this but my buddy got $350 for a cord of apple last November if you can believe that.
I have been thinking about making a splitter that goes on a skidsteer to bust these up. I have 8' of 10"x10" - 5/8" H-Beam laying around. Alot of 1/2 and 3/4" plate steel 12"-18" wide and several feet long. I also picked up some suplus military hydraulic cylinder's that measure 7.5" on the outside so at least 6" bore (close to 50 tons of force @ 3000 psi). I also have all the hydraulic hoses I would need. I know how to make good and pretty welds and have a milling machine at my disposal. Thinking about just making it controlled from the skidsteer to break them small enough to split easy on the regular splitter. Also have skidsteer's on hand. A Bobcat S300 and new S185. They arent always around but usually one of them is.
Now I have almost all the pieces at my disposal BUT is worth the effort? I would like to hear from someone who might have something like this.
The last few years I have moved away from doing tree work. Although I still find myself selling firewood year after year. This last year I had 20 cords at best to sell. So 2 weeks ago I called all the local companies and gave permission to dump wood. No obviously rotton wood but hollow spots ok and to ask permission before they dump more than several loads of pure cottonwood. Now the wood is coming in, but I dont really feel like rolling 4' diameter to the splitter to break them up. A real pain the rear. Heck some will probably be bigger than 4' around. Cottonwood can be a pain to dry when it gets that big. I am sure many people wouldnt mess with cottonwood but I have been getting $160 a cord delievered no problem and considering with delievery I spend less than 4 hrs thats still not bad money. $220 on hardwoods so no question there is money there too. Heck, not to sidetrack this but my buddy got $350 for a cord of apple last November if you can believe that.
I have been thinking about making a splitter that goes on a skidsteer to bust these up. I have 8' of 10"x10" - 5/8" H-Beam laying around. Alot of 1/2 and 3/4" plate steel 12"-18" wide and several feet long. I also picked up some suplus military hydraulic cylinder's that measure 7.5" on the outside so at least 6" bore (close to 50 tons of force @ 3000 psi). I also have all the hydraulic hoses I would need. I know how to make good and pretty welds and have a milling machine at my disposal. Thinking about just making it controlled from the skidsteer to break them small enough to split easy on the regular splitter. Also have skidsteer's on hand. A Bobcat S300 and new S185. They arent always around but usually one of them is.
Now I have almost all the pieces at my disposal BUT is worth the effort? I would like to hear from someone who might have something like this.
