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I heat with wood and use a 28 ton gasoline splitter that can be utilized either horizontal or vertical. Keep the oil changed and grease before every use. You mentioned using popler, this is a poor firewood as the BTU per pound is low when compared to oak, hickory, maple or even cherry, I do admit it beats using snowballs:)
Oh, trust me... I know poplar is low energy, poor quality firewood... but it grows like a damn weed, and it's everywhere on my property. The only hardwood I have growing on site is birch. I'd burn hardwood, if I had it. Also means I have to clean the chimney twice a year as opposed to once... builds creosote like a bugger.
I heard that! I burn it sometimes just to keep from wasting it. It does produce a lot of creosote just like pine does. I normally clean my chimney every other year. If ones does not choke the stove down excessively and let it burn hotter it seems to be less material accumulation in the chimney walls, I've found.
I don't get any "stage 3" creosote", but I certainly get a lot of the light, shiny, bubbly stuff. Comes off with a few applications of the brush. I was trying to get more "time" out of a load last season, and that certainly contributed to the creosote buildup. This winter is going to be shorter, hotter burns... just harder to regulate the house temp that way is all.Spruce definitely contributes to the buildup. I don't burn any pine. But poplar seems to hold water like nothing else on the planet. I've got stuff that's been sitting for a year, and it's still "wet".
We have built a few over the years, The latest one we made is my favorite to date. It's built on a hay trailer so you don't have to bend down while operating. I also much prefer to have the wedge at the end of the beam instead of the way most manufactured ones have ,the wedge on the ram. This allows the splitter to just continuously push the split pieces off the end into a pile vs. having to throw every piece off. Also, we fit a double detente valve that will run the ram in both forward and reverse hands off, until the end of the stroke .You can chase the next piece without holding the valve. The ones with the stand up vertical option are good if you have no means to lift a heavy piece up . My friend has one that we always place up onto blocks so he doesn't have to work bent over. Also, a two stage pump is the best, faster when extra power isn't needed and crazy power when duty calls. One more note , I would make sure it carries at least 6 gallons of hydraulic oil for cooling purposes. I'll get a pic of my baby tomorrow. PS, They sure beat a go devil.
The neighbor buys a tri-axle of logs every year or so spends countless evening and weekends hours cutting splitting and then has friends over to again cut split and ranking. While I don't begrudge him all the fun he is having I simply call and have the fuel oil truck make a delivery and adjust the thermostat as needed. I had a wood boiler when I 1st moved into my home and hated ever second of it. 3 times a day going to the basement carry in wood to stoke the fire was blah. Nothing better than every morning getting up and spending 20 minutes getting the fire going again. Years ago (when fuel oil was $1.30 a gallon) I vowed for me to burn wood again as a heat source fuel oil would have to be $8 per gallon. Today I'd up that to $15 per gallon.
Have you looked at Earth Tools for splitter options on the BCS? I bought a lot from them. My splitter however is a Case J32 and runs off the Ingersoll 4018. I try to keep down the number of engines in use on the property.
My primary heat source is geothermal, I set it to about 19 degrees, and then burn wood to keep the power bill down. The geo only comes on early mornings that way. Keep in mind, I live where it can spend weeks at -40 or colder in the winter. We're looking at solar to offset our water heating and geothermal costs, but wood heat is awfully nice in the winter, and gives peace of mind, too, over other "delivery" methods (oil, propane, etc)... considering that the roads around here can be impassable sometimes.That's my goal, too... I'd prefer to run everything off the BCS if possible... only one Honda engine to maintain, that way. BCS is definitely in the "spend high, cry once" category... high quality, efficient, durable, but pricey out of the gate The splitter for it runs about $2K+ (CDN), all in... with the power coupler.I'm probably going to rent this year, for a weekend, and kill the woodpile that way, then look at buying next year. Thanks for the conversation, guys. It's appreciated.
I just call the local dealer and have a couple cords already split delivered.