Using technological tools and machines for carrying out agricultural work is the best solution to deal with labor problems. Humans can make mistakes and also get tired but machines don’t. Furthermore, the overall cost gets highly reduced through the use of machines. Management of forests is far more complicated than that of fields and also requires more effort. Making the best wood logs and processing firewood becomes super easy through the use of a firewood processor.
If you want to get the best machines for agricultural work, you should visit this site. They have the mobile saw splitter, automatic splitter, log grapple, felling grapple, and remote control devices. So you can easily get the machine you want.
Table of Contents
What is a firewood processor?
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Firewood processor is the machine to cut and split firewood. Doing wood processing manually is a hectic thing and requires more effort. Furthermore, manually cutting firewood takes more time. On the other hand, through using machines you get more firewood in the given time. So, if you want to reduce the labor cost, using a firewood processor is the best choice for you.
Machine parts
The main parts of the firewood processor are four that are dedicated to different functions. It includes the log deck, saw station, splitting chamber and outfeed.
Step by step use of firewood processors
For safely using a firewood processor, you will have to follow the steps carefully.
1. Log deck
The first step starts with the log deck. You will have to stack all the wood logs on the log deck. Moreover, it won’t require manual effort instead you will use a small excavator or the skid steer with a grapple. Afterward, you have to mechanically pull the logs into the trough. The trough will then feed the log in the right position for the right cutting of firewood length pieces.
2. Saw station
The next step is the sewing of a wooden log. This is done through the chainsaw harvester bar. This chainsaw has a hydraulic operation. Furthermore, you can also use some larger machines. These include a slasher saw, which is quite a large circular saw blade or a hydraulic, guillotine or engine powered tractor.
These different machines are based upon the model and processor you are using. Afterward, when the log gets the desired cut, the rounded piece gets dropped down to meet the cutter. There are certain firewood processors that have guillotine splitters. These splitters cut the wood in its desired shape.
3. Splitting chamber
As the round wooden piece falls down, it faces the splitter. The wooden log is pushed towards the splitter and the log gets out in many pieces. The number of wooden pieces is based upon the type of cuter that you use. For example, there are splitters that cut the log into 2 pieces and there are some that provide 16 pieces. You can change the splitter based upon the use.
If you are using the firewood processor for commercial purposes, you can have different splitting cutters. Thus, you can provide the required size and number of pieces in time.
4. Outfeed
Now you have the firewood ready, which has to be taken away from the processor. Therefore, after the splitter, there is a conveyer belt that will take the split firewood away. Your firewood will now go to the storage space. You can either store it in a woodpile or directly in the box of the truck.
These are the four steps and four main parts involved in the preparation and processing of tree logs into wooden pieces. You have to remain careful while dealing with the cutters as they might hurt you. Therefore, it is important to wear cut-proof gloves for the safety of the machine operator.
Safety while dealing with Firewood Processor
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Risks are always present when you deal with cutters and splitters. Therefore, you have to study how to shut down the machine and the safety guards that you need. Furthermore, you also need to know the features of the machine. This will help you develop a detailed knowledge of the machine. So if in case, there is an emergency and you have to shut it down, you can take timely action.
Almost every processing machine has its own safety features despite that, you need to be careful. Most of the machines offer guards around the cutters and splitters. But sometimes you have to handle the logs manually. Thus, you will get in contact with the blades and cutters.
Therefore, the best safety measure that operators can take is to wear safety gloves. There are specific working gloves that are tear-proof. So you have to wear them to prevent any accident from happening.
Ensuring the safety of the worker
You should ensure the safety of the operator. Although large machines have their safety guard systems and the operator does not has to come in contact with the blades but exceptional situations occur sometimes. So the worker should ensure his safety first if any manual repositioning of the log is required.
Ergonomic design
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The best way to ensure the safety of your workers is to go for ergonomic designs. Heavy weight lifting and manually dealing with wooden logs result in ergonomic issues. Moreover, to avoid manual labor is the main purpose of using a firewood processor. Therefore, you have to make sure that the machine that you are using is ergonomic in its working.
Furthermore, you can ask the operator to read the user control and safety measures beforehand. This will help them to know the risk aspects and what to do in case of any emergency.
There are certain features that you must consider while testing its ergonomics. These features include;
Joystick – the joysticks are provided in cutting machines that let the operator retain splitting and cutting. Therefore, these joysticks have a Smart design.
Semi-automated features – These features are especially useful in reducing any possible delay in the log cutting and splitting cycle.
User interface – The user interface should be simple and easy so that there are minimum human errors.
