Best 7.5t digger mounted log splitter

[Doing it for the kids]

Tried this in machinery, 94 views but no responses.

As the tittle says, I'm looking to split down (increase surface area) of about 300 tons of logs per annum.

The logs are coming in in all shapes and sizes, rings and big logs / trunks. Most of it was small enough for two lads to hump but some is a bit bigger having been extracted by small grab.

I want to process this into thinnger bits quickly with minimal labour, the second we have to get off a machine it doesn't work really. The only time that may happen is if anything needs cutting down if longer than say 2.5 m

I've identified a log splitting cone and a log cruncher, basically a grab which cuts and splits open logs.

Running a 7.5t digger so that could sit in the shed for a few hrs a week to split stuff down as it arrived.

Has anyone any advice on what to look out for please? I like the grab/pincher idea as it can move as well as split, the cone can move but it's not as handy.

TYIA

 

[Half Pipe]

We have a screw cone splitter on our ex 60,
You can shift bit by screwing in enough to grip it.
Have seen a screw splitter with grab fitted to it.
Will see if can find a link.
No experience of cracker type splitters

 

[Half Pipe]

This is the one with grab built in

http://www.homeforestry.co.uk/rabaud-cone-splitters

We have a separate mechanical grab,
That we used to use to load a horizontal hydraulic splitter,
The excavator screw splitter is alot easier,
Need double acting hammer lines as it does get stuck if to greedy in certain types of wood, reverses out easy enough tho

 

[Doing it for the kids]

This is the one with grab built in

http://www.homeforestry.co.uk/rabaud-cone-splitters

We have a separate mechanical grab,
That we used to use to load a horizontal hydraulic splitter,
The excavator screw splitter is alot easier,
Need double acting hammer lines as it does get stuck if to greedy in certain types of wood, reverses out easy enough tho

Perfect, any idea what price, second hand would be ideal!

 

[Half Pipe]

Can't help with price on that model,
I was on a budget and bought one of these
http://woodprocessor24.co.uk/product/hydraulic-log-splitter/
S500 model.
I bought mine direct from rebaki in poland

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Never seen your post ever! Sorry. @Doing it for the kids else I'd have given you this link;https://www.approvedhydraulics.co.uk/ They are Baltrotor agents so you can rotate the thing too! Great to deal with as I have done so in the past & they MAKE a cracker.https://www.approvedhydraulics.co.uk/collections/log-crackers So have a look-see 'Tis the red one in the picture. They'll be at this years APF https://www.apfexhibition.co.uk/
SS

 

[renewablejohn]

Never seen your post ever! Sorry. @Doing it for the kids else I'd have given you this link;https://www.approvedhydraulics.co.uk/ They are Baltrotor agents so you can rotate the thing too! Great to deal with as I have done so in the past & they MAKE a cracker.https://www.approvedhydraulics.co.uk/collections/log-crackers So have a look-see 'Tis the red one in the picture. They'll be at this years APF https://www.apfexhibition.co.uk/
SS

Was impressed with the cracker at the last APF and how they used it under the foot of the forwarding trailer in conjunction with the forwarding crane. Been saving my pennies so might get one at this years APF if they have some bargains.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Was impressed with the cracker at the last APF and how they used it under the foot of the forwarding trailer in conjunction with the forwarding crane. Been saving my pennies so might get one at this years APF if they have some bargains.

John have you any wise ideas to help me, you usually do!? Unlike most I don't need pretty logs to sell on, just open them up to get them dry.

 

[renewablejohn]

John have you any wise ideas to help me, you usually do!? Unlike most I don't need pretty logs to sell on, just open them up to get them dry.

Dont know what equipment you have already but my solution would just be a grab on on the 360 so that you could whack the lot through a whole tree chipper. Its what I use my Heizohack for leaving only the easy stuff for processing. It does mean that you will need a decent woodchip boiler such as a windhager but you will not regret it for the amount of time saved. I am slightly different as I can use the woodchip to heat thermal oil.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

If you're onto chip boilers these are good; http://ala-talkkari.fi/en/biomass-boiler-veto-60/

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Dont know what equipment you have already but my solution would just be a grab on on the 360 so that you could whack the lot through a whole tree chipper. Its what I use my Heizohack for leaving only the easy stuff for processing. It does mean that you will need a decent woodchip boiler such as a windhager but you will not regret it for the amount of time saved. I am slightly different as I can use the woodchip to heat thermal oil.

In a nutshell:

I have a batch DHS heating a village, it can burn all the straws and all the timbers from the RHI perspective. Been burning mostly straw up to now but due to staff changes I am looking at logs which come in all shapes and sizes costing under £10/ t on average delivered.

The size is not the issue but the moisture is and the big stuff won't dry easily. I think I need a spliter to open it up a bit. I have plenty of engines but not much man power, my plan was to break up the big bits using a 7.5 t digger then either force dry on Grainstore fan using ambient or possibly heated air and or leave in windy shed.

I need, and think I have sourced around 300 t per annum based on 2500 kWh / t. It's all local stuff.

I could chip the lot but still need to dry it regardless and will probably be able to load more kWh per batch on log form than shredded

I have options so am lucky, just exploring all avenues before committing. I don't think it will take that long with a sensible machine to split up what I need, just trying to limit man hrs in exchange for Hp!

 

[renewablejohn]

In a nutshell:

I have a batch DHS heating a village, it can burn all the straws and all the timbers from the RHI perspective. Been burning mostly straw up to now but due to staff changes I am looking at logs which come in all shapes and sizes costing under £10/ t on average delivered.

