Power Line Logging Project

[Jstpssng]

Not to steal Moss's suggestion, but to expand a little; here's a discussion on the Forestry Forum which might be helpful. (I like the idea of using a pickup or tractor instead of a winch, although you should have 2 people; one to pull, the other to spot.)
http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=18395.0

 

[dstig1]

The grapple is a lot faster and easier

 

[luvmexfood]

I tried parbuckling and it's not for me. Here's what I don't like about it:
1. You have to lift the log somehow once it's beside your trailer to get your cables or chains under it.
2. If the log diameter is larger on one end then that end will roll farther with each roll resulting in the log getting very crooked on your ramps even coming off them if not careful.
3. You must get your cables or chains hooked with exactly the same amount of slack and the pulling cable must be centered between the cables that go under the log. Otherwise you pull one end of the log before the other end starts. Log gets crooked on your ramps in a hurry.
4. If loading a second layer you have to hook your cables to the opposite side of the trailer from your ramps to get your logs to move on across. Then you have to contend with getting your cables out from under the log.
5. If you have side rails on your trailer like I do when you get your log to the top of the ramp it's a big thud when they drop onto the trailer floor.
6. When you skid your log up beside your trailer you don't have much room for error about where you stop.

With that said a lot of logs have been loaded by parbuckling. It's just not for me. Tried it several times and it's much easier for me to winch over the back.

 

[timster2]

Passed by the mill today and got some information. Seems they have some local haulers that will come out and take a load to the mill for an estimated $200-$250 per load. They seemed to encourage me to load up the trailer and give it a try. They will take anything over 10" on the small end 8' to 16' in length. The rest I guess will become firewood. They don't take any conifers but did give me the number of a sawyer that will come and mill it up for siding for my garage project. Still waiting for the surveyors to come out and mark the ROW for the road and power line. As soon as they do I have a arborist that will help me mark the marketable timber and give me an estimate of the value.

 

[Jstpssng]

It sounds like you had a good idea all along what you were getting into, and just needed to dot your tees and cross your i's. (Or something like that. ) For that distance you can haul a lot of logs to save $200.

Have fun. :thumbsup:

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I tried parbuckling and it's not for me. Here's what I don't like about it:
1. You have to lift the log somehow once it's beside your trailer to get your cables or chains under it.
2. If the log diameter is larger on one end then that end will roll farther with each roll resulting in the log getting very crooked on your ramps even coming off them if not careful.
3. You must get your cables or chains hooked with exactly the same amount of slack and the pulling cable must be centered between the cables that go under the log. Otherwise you pull one end of the log before the other end starts. Log gets crooked on your ramps in a hurry.
4. If loading a second layer you have to hook your cables to the opposite side of the trailer from your ramps to get your logs to move on across. Then you have to contend with getting your cables out from under the log.
5. If you have side rails on your trailer like I do when you get your log to the top of the ramp it's a big thud when they drop onto the trailer floor.
6. When you skid your log up beside your trailer you don't have much room for error about where you stop.

With that said a lot of logs have been loaded by parbuckling. It's just not for me. Tried it several times and it's much easier for me to winch over the back.

Sounds to me like you NEED a lot more parbuckling PRACTICE!

I used it on and off for many years in the past, and still do it on occasion...

It works great and has been used for MANY years before any of us came along!

SR

 

[timster2]

Is there a scheme or standard for marking trees for harvest? Different color paint or symbols , circle, big X, spots, stripes, tape in different colors etc? Would like to start getting some supplies together if needed. Could this be different for the north east vs. the west or south? Trying not to over think this but also trying to cover all my bases as well. Took another walk through the woodlot today with the little bit of knowledge I have learned so far. Seems there is a lot more timber that may make its way to the mill than I originally thought.

 

[Jstpssng]

Make it simple but effective. No there is no "standard", but I always paint so that the cutter can see the mark on whatever side he's on. I.E., a long diagonal stripe
( vvv )
\|/
l l
I/l
l l
as I walk up to the tree, another on the back side when I'm past it.

One time down in upstate New York I stood on a trail next to a bluff when the forester said " see if you can get a trail up to the top of that." I got up on top and there was a big stand of extra nice cherry. I was painting smilie faces on all of the veneer... I'm not sure what the cutters thought when they got there. (this was when stumpage was going for a buck a foot)
Then I marked a trail back to the landing in pink ribbon.

 

[luvmexfood]

Sounds to me like you NEED a lot more parbuckling PRACTICE!

I used it on and off for many years in the past, and still do it on occasion...

It works great and has been used for MANY years before any of us came along!

SR

Just stated that it's not for me and gave reasons why and that it had been used many times in the past for many years. I gave the reasons why I don't like it so maybe if someone decides to try it they can think of away to overcome these obstacles before hand.

Maybe before you are so quick to tell someone they NEED to practice you could list some helpful hints to overcome these problems.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Maybe before you are so quick to tell someone they NEED to practice you could list some helpful hints to overcome these problems.

Sure, if you practice a little, you will figure out how #3 on your list, can be used to FIX #2 on your list...

SR