Skidding logs is just the start. Then what?

[atsah]

I don't know how many times I touch the same piece of wood but it's a lot, a wood processor is the tool but most people can't afford to buy one including me.

Making a standing tree firewood for an average guy is a cutting, splitting, stacking and stacking at least one more time and then bringing it in the house and handling it again game.. I actually like processing my firewood by hand, I have a splitter, a tractor with forks and a chainsaw, that's all that's needed really..

 

[atsah]

It took me a few years to learn this. I went through not just a lot of chains, but also a bunch of bars (not the over 21 type either).

Everyone has their style and preferences, but I like working in the timber, I cut a little, split a little, haul a little, repeat. Works for me.

If you have to skid, do it when the ground is frozen and preferably covered with snow (I vaguely remember this white stuff).

Agreed.. Dragging tree's through snow is no doubt the best way to keep it clean..

 

[varmint]

I can't add anything to the knowledge already posted, but I too hate to cut dirty wood. And yes, cutting, moving, cutting into 16-17" lengths, splitting, stacking, moving, is all a lot of work. If I went thru more than 3-4 cords a year, I would be seriously thinking about "investing" in a processor. Watching video of them at work is convincing.

 

[jabelding]

I usually cut my trees around June time frame then haul them out to my landing on the edge of my field there I let them sit all summer with the branches and leaves on in the sun, it tends to draw a lot of moisture out of the wood. Then in the fall I trim off all the branches and push them into my burn pile to burn that winter. I then trim the logs to 16ft and put them up on my cradle with my forks. I will then cut and split the logs from the pile on the cradle for wood that will be used the following year. I always try to keep one year ahead in my basement. There is always to much snow around here in the winter to be able to haul them out this time of year unless I had a massive skidder.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Cutting the logs over a wagon or trailer is the best way, for less handling of the wood,

Then it's very easy to roll or slide the chunks of wood, right onto the splitters beam,

Everything is faster/easier doing it this way.

SR

 

[Musdalen]

Wood is our primary heat so we burn a fair bit. Probably 4 full cords or close to it. I still split by hand. Mostly to prove to myself that I still can. I admit that hydro-splitters have caught my eye, but so did a Bruks splitting axe. I bought the latter. I can't imagine a "processor". I feel bad about myself I think.

 

[aarolar]

While I agree about the dirt eating chains it eliminates a lot of handling to skid them to the woodpile in log length. A good semi-chisel chain goes along way toward making that more bearable.

 

[plowhog]

Excellent replies, thank you for all. A great wealth of knowledge here.

No kids around to do work, so that's out. I do believe I need a helper to get good production from a day in the forest. I'll just make sure its not Jim Beam! I have some logs up to 2 feet in diameter, but those are the exception. I'm mostly focusing on logs about 8-12 inches in diameter, nearly 100% pine which is not nearly as heavy as hard woods. Some are very long.

I hear *loud and clear* the sentiment to break the work into chunks. I like that. Grapple a while, saw for a while, split, stack. Repeat. Sawyer Rob-- your second picture looks very efficient, and I believe its an approach I can do. My splitter will go either horizontal or vertical, perfect for that. Can't help but think that after splitting I could stack it on pallets. Pick the pallets up with the tractor, and go put them somewhere out of the weather. Hmmm. This is getting better all the time! But I do realize, even with shortcuts, its a *lot* of work. Thank you to all.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I load my splits into half cord boxes that I build,

that I can move with my tractor,

It's a HUGE time and back saver to cut the logs over a trailer, so don't overlook that.

BTW, my skidding winch lifts the logs high enough, that I have no need for a grapple.

SR

 

[plowhog]

I'll bite. Which skidding winch? I think I've shopped and over-analyzed all of the top contenders ..... would be curious?