Tree Terminator

[N80]

The guy who did the lot prep for my cabin charged something like $600 a day (8 hours) with a minimum of $300 for a half day. But that was about 3 years ago. He mentioned to me at the time that he had just purchased some huge mowing machine, like a big articulated wheel loader with a monstrous bush hog on the front, that can mow 'trees', at least young pines. Its the type of thing they clear powerline right of ways with.

However, if I'm going to fork over a bunch of money, I'd prefer a bull dozer to make it all neat, smooth and level and possibly plowable.

As for the chain saw, I've got one, and access to more. But I've tried it. Cut about 1/2 acre on my own. And it is miserable, hard and a bit dangerous. From the porch it looks like a nice field of little pines. Up close you are waist deep in briars and vines and the trees are so close together in places that you can't get down to the base and they won't even fall because they fall against the next tree. Also, sawing that close to the ground is hard on a saw and the chain. The chain dulls rapidly and vines and small branches flip the chain off. So I've given up on that.

Getting a new toy has its appeal, but having someone else do it does to.

Anyone else have any experience with these pincher cutters? For me, the largest thing I'd have to cut is a six inch soft pine.

 

[CT_Tree_Guy]

<font color="blue"> In any case, I suspect $2600 would be more than I'd pay for a dozer clearing 10 acres but I don't know that. Anyone know what dozer rates are and how long it would take to clear 10 acres?
</font>

Wow, I just noticed that for the first time. I'm sure prices vary throughout the country, but here in CT the going rate for land clearing is right around $2,600 per DAY. Given what I know about machinery costs (purchase, maintenance, fuel, depreciation, storing, transporting, insuring, etc.), it seems to me that someone would have to be completely out of his mind to clear an acre of land for $260. That is approximately what I charge per hour for residential tree removal, which is just slightly less capital-intensive than land clearing.

 

[Turkeyman]

I have a JD 4720 that puts out 13 gpm and I was told it was not enough, my psi was not high enough and the heat would kill my hydro. My local Cat and Bobcat store will allow me to rent one of their skid steers and put this attachment on it for about $220 per 8 hrs.
Instead I bought a Stihl brush saw ( 44cc HD weed eater) with a saw blade, On 3-4 passes I cut thru 6" Southern pine trees. Then I push them in the direction I want them to go and pick them up w/ a front grapple.

 

[Turkeyman]

The wheel loader with a cutter on the front is a Hydro Axe- it will cut a 8" pine tree. Our State DOT has at least 2 of them, not sure what they cost for a day but I bet at least the $2600. Plus it weighs about 45,000 lbs so there probably would be a hauling fee.

Not sure where you live but call your local Cat or Bobcat store, and rent a med tracked skid steer loader and push the land yourself. They are easy to drive and do a good job. The problem here is the trash pile will be pretty large for your land, and they will not give you a smooth field. These can be hauled behind a 3/4 ton truck too.

Have fun.

 

[andrewj]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The guy who did the lot prep for my cabin charged something like $600 a day (8 hours) with a minimum of $300 for a half day. But that was about 3 years ago. He mentioned to me at the time that he had just purchased some huge mowing machine, like a big articulated wheel loader with a monstrous bush hog on the front, that can mow 'trees', at least young pines. Its the type of thing they clear powerline right of ways with.

However, if I'm going to fork over a bunch of money, I'd prefer a bull dozer to make it all neat, smooth and level and possibly plowable.

As for the chain saw, I've got one, and access to more. But I've tried it. Cut about 1/2 acre on my own. And it is miserable, hard and a bit dangerous. From the porch it looks like a nice field of little pines. Up close you are waist deep in briars and vines and the trees are so close together in places that you can't get down to the base and they won't even fall because they fall against the next tree. Also, sawing that close to the ground is hard on a saw and the chain. The chain dulls rapidly and vines and small branches flip the chain off. So I've given up on that.

Getting a new toy has its appeal, but having someone else do it does to.

Anyone else have any experience with these pincher cutters? For me, the largest thing I'd have to cut is a six inch soft pine. )</font>

hey brother, i know how you feel. sounds like the original chain on your saw, i'd buy a new chain and it should stay on. the factory chains stretch within first hour of use and are throwaway. I have cleared several acres here in SC bhe hard way, so I feel yoru pain literally.

 

[N80]

It is definitely due for a new chain, but it is an old saw and has been through many chains. Its a cheap old (15 years or more) McCullough or something like that, but the engine runs like a top.