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We know now where the Germans got their WWII helmets...!

I shouldn't have read this just after dinner! [emoji30]

Whew!...you about wore me out just reading your post Mr. Runner! Luckily I usually have space, so it's more of a "hinge notch-em and just get it down" situation...though I can be pretty accurate with the drop zone if needed! I've done some surgical felling, but old enough now that I try to...

Brilliant on the girls helping!!! I was getting ice cream yesterday, and at the window next to me, a 7 year old was getting handed his cone. I heard his Dad standing near by "What do you say Sam?" And Sam quickly gave the server a big "Thank You very much!". Your post Mr. Loaderman, and that...

So...is that Mr. Loaderman's project for the Girl Scouts, or did some of the Girl Scouts help? Only asking out of curiosity! About the only "if I had it to do over again"...would have been encouraging my son and daughter to have helped me more as they were growing up. Actually if done...

That turned out to be some beautiful slabs! Nice!

My understanding is to girdle a tree, one cuts through the bark layer all the way around, effectively killing the tree over time. So when you say girdling, were you selectively thinning the stand 60 years ago?

Not meaning you Mr. Fuddy, but someone saying a Bradford Pear is a tree is like saying hot dogs are a gourmet feast! I severely dislike BPs for exactly the fault you experienced! They fall over else drop whole limbs at the most inconvenient time with just a whisper of wind. And their blossoms...

I had to look up "logger's cord", and it was what I assumed...equal to a cord of split wood, still in log form. When buying in the real world, how often does a logger's cord actually end up achieving an actual split cord? Any firsthand stories? I recall mention that in some states, "a cord" of...

It does not appear that Homelite is very lite Mr. Gordon! Not sure "using it just for fun" has the same meaning to me as it might to you! Growing up, we lived with my Grandparents and my Grandfather had a vintage '60's (?) Homelite with a bar longer than my leg and an engine that might barely...

All you need to add now is an easy chair! "...How come it took you 4 months to split a face cord?..."

^^^^ I was never affected by PI until about age 60. It's still not excessive, but bad enough I try to avoid it now. Mentioned previously, it's said, the more frequently you encounter it, the more you increase the risk of it affecting you.

Does Poison Ivy create any problems for you Mr. Sawyer Rob?

Dear Muhammad, please don't let our wives sign up for TBN...!

Last time it was under a lean-too with dirt...world of difference as you mention Mr. Jstpssng!

Not exactly about "Tractors and Wood", but it is about my woods tractor! MX6000 is a bit over 4 years old and I hit the lottery - the dreaded 1200 hour "everything maintenance"! About 1.5 of those years was heads down building my house, so most of the hours were added in 3 years. The majority...

There was mention about IBC frame failure from stacked wood: One can stack up a 4 foot high stack of splits in the open with just a T-Post in the ground holding it up. There is little, side pressure pushing outward. Splits are fairly static with minimal outward pressure (unlike cannonballs!)...

The post on log weight kind of puts the big redwoods in perspective. That's a lot of balanced standing weight...!

Why wait? Just curious...

"...Venison, it's like free-range chicken eggs, only it's free-range meat..." "...any Red Hemlock..." What a great line!! I may quote you...[emoji6]

Mr. SawyerRob, what RPMs do you operate your tractor at with the splitter? Does the PTO turn a hydraulic pump with your setup? Today on Marketplace, I happened to see a homebuilt 3pt splitter running off the tractor hydraulics, but not sure that is a very efficient set up?

Put the chains on after the 2nd time I plowed this winter...and it didn't snow again! It was cold enough, just not the moisture needed. But we're getting a lot of rain now, just thankful it's 40°!

My experience between loose and tight stacked is saving about 1 bin per cord using the standard IBC totes. Tight stacking the wood seems to result in about 1/3 of a cord per bin. So about 9 bins rather than 12 for storing 3 cords. And if space is a real constraint consider the 330gal totes...

I'm like your motor Mr. Gordon, getting old and well used with a spyder web of cracks all over. Can I stop by for a repair? Actually, even your repair work looks better than factory!

