Timber Harvest Methods & Equipment

Ron Scott · March 24, 2002, 02:14:52 PM

Hydro-Ax Shears, 611 EX in northern hardwoods thinning.

Jeff · March 24, 2002, 02:28:40 PM

Is that ours Ron? Maybe not, I thought Billsby's has a saw head. You say thats a shear.

Ron Scott · March 24, 2002, 04:08:19 PM

No, That one's Rothig Forest Products working on the Dahlgren Sale across from the Timbers Resturant on H-115 northwest of Cadillac. I think I gave the better photos of yours along with your survived skidder (the stuck in the wetlands photo on the forum) to the landowner.

Landowners like to have photos of their land management activities, especially those that don't get to see the action first hand.

You should have some large oak to saw from the Austin Sale just purchased. I'll get some photos there.

Ron Scott · March 25, 2002, 02:29:13 PM

Barko 885 with sawhead thinning in oak

Ron Scott · March 26, 2002, 06:06:52 PM

Timbco T 415-D; tracked feller buncher Thinning in red pine.

Corley5 · March 26, 2002, 06:17:09 PM

Sidell Forest Products used a similar Timbco, maybe the same model, equipped with a saw head on an aspen, soft maple clearcut chip harvest on Grandma's a couple years ago. Very impressive machine to watch in operation 8). The operator kept two BIG John Deere grapple skidders busy and never waiting ;D.

Ron Scott · March 26, 2002, 06:47:05 PM

This was a new machine, just 6 months old. It was producing 25 + cords/day in the red pine. Its saw head can handle 24" oak trees. Machine is owned by Ellias Hilliard who works for ADJ Forest Products, but was working for Jason Lutke at the time, producing for Pine Tech, Inc.

It was down for awhile one day after a heavy snow storm when the encoder on the computer was acting up and it wouldn't function. Weather related I guess, but impressive.

Ron Scott · March 27, 2002, 07:45:07 AM

John Deere DC-70D Feller Buncher on Tracks. Older model working in red pine thinning.

Ron Scott · March 27, 2002, 04:29:39 PM

Sawyer with Stihl Chain Saw. Thinning in red pine.

Tom · March 27, 2002, 05:49:22 PM

I've heard snowbird farmers talking about cutting their trees in the winter like this picture shows. Then they say they go back in the spring and cut the 10 or 12 foot butt cut. :D

Ron Scott · March 27, 2002, 05:59:44 PM

Tom,
That's after they shovel out the power poles and power lines. ;)

Ron Scott · March 28, 2002, 06:20:08 PM

Sawyer with 2 "Huskies" harvesting Oak logs.

Gordon · March 29, 2002, 07:21:20 AM

Kubota with skidding winch

Gordon

Ron Scott · March 29, 2002, 04:18:34 PM

Valmet 546 Feller-Buncher. Works well in pine.

Frank_Pender · March 29, 2002, 07:34:27 PM

Gordon, I sure hope you don't over load the tractor for pulling. 8) 8) 8)

Gordon · March 30, 2002, 06:20:25 AM

Hay Frank, you that that Mobile Dimension mill you have could handle a log that big? :D

Little twigs like that come in handy to put in the soft areas of the skidding trails. Waste not what not.

Gordon

Frank_Pender · March 30, 2002, 06:52:55 AM

They work great, also for bar ditching. :D:D

Ron Scott · March 30, 2002, 02:10:18 PM

Valment 546 Forwarder.
Working in a red pine thinning. A good system with the 546 Feller/Buncher of previous photo.

Kevin · March 30, 2002, 02:45:41 PM

Old model Canadian Feller Forwarder Buncher Hauler Stacker Harvester

Tom · March 30, 2002, 03:20:30 PM

I have one that looks a lot like that one, Kevin. An older model but it still works pretty good. I've been thinking about retiring it to the house, the new models are too quick. :-/

Ron Scott · March 30, 2002, 04:59:17 PM

Kevin,

Excellent picture. It's hard to find a chain saw on some of the jobs here anymore. I sure endorse them for still doing some of the better quality work.

How about expaining some of your "colorful" clothing and its purpose, i.e. the Kevlar boots etc.

Jeff · March 30, 2002, 05:20:02 PM

And the Hat! Don't forget the hat!

Kevin · March 30, 2002, 05:28:06 PM

Ron,
I wouldn`t consider operating a chainsaw without every available safety device.
I wear chainsaw protective boots, chaps, gloves and hardhat when operating any chainsaw.
I try to wear bright colored clothing so other people that I may be working with can see me from a distance.
The work as you know is dangerous enough without taking unnecessary risks.
When I get tired I quit and go back another day or put the chainsaw away and do something else.
I think if we keep informing people of the dangers involved we`ll get a few to buy the stuff and wear it.
If a few think it`s too costly, I say ... try having an accident !

Jeff, I knew you would spot that sooner or later, that was for the photo opp.

woodmills1 · March 30, 2002, 08:09:18 PM

right on with the woods work be careful info. i go into the woods fresh and rested, wear orange hard hat and protective shirt. no drinking the night before. best advice might be to think and plan. trees come down fast and hard and are not forgiving. also if something doesn't feel safe it probably isn't.

Cedar Eater · March 30, 2002, 09:17:03 PM

Hey Kevin, I've been looking for boots that have kevlar, steel toes and paks. I can find steel-toed paks, but not with kevlar. Do they have anything like that in your neck of the woods?