bundling logs

[Garthhh]

I have lots of live oak, which I'm thinning
the limbs are up to 5" around & make good firewood
I generally use a chain to choke 5-10 10 foot logs & drag them to a central location to cut, stack & dry

if I were able to somehow band them in say 3 places, it would speed the process. I have a bucket of 1/4" chain, what I'm trying to figure out is how to lock a choke easily & cheaply?

 

[nwngunner]

i would think a small ratchet binder or a small ratchet strap would work.

 

[boggen]

you will need to use a "chain" anything else, will get snagged and chipped and cut away and break on you.

also when trying to pull multi logs, you might get one end done ok, but the other end if not done, will cause the logs to roll about all over the place. even if you do choke up both ends, during the dragging the logs will shift and move about. and by the time you get to place you want, you almost need to unhook the chain, and then use tractor to pull chain out. sometimes dragging the trees even further along behind you.

suggestion would be if you have a FEL or backhoe or like, is to load onto trailer. or get some pallet forks, either for the FEL or for 3PT hitch. and move with the pallet forks.

i have been tempted, to take a spare "draw bar" and run a chain on each end of spare draw bar, back to tractor, and then run a chain off of "spare draw bar" to each log individual, keeping the chain as short as possible. that way if you loose one log due to choke was not tight enough you only use one log, and if keep chains short enough, hopefully the logs will not roll over on top of each other. and make it easier to undo once you get to the spot. ((never done this before)) but been tempted to so many times to do so.

for me i have enough "corners" i have to take, that i need to keep the logs far enough back, behind me, so they do not snag something, then all of a sudden jump back into rear end of tractor. or keep me from taking a sharp turn.

on smaller branches, small enough that i can man handle myself. i have taken a chain that has large size "holes" and then taken some bolts and a few washers and nuts, and kinda stitched the chain around each individual branch. it is a pain to undo each bolt and to tighten each bolt. and some bolts get bent up pretty bad. but when i have to drive 1/2 mile plus to drag the branches to central spot to deal with. a few extra minutes dealing with the bolts and chain works. granted this only works, due to i can man handle the branches to move them, and free up the chain as it will get caught and under many things. "hence tempting to do the spray draw bar" i just have not needed to drag enough branches far enough and that often enough, to make it worth while to spend a couple hours making something up.

 

[newbury]

I have lots of live oak, which I'm thinning
the limbs are up to 5" around & make good firewood
I generally use a chain to choke 5-10 10 foot logs & drag them to a central location to cut, stack & dry

if I were able to somehow band them in say 3 places, it would speed the process. I have a bucket of 1/4" chain, what I'm trying to figure out is how to lock a choke easily & cheaply?

I'd expect if you are dragging logs that weigh about 120lbs each in groups of 5 or 10 you'll be breaking a lot of 1/4" chain with it bouncing around. Also if your dragging across anything hard the chain and fastener will wear

What about making one more cut so they are a multiple of your final cut, say 4' or 6', bind them on each end and carry with FEL or pallet forks? Then just use a carabiner to hold each chain together, since it won't be dragged it should survive.

Best of course would be a large grapple

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Get or make a log skidder for the 3PT. I use a carryall attachment. You start down low, wrap chain around several logs, hook to the top of the skidder, raise the 3PT about a foot and drag. That way only the far end of the logs drag. If you drag the logs flat on the ground they will embed dirt and small rocks which are deadly on saw chains..

Ron

 

[Garthhh]

I've been using 3/8" chain & slip hooks for dragging logs,

I have used the 1/4" for large piles of brush [makes a nice finishing rake for dirt roads & at least 70% makes it to the burn pile]
I'm reluctant to cut logs shorter lengths, ends are harder to cut safely
the less I handle the logs, the more productive I am

with any kind of rigging there will be a certain amount of attrition
I also use straps moving chunks of granite around with the FEL. I have a 2" strap ratchet bolted down right behind the bucket

our property is 3 pastures broken up with thicket & rock on 2 levels.

ideally I would be able to have several bundles, bound up in 3 places, ready to saw.
I have been throwing 3-10 logs up on a couple of 2 foot across logs, so I don't have to saw on the ground

Banding would work, but without a powered tightener the roi would suck [too much $ & time]

I own the 1/4" chain
a slip hook or a shackle, with a bolt or other pin to lock would be ok
which leaves the tightener
which should be portable, light & quick