Hello everyone and a HST vs SYNCHRO tranny question!

[Carl_NH]

Luc,

Congratulations on your first big decision - HST it will make the rest of the process a bit easier! It's a good choice, now to the specifics. From your post seems like you need a chipper/shredder too.

What budget you have in mind?

Based on what you have said, a grapple on the front with a chipper is on the back would be a great solution.

When you fell a tree the branches are the biggest issue to drag/move/chip. I know you say skid 100' but dragging branches 60-100' will get tiresome very fast (but you will be in great shape!) but if you have a chipper on the back of the tractor jsut back up and chip and move to the next area.

Last, what is the average diameter and height of the trees you are thinning? If I recall you have evergreens that are 50 years old or so?

 

[blueluke]

Carl! I hate you, !
Did not think of this one... duh!

Speaking of my body shape, being near sixty, the shape is a bit like a doughnut! Fat in the middle, and hollow at the brain level! :d. That's during the day, in the morning, the shape is more akin to a pretzel! :laughing:

Still, things are falling in place, HST it will be. 30-35hp is also decided, even if it means a bit less HP at the PTO. I want two aux valves at the back for maybe a wood splitter, or the hydraulics on the snow-blower. Backhoe is to expansive, I can rent one at the ''Joe loue-tout'' ( Joe rents-all) 15 min from the lots. He has backhoe mounted on a trailer with power-on hydraulics... These things works quite well, also I can hire a TLB for reasonable price over there. This is something I will need maybe once a year, so I can not justify about 7K$ asked for a new one, and used one are just about impossible to find!

Thanks to you guys, I can weed the 'wants' from the real 'needs'. Buying used is not out of the picture too. I do not know about your respective areas, but here, tractors lose quite a bit in value after only a couple of years, but used implements are almost the same price as new! And that is WHEN you can find them!

Luc

 

[blueluke]

Carl, the 'epinette' (fir) are about 6 to 10 inches at breast high level.
The cedars are victims of a disease that right now the name escapes me, but most are attacked by wood-pecker. This disease of the cedars is unfortunately quite widely spread over Quebec and any tree attacked by wood-peckers is doomed. This is saddening as those are easily 12-16' inches diameter at breast high level.
The paper birch are about 15'' wide and not reproducing, which means that they are at the end of their life cycle. These will make nice planks for the flooring in the new house!
The maple trees are terrible! Except for use as fire wood, they are pretty much useless.
My plan is to hire a forestry engineer late 2013 to evaluate the stand and make recommendations. I Intend to plant 'noble' hardwood species. Don't ask me which one ones as I only know their name in French!
(and the forum seems to have problems with the accents! )
Chene = oak
Erable = Maple
Frene = ash ( I think)
Merisier = Yellow birch ?

All these species are hardwoods, good for instrument making, furniture and cabinet making, flooring and building.
Of course, I will not see the result of my work, but this is what I want to leave as an inheritance to my grand children.
They deserve it don't you think?
I will teach them the rules of good stewardship, the respect for our mother the nature, why and how you can use earth's riches without stressing the rhythms and the yields.
This is where I become a poet and a dreamer! Remember, in my first post I said I was an artist!
Luc
PS: think about it, if all of us grandads and grannies bought a small piece of land, and planted some trees, and cared about deers, birds, racoons etc, what a better place planet earth would be! What a beautiful inheritance we can leave, money to leave is so insignificant!

 

[jenkinsph]

I agree with backing the chipper to the branches as it would cause less damage to the surface as well as being the easiest way to handle them. I would also agree that carrying the wood would be less damaging than dragging them oul.

What size tractor and pto hp would depend on the branches and chipper you need. A small 30 hp chipper would be slow to use.

 

[murphy1244]

Try Wallenstein for a chipper shredder, I have a BMX42

 

[blueluke]

Try Wallenstein for a chipper shredder, I have a BMX42

I am planning Wallenstein for the chipper and wood splitter.
Pronovost or Normand for the snowblower, both are good, the price will be the deciding factor here. :2cents:
FEL will be the one offered by the brand I will eventually chose ( MF, Kioti, Kubo...) I suppose they provides the best match for the machines.

Boxblade.... dunno!

Luc

 

[vtsnowedin]

Of course, I will not see the result of my work, but this is what I want to leave as an inheritance to my grand children.
They deserve it don't you think?
I will teach them the rules of good stewardship, the respect for our mother the nature, why and how you can use earth's riches without stressing the rhythms and the yields.
This is where I become a poet and a dreamer! Remember, in my first post I said I was an artist!
Luc
PS: think about it, if all of us grandads and grannies bought a small piece of land, and planted some trees, and cared about deers, birds, racoons etc, what a better place planet earth would be! What a beautiful inheritance we can leave, money to leave is so insignificant!

Well written, I could not agree more.! I hope to match your example.

 

[murphy1244]

We are not Land Owners, We are Caretakers of these lands. I have been stripping down grape vine and invasive plants to plant new hardwoods.

 

[Egon]

This is sounding more and more like a Case for a Team of Draft Horses!

 

[Carl_NH]

Carl, the 'epinette' (fir) are about 6 to 10 inches at breast high level.
This is saddening as those are easily 12-16' inches diameter at breast high level.
The paper birch are about 15'' wide and not reproducing, which means that they are at the end of their life cycle. These will make nice planks for the flooring in the new house!
The maple trees are terrible! Except for use as fire wood, they are pretty much useless.
Luc
PS: think about it, if all of us grandads and grannies bought a small piece of land, and planted some trees, and cared about deers, birds, racoons etc, what a better place planet earth would be! What a beautiful inheritance we can leave, money to leave is so insignificant!

Luc, admirable plan you have to reforest your land.

On the size, anything 10-12" at breast height should be good lumber or building. The fir are probably too small for lumber, but the cedar could make some good clapboards for siding for your house - even if it has a hole from the pecker you can toss these away. Cedar siding is $$$ here now, $44 bundle for A Clear grade.

And the maple yes, you must have swamp maple knotty and twisted - thats firewood? On the birch, yes that would make nice flooring - I would stay in the 4-6" width, tounge and groove or shiplap edge.

I think you are right in a 35-45HP machine, with a grapple as your logs are not small and dragging may do more damage than picking and carrying out once you have a path.

What you are undertaking is a LOT of hard labor, and will take time and if you have a sawyer or lumber mill nearby speak to them about preferred wood length and size etc..

Keep us posted.

Carl