Cant hooks

[WDH]

If you operate a manual mill and turn logs and cants manually, having a logrite mega hook is the difference between not being able to turn a big log by yourself and being able to turn a big log by yourself  .

[Old Greenhorn]

You can't do this with a cant hook:


 

This is a grip I use for dragging log ends around to steer the log when I am rolling it. Yeah, that's just sticking there by itself, no wires or tricks.

[WDH]

That's right, but saw a high quality walnut log into a big heavy cant and turn it with the peavy and mar the clear walnut board on the side where the peavy point dug in and make a hole in that face enough times and you will use a cant hook not a peavy.  Like anything you do the right tool is the one that you need to use to do the job right.  

The peavy and cant hook each do their respective jobs well and the right one is the one you need to do the job that is most important for your objective.  One size does not fit all.  With a manual mill, turning the cant from face to face is an critically important requirement.  With a hydraulic mill you seldom need to do that and the peavy can be much more valuable in handling and moving logs than the cant hook.

So when new sawyers ask about whether they should get a peavy or a cant hook, the answers it depends on what what are your capabilities and what job is it intended for.  

[Old Greenhorn]

AbsoTootley Danny! The right tool for the right job. I have found the cant hook works well for most stuff so that was what I stuck with, but after getting this peavey it definitely has some strong points that a cant hook doesn't (have I mentioned the 'stand up' feature yet?). Cant hooks are poor pry tools, a peavey is not. A peavey is not ideal for cant flipping, a cant hook is. Having an option is definitely the way to go. The peavey lives in my truck bed now as the choices for general purposes. Cant hooks live at the mill mostly. 
 I took the photo above because I didn't know it could do that. Learning all the time, which is why I am still a greenhorn. :D

[JoshNZ]

Ok, for those of you that have not already figured it out,  I'm a titewad. I have a cheap, wooden handle can't hook, probably about 42". It works ok. I often see the great reviews for the logrite hooks and for a short time consider buying one but then don't. Other than telling me that they are "great" what part of the function of a can't hook do they do so much better? One thing about mine l don't like is I often have to hit the spike with the back of my axe to get it to grip well. Will I need to do that with a logrite? If not that, then how is one lever, x long, better than another that is the same length? Maybe if I knew I would buy one.

I posted in a similar thread to this a while back @fluidpowerpro with the same thought as you, how can the geometry not be copied and it be just as good... (For what it's worth the one I made doesn't need tapping, it self engages)

With the way everyone acts I could only deduce that with a purchase of a logrite you get a membership to a secret club where meals and beers are free/served by beautiful women.

Everyone started acting weird when I suggested this so I reckon I'm onto something  ??? 8).

I'd def give one a shot if I could find one for a sensible price, they seem to cost double by the time they get to NZ

[fluidpowerpro]

I called and ordered one yesterday but they didn't say anything about a secret club? Maybe the membership card and instructions for the secret handshake comes with the delivery of the product.
Either way, looking forward to using it.
Idea... Maybe you could become their exclusive dealer in NZ.

[JoshNZ]

I think they do have a dealer here already. Looks like the 60" one is about $250US plus local shipping. Given that the one I made for a few bucks of scrap works, it's hard to get passed that price tag.

Not to knock it! I don't doubt the praise they receive.

Mind me asking what you paid, is that allowed here?

[fluidpowerpro]

The price in the US is $143.00. I was able to get a "scratch and dent" one a little cheaper and the discount basically paid for the shipping, 

[JoshNZ]

Yeah so I'd be paying for nearly two of them to get one here  smiley_cry

Will be interested to hear your thoughts anyway!

[Old Greenhorn]

FPP, you'll figure out how to enter the club when you get the hook in a day or so. For me it started out with the thought that "Yeah, this is OK, it works pretty good, I guess I am happy." But as time went on and I could feel the difference and it made it easier and safer to work and I noticed some very tiny features that added to the ease of work, I began to appreciate the upgrade. I would never turn back. YMMV of course.

Josh, really sorry the international shipping is so prohibitive. What you guys need down there is to get a container sized order of hooks, then the price should come down a bit.

[JoshNZ]

I doubt there's enough sawmillers in NZ to eat a containers worth. We are a rare species here.

Not so uncommon to see sawmills that eat pine a truckload an hour, but not us little guys rolling logs with hooks.

