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shear head or chainsaw?

Started by treefarmer87, January 25, 2012, 06:55:07 PM

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treefarmer87

which is faster for cutting pulpwood a cutter with the shear, or a chainsaw?
1994 Ford L9000
2004 Tigercat 718
1998 Barko 225
1999 John Deere 748G
FEC 1550 slasher
CTR 314 Delimber
Sthil 461
Sthil 250

nhlogga

Jonsered 2260
Husky 562xp

snowstorm

had a morbark rapid buncher on a tracked machine years ago. 4 trees a min. no one will buy sheared logs. there for a shear isnt worth much up here

snowstorm

Quote from: treefarmer87 on January 25, 2012, 06:55:07 PM
which is faster for cutting pulpwood a cutter with the shear, or a chainsaw?
you asking about a bar and chain head like a timco?

Side loader

For syp plantation thinning, a shear fellerbuncher works fine for me with a grapple skidder.  If I were hand felling and/or on rough hilly ground I figure the chainsaw with a cable skidder would be the way to go.  Putting down 5 or 6 (25 to 30 ton loads) a day in good wood is no problem for a good operator. I sent a load of chip 'n saw to the mill today cut with the shear. The knives are pretty straight. However, when I cut light poles I do have to trim the butts super smooth. But it's worth the trouble.
Side loader log truck w/492 Detroit, bell super T feller buncher, Barko 160 with JD power, Kubota M4900 with brush raker grapple on front and shop built bunching grapple on back. JD 350B Dozer; JD 548D skidder;  and a couple of saws.

treefarmer87

i would use the shear for pulpwood only. I would hand fell the logs. Would it be practial to lay bunches with the shear and drag with a cable machine   
1994 Ford L9000
2004 Tigercat 718
1998 Barko 225
1999 John Deere 748G
FEC 1550 slasher
CTR 314 Delimber
Sthil 461
Sthil 250

Jeff

If you plan on cutting any sawlogs, a shear may severely limit your markets.
Just call me the midget doctor.
Forestry Forum Founder and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.

Commercial circle sawmill sawyer in a past life for 25yrs.
Ezekiel 22:30

saltydog

I worked behind several shears we put down over 50 cord a day limbed and bucked with saws works great.I wouldnt use it in logs .We mostly cut jack pine not many logs there but sold alot of bolts and they knew they were sheared.Jeffs right it will limit outlets.
Proud to be a self employed logger.just me my Treefarmer forwader Ford f600 truck 2186 Jonsereds 385 and 390 husky and several 372s a couple 2171s one 2156  one stihl 066  Hudson bandmill Farquhar 56"cat powered mill.and five kids one wife.

jd540b

Cut lots of spruce logs with my shear-just have to trim the butts back a little.  The production more than makes up for it.  Also, with a shear you don't have to worry about rocks, etc so much-especially driving the head down into the snow in the winter.  Shear is pretty maintenance free in comparison to saw as well.  Definately practical to make bunches for a cable machine-I did it that way for a couple years till I got a grapple.  Saves pulling cable and greatly improves production.  I used a few long chain chokers.

semologger

i like the shear for small pine. ive only replaced a few blades in 10 years. i am looking for a shear head 4 a cutter i found.

Jeff

The first mill I worked in simply quit accepting sheared wood after the end of a sheared beech log exploded on the headsaw, blowing a chunk of wood through supposedly bullet proof glass into my face knocking me unconscious and sending me to the hospital with a concussion. I came back and finished the load we were working on and then went home. Was out of work for the next two days until the swelling went down in both eyes so I could see to saw. There was no back up sawyer.  The second mill I worked at, already had a no sheared wood policy when I went to work there.
Just call me the midget doctor.
Forestry Forum Founder and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.

Commercial circle sawmill sawyer in a past life for 25yrs.
Ezekiel 22:30

treefarmer87

i would like to have one for stuff under 12'', anything that would be log quality i would use the chainsaw. i would like a shear, but that means another piece of equipment in the woods to service and worry about ( here i am talking about a cutter and i havent even got my new skidder yet :D) a few more weeks and i should be able to go pick it up :)
1994 Ford L9000
2004 Tigercat 718
1998 Barko 225
1999 John Deere 748G
FEC 1550 slasher
CTR 314 Delimber
Sthil 461
Sthil 250

semologger

treefarmer did you buy a bell? I thought i seen a post on here about it?

treefarmer87

no not yet i am picking a new log truck tomm. And i am trying to find another skidder 
1994 Ford L9000
2004 Tigercat 718
1998 Barko 225
1999 John Deere 748G
FEC 1550 slasher
CTR 314 Delimber
Sthil 461
Sthil 250

lumberjack48

I bought a new 450 JD with a Visco 15" shear head back in 76. I was running 2 skidders, i sheared all the junk wood and pulpwood, it really worked out good. Back then i had a hard time selling saw bolts just because i had a shear on the job. I had to sell my self and promise that i wouldn't send any sheared wood in.
Third generation logger, owner operator, 30 yrs felling experience with pole skidder. I got my neck broke back in 89, left me a quad. The wife kept the job going up to 96.

treefarmer87

i bet that was a neat rig. It was a 450 dozer ? with a shear
1994 Ford L9000
2004 Tigercat 718
1998 Barko 225
1999 John Deere 748G
FEC 1550 slasher
CTR 314 Delimber
Sthil 461
Sthil 250

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