My Meager Firewood process

[Danaidh]

@WI_Hedgehog asked about my log moving system and firewood process.

Several years ago, before the company split, I purchased Titan's 29" log grapple. About the same time, I was gifted an old beat-up 12' trailer with a single heavy-duty axle of unknown weight capacity. I hook-up the trailer to my 4wd John deere tractor with log grapple attached and chainsaws on board.

I drive into the woods to a pre-selected Pine, Oak, Elm or Hickory to cut. The tree species has been pre-selected for firewood or lumber. The trailer is parked in an area which allows for loading logs with the tractor. The tree is felled and cut up into log lengths that I need for lumber or lengths to be cut up later for firewood. The Trailer is loaded via the log grapple. The weight limit is determined by the squat of the trailer springs and tires.

The trailer is reattached to the tractor and the logs are moved to the sawmill or firewood area. If the logs are for lumber they are stacked in a whack in anticipation of sawing into lumber. If for firewood, the logs are unloaded in an open firewood area. Then I pick up each log with the grapple and saw it into firewood lengths. I have a hydraulic wood splitter which I use to split firewood and then stack it in place or later move with the tractor bucket to a firewood rack.

Slabs from sawing lumber are also used for firewood.

That is my current method for moving and using logs. The Titan log grapple has been invaluable to me as a land manager.

Kind regards,
Dan

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

Thanks for starting the conversation, I'm looking forward to the replies. I'm still missing the grapple and a decent trailer hitch setup. Got the top shredder though, and a big box for the chips, so "mostly there."

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

ok.... I'll share. All photos pulled from internet.
I am very happy with my setup and if I could start from scratch I would do it exactly the same.
In my woodlot I use a L3301 open cab HST with a loader up front. No cab as I worry about glass breakage.

I pull trees out of the bush with a Wallenstein FX85 winch. Its more than big enough to handle any trees I have as 20" diameter is max. The tractor handles this winch very well. Going bigger not needed and not sure tractor would really like a bigger one anyways. 165' of cable.

I cut my trees into 20' - 25' lengths and place them on a double axle, 7,000 pound trailer. this lets me haul 5,000 pounds of wood which is about 2/3 of a cord at a time. I use a Everything Attachments root grapple to pick up the 20-25 footers and place on the deck. I use a log weight calculator to load the trailer then use tractor to pull back to my shop.

I pull the 20-25 foot trunks through a Wallenstein WP870 wood processor and with a 80 yo+ helper we make a 1.2 cord pile of wood per hour. By myself I do slightly less than a cord an hour. WP runs on a honda gas motor driving a hydraulic pump, winch infeed is hydraulic and my chainsaw of choice is a Stihl 261 c-m

 

[NCL4701]

I’ve used two systems since getting the L. When I started my father and I both heated about 2000SF of our houses with wood. My father passed a couple years ago so I only need about half what I used to and it’s not a tremendous amount. Not like I'm selling it.

First process. Cut logs 84” (our stove takes 21” pieces) and bring them back to wood yard a few at a time with grapple depending on size. Cut to 21” lengths, split primarily with a typical 20 ton hydraulic splitter (use 8lb maul, wedges, and a 16lb rock hammer for stuff too big for the splitter), and stack in a traditional stack covered with cardboard, then plastic, then tarp about 1/2 way down the sides.

Probably sounds inefficient, but I’m moving it 3/4 a mile or less so a lot of wood can be moved pretty quickly. Depending on where it is in the property, I may have pretty tight windows when it’s dry enough to pull wood, so getting it out of the woods and to the wood yard efficiently is my pinch point. Once it’s at the wood yard I can work it up pretty much whenever. In a day and a half or so I can move enough wood just hauling with the grapple to last me a year, assuming it’s already cut to length and ready to go.

Picked up a Farmi W50R skidding winch last year. Even though I don’t cut large quantities of firewood, I got the winch because our topography is quite challenging in much of the property, it’s just me working alone, and I needed it more for cleanup and maintenance than for firewood production. Anyway, now I cut logs to lengths in multiples of 21” and skid them back to the wood yard for processing. Usually carry a grapple load of 84” stuff at the same time. I do have to be cognizant of the amount of wood we need because I can move a lot of wood to the wood yard really quickly with the winch/grapple combo and end up processing more than I need.

Saw is an old Husqvarna 455 Rancher. Ran a variety of Stihls back in the day when I worked for a tree service. They were good saws. The little Husky isn’t the fastest, but it is the most reliable saw I’ve had the pleasure to use.

System was much different when my father, brother, and I worked on it together with a 9N Ford, trailer, two saws, and all manual splitting. Appropriate equipment setup is more important with a one man system v three man system IME. In a one man operation, I want the wood in big, tractor sized chunks until it’s ready to go right on the stack because every time I move it manually it slows the process and I really don't care to move it manually any more than I have to.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

I have a couple scenarios…

1. At my residence (very steep/hilly property and access by machine is limited):
A. As a much younger man with an ATV or tractor, I cut everything in place and carried up the hill chunk by chunk…man was I shape for hunting deer in the Adirondacks and elk out west….i still laugh at cross fitters paying to do work.