I'm not very good at taking "Before" photos. Sometimes I'll remember to stop and capture a photo part way into a task. A month ago and today pushing back a field edge...finally cleaned up and stumps are ground to allow mowing.

There's not a lot of Beech in the area, which may actually indicate the disease being present. I'm going to look a bit closer in my wanderings...I live for running BackRoads!

We've taken a week to hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the last 6 or 7 years. Of course as a NP, the trees have been protected for almost 100 years. Nevertheless, there are still some seriously large Beech in those woods in Tennessee!

Agreed! The floor is stunning...

Heart breaking...what part of OK are you located. I was up north east of Tulsa for 20 years, still have kids living South West of Tulsa. I remember some serious grass fires...made worse by the wind that never seem to quit...and the warning on I*44 to not drive into the smoke...

The period in the North when it first transitions from freezing days and nights to those few initial days of early Spring sun and 50 degree days is by far my most favorite time of the year. It's short and easy to miss. I believe it's triggered by a combination of the excitement of the promise...

I just couldn't not post that!

Good looking "twitch" Mr. Gordon! [emoji41] [emoji23]

Mr. Gordon, that looks like you got a fair amount of snow. Would you say the snowfall was like it "used to be", or did you get less this year than historic average for your area? Ours is way low, and if I recall correctly, Mr. Jstpssng mentioned a low snow fall in his area.

Mr. Gordon, with your trailer loaded with splits, does it get worrisome on a side hill? It looks like a high CoG combined with the narrow axels. This week I had (6) of the larger 330gal IBC totes filled with fresh split "green" maple and cherry that I moved with my forks. Maybe 1/3 of a cord...

So it's good to have a twitch!

Interesting how there's always something needing done... I generally stay active every day, but there are some tasks which finding the motivation to just go and do can be the toughest part of the job! I too have a bit of minor interior touch up painting to do...it's been on the ToDo list for...

Looks like the snow has gotten deep for you Mr. Gordon. Does that put a damper on your logging?

New Hope is a very unique area...it's pretty with much history, nestled next to the Delaware - and it's walking a tight rope. It's tries to provide a "simple, quiet country life" with multi-million dollar small acre lots, all with "high expectation" owners. Somehow, I don't think many there...

I've got about 100 yds x 20 yds of mixed Maple, some Cherry and pine that I'm clearing to open up the long view from the house. I'll use the Maple and Cherry for firewood next year or the following. I've decided it's a LOT more fun to just cut down trees than it is to limb them and clear the...

3° F = finally, Spring is here!

Good to see you're at it Mr. Gordon!

Mr. Gordon, are you getting wood cut for the mill? Haven't seen recent updates on your winter forestry activities...

I ran into the size constraints for a storage shed I built while an expat living in NJ. Made it 12'x16' to stay under 200 sf, which would have triggered code enforcement, $$$ inspections, concrete footers to the frost line, etc. The windows were salvage from a local Habitat for Humanity...

Mr. Winterdeere, it is a thing of beauty to see all that wood split and stacked so uniformly. That's a huge amount of captured sunlight, stored energy and invested human effort! It's like putting money aside to save for retirement...your future self will look back and greatly respect and...

Looks like maybe some Cherry and Ash mixed in Mr. Aba???

After 48 years of marriage, we're adept at negotiations. I had that same discussion with my wife regarding a tote on the porch...she too was suggesting a log ring! I gave her the choice, either a tote on the porch or, I would put it where she desired, and she could handle bringing in the wood...

I use the cut off bin tops when storing the wood outside. Just throw a couple of splits on it to keep it intact. I remove it when the bin is under the porch roof, but have it handy if lots of snow is in the forecast. Harbor Freight moving dollies are handy to maneuver the full bins on the porch.

Right now it's a little more about the wood and a little less about the tractor!

Consider handling wood as exercising. The more times you handle a split, the more you are exercising. Lifting, stacking, bending over, carrying an arm load of wood...it's all good for you! It's keeping you young!!!

