Tractors and wood! Show your pics

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My process is a lot like 94Bullit's, EXCEPT THAT I TEND TO PROCESS MY TREES IN THE WOODS..

Oh the horror...
Wow John, you're an old veteran here. If you're like me, I don't know where the years went. You're tractor set up sounds really interesting and very appropriate for woods work. Pics would be great to see of the beast

 

[The Deerslayer]

My process is a lot like 94Bullit's, except that I tend to process my trees in the woods. I drop them, winch whatever logs I can reach from one set-up out to the side of the trail, and cut them up. Cut most of the way through, then roll them. If I see an opportunity to cut all the way through on the first cut (bend in log, or propped up on something) I'll do it then - makes the rolling easier.

I have a log grapple, and tried lifting them and cutting them in the air, but came to the conclusion that when working alone all the climbing on and off, maneuvering the log into position it was taking more time than just cutting them on the ground. If I'm cutting with another person or two, then lifting with the grapple to cut starts to make more sense.

I agree that the LogRite Cant Hooks and Peaveys are about the best thing there is out there. I had a wood-handled Northern Tool cant hook that was AWFUL. Wood handle was poorly made (grain was not continuous along the shaft) and the hook would not grab worth a darn (I tried grinding and reshaping the point: it helped a little, but not enough to make the tool useful). It was so poorly designed that it was dangerous. After only about 2 dozen used on moderate-sized logs (mostly 8" diameter or less) the tip broke off. It was a welded-on tip, and the weld was of poor quality. Tried a LogRite Peavey and have loved it since the day I got it.

Could not agree more about the NT cant hook. Have been using mine for a few years with similar results, and thought it might just be something to live with:irked::. Broke the tip off on the first and they sent me an entire new unit as a replacement. I find the handle is larger than it needs to be. May be time for me to upgrade to a better one.

Actually going to pick up the LogRite hookaroon (Stihl branded) this week. Perhaps their cant hook will go on the Father's Day wishlist....:laughing:

 

[motownbrowne]

Could not agree more about the NT cant hook. Have been using mine for a few years with similar results, and thought it might just be something to live with:irked::. Broke the tip off on the first and they sent me an entire new unit as a replacement. I find the handle is larger than it needs to be. May be time for me to upgrade to a better one.

Actually going to pick up the LogRite hookaroon (Stihl branded) this week. Perhaps their cant hook will go on the Father's Day wishlist....:laughing:

You will love the logrite pickaroon. It's a great tool. Their cant hooks also are top notch. If I can, though, I'd recommend going with the logrite, rather than the rebranded-as-stihl version. The blue color is great. Almost impossible to lose. Since I'm using one in each color this morning i took a picture for comparison. Yeah, you can see the orange, but the blue really pops.

 

[The Deerslayer]

You will love the logrite pickaroon. It's a great tool. Their cant hooks also are top notch. If I can, though, I'd recommend going with the logrite, rather than the rebranded-as-stihl version. The blue color is great. Almost impossible to lose. Since I'm using one in each color this morning i took a picture for comparison. Yeah, you can see the orange, but the blue really pops.View attachment 505579

Thanks for the tip and taking the time to snap a pic. It really does stand out more. Only problem is that I need to use it this weekend and my dealer has one in stock....like to give him the business too. Its a push cost-wise if I order from LogRite, but will not get it in time.

Do you find the 30 inch length to work well? I'm 6 foot and figure it should work well for me, but saw they come in 36 inch as well if you get it from LogRite directly.

 

[motownbrowne]

Thanks for the tip and taking the time to snap a pic. It really does stand out more. Only problem is that I need to use it this weekend and my dealer has one in stock....like to give him the business too. Its a push cost-wise if I order from LogRite, but will not get it in time.

Do you find the 30 inch length to work well? I'm 6 foot and figure it should work well for me, but saw they come in 36 inch as well if you get it from LogRite directly.

That's exactly why I own a stihl one. Happened to be at a dealer that had one on the shelf and I was headed to the woods that afternoon. No regrets at all. It's a great tool.

I'm 6'2" and I like the 30". I haven't tried a 36". I'd like a chance to try them side by side, but having used mine for six months now, I have a very high opinion of its functionality. It's light, strong, comfortable to use, and to me it feels like a perfect length. I don't have to choke up on it, and I have a very good reach. It takes a little time before it works the way you imagine it to, and it requires careful use. I've not stabbed myself yet, but the risk is there.

 

[The Deerslayer]

That's exactly why I own a stihl one. Happened to be at a dealer that had one on the shelf and I was headed to the woods that afternoon. No regrets at all. It's a great tool.

I'm 6'2" and I like the 30". I haven't tried a 36". I'd like a chance to try them side by side, but having used mine for six months now, I have a very high opinion of its functionality. It's light, strong, comfortable to use, and to me it feels like a perfect length. I don't have to choke up on it, and I have a very good reach. It takes a little time before it works the way you imagine it to, and it requires careful use. I've not stabbed myself yet, but the risk is there.

Well, talk about luck....it turns out that LogRite is local to me (literally on the way home from work)!! I just spoke with the owner and I will be stopping by later today to buy it directly from them with no shipping cost:thumbsup: In addition to giving a local company my business directly, I will be able to try out both the 30" and 36" to see which is best for me.

Gotta thank you again for your response to my post. I would not have looked at their website as closely as I did and ultimately realize where their operation is located.

 

[PHD12]

Thanks for the tip and taking the time to snap a pic. It really does stand out more. Only problem is that I need to use it this weekend and my dealer has one in stock....like to give him the business too. Its a push cost-wise if I order from LogRite, but will not get it in time.

Do you find the 30 inch length to work well? I'm 6 foot and figure it should work well for me, but saw they come in 36 inch as well if you get it from LogRite directly.

I'm 6' even, and I've been using the 36" Log Rite pickaroon for several years now. That length seems just about perfect to me. Also have the LogRite 48" cant hook with log stand, which I can't say enough good things about it either. Huge help for cutting bigger logs into rounds. Especially since I don't even have a tractor yet... :duh: I ordered both directly from LogRite about 5 years ago.

 

[DieselBound]

Picture of my "inferior" ()grapple hauling out a log after hauling out my stuck Kubota from a ditch:

 

[MossRoad]

If I can make a suggestion here and if you are going to process wood this way as opposed to what Sawyer is saying,. Leave a couple-three logs on the ground to act as your "cutting table". You'll only need to turn the last couple logs after you've cut up all the rest w/o needing to turn anything else. I am surprised to see so many on here who do wood regularly without a log hook. Once you get the hang of one, you won't know how you did w/o it. It speeds up and lessens work load dramatically. May be a bit awkward at first but it will be like a third arm after a while.

Its the bottom logs that I have to turn. All the rest are well off the ground and don't need turning.

Here's a video of me using my little PT425 and some newly purchased tongs in fall of 2015 getting them out of the woods to the landing. About 2:10 into the video you'll see the pile of logs I'm talking about.

It goes much smoother when you have two hands and not holding a cell phone taking a video while operating.

 

[SpringHollow]

Moss, I use my swinging mini hoe with the thumb to hold the logs up in the air and chunk them right next to the splitter which is next to where i want to stack the wood. Works much nicer than the grapple bucket because the mini hoe bucket is narrow and does usually not get in the way of where you want to cut.

Ken