Whats the best way to clear brush?

[gregsons]

WOW that ax thing is awsome!!!!
I would have to say it was something like the second post due to the size of brush and the tire tracks left behind. The stumps look more like a weed waker hit them and the mulch left behind is more of a shred compared to a wood chipper. that bobcat toy looks like fun and i could use that to clear trails and push back hedge rows but it sure did not clear up the land in question way too small.

I wish i was around to sit on the back porch with a few cold beverages and watch the distruction.

the good thing is i still have many hours of tractor and dozer work to do there they didnt have all the fun.

 

[Gary Fowler]

They likely used something like this 500 HP tracked flail mulcher. Mulcher Videos

 

[thunderworks]

I cleared a 5 acre hedge, locust and cedar field a couple of years ago. I hired a local guy to cut the trees (there were hundreds). He used a skid loader and this boom mounted saw to limb the trees. I then collected the tree tops with my tractor and grapple (Bodozer) and made huge burn piles. He then followed behind me and cut the remaining tree trunks at or below ground grade. I followed up behind him again, moving the trunks, large branches etc to a pile where I could salvage hedge fence posts and firewood. This was not nearly as efficient as the big machines in the videos, but I wanted the wood for posts and firewood anyway. The coolest thing about the saw was that he made the tool himself. He cut about 5 acres of trees in less than two days.

 

[AHNC]

How times change. When I was a kid ('66) I had a summer job working with a pipeline outfit cutting a 100' right of way through the woods of southern NYS out around Painted Post/Corning area.

We had four saw men and 4-6 laborers with each saw. This was mature hardwood forest. They'd cut'em down and we'd carry the branches to the fires. One every 150' or so. After we got thru a JD450 with a rake came thru and handled the big logs. Once they were out a D9 came in pulled and buried the stumps on one side leaving a pristine work area for the pipeliners. 7/12's in the heat all summer and off to college football. It was hard work, but good work too. That is gone today.

I was just an 18 yr old kid and the only local hand on the project with all the rest being from Gasaway, WVA. Tough guys! Good guys...mostly I learned a lot that summer. Have some good stories too, but they become less funny as time goes by

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

Napalm.

you stole my line!

around here the water and road crews do a lot of that sort of thing with bulldozers.
I lost a 1/4 mile long strip 15' wide worth of productive plum thicket that way last week.

 

[gregsons]

MSWOODLOT was right on, I tracked it down yesterday a few miles down and it was a hydro axe

 

[lawn_king]

you stole my line!

around here the water and road crews do a lot of that sort of thing with bulldozers.
I lost a 1/4 mile long strip 15' wide worth of productive plum thicket that way last week.

I came a across a line in a nelson demille novel (up country) based on his experiences in veitnam. The guys that sprayed agent orange had a slogan. Only we can prevent forest!

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

good book!

 

[amigauser]

Looks like Prentice bought out the Hydro-Ax. Few videos on their web site to.

Prentice - Built Better Than It Needs To Be

 

[lawn_king]

good book!

Great book! Demille is awesome!!!