Tree Shears

[pane056]

Hello:

Thinking about buying a Tree Shear for our JD 3320 with 300 CX loader. Any information would be great.

Thanks, nicholas

 

[greasemonkeyok]

I have had the same idea, but have been discouraged by what the local rental guys say. They don't rent them any more because it is hard for the casual user to predict the forces that a tree is going to have on the front end. The rental guys say the damage rate is just too high, even on a skid loader. So, that makes me wonder if I want to invest the money. I suppose if you are going to be using it on trees three inches or smaller in diameter, it is OK.

 

[pane056]

Hello Mr. Greasemonkeyok;

You state the same concerns I have had. I did not know the bit about the rental guys. One shear I was looking at on the web said it had a capacity of 10". No way in the world would I try to shear a tree that big regardless of what shear I had.

Many yeas ago I had a commercial operator come in to Shear & Chip some trees. I don't remember what make or model shear they had but it was BIG and with the grabbers to hold the tree while shearing.
My wife and I were sitting on a nearby hillside watching. The shear went up to a poplar about 100' high and over 12" diamaeter. He sheared the tree which started to fall to the left. The tree tipped the shear over to about 45 degrees before the operator could release the tree. The shear went back to upright and all was well.. Later talking with the operator he said he thought for sure he would mess his pants.

We have a 35 year old Austrian Pine plantation. Most of the trees have grown nicely to about 30 feet. But mixed in are the runts, 5" and less. Those are the ones I would like to shear.

I used to just chain saw them but with a bad back and recovering from total knee replacement the chain saw is out.

Thanks, nicholas