Checking out the hardware behind supplying firewood
Checking out the hardware behind supplying firewood
Farms that need a sideline
and have woodland to exploit
and quiet winter months to
occupy, could do worse than
look at the potential of
supplying firewood. Peter Hill
reports from the APF 2000
forestry demonstration
IT CAN be done with a saw bench and an axe – but using one of the automated firewood processors on show at last weeks International Forest Machinery Demonstration gets the job done more easily and with significantly higher outputs.
The most sophisticated units have powered log conveyors, hydraulic chainsaws for cross-cutting and a splitter activated by logs falling into the splitting trough. Output is such that organising a supply of wood close to hand can be the main challenge. The timber also needs to be reasonably regular in shape and size.
The first task for budding fuel wood producers, however, is to evaluate local market potential for bulk firewood deliveries to homes, and bagged supplies of logs and kindling to farm shops, hardware stores and garages. Key concerns for the latter include quality, packaging and delivery consistency.
Bagged fuel commands the highest selling price but also involves more work in preparation and packaging. Warwick-based Fuelwood Harvesting addresses this with its new production line system.
The system comprises an automatic conveyor-fed cross-cutting saw (the Woodcutta) which feeds a splitter that turns 350mm (14in) rings into fuel logs or kindling sticks. With bagging-off attachments, the entire process can be completed without double-handling by two operators – one feeding and one bagging the finished product.
High sales volumes are needed to recoup the £12,000-plus investment, however.
An alternative would be to use a standard cut-and-split processor at £4000 to £6000 to produce logs for bulk or bagging. For the former, a hydraulic drive elevator (at £1200 to £1800) will stockpile or load a pick-up or trailer without rehandling.
This could be teamed up with Fuelwoods £4750 Kindla to produce bagged kindling from 250mm (10in) rings.
Stihls latest chainsaw, the MS310, is aimed at farmers and other occasional users. Powered by a 59cc engine developing 4.4hp, the saw has anti-vibration mounts and an inertia chain brake, and chain tensioning through the sprocket cover (rather than approaching alongside the guide bar) to minimise the risk of injury.
Weighing in at 5.9kg (13lb), the MS310 can be fitted with three guide bar lengths, from 370mm to 450mm (15in to 18in), and is priced from £399 with the shortest of those.
The CS-3500 chainsaw added to the Echo range from Countax, Great Haseley, Oxon, is described as a general purpose model but with professional-style features.
These include side-action chain tension adjustment, giving easy access for quick tweaks, and ignition/carburettor systems designed for reliable starting even if the saw is not positioned dead level.
Its 34cc engine develops 1.7hp and there is an inertia chain brake.
With prices from £295 to £300 with 300mm to 406mm (12in to 16in) bars, the CS-3500 is one of five models forming the Echo chain saw line-up from 34cc to 80cc and bars up to 610mm (24in). *
Kisa Super-Kombi from Ower, Hants-based A T Osborne has a sliding log tray to cross-cut timber up to 280mm (11in) diameter using a 700mm (27.5in) circular saw. Once the sawn-off log has fallen into the splitting trough, a tap of a lever sets the two-speed 6t splitter into motion. It costs £4962.
Spaltfix K-320 is a new-generation processor from Posch using a hydraulic chainsaw for cross-cutting – a quieter, lower maintenance and lower power alternative to a circular saw, says the maker. Taking logs up to 320mm (12.5in) diameter, the K-320 can have a belt in-feed conveyor. UK agent is JPS & Sons Machinery, Maidstone, Kent.
Firewood production does not come more automated than with Fuelwood Harvestings modular system, which comprises an intake conveyor and an automatic cross-cutter that feeds rings to the Splitta log-splitting device. This uses shuffling tines and a side-acting knife to progressively cut timber into fuel logs or kindling sticks. Timber has to be pretty even in size and uniform in shape for the system to work smoothly.
Simplicity is the main feature of the Bilke processor from Foundation Firewood, Buntingford, Herts. It uses a rotating disc to cross-cut and split logs up to 200mm (8in) in one go. Hydraulic drive intake conveyor and stockpiling elevator complete the system. High work rates are possible, although the resulting firewood is not as neat as from other processors.