Here's what I did this morning, only took a couple hours to fell and bring home.
The tree was a cherry with a bad case of butt-rot. I had to cut around 6 feet off the butt log to get to solid wood. After that it looked real nice.
I tried out the snatch block method today, worked good but slow cause I don't have a winch, a lot of back and forth with the tractor. It kept me from having to cut a path for the tractor though. It did a real good job of not tearing other trees up, it only took down a 1" maple in the process.
Here's what my "skidder" looks like, with all the gear loaded up.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/17472/2177/1.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/17472/2177/2.JPG)
The snatch block and cable, chained to a nice basswood:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/17472/2177/3.JPG)
All the logs pulled up and ready to load. (the top in the background is from a maple last year, the cherry top isn't in the picture)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/17472/2177/4.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/17472/2177/5.JPG)
Back at the mill, wish I had time to mill them today :)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/17472/2177/7.JPG)
Looks like some nice clears in those bottom two sticks. ;D
Looks like you missed out on the storm. ;)
Yeah I'm hoping they are clear :) I also kept the crotch on the top log hoping I could get some nice figure out of it. In my experience cherry usually does.
We have totally missed out on the storm, the weather has been perfect for working outside since last week ;D I've got a ton of firewood cutting done because of it. You could call that cherry a reward for myself for cutting the firewood ;)
We didn't get much snow here either,but the wind :o i saw trees bending over so far i really expected them to break off. No cutting for the last 6 days.
I like your tractor 8) 8) 8) 8) ;D :)
Very nice tractor. I ran a 656A with a wide front end for a blueberry company, good tractor.
It looks to me that the third log has some firewood on it or is that one of those special projects.
Maybe book matched figure in the crotch. 8)
Firewood is the last resort for me. I will definitely try to get some slabs from the crotch, and I'll probably saw up the log too. It might not be the best grade, but it's cherry and I can use lower grade lumber for myself for various projects.
When I cut down a tree for lumber, I try to saw everything except the top into something other than firewood, be it boards or bowl blanks or beams.
I like those logs as well and love Red IHC Tractor's.
Not Getting Too Smart but your lift may buckle up if you hit a big rut or just a little too fast over a rough area. Your pretty heavy when your loaded up with logs. Also, I realize that your moving things around your mill area and les risk ?
I had one of these rigs (similar to yours) on my IHC 450 tractor and about the same size. I carried bags of fertlizer on it and did good job. One day I ran over a ditch that looked better than what it was and snapped the lift linkage. Also, if you get one wheel up and one down on a un-even spot.... she'll want to roll over. You have a narrow front end and this tractor is less stable than a wide front end (I've been there). I always keep the lift down and just clear the ground by about 10 inches to lessen the risk of tip over or ?? .
Closing, my comment's are intended to help if your not aware... regarding this type of tractor & lift set up. Otherwise, looks good to me and I'd like to have that IHC 656 to add to my collection, nice clean machine.
Happy New Year,
Avery
Nice looking outfit Ty! :)
What are you running for chainsaws?
Thanks for the compliments, I like the IH too ;D It's a great tractor, and the hydro makes it a dream to drive in the woods and around the mill. It's got plenty of power to boot too!
Avery,
Thanks for the tips, I realize that there is a risk of tipping with the narrow front, but the ground I work on is essentially flat. The tractor doesn't go near hills, I had a scary experience a couple years ago that could've been bad, so now I keep it on level ground.
I keep the lift off the ground but still as low as practical. Honestly that tractor could snap those forks off with the hydraulic lift without hesitation (I did it once, but I was able to weld them back on better than they were), so I try not to put more weight than necessary on it. I've never had the front wheels come off the ground, and I do everything I can to not get in that situation.
Norm, that's a 20" 036 and a 28" 038 MAG. I tend to use the 038 for felling and bucking and the 036 for everything else :)
I thought it looked like my 036. Still my favorite for use on the farm although my electric one is a close 2nd. Drop cords keep it from being 1st. :D
I've never used an electric, I assumed they just wouldn't be build solid enough or powerful enough for anything more than pruning/ occasional homeowner use.
What kind do you have?
I have a Dolmar electric chainsaw.
http://www.dolmarpowerproducts.com/productcatalog/product/5094/index.html
I use it for around the sawmill and in the shop. Has a surprising amount of power too.
There's electric and then there's Electric.
If you buy a $50 electric saw from the hardware shop, it will be junk and might get some pruning done if you are lucky.
If you buy a good Stihl or Dolmar (Makita?), it's probably going to cost about as much as a small gas saw, but it will have some power and be build to last, at least as long as a gas saw. So as a trimming saw to use inside (no fumes) or around the yard (no starting or fuel problems) they are a good option.
Ian
I have a Makita electric chainsaw and it is handy around the mill trimming the ends off boards and such.