The size is not the issue but the moisture is and the big stuff won't dry easily. I think I need a spliter to open it up a bit. I have plenty of engines but not much man power, my plan was to break up the big bits using a 7.5 t digger then either force dry on Grainstore fan using ambient or possibly heated air and or leave in windy shed.

I need, and think I have sourced around 300 t per annum based on 2500 kWh / t. It's all local stuff.

I could chip the lot but still need to dry it regardless and will probably be able to load more kWh per batch on log form than shredded

I have options so am lucky, just exploring all avenues before committing. I don't think it will take that long with a sensible machine to split up what I need, just trying to limit man hrs in exchange for Hp!

The thing with chip is that you can recover sufficient waste heat from the boiler to dry the incoming chip. Its how biomass bakeries like Kornfeil work with there bioflame thermal oil boiler.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Maybe but not my boiler, it's a batch system.

I could chip the logs and then dry to burn but just sounds expensive when I can let it air dry given time

 

[renewablejohn]

Maybe but not my boiler, it's a batch system.

I could chip the logs and then dry to burn but just sounds expensive when I can let it air dry given time

I am sure you could convert your batch boiler to a woodchip auto-stoker. as for drying its your waste flue heat that drys the wet incoming chip. You will find 300 tonnes processing into logs is very time consuming even loading into your batch boiler will take longer than you think.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

I am sure you could convert your batch boiler to a woodchip auto-stoker. as for drying its your waste flue heat that drys the wet incoming chip. You will find 300 tonnes processing into logs is very time consuming even loading into your batch boiler will take longer than you think.

I suspect that would breach the RHI rules, even if it could be done.

Loading the boiler takes minutes, if we have dry timber I suspect we would get 2000 kWh per load easily so only be loading a few times a day.

I just need to experiment with log processing a bit more

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Results from research! Amazing the price fluctuation, there must be some top end and real basic ones out there!

Cost Website
£5,700 http://www.exac-one.co.uk/Products/Timber_Splitter/Black_Splitter/index.html
£3,950 http://www.jaspwilson.co.uk/en/lasco-m1-40k
£2,900 https://www.bucketwarehouse.com/bucket-warehouse---hydraulic-cone-splitter-213-p.asp
£2,340 http://woodprocessor24.co.uk/product/hydraulic-log-splitter/
£2,190 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LOG-SPLI...510169?hash=item25ed173199:g:odQAAOSwnbZYIYOc
waiting http://www.homeforestry.co.uk/rabaud-cone-splitters

have I missed any off!?

 

[Half Pipe]

I spent about an hour using our s500 splitter the other day, was a bit of tidy up, so all sorts, sizes of wood.
I was lifting bits by screwing in and lifting it onto our dump trailer, then split it on the trailer to save rehandling.
Even split a stump down, did take a few goes to find the weak spots in it.
Unfortunately I didn't take any pics

Built in grab could be handy for lifting piles of split wood as using screw can only lift one piece at a time.

But I would recommend prioritizing power of the screw over option of grab especially if it's all sorts of wood you will be working with.

The s500 has a steeper screw at top, I find ours can be short of power at that point in certain types of wood.
It would be easy to remove tho.
When I say it can be short of power, it can still spin a fair chunk of wood and if its off centre or has a limb sticking out it will send large chunks of wood in the 'swing' zone flying

 

[Doing it for the kids]

I spent about an hour using our s500 splitter the other day, was a bit of tidy up, so all sorts, sizes of wood.
I was lifting bits by screwing in and lifting it onto our dump trailer, then split it on the trailer to save rehandling.
Even split a stump down, did take a few goes to find the weak spots in it.
Unfortunately I didn't take any pics

Built in grab could be handy for lifting piles of split wood as using screw can only lift one piece at a time.

But I would recommend prioritizing power of the screw over option of grab especially if it's all sorts of wood you will be working with.

The s500 has a steeper screw at top, I find ours can be short of power at that point in certain types of wood.
It would be easy to remove tho.
When I say it can be short of power, it can still spin a fair chunk of wood and if its off centre or has a limb sticking out it will send large chunks of wood in the 'swing' zone flying

Thanks, do you know what flow rates you are pushing, had mine tested today 30-90 litres depending on revs which should be ok.

I am considering hiring one for a week, if I like it they sell it second hand and knock of the hire charge which is appealing. I won't do much work with it so don't think I should spend a fortune.

 

[Half Pipe]

Sorry I don't know the flow rate or pressure.
It's on a Hitachi ex 60-5 if that helps.
It doesn't look like it's rotating very fast.
But I had a fair pile split in an hour and i haven't used it alot. Still learning.
Some timber seemed to split better from the side others downwards like you would split with an axe
If you have a chance of hire to buy I would go down that route.
You will do alot in a week

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Sorry I don't know the flow rate or pressure.
It's on a Hitachi ex 60-5 if that helps.
It doesn't look like it's rotating very fast.
But I had a fair pile split in an hour and i haven't used it alot. Still learning.
Some timber seemed to split better from the side others downwards like you would split with an axe
If you have a chance of hire to buy I would go down that route.
You will do alot in a week

When new you were 96, I was 110 l/min! I'm now 91 flat out!

Apparantly the speed is not the big deal but the Torque which makes sense.

We just want put the hrs on it so I don't want to buy the best. Do you know how many tons you have split?