That's a good video on the plunge cut Mr. Gordon. I use wedges the traditional way. Looking forward to trying it with the plunge cut, and the 2 side cuts look pretty easy to make. Assuming you keep the hinge width as normal? I generally view all YouTube playback on double speed...that makes...

Very slick dumping addition Mr. Winterdeere! Looks like it may be running off a rear remote? Are there 2 valves in your circuit, original operating the rear remote on the tractor and the one mounted on the wagon? For Anyone: Long wheelbase wagon vs. short wheelbase forwarding version: Seems...

That looks like maybe it's a full load for your dump truck Mr. Gordon? Are prices at the mill interesting yet?

You guys are way more smart and efficient with your wood processing! I'm still a bit more brute force and manual labor at this point, but I only burn a couple of bins per year in a high efficiency fireplace for a bit of atmosphere on the weekends, or the coldest of nights and early mornings. 6...

Looks like you've finally gotten some snow Mr. Gordon. Moving around in that will wear anybody out while limbing!

That's a detailed operation Mr. Winterdeere. Bet you look forward to May! Not sure if it's just the EAB Ash, but it does seem to develop rot fairly quickly where the bark has remained intact. Areas without bark seem to start drying out nicely even before bucking into firewood lengths. A few...

This adjustable sit down/stand up desk works for me. $170 using coupon. Not classic styling, but my back likes it! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H2W9Y3W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Where is Mr. ShooterDon and his processor when you need him?!! Most of this pile is from trees cut and stacked over the last year while clearing 40 year old pasture. They're not huge, but couldn't find time to process while we were finishing the house build. But now the first round of bucking...

Glad you're OK Mr. Winterdeere. That was verrry close to going wobbly. Something like that will give one religion. I've always worn muffs and eye protection. Finally promised my wife I'd add wearing the chaps and gloves that were folded up in my cutting bag. Still only occasionally wear head...

Mr. Gordon, are you getting on OK after your surgery?

$80 a sheet at Menards...local HD doesn't have it in stock.

My last shed build was 2016 at our old house, so 8 short years ago. 12'x16' floor, double layer of 3/4 inch tongue and groove pressure treated plywood floor. Built it to store my dune buggy and I didn't want any issues! Just the cost for the 12 sheets of that plywood today would be over $1000...

Recall seeing somebody had rigged a mount with a hookup similar to the log tongs on the rear 3PH to allow skidding logs. Looked simple to drop over a log, lift and go. If I recall, it was chained to the drawbar also, so the actual horizontal pull for the tow was anchored low, not from the top link.

The plastic bins are quite handy to have also. I cut the tops off a few. One I put over my stump grinder. Makes a perfect storage cover over the whole implement. I use a couple more when I get bulk mulch or mushroom soil, as I don't have a dump truck or dump trailer. I put the bins back in...

That's getting after it! How long will 64 full totes last you?

Thanks for that Mr. Winterdeere. Fold PA in half and I'm at the fold up in the wilds above Williamsport. I'm on the most northern edge, 1/2 mile from the NY border. Souderton looks to be 3.5 hrs away, but surprisingly, I get down to that area. Very helpful!

Perfect Mr. Gordon...I've got a similar rats nest on my remotes. You have me thinking now...need to find a proper hydraulics parts shop nearby...

This should go in the mod thread, but I like the company on this thread better! Proof of Concept Test: Even with a Quick Hitch, I manually connect the top pin on a majority of my implements due to design of the implements. ...And I end up needing to reach through the back of the tractor to the...

Any benefit from a level attached to the vertical, even if it's just tie wrapped on temporary? I run into that same effect when I'm pivoting my back blade at the 3PH end. Deviate from level and it's a fight against gravity pushing the blade and arm. Brian at FitRite built my TnT. I had an...

Finished your crane...and still found time to paint your front weights Mr. Gordon! Bet your shadow has to run just to keep up with you!

