What to use?

[Paul_H]

I was wondering what you use around the sawmill for loading &packing logs,moving sawdust,etc.Would a Bobcat skidsteer work? How about a tractor with a bucket?Our site has shale,so mud shouldn't be a problem.

 Thanks,    Paul

[Jeff]

Paul, we use a case W-14 center articulating loader. In fact, we have 7 of them

All have forks, but we have several dust buckets that we simply drive into and then chain on. Not good for dirt, but perfect for loading or moving sawdust and bark.  Its a nice Day, maybe I will run back to the mill and take a few pictures.

[Jeff]

O.K., I know this is overkill for what you would want, but the pricipal could be the same even with a small skid steer.  Makes changeing from forks to loader fast and easy. Just drive in, get out and hook a chain and get back in and go.

This is the 5 yard bucket, we have 1 more of these then 2 small 3 yarders.




Note: If your going to build one of these (ares are all our own fab) and you have cement, note the bolt on wear plate at leading edge of bucket. Also, you dont see the wera blates welded to bottom of bucket. With lot of use it saves on the bucket. Even gravel will wear one out.

[Paul_H]

You're a good man Jeff(quick too) 8) That slip on system looks handy.In the bucket,is that a pin I see in the fork to the left? Or stictly chain?

[Jeff]

Here are a couple blow ups of contact points.  The pins inside are welded in, this is what the forks slide under. 2 for each fork. The back one is not a must, but it saves on tearing the metal in the back of the bucket from dumping.


The second pic is where the bucket chains on our loaders. one on each side.  Simple. one end of chain is welded to the bucket. the other just wraps around mast and and end link is inserted in a plate metal clevis and a bolt dropped through it. No nut , never had a bolt come out. We did have a guy drive in one several years ago, go get a coffee, then go out and get a scoop of bark, drive up the ramp, and dump bucket and all through the walking floor of an open top 48 foot van. SOMEBODY FORGOT TO HOOK THE CHAINS OOPS!

[Paul_H]

I know what you mean about "oops".This happened 8 years ago in our log sorting grounds.The trailer was being loaded back on the truck, the driver was retirement age(67) and couldn't see too well.He backed under the trailer,the loader operator "honked" to stop,but ole Neil didn't hear,and kept backing up.Poor  Neil was just about sick,but no harm done.The loader operator shut the engine off on the way over.

[Tom]

Here is one of the best sawdust movers I have found so far, very dependable, low maintenance and about the safest piece of equipment I own.

[Tom]

Everytime I look at one of my pieces of equipment I think, "boy, that's the handiest thing I ever bought".  This backhoe has been a life-saver many times.  It was purchased originally to dig a ditch and build a road but soon was hauling dirt for the foundation for the house, setting poles for the barn, building driveways for the neighbors, digging stumps and made good transportation when we found ourselves separated from civilization after a hurricane.  

I was offered $20,000 a couple of years ago and almost sold it but am glad I didn't because it unloads logs from trailors and trucks and sets them at the mill.  When I need to "walk" a BIG log for a distance, I hang the skid hook on a short chain from the center of the front-end loader,  roll the loader forward and hook the skid-hook on the log.  When I roll the bucket back, the hook holds the log against the loader bucket and I don't have to put the bucket directly under the log.  It's a lot safer that way because the log won't roll back over the tractor....and me.  It also gives me the greater lifting strength of the front-end loader.  You may notice that I have it trained pretty good.  It follows me around the place all the time and helps out when I get in a bind.

Good places to weld chain hooks are
1. at the back of the hoe bucket  
2. at the center top of the front end loader  
3.  at the back of the swing boom close to the ground (it helps to keep the log low if you have to skid.

I have also acquired a set of forks that I have rigged to go on the front end loader.  Real handy to move stacked lumber.

[Jeff]

Heres how most of my sawdust gets moved initially.

[Paul_H]

Tom,I'd like to buy that sawdust mover,does the shovel come with it? ;D
Jeff,that looks like a drag system I've seen in my cousins dairy.Is it the same principal,dung 'er out to a central area below?
Good pictures,Thanks

[Jeff]

We have 3 of those conveyors. 1 under the head rig, 1 under the debarker and 1 under our gang saw. Here is a picture of the outboard end of the debarker's conveyor.


THIS ONE DONT COUNT