Processing firewood by hand is exhausting, time-consuming work. Whether you're cutting with a chainsaw and splitting with a maul, or using a conventional hydraulic splitter, you're looking at 3-8 hours of hard labor to process a single loggers' cord of wood.
Firewood processing attachments change this equation completely. Mount one to your skid steer, tractor, front loader, or excavator, and one person can process a cord or more per hour — all from inside the cab. One person, one machine. That's all you need.
This guide explains the different types of attachments available, which equipment they work with, and exactly how they compare to traditional processing methods.
What Firewood Processing Attachments Do
Firewood processing attachments consolidate the complete process into one continuous operation. From the safety and comfort of the cab, an operator can control the entire operation:
- Grabbing and positioning full-length logs
- Cutting them to length with the chainsaw component
- Splitting the cut logs into firewood
- Discharging the finished firewood directly onto your pile
Instead of measuring, cutting, moving, splitting, and stacking separately, you control everything from the safety and comfort of the host machine's cab. The attachment does the heavy lifting and dangerous work. That means more output in less time with less effort on your part.
Equipment Compatibility
Halverson firewood processing attachments work with multiple types of equipment. The same attachment model can mount to skid steers, tractors, front loaders, and excavators. You're choosing based on production capacity and log size, not equipment type.
Universal Requirements
Regardless of your equipment type, you need:
- Adequate hydraulic flow: 10-20 GPM hydraulic flow (varies by model)
- Sufficient hydraulic pressure: Minimum hydraulic pressure 2,800-2,850PSI (varies by model)
- Auxiliary hydraulic connections for powering the hydraulic chainsaw and splitting cylinder
- Compatible mounting system (universal quick-attach for skid steers, 3-point hitch for tractors, etc.)
- Appropriate lift capacity for the attachment and logs you'll process
Popular Halverson Models
- HWP-100 — 10’ logs to 14” diameter
- HWP-120 — 12’ logs to 15” diameter
- HWP-140B — 12’ logs to 18” diameter
- HWP-150 — 12’ logs to 22” diameter
- HWP-160 — 12′ logs to 24” diameter
Click here to compare Halverson Wood Processors to see how each one stacks up to find the best option for your machine.
Skid Steer Firewood Processor Attachments
Skid steers are the most popular platform for firewood processors. They're maneuverable, most have universal quick-attach systems, and they can handle other tasks when you're not processing wood.
Best for:
- Residential properties with acreage
- Small to medium commercial firewood operations
- Tree service businesses adding value to removed trees
- Operations needing equipment that serves multiple purposes year-round
- Properties with limited space requiring maneuverable equipment
- Operators who already own a skid steer
Advantages:
- Quick attachment changes allow multi-purpose equipment use (under 15 min)
- Excellent maneuverability in tight spaces and wooded areas
- Operate in any weather from climate-controlled cab
- Work from existing equipment you likely already own and maintain
- Easily transport between job sites or properties
- Most common equipment type means dealer support is readily available
Tractor Firewood Processor Attachments
If you already own a tractor, adding a processing attachment makes sense. In most cases, all of the processors mentioned above work with tractors. However, if you are operating a smaller tractor, the HWP-100 Small Tractor Package is perfect for compact and utility tractors, offering the HWP-100 attachment, a 3-point hitch-mounted HWP-HPU that boosts hydraulic output, and the necessary hoses, joystick, and wiring to operate the processor while facing forward in the tractor seat.
HWP-100 Small Tractor Package Specs:
- Handles 10' logs up to 14" in diameter
- HWP Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU) boosts hydraulic output to 21.2 GPM at 2,500 PSI
- Can produce up to 128 cubic feet of firewood in one hour or less from the seat of your tractor
Best for:
- Farm and ranch operations already using tractors daily
- Properties with existing tractor infrastructure and maintenance systems
- Landowners who prefer tractor stability and control
- Operations processing wood as part of broader land management activities
- Rural properties where tractors are the primary equipment
- Operators comfortable with tractor operation and maintenance
Advantages:
- Leverage existing tractor you already own, operate, and maintain
- Stable platform due to tractor weight and wheelbase
- 3-point hitch provides secure, proven mounting system
- Tractor serves multiple farm and property tasks year-round
- Familiar controls for experienced tractor operators
- Lower operating costs if tractor is already used regularly
- Higher ground clearance can be beneficial in certain terrain
- Tractor's weight provides stability when handling larger logs
Excavator Firewood Processor Attachments
For maximum capacity and the largest logs, excavator-mounted processors deliver the most power. The extended reach also reduces how much you need to move material around.