That 656 is nice and clean. How many hours? Two of ours are right around 20,000 hours each. A lot of timber frame shops have quality electric saws for docking big timbers. I've used my 394XP inside. It's loud, and it stinks inside. :D
Dad tried that once on firewood he left too long in the basement, just 2 or 3 sticks. When mother caught wind of the smoke all through the house she exiled man and machine. :D
In the basement might be a bit much. :D I've got a big shop, all to myself, so no one to complain but me. :)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14240/1621/plates.jpg)
Shop????? That looks like an aircraft hanger :D.
tyb,glad to see you take care of your land.Good job with the tree.Don't see much brush there. I"m always complaining about how some cut.I was told by one guy I'm too fussy. ::) Can't see how one can be too fussy with their own land and wood. ;D
I try to spend some time keeping up on the woods when I can. But there are 50 acres and I can't keep up on all of it, so some areas aren't too pretty ;)
I don't remember what I paid for it but it's similar in price to what a gas one of similar size would be. I've been going through piles of wood I sawed on the mizer when I first got it. Back then everything got stickered and dried. Now that I know a little more about half of it is getting recycled through the fireplace. The electric chainsaw makes short work of the pieces that should have never been milled in the first place.
It's still hard sometimes for me to "recycle" boards and not sticker them ;)
Quote from: WDH on December 30, 2010, 07:38:13 AM
Shop????? That looks like an aircraft hanger :D.
I don't know it's a little cramped, can hardly turn that machine around in there with those 40' plates on it.
:D :D :D
I don't know how you get bt with that dinky little "shop", Dave :D
tyb 525 , I want to compliment you! If you are 18 years old and cutting skidding sawing wood like that you are one on the ball guy :)
don't forget about that hollow butt log though even if there is a lot of rot , sometimes those narrow jacket boards have really nice figure particularly close to the stump.
I hope you have a home for the boards you will saw out of that cherry they deserve a very good one!
Northwoods,
Thanks! I really am 18, I do all my own felling, skidding, milling, and everything else. I got my mill two years ago, but I was woodworking before that. Despite the fact that I still live at home, and that's where my operation is, I have been slowly developing a business selling lumber, custom sawing, and woodworking. I think the only reason my mom let me start it was so I'd stay out of trouble ;D. But boy I love it!
I'd estimate I'm nearing the 7.5mbf mark overall. My next major goals are to get a solar kiln and a saw shed built. I need to get some new pictures put up.
That cherry turned out real nice, I got it all sawn up. It was a whole lot clearer than I thought it would be, and it has a great color. I haven't tallied it, but as it sits on stickers, I'd guess it's about 300 bf.
As far as where it goes, well, I'll make something out of it or sell it! None of my wood goes to waste.
Quote from: tyb525 on December 31, 2010, 08:53:43 PM
Thanks! I really am 18....
Ty, I thought you were 18 a couple of years ago. :D And here you're still 18. I wish you'd let me know how you pull that off. At this stage in my life, I really need to learn how you do that. ;)
Seriously, it's great fun to see that you're such a "do-er".
Norm
He just needs some pretty thing to bat her eyes at him and he'll switch gears. Then again, he could be like a friend of mine that told the wife "better get used to it". :D ;D
SD, I already have one of those, and she is supportive of me. Although I haven't convinced her to help me yet ;D
Norm,
You are right! He has been 18 at least for the last couple of years!
Ty, those cherry logs were very nice with little sapwood. Our cherry down here generally has wider sapwood, but it can be real pretty too. I love working with cherry.
Quote from: WDH on December 31, 2010, 10:20:45 PM
Norm,
...He has been 18 at least for the last couple of years!
That's because when I signed up, I was 16 but put my age as 17 ;) When I actually hit 17 I changed it to my real age. So, I was 17 for two years, but only 18 for this year :D
Coming up Jan 28th that will change!
So, that will make you 17 again ??? ;D.
Correct ;)
:D
I'm going to remember that trick on my next birthday! :D
That's better than being 39. :D
Your work is looking good there tyb525
looks good there ty,
if i was 18 and had an interest in sawing i would be building houses with my own sawn lumber. pc
Paul, that thought has crossed my mind more than once ;D I've already got my house designed in sketchup....I just gotta saw it, and find a place for it ;)
Quote from: tyb525 on January 01, 2011, 12:39:11 PM
Paul, that thought has crossed my mind more than once ;D I've already got my house designed in sketchup....I just gotta saw it, and find a place for it ;)
Ty , when I was 18 yrs old I began gathering material for my house. I didn't have a sawmill though I had to hire all that out. In retrospect if I could have swung buying a mill back then it would have paid for itself in a hurry. But I was to poor to do it. Now I have an lt40. Almost everything in my house I sawed and some of it is reclaimed I got all of the 24' foot 2"x12" for the roof out of a drive in theater that was being dismantled. Designed the house my self and literally almost built in single handedly everything from the flat work to the finishing. I learned a lot doing all that and saved a bunch of money. One piece of advice I would give you is choose carefully where you build. I thought I put mine far enough back in the woods but now my property taxes are so high I don't know if I could really retire here, or want too.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/17553/1886/g001.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/17553/1886/g002.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/17553/1886/g003.jpg)
They'll find you from aerial photography just the same no matter how far in the bush you go. ;D
I have a cousin who is an assessor. ;)
thats nice northwoods,
i sawed out my house too.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20540/2940/Paul_s_house_pict_%283%29.JPG)
this is my rough red oak paneling.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20540/2940/Paul_s_house_pict_%284%29.JPG)
this is live edge erc paneling in my house.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20540/2940/Paul_s_house_pict_%282%29.JPG)
we used sheet metal for the exterior. we wanted zero maintenance and the barn look. taxes went up anyway.
we actually moved the house my grandfather built in 52 to my farm. it was 26'x44'. we added 26'x58' on. the framing lumber for the add on would have cost as much as the mill.
we love our new house and the experience is worth the trouble. pc