B. Now that reality has set in (age has set in)So long as I can get close to the trunk with ATV or tractor:
1. If possible I try to get the tree into an opening. If not I top and drag trunk minimal amount until I can get the B and grapple to it.

2. If I am able to cut into smaller logs, I’ll haul those up to house/barn with the grapple and then cutting into smaller pieces and split…I’ll use a maul still as much as possible but I have given Up with elm…our elm is pretty stringy and twisted and I go the splitter for it now that reality has set in…then put under the awning.

3. Up North:
I use a combination of the MX, grapple, homemade skidding attachment, and wagon to bring logs back to barn and palletizing area to cut split (all by hand) and the bring under the awning for winter.

In the near future I hope to swap out the homemade skidding attachment for an actual winch…stay tuned, if weather allows and the planets align I will finally be pick up and deliver my spousal units Christmas present…she still gets to unwrap it (from last year…weather has not allowed me to pick it up yet) next weekend…

In terms of gear, I am using 3 stihl saws, and old farm boss, a 461, and a top handle…top handle is the way to go for limbing and working off the ground IMO.
Then There are the labonville chaps, haix boots, and a stihl helmet with the muffs/face screen.

 

[Survivor]

I have a couple scenarios…

1. At my residence (very steep/hilly property and access by machine is limited):
A. As a much younger man with an ATV or tractor, I cut everything in place and carried up the hill chunk by chunk…man was I shape for hunting deer in the Adirondacks and elk out west….i still laugh at cross fitters paying to do work.

B. Now that reality has set in (age has set in)So long as I can get close to the trunk with ATV or tractor:
1. If possible I try to get the tree into an opening. If not I top and drag trunk minimal amount until I can get the B and grapple to it.
View attachment 149462 View attachment 149463
2. If I am able to cut into smaller logs, I’ll haul those up to house/barn with the grapple and then cutting into smaller pieces and split…I’ll use a maul still as much as possible but I have given Up with elm…our elm is pretty stringy and twisted and I go the splitter for it now that reality has set in…then put under the awning.
View attachment 149464

3. Up North:
I use a combination of the MX, grapple, homemade skidding attachment, and wagon to bring logs back to barn and palletizing area to cut split (all by hand) and the bring under the awning for winter.
View attachment 149466 View attachment 149467 View attachment 149468 View attachment 149469 View attachment 149470

In the near future I hope to swap out the homemade skidding attachment for an actual winch…stay tuned, if weather allows and the planets align I will finally be pick up and deliver my spousal units Christmas present…she still gets to unwrap it (from last year…weather has not allowed me to pick it up yet) next weekend…
View attachment 149471

In terms of gear, I am using 3 stihl saws, and old farm boss, a 461, and a top handle…top handle is the way to go for limbing and working off the ground IMO.
Then There are the labonville chaps, haix boots, and a stihl helmet with the muffs/face screen.

Nifty three point log skidding attachment. About the best I've seen for that type.

i've been doing more or less the same process, except I have a RamSplitter swivel hydraulic grapple skidder. Self centers (mostly!) and opens to 55" and closes to about 6" so it handles everything from single logs to a bunch of brushy small trees. I don't cut anything up out in the woods unless it is a very large long tree that I don't think my tractor can pull it including the sometimes massive crown. So I have to whack in half somewhere and make two turns out of it.

I also have a Titan Attachments brush rake for pushing up piles to burn, or just bashing a path through the woods.

I'm thinning my forest as I go, so I never have much trouble getting backed up close enough to the butt end of a tree to get a hold of it with the grapple. Sometimes have to be a bit creative or use the big brush rake to rearrange things.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Thanks…that home made implement was one of my finest examples of catalog engineering. And I have seen that since my original project post on it, one manufacturers has something easily similar, which is the best compliment of all. That being said, I think I would have been better at ff to just modify the QH or get a second QH and modify and use for that purpose….or better yet go straight to the logging winch.

ive had good luck with titan stuff so far…landscape rake is on my bucket list, wont be long, but I am not sure which maker I will go with. I’d really like to try / use one before a purchase and I have not seen an opportunity to demo one and no one I know has one to try.

 

[NCL4701]

Nifty three point log skidding attachment. About the best I've seen for that type.

i've been doing more or less the same process, except I have a RamSplitter swivel hydraulic grapple skidder. Self centers (mostly!) and opens to 55" and closes to about 6" so it handles everything from single logs to a bunch of brushy small trees. I don't cut anything up out in the woods unless it is a very large long tree that I don't think my tractor can pull it including the sometimes massive crown. So I have to whack in half somewhere and make two turns out of it.

I also have a Titan Attachments brush rake for pushing up piles to burn, or just bashing a path through the woods.

I'm thinning my forest as I go, so I never have much trouble getting backed up close enough to the butt end of a tree to get a hold of it with the grapple. Sometimes have to be a bit creative or use the big brush rake to rearrange things.

Assuming your grapple is something like this: https://ramsplitter.com/shop/ols/products/3pt-grapple