Best for:
- High-volume commercial operations processing hundreds of cords annually
- Logging operations processing byproducts and slash piles
- Land clearing projects where processed firewood adds revenue
- Operations regularly processing the largest diameter logs
- Sites where extended reach eliminates material repositioning
- Commercial firewood businesses with dedicated processing areas
Advantages:
- Maximum reach reduces need to reposition logs and equipment
- Highest production capacity of any equipment type
- Can process the largest diameter logs efficiently
- Extended boom allows reaching into log piles without moving equipment
- Excellent for sorting and selecting logs before processing
- Superior stability when handling heavy, unbalanced logs
- 360-degree rotation provides maximum working range
- Can work from one position while processing large area
Installation and Setup
One major advantage is how quickly these attachments mount to your equipment.
For skid steers and front loaders:
- Position equipment in front of attachment
- Slide loader arms into quick-attach brackets
- Engage locking mechanism (under 5 minutes)
- Connect hydraulic lines (under 10 minutes)
- Test functions before starting work
For tractors:
- Back up to attachment's 3-point hitch
- Connect lower and upper mounting points
- Connect hydraulic lines
- Test functions
For excavators:
- Position bucket/attachment point at processor mounting bracket
- Secure mounting pins
- Connect hydraulic lines
- Test functions
Total mounting time: Less than 15 minutes for experienced operators on any equipment type.
Most operators handle installation themselves if the attachment matches their equipment specifications and they understand basic hydraulic connections.
How Methods Compare: Time and Effort
Here's what it actually takes to process one cord of firewood from 12-16" diameter logs:
What Each Method Involves
Chainsaw and hydraulic splitter (3-4 hours per cord):
- Cut logs to length with chainsaw (30-45 min)
- Manually move rounds to splitter (20-30 min)
- Split each round individually (90-120 min, 100+ cycles)
- Stack finished wood (30-45 min)
- Plus setup, refueling, breaks
Halverson attachment (1-1.5 hours per loggers' cord):
- Attach processor to equipment (10-15 min, once per session)
- Pick up logs with the processor
- Position in processing cradle
- Processor cuts log to lengths
- Processor splits the log segments
- Processor discharges split firewood onto pile
- Continue with next log
Learn More: Is a Firewood Processor Worth It? 5 Reasons To Buy One
Safety Benefits
Working from the cab eliminates the most dangerous aspects of firewood processing:
Risks eliminated:
- Chainsaw kickback and cuts
- Repetitive motion injuries from swinging mauls
- Back strain from lifting heavy rounds
- Flying wood chips and splinters
- Exposure to extreme weather
- Hearing damage from prolonged chainsaw use
Halverson safety features:
- Operator completely separated from cutting and splitting operations
- All functions controlled hydraulically from the seat
- Climate-controlled cab for year-round comfortable operation
- Clear sight lines to work area
Who Benefits Most
Landowners processing 40-50 cords annually: One person can handle the entire season's production in a few weeks instead of months of weekend work.
Commercial firewood operations: One operator replaces 2-3 person crews while improving output consistency and reducing insurance costs from chainsaw-related risks.
Tree service companies: Add revenue from removed trees and offer turnkey services including processed firewood delivery.
Equipment rental businesses: Specialized capability commands high rental rates with simple operation requiring minimal customer training.
Weekend property owners: Process a season's firewood in a single day without the physical toll of manual methods.
The Bottom Line
With a Halverson firewood processor attachment:
- One person produces in one hour what takes 6-8 hours manually
- Work from inside the cab in any weather conditions
- Attachment takes under 15 minutes to mount
- Protects operator from dangerous chainsaw and splitting work
- Add capability to equipment you already own
- Same attachments work with skid steers, tractors, front loaders, and excavators
The comparison is straightforward: processing from your cab is faster, safer, and less physically demanding than any traditional method. It certainly makes investing in a processor worth it.
Click the link below to explore models, watch processing videos, check equipment compatibility, and request a quote. Or contact the Halverson sales team to discuss which attachment matches your equipment and processing needs.