They're a huge amount of fun. There's one they call "Rough and Tumble" near Lancaster PA. Big turn out for the steam tractors, plus there are a number of running "hit and Miss" engines running pumps, log saws, corn shucker's, etc. Plus old vintage combustion engine tractors. At Noon all the...

Save those apple trees!!! Last year there were none...this year, our 3 biggest ones are just teeming with apples to make up for it - and the deer know it. Like you said Mr. Gordon, they are deer magnets!

How fitting that it was a barn wedding... You're the best friend ever!!!

Happy Labor day to the folks that frequent this thread. It's kind of a marker for end of Summer...let the Wood season begin! Appreciate all of you guys...

Thanks for that detail Mr. Winterdeere...I've got some well dried pine. I may give it a try.

So simply wondering... Does anyone start a fire in their fireplace with a split of pine added in, using it like a chunk of fatwood? I've never burned pine in an inside fire, but was just wondering if it might help get a fire going quickly without introducing creosote concerns.

Heavy Duty Mr. Winterdeere! I'd be happy move into one of those [emoji56]!!! The storage racks look to be maybe 7'(?) deep? Do you stack with 3 rows of splits?

Mr. Gordon, that winter corduroy road scene gave me a mix of "ugggh" and excitement. Maybe I'm looking forward to Winter a bit, but not 100% considering all that it brings with it. Although they have come and gone for a millenia...guess I might as well embrace its inevitability...but not just...

I've been there. Stumps are dense and deceptively heavy...

^^^^ That's a load!

Big orange bow...put it on the table. ...'course his new wife will never be inviting you over for supper!!!

I've heard... Though one may not be bothered by poison ivy currently, repeat exposure to it may turn it into an irritant. I used to not be bothered...I can get the itch now if not careful...

What's affecting the Maples, and is it affecting all variants?

^^^^^ And that was a bad post! [emoji6]

Thanks Mr. John and Mr. Gordon for your perspectives on splitters. That's trick being able to swap your hitch end for end Mr. Gordon! My BIL and I both have trees and both have firewood need, so there's generally two of us working the splitting process - either at his house or mine...and...

Straightforward and efficient Mr Gordon. Looks like you stack as you go and move the splitter down the stack when needed. I like your use of the bucket to prevent lifting up the rounds, also appears your splits end up on the table (likely you added that?), rather than the ground...so less...

Mr. Kozal, what brand is your fire ring. It looks like a pretty effective smokeless design!

Guess we're all smarter now...! Not sure yet how I would use it... "bull shizzle" just doesn't sound right...

Anybody "near the beach" that you can visit for a week so she can see first hand what traffic and being around crowds is really like? Writing this while visiting our daughter in NEW JERSEY. Unfortunately, we lived around these uncivilized people 17 years too long (meaning New Jerseyians, not my...

That's pretty good...I saw one at an auction this last weekend and thought of you. I had heard that a PTO splitter was slow...but 10 secs at 1400 RPM sound pretty usable.

Mr. Rob, what do you estimate your cycle time is with the PTO splitter? You mentioned your tractor sips diesel - what RPM do you generally run it when splitting?

That's pretty country, and not far from the Krispy Kreme in Clark Summit! Have stopped there a hundred times (maybe only 99 times) while running Rt 81!!!

Thanks Jstpssng...now you cost me 20 bucks ordering Yellow Eye, Soldier, Jacob's Cattle and Marfax bean seeds to plant!!! I'll let you know in 86 days how the bean-hole beans turn out...[emoji16]

^^^^ That could have been used as an 18 inch culvert (for a week or two!!!)...

The article is an education...and now I'm interested in trying it out. Had to look up Yellow Eyes, Jacob's Cattle and Soldier beans too. They are some pretty beans. I've cooked a stew piling coals on a Dutch oven, but the bean-hole is something new. Like the mention of them originally being...

OK...what's a bean hole? (And ya'll get yer minds out of the gutter!)

Mr. Jstpssng, what did you typically have to do for the boundary line maintenance work?