This mill will be gone, and I'll be pulling levers soon enough 

[barbender]

I had one other hook, a wood handled can't hook that was sold by the outfit we don't talk about here. I bought that one before Logrite even existed😊 At any rate, out of my large collection of old wood handled cant hooks and peaveys, that stupid thing bites the best. Almost like a Logrite does🤷‍♂️ But, the wood handle rotted off, and I'll probably never get around to putting a new one on.

[Ianab]

I doubt there's enough sawmillers in NZ to eat a containers worth. We are a rare species here.

Not so uncommon to see sawmills that eat pine a truckload an hour, but not us little guys rolling logs with hooks.

This mill will be gone, and I'll be pulling levers soon enough  

Peterson make cant hooks here in NZ. They are steel handled, so not as light as the alloy ones, but plenty strong. I have one of their older ones which is a big heavy beast, but works for any log that you would sensibly try and move by hand. 

[Walnut Beast]

Every time I've been at Timberking and Jason is getting somebody set up with their new mill and doing the orientation they always have pretty big logs there and Jason always grabs the wooden handled can't hook they sell to move the big logs around. They also sell the Logrite ones. I asked why he uses the wooden handled one and he says he likes them better. 

[Walnut Beast]

I've got a 30" Logrite I got at Timberking and it's great. It didn't open or grab bigger logs like I thought it would but I found putting a little pressure with you hand on the hook or tapping the hook with your foot works great. I haven't got a 60" one yet. But I could only imagine how good it works! You could be a complete weenie and with a little leverage be a complete stud 😂💪

[Ianab]

I haven't got a 60" one yet. But I could only imagine how good it works! You could be a complete weenie and with a little leverage be a complete stud 😂

"Give me a place to stand, and a lever long enough, and I will move the world. "

Archimedes

[JoshNZ]

Where is Peterson's secret club?  ???

I might make my next one out of oak or aluminium. I have bent my steel one before but the steel prob only gave way a fraction earlier than my back was going to, prob more sensible to get the forks involved at that point

[Jeff]

Will be interested to hear your thoughts anyway!

Why? There are hundreds of very experienced sawyers here that already have told you that there is no comparison because we use them, and have used them for years, and you seemingly want to ignor that in trade for a bit of negativity.  Inflation has not skipped the forest products industry, so in comparison to every other flipping thing you buy, logrite tools are still a bargain over the long haul.

[Tam-i-am]

You can't do this with a cant hook:


 

This is a grip I use for dragging log ends around to steer the log when I am rolling it. Yeah, that's just sticking there by itself, no wires or tricks.

Wow that takes some talent! ;D

[Tam-i-am]

With the way everyone acts I could only deduce that with a purchase of a logrite you get a membership to a secret club where meals and beers are free/served by beautiful women.

Everyone started acting weird when I suggested this so I reckon I'm onto something  ??? 8).

There is no secret club.  Just like other brands like STIHL, WoodMizer, Mercedes, etc we have a following.
I was  hesitant to comment because the last time I posted about such things the Logrite Brownie came to be and I found myself baking brownies for all the shows and the pig roast.

[Machinebuilder]

I am a novice when it comes to this stuff.

I bought a wood handled cant hook/ log lifter from the place that can not be mentioned, it can't hook.
I took the hook off to us as my "Magic Hook", It works ok.

I bought the Woodmizer aluminum one, aka orange Logrite. It works great, tears the bark off sometimes.
BUT it is a little small for some of the bigger heavier logs.

So I bought a Mega hook, all I can say is WOW. it is not light, but I can hook it in a 40" red oak and roll the log.
My problem is they're too big for my mill.

I can even roll logs that are too big for my Bobcat to move.

Good tools that work are worth the money.

[Jeff]

Be aware there is/are/ were some runs of wood mizer canthooks out there that are orange and NOT Logrite tools. NOT THE SAME

[Old Greenhorn]

Wow that takes some talent! ;D

I may be old, but I like to think I have a few skills left. :D

[Tam-i-am]

So I bought a Mega hook, all I can say is WOW. it is not light, but I can hook it in a 40" red oak and roll the log.
My problem is they're too big for my mill.

I can even roll logs that are too big for my Bobcat to move.

When I talk to people on the phone I emphasize it is a lot of tool.  I get it sometimes you have to "do what you gotta do" but really should you?  Too big for my Bobcat
FYI they weigh 18 pounds

[Old Greenhorn]

Honestly, I don't notice the weight of the hook at all when I am rolling a 1,500 pound log. :D