Firewood Processors
The firewood and lumber industry that firewood processors are a part of is a wide and varied enterprise, forming a significant part of all forestry activity. Felling trees for fuel and construction uses has been practiced throughout all of recorded history and there have been significant technical developments over the years in terms of equipment.
Firewood Processors
Firewood processors are machines used to break down logs into pieces that can be practically and efficiently used for fuel and have greatly eased the traditional process of splitting logs with handsaws and axes. Firewood processors are generally used by large-scale businesses yet domestic versions are also available for personal firewood processing. A firewood processor can be bought new or used and can also be hired.
Forestry Equipment
Forestry is the science or practice of managing forests and woodlands, and forestry equipment refers to the tools involved in these activities. A wide range of forestry equipment and logging equipment exists to facilitate the process of felling trees and transporting logs. Logging winches are used to pull trees down to the ground by attaching a cable around the trunk and gradually reeling it in. Forestry mulchers clear small trees and shrubs from land, grinding them up into mulch for planting purposes. Forestry mulchers usually take the form of gas-powered machines and are also driven over tree stumps that remain after trees are felled. Logging trucks are used to transport logs from the felling location to their various destinations and vary in terms of size and model.
Sawmill Equipment
Sawmill equipment refers to the tools used in sawmills, facilities where logs are shaped into desired lumber forms. Construction businesses and individuals doing DIY projects usually require wood of very specific sizes, so sawmill equipment involves automated machines that produce standard blocks of lumber. Logs are placed on a conveyor line while a band saw rises and lowers, slicing the wood into set lengths. Block cutters are another type of sawmill equipment that involves a blade that lowers and cuts wood into uniform pieces of lumber. Sawmill equipment is usually powered electrically and requires little manual labour or effort.
Firewood
Firewood is a processed form of wood that is used as fuel, often for heating purposes. In producing firewood, logs are passed through firewood processors and sliced or split by manual methods. Then, the emerging firewood undergoes a seasoning process where much of the moisture contained in the wood is dried out.
There are many different types of firewood that are used for different purposes. Hardwoods, such as oak or birch, prove more difficult to light than softwoods yet, once ablaze, provide more intense heat and burn for longer. Softwoods, such as pine or spruce, light with greater ease and speed than hardwoods yet do not burn for as long a period and offer less warmth. Softwoods are often used as kindling whereas hardwoods are added to a fire that is already burning strong. Firewood is sold in ‘cords’ or fractions of cords and must be stored properly once purchased. Firewood is best stored in a stack that is susceptible to the sun and wind to facilitate the seasoning process.