trail clearing technique and tools

[ArlyA]

Here is shoots and weeds that will be whacked with .155 string.

and afterwards.

 

[airbiscuit]

I had a 15hp MTD rider with a 2blade 42" deck. It was meant for grass but i was amazed at how much brush it would cut. Anything up to 3/4" as long as I didn't get high centered, It would easily go through stuff like that. It was abuse, but didn't seem to hurt it.

 

[kenmbz]

The brush rover-when you need to get yourself bruised by brush.
Guy takes some big hits in that video.

Not sure how that thing doesn't start riding up some of the saplings?

Arly, my brush looks like trees and most is 1-3" (not including the dead Ash everywhere).
I hope to get my short trails to a point where I can use string.

Keep the pictures coming, always nice to see the different trails you maintain.

 

[ArlyA]

The brush rover-when you need to get yourself bruised by brush.
Guy takes some big hits in that video.

Not sure how that thing doesn't start riding up some of the saplings?

Arly, my brush looks like trees and most is 1-3" (not including the dead Ash everywhere).
I hope to get my short trails to a point where I can use string.

Keep the pictures coming, always nice to see the different trails you maintain.

Thank you for your kind words ken, We have more work to do on those XC trails and will post more from that. Other things to be done is signage and other things ones need to do have public trails.

 

[ArlyA]

We spent just a few hours out there today and cleared a turn-around spot on the logging road. Man-o-man colors are at there max here. First photo shows the area that needs to be made a bit wider.

After clearing, it gets tested. I went around it going both directions.. Its margianly wide enought since snow and pods makes machine turning radius much larger.

We cleared on more spot before our short work day came to an end.

 

[Frankenkubota]

I read a good way to smooth trails was to drag a tree. So happens in the last 2 years i have cut down hundreds if not thousands of weedy trees, nasty undergrowth stuff that varies from, 1-4 inches, 4-5 different species. I leave the big ones!

i've dragged these tree bundles over the same trails and those trails are smooth as a babies butt!

 

[ArlyA]

We'll be out in the am to clear this trail more. Of course I'll take pics for you characters.

 

[ArlyA]

We worked on a different section today on the same system and got something done to it. We worked off the end of a logging road seen in earlier pics and cut a turn around trail. This would be a "lollypop" like portion.

Behind Wally is what we will be clearing.

What a day to be in the woods!

Here you can see what we did, after it was cleared.

I'd make a list of the tools and supplies that go out with us if anyone would care to see that. Let me know you thoughts.

 

[ArlyA]

Pics taken today while clearing this trail. 2 legs of this three section trail have now been cleared.

This dead-fall was kerfed off so as to not hook an implment. Only pole saws used.

The sun coming up and getting over the canopy this am.

This branch will be pulled down by snow and onto the trail so its coming off.

 

[TCowner]

An October day in northern Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan, does it get any better? The warm weather folks just don't know what they are missing.

 

[kenmbz]

Got some time and ran a tank of gas through the FS110 using the renegade hybrid 8" blade.

Blade stayed sharp and bounced on a rock with no visible damage.
Sting just caught up in this mess.

Will clean the blade and see how it held up.

 

[ultrarunner]

If the gas engine trimmer/brush cutter prohibition spreads will you be able to continue?

People said unleaded fuel was a California only thing when it started and we know how that went and with California banning sale of new equipment and some areas already outright banning use or even testing I believe it is just a matter of time… just like two-stroke outboards…

 

[kenmbz]

I have a battery trimmer/pole saw.
It would not be able to drive this blade.

I also have many 30"+ dead ash, doubt an electric saw would deal with that today.

Someday these battery devices will handle these kind of tough jobs, just not today.
Cycling batteries through the charge is not fun.

 

[ultrarunner]

Yes... charge can be quick but hoe to charge remote?

Early on I bought Makita circa 1980's with optional automotive charger which worked well...

 

[JamesHW]

Finally managing to get some seat shoe time with my BCS.

 

[deezler]

No before/after, James? Looks like you just placed that mower out in the woods for a photo-op, lol.

 

[ArlyA]

Finally managing to get some seat shoe time with my BCS. View attachment 717497

James, Please post more pics of this machine. Details are good!

 

[ElSueno Farms]

I did not see a make or model for the cam lock string cutter heads shown in you photos. I reviewed Amazon and stihl pages and yet to see a model quite like this you have such success with. I have several acres with fence and overgrowth and probably be able to squeeze a few more years out of a stihl string trimmer if I could locate a good string head. I had a walk behind gas engine string trimmer that used a similar head but the rest of the machine did not hold up. if you could provide a make/ model and source I would appreciate it.

 

[ArlyA]

I did not see a make or model for the cam lock string cutter heads shown in you photos. I reviewed Amazon and stihl pages and yet to see a model quite like this you have such success with. I have several acres with fence and overgrowth and probably be able to squeeze a few more years out of a stihl string trimmer if I could locate a good string head. I had a walk behind gas engine string trimmer that used a similar head but the rest of the machine did not hold up. if you could provide a make/ model and source I would appreciate it.

Its a "Fixed string head" but you need one that works for .155 string if you hope to run that. We used Oregon made ones for years but now I can't locate them. I did see some metal ones but we tried them and didn't like them. Plastic is the way to go so you can run them against the ground.. The last two we purchased were Stihl built so I'd suggest you call your locale dealer. Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

[ning]

Its a "Fixed string head" but you need one that works for .155 string if you hope to run that. We used Oregon made ones for years but now I can't locate them. I did see some metal ones but we tried them and didn't like them. Plastic is the way to go so you can run them against the ground.. The last two we purchased were Stihl built so I'd suggest you call your locale dealer. Sorry I can't be of more help.

My wife uses the same thing, she bought the head at our LHS that carries Echo (her trimmer is a light commercial Echo unit), but the head itself may be a Stihl. She also swears by the .155 for blackberries / oak shoots & suckers; before she starts I'll see her cutting a big batch of lines and then she goes out and works for a while.