Glanced at Mr. Sawyer Rob's first picture and my first thought was that big old Oak was tangled in a power line! Hmmm... "That could be sketchy to take down..." Then realized he was just tying off his tractor to keep it from wandering away! [emoji57]

Y'all make this one of the best threads on TBN. Everyone contributing is helpful and there is no attitude...seriously.

I would love to give that chain a try...whew, it looks good!

Wow...! Makes me want to hug a 2x4. I have a new appreciation for them. I use local Amish cut wood for Board and Batten siding. Their mill is not quite as efficient...[emoji41]

Sure wish my farm had paved trails like Mr. Sawyer Rob's... He doesn't have to wait for the ground to freeze!

Mr. John_Mc said it the best. I love the EKO's, plus Mr. LouNY's install method. I'm watching the weather to see when I need to mount them again for this winter and looking forward to giving Mr. John's modified method a try!

Mr. Hunt, how did you train the cat to bring wood in for the fire?

Those are very nice logs and that's a nice piece of property Mr. Gordon. The muddy section looks like it could be a challenge depending on the weather... Running your trail video at double speed had me leaning in my easy chair dodging the limbs. Not quite a carnival ride, but way more...

^^^^ I pay attention to Gordon, Sawyer Rob, Jstpssng...well, actually to most of the guys posting on this thread!!! Haven't heard from Mr. Hunt in a while though....

Mr. Gordon, you can always blame the "slower moving and heavier cable" on the heat! (But at least you are out doing it!!!)

You're the best Mr. Gordon!

^^^ That stump is HUGE compared to the tractor. How long did it take to pull it down/out of the ground? And how do you move it to the slash pile?

Quick story: Mentioned to my BIL, who has an auction addiction, that I was looking for a 100' cable to add to my chains to extend pulling logs out of the woods, (old school style, tractor without a logging winch). He won on a lot of (2) 100' cables from a local on-line auction last week and we...

Good looking tractor Mr, RustyIron. Nice set up all around. ...//TJ

Love the umbrella base. What did you use for your finish Mr. Hunt?

Looks like it's time to transition from clearing land to being a wood splitter!

That's a pile of 'em Mr. Gordon...looks like some 24's slipped past Quality Control. You must be a beast to be able to manhandle those!

That'll sure look fine laying on that new mill!

Great video Mr. Jstpssng...it just kept going and going. Interesting how they seemed to all slide off to the left after dominoing the next in line. My luck - the feller gets paid the big bucks...and I'd be the one responsible to limb them all out once he got them down! "BackRoad, it's all...

Interesting observation that I never made till the post by Mr. Gordon about dragging a hitch. All of my work has been focused on felling trees for clearing land and reclaiming pasture. That creates a need to effectively cut "everything"...rather than selective cutting and dragging a hitch out...

Mr. Rusty Iron, are you planning a concrete floor? //Terry

40 miles away...sounds like a road trip! One thumbs up from Mr. GG would sell 100 of these!!!

12 degree kind of cold for the last couple of days...today was 35. Decided to pull shrubs with the grapple to clear a new cross-over on a small creek into some land on the backside of my property since everything has frozen up. Was reaching and tugging on a huge Multiflora rose bush tucked in...

You're a good man Mr. Sawyer Rob! And Mr. Hunt too, for building the benches for his daughter...

This is a great thread! Lots of contributors and no insecure arse trying to prove they're smarter than everybody else...

Nice Mr. Hunt!

The most important question for both of you is whether there are fish in the pond and lake? And the next most important question is when can...WE...go fishing???

Looks like a nice stack of logs started Mr. Gordon... And looks like you had a spectacular late fall day to make it happen. Nice to see blue sky!

Great find...those logs will look good laying on your mill Mr. Sawyer Rob. Elm? Yet they look dark inside, so not sure??? Any guess on how long they've been down? Would be great to see some pics of them opened up!

Thanks for sharing the article Mr. Gordon. What a great example of how one's interests can transform into something with meaning Mr. John_Mc. Enthusiasm can be a potent catalyst.

Mr. Yogi, almost hesitant to post this with the 1000 years of combined experience on this thread, though you've mentioned hard starting saws. Generally with a cold saw - Choke on till it false fires (tries to start the first time), stop pulling and turn the Choke off... It should then start...

I've got a couple of 24" pines on my property (I think White Pine) that I want to get milled for some 1" and some 5/4. Amish mill nearby will do it reasonable. Is there an ideal window between felling and milling to minimize checking? Is there a better season to fell pine to use for finish lumber?

It's a Playstation for big boys! Just curious Mr. Skeans...once you're dialed in and working, is it mostly joystick action, or are you needing to also push buttons all day long? Just thinking that might get old quickly...

Mr. Skeans, in that first picture (Image 495)...I can see a huge Tyrannosaurus Rex coming up behind that harvester! The landscape looks almost tropical...maybe it's the big ferns, the underbrush and the tall trees with no low limbs. Great setting for a dinosaur movie!

Makes total sense Mr. Gordon. That BF scale is magic! Thank you. Suspect you don't have 30 minutes invested in getting it ready for the mill to earn that $60 bucks...so not counting equipment and gas costs, that's $120 per hour! [emoji23] (And I know that's not the reality. Some things are not...

Mr. Gordon, what is your estimate on what you'll be paid for the 4 logs from that tree? I read earlier on this thread that a good mill grader can estimate a load to the board foot. Simply curious on its estimated commercial value.

Mr. Skeans, does your Ash have the borer infestation in the PNW? In northern PA, you can drive by mountains covered in trees, and all the Ash are standing dead.

What does that head use for cutting the logs? Does it go dull? And what do you think that head unit costs? Impressive maneuverability...and a smooth operator!

Nice Peavy! Might be a little big to carry though...

Likely, someone knowledgeable has determined when and what to cut... Although those are some majestic trees nevertheless!!! Just finished a week of hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and even those trees - after being untouched for over 90 years ~~can not~~ be compared in size...

Looks spectacular Mr. Hunt. The copper bands are a nice touch. Looks like you took some extra effort to stabilize the check in the island overhang. Well executed...it adds to the craftsmanship.

This old Oak is just across the back corner of our property line. Wish it was on our side so I could make sure it survives. Not many remain in the wild that are this old or this big in the North East...

Great stuff Mr. Gordon. Looks like you mastered stick welding, fabrication and wood working all at the same time!!

A lot of the Amish around here mill Sycamore... So far, it's still generally .55 / BF...

Oh no Mr. RJPotts...you can't get away with only 2 pics! It looks very slick based on your 2nd pic with the bed up. Need some pics of the underside, the hinges, and your hydraulics set up!

I've got a few hundred trees cut down and bucked up...so far, no issues...although always wanting to improve. So, I got sucked into a blackhole. It was the BC Fallers video series...I couldn't stop watching...although I tried! The size of those Western trees...mesmerizing. I'm at the...

I've got to try the Humboldt..seems you may end up cutting a bit more to remove the shallower wedge... ...but loved how the tree almost seemed to spring forward a few feet, clearing away from the stump!

Mr. Hunt, have you treated your wood, based on that greenish tint? (Can't believe that is mold? 'course, being in South Carolina, maybe??!!)

Thank you, Mr. Gordon. I deal with a few local Amish sawyers when I buy green cut...they've been running .55 per board foot for pine and hemlock. Historically, not significantly cheaper than kiln dried at HD if only buying a few pieces. I've bought a bunch of green from the Amish for board and...

Mr. Gordon, very interesting! 1. How do you keep track of the board feet tally as you deliver it? It seems that might be a bit subjective, or vary, with how you might estimate it, vs. the yard. If a 2"x4"x12' piece of lumber is 8 BF...how do you know how much you have in each of your logs...

Classic...but watch it alone. ..."Come back Shane..."

It would only be 2 pretty good sized logs Mr. Hunt...

Gentlemen... Any ideas on how much of a gap in time is generally safe for Maple to be cut down - before being milled...and still have good wood (not stained)? And similar question for pine, if it's off the ground? For Northern PA...