Got Wood

elalexander · Jan 31, 2008

I had the day off so I got busy cutting a hickory blowdown up. We plan to use this for the front of a bar in our rec room. The bar idea will be very similar to RobS's bar in his post on his basement remodeling. The Hickory is around 14 1/2 " in diameter and I cut them just over 11' so I can get several pieces for this project. Also, I am hooking up to a wild cherry around 12" diameter. This my friend and neighbor wants to have dried to make picture frames and the likes out of.

Also, I recently bought the log tongs and boom pole to make hooking up by myself easier. It works great. I must say, as the pics show my tractor has no ROPS. I was very careful to keep the load close to the machine when I wa skidding. I did have to hook up on the end of the boom pole due to stumps, other trees etc. Once lifted I placed logs, rocks etc under the logs so I could cut them, rehook etc.

Also show some other blow downs I need to get on along with a self portrait and my machine when the day was done.

Enjoy, EL.

Dmace · Jan 31, 2008

Great pictures, that is one cool old machine! Those rear tires look massive.

JB4310 · Jan 31, 2008

Nice machine, is that 4x4? I had a very high double leader hickory growing right off the back of my little shop, just bought the place 5 years ago and cut down the tree about 3 years ago, the trunk sections were the size of yours but very long. I didn't even know what kind of wood it was at the time and just cut some bench length sections for around the outside fireplace. found out it is the best fire wood IMO much better than even oak, using in the inside fireplace.

jinman · Feb 1, 2008

Nice job! Be sure and show us some pictures after you get it cut up. I hope you have some really pretty wood.

Last weekend I was using some hand tongs (actually old ice block tongs) to move some crossties. They worked great.

RobS · Feb 1, 2008

elalexander said:
I had the day off so I got busy cutting a hickory blowdown up. We plan to use this for the front of a bar in our rec room. The bar idea will be very similar to RobS's bar in his post on his basement remodeling. The Hickory is around 14 1/2 " in diameter and I cut them just over 11' so I can get several pieces for this project. Also, I am hooking up to a wild cherry around 12" diameter. This my friend and neighbor wants to have dried to make picture frames and the likes out of.

Also, I recently bought the log tongs and boom pole to make hooking up by myself easier. It works great. I must say, as the pics show my tractor has no ROPS. I was very careful to keep the load close to the machine when I wa skidding. I did have to hook up on the end of the boom pole due to stumps, other trees etc. Once lifted I placed logs, rocks etc under the logs so I could cut them, rehook etc.

Also show some other blow downs I need to get on along with a self portrait and my machine when the day was done.

Enjoy, EL.

Great pics Eric, but where's the snow? I'm flattered that you reference my basement project, thanks. A bar in beautiful wood from your own property will be special indeed. Can't wait to see more!

Egon · Feb 1, 2008

Very nice pictures.

Those look like nice logs. How will you mill them for lumber?

EddieWalker · Feb 1, 2008

Looks like a fun project. I'm really interested to see how you cut up your lumber. Do you have a mill of some kind?

Eddie

WayneB · Feb 1, 2008

Looks like a fun project. Take pictures of cutting up the logs too! By the way I like your hat!

elalexander · Feb 1, 2008

Hey I'll be sure to post some pics when I cut these up. I love my new camera and playing with it too as you can tell

. Anyway, Brad, one of my co-workers has not only a JD790 but a Woodmizer saw mill. I'll help him cut these up then over to the wood shop for drying and milling. Last year I skidded out several red oak logs. I traded some locust wood to a co-worker/farmer friend of mine. He needed locust for fench post. So we traded wood for his Peterson swing saw time. I didn't take any pics of that but it was very impressive.

Rob the snow left and I thought the ground would still be fairly hard but made some mud. I'm glad I got this done yesterday because this morning we woke up to an ice storm. Nasty stuff for sure. I sure like my tractor and we go back and forth on replacing it. When I get out like yesterday and use it all day I hate to think of spending money when this girl runs fine and is in great shape for an 82 model. And yea it's a 4x4.

As for the self portrait, my grandaughters liked the pics I posted of them in their playhose and ask why I don't take pictures of myself. Anyway, just for fun this canon S5 has a swing out viewer. I got playing around with it and I saw myself and thought what the heck. The camera is under warrenty still

.

EL

elalexander · Feb 1, 2008

Here are a few more pictures. I also included one for Mister Roy Jackson, who likes vertical exhaust and plenty of gear shifts. Manly tractors

Enjoy, EL.

RobS · Feb 1, 2008

elalexander said:
Here are a few more pictures. I also included one for Mister Roy Jackson, who likes vertical exhaust and plenty of gear shifts. Manly tractors

Enjoy, EL.

Yeah, gotta love all those levers. I especially love it when I snag the cuff of my pants on one climbing in! That is a cool tractor, I never knew Bolens sold a diesel compact until I saw yours.

elalexander · Feb 1, 2008

On my way back from the barn a few minutes ago I thought how glad I am I got these logs out yesterday instead of waiting until today. The picture with todays date, 2/1/2008, is showing mostly ice/freezing rain/sleet. I just hope we don't start having limbs breaking off.

I've included a summer and fall picture of the same area of the back yard just to help lift the spirts of those of you who may wish to harm the groundhog if he gives an unfavorible forecast tomorrow.

Enjoy, EL.

elalexander · Feb 1, 2008

Hey Rob. Wait until ya snag one gettin off. Major deduction on the dismount

.

RobS · Feb 1, 2008

That hammock looks pretty inviting. Let's see... if I plant a couple of trees now, in 50 years or so I should be able to relax in my own hammock, right???

Bill Barrett · Feb 1, 2008

Looks like fun, thanks for the info in my chainsaw thread. You a Gould pump man or just a hat? I've been selling them for 30 years.

elalexander · Feb 1, 2008

Hey High 5's Bill. Goulds man. I work as a Multicraft Journeyman in a papermill and your pumps are all around me.

I've toured your plant and attended the seminars at Senica Falls. Great people and products. Been working on them for over 22 years.

My Granddaughters are 8 now, they were 3 or 4 in the attached picture. Ya think I can get a new hat

EL

westbrooklawn · Feb 1, 2008

Why get a new hat???.... that one is just broken in!! Your place looks great. I reminds me of where I grew up in Upstate New York.

You can really tell that those grandaughters love their "pap pap"... life is good!

RoyJackson · Feb 2, 2008

elalexander said:
Here are a few more pictures. I also included one for Mister Roy Jackson, who likes vertical exhaust and plenty of gear shifts. Manly tractors

Enjoy, EL.

Great pics..thank you very much!

Manly tractors are those that are simple, robust and direct in their operation. These machines are expected to last for decades...not the next model year.
The men who operate these tractors are also straight forward, no BS kind of guys...those men have my respect.

Too much more..I'd go political and probably get this thread closed...so, i reckon I'll end my post here...

elalexander · Feb 2, 2008

Hey thank you all for the great comments. My better half suggest I let you, my little tractor buddies know, that from the pictures deplicting my facial hair growth, and wear and tear on "that" hat is about the same time frame as this project is moving so far.

Slow, real slow.

But.....she does like my tractor

And she is still feeding me.

jinman · Feb 2, 2008

elalexander said:
The picture with todays date, 2/1/2008, is showing mostly ice/freezing rain/sleet.

I looked at your July picture and the thermometer said 80. The fall picture had the thermometer at 60. Then I looked at your 2/2/2008 picture and you cut off the thermometer.

Dang! I wanted to see how cold it is there of Feb 1st.