What have you done to your Branson today?

[Aquamoose]

Branson Bob, what town do you live close to? Nice video! Got the exact same tractor as yours.

 

[Branson Bob]

Nice video, nice place that you have.
Lot of work for water in a semi-arid location.

Yes water is precious here compared to NY where it's so abundant. I grew up in Western New York and lived there for 35 years. An upcoming project will be the installation of a solar slow pump to bring water up from the creek.

Branson Bob, what town do you live close to? Nice video! Got the exact same tractor as yours.

Thanks Aqua, we're in Mariposa County, CA.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Cut down a tree that I've been debating dropping for 2 years. We had a high wind event (90 mph) 2 years ago that broke the top out of this tree. There for a while I thought the tree was a gonner, then it actually started to come back for a while. But there was so much tree gone out of it, the remainder was just pitiful, so finally decided it had to go today.

Used the tractor to tug one side down (split trunk) as it was leaning too far towards the fence. Cut the hinge and just pulled it down with the tractor.



Then just used the forks to carry the rest off to the splitter, and the small trash off to the burn pile.





Have to chase down someone with a stump grinder for this one, as it's right in front of the back steps.

 

[K5lwq]

Cut down a tree that I've been debating dropping for 2 years. We had a high wind event (90 mph) 2 years ago that broke the top out of this tree. There for a while I thought the tree was a gonner, then it actually started to come back for a while. But there was so much tree gone out of it, the remainder was just pitiful, so finally decided it had to go today.

Used the tractor to tug one side down (split trunk) as it was leaning too far towards the fence. Cut the hinge and just pulled it down with the tractor.

View attachment 653730

Then just used the forks to carry the rest off to the splitter, and the small trash off to the burn pile.

View attachment 653731

View attachment 653732

Have to chase down someone with a stump grinder for this one, as it's right in front of the back steps.

Nice job! Maybe even the stump up a bit and mount a bowl for a bird bath. Then it fits in with the back yard and Mrs Slim will like watching the birds?

 

[Branson Bob]

Cut down a tree that I've been debating dropping for 2 years. We had a high wind event (90 mph) 2 years ago that broke the top out of this tree. There for a while I thought the tree was a gonner, then it actually started to come back for a while. But there was so much tree gone out of it, the remainder was just pitiful, so finally decided it had to go today.

Used the tractor to tug one side down (split trunk) as it was leaning too far towards the fence. Cut the hinge and just pulled it down with the tractor.

View attachment 653730

Then just used the forks to carry the rest off to the splitter, and the small trash off to the burn pile.

View attachment 653731

View attachment 653732

Have to chase down someone with a stump grinder for this one, as it's right in front of the back steps.

Good work. Is that some sort of locust tree?

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

That is a Box Elder tree. They grow like weeds, sprout shoots off of cut stumps (if you don't treat them), get large root balls (lots of surface runner roots also), and are a soft, stringy wood. Prone to breaking off tops when they get really big, and for some reason like to grow crooked. That's about all I have around my place is Box Elders.

This one will get cut and split for camp fire (and home fire pit) use, which is about all they're good for.

 

[Branson Bob]

That is a Box Elder tree. They grow like weeds, sprout shoots off of cut stumps (if you don't treat them), get large root balls (lots of surface runner roots also), and are a soft, stringy wood. Prone to breaking off tops when they get really big, and for some reason like to grow crooked. That's about all I have around my place is Box Elders.

This one will get cut and split for camp fire (and home fire pit) use, which is about all they're good for.

**** I should have recognized them. Box elder are actually in the maple family though not as nice as any of the maples. As you suggest the wood is good for just about nothing though you can make syrup from their sap. Much of their heartwood has that red pith in the center. At least they're light and easy to remove.

 

[ptsg]

Yesterday I did another test on my branch chopper. It's almost done and it's way less sketchier with all the guards and hoppers on.

I reduced the rotor speed by changing the ratio on the chain drive and added a flywheel which made it less violent.

It will eat stuff up to 2" to 2 1/4". It can go bigger but it's just to much banging on the tractor and will break the shear bolt every once in a while.

 

[Branson Bob]

Yesterday I did another test on my branch chopper. It's almost done and it's way less sketchier with all the guards and hoppers on.

I reduced the rotor speed by changing the ratio on the chain drive and added a flywheel which made it less violent.

It will eat stuff up to 2" to 2 1/4". It can go bigger but it's just to much banging on the tractor and will break the shear bolt every once in a while.

Good stuff Pedro.

I wish I had your design and fabrication skills.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Rented a walk behind stump grinder yesterday for the final clean up.



It was right out the kitchen door steps, so it was going to be a hazard if I left a stump sticking up above the ground there.

Still have to fill in some dirt around it.

It was fun grinding yesterday in the wind, rain, and snow (yes, it started snowing). At least it melted as soon as it hit the ground.