FEL Log bucking attachment

[blueone]

Made this up yesterday from an old forklift back frame. I needed to make something to raise logs up so I don't have to bend down to buck them and wanted more support than the set of clamp on forks I made. May need some more work, after I test it.

 

[20 20]

nice job

 

[blueone]

Thanks 20 20 I had to do something. I heat with wood and wanted to make my life a little easier.

 

[studor]

Blueone -- Thanks -- I like the idea but my chainsaw always seems to find any metal or rocks within a half mile of the blade You now have me thinking about a wood version that would fasten onto the bucket and act as a sawbuck

 

[beenthere]

So, do you have the spacing right that you will saw down between the spikes on the bucket? I don't like the risk of hitting steel with my chain saw.

I find that picking up a log to buck (only have forks), that it becomes imbalanced and I have to run back and forth sawing ends off to keep it balanced. One thought I had to correct this, was add a hold-down finger in the center to hold the log tight to the bucket.

However, I find bucking logs on the ground (sawing about 3/4 through along the log then rolling the log once to finish the bucking cuts) is by far the fastest way. Just that standing up to buck is better on the back.

 

[tawilson]

I've got a set of stone forks and sometimes use them in a similar way. Another trick I use is to hook a set of skidding tongs to the bucket with a chain and pick the logs up with that. With a little practice you can drive up to the log and pick it up without getting off the tractor.

 

[blueone]

I tested this out and it works better than I expected as I can buck up a log 10-20' long and not keep running back and forth, it stays put. As for the spacing it works fine for me as long as your not so picky to give or take an inch or 2-3. As the metal goes you just have to keep your mind with what your doing. I cut up 3/4 of a cord and had no saw trouble.

 

[CurlyDave]

I don't heat with wood, but I have a few hunting buddies that do.

The deal is that I will help them with getting dead wood from our property if they will cut it up and only take what the logs I want them to.

I use a grapple and hold the log over the bed of their pickup while they buck logs off the end. The wood comes out pre-loaded into the truck this way.

 

[beenthere]

Great. I hear you saying you can pick up a 20' log, buck one end at a time, and not run back and forth. Hmmm? A pic of that would be good. This is where a top finger (or thumb) or two dropped down on the log would be real handy.

I would like to see some pics of logs on the FEL.

Curly, that sounds like a great idea.

 

[Leejohn]

This my log bucker and the set up, when I have someone running the splitter.

 

[magicheater]

I scored an old pile of logs last spring, here is what I did. I have some pics somewhere of my Grapple I will post when I find them.

 

[Oldchuck]

I too use my grapple to hold logs for bucking. Considerably better than forks as balance is less of a problem. I can hold the log well off center and just saw from one end. I've also sawed directly into a pick up bed which works fine when I don't need to split the rounds. Sawing into a compact pile for splitting requires some repositioning of the tractor for best efficiency but that's no big deal.

I want those logs off the ground because sawing on the ground is murder on my back. Also the more you can keep them out of the dirt and requiring less handling the better.

The last four feet of log remains a problem because, like everybody, I'm not comfortable sawing so close to steel. I'd like to figure out some wood device I can slap on the grapple and take off easily that will protect the chain teeth from my sloppiness.

 

[blueone]

Great. I hear you saying you can pick up a 20' log, buck one end at a time, and not run back and forth. Hmmm?

I'll try to get some pic this evening. Now on running back and forth I didn't say I never had to do that, now I only need to do it a few time per log not every cut. But is sure an improvement from what I was doing in the past, hanging from tongs.

 

[CurlyDave]

The last four feet of log remains a problem because, like everybody, I'm not comfortable sawing so close to steel. I'd like to figure out some wood device I can slap on the grapple and take off easily that will protect the chain teeth from my sloppiness.

Just pick it up from the end, unicorn style, in the grapple.

 

[justneedit]

For years I've used forks on my bucket to buck logs. The bucket is 6 1/2' wide and with the forks spread all the way to the outer edges of the bucket I find it's possible to buck a long log up with only a couple of runs from end to end. Also, with the forks, when it gets cut down to the fork on each end, I just cut most of the way through on all but one of the last cuts then make the last cut up from the bottom of the log to drop the ends to the ground. If the forks are about level when doing this, the log can be rolled out on the forks far enough to allow cutting without danger of hitting the bucket edge. Once the last pieces are on the ground they can be rolled in position to finish the last cuts without getting into the dirt. I find this system works for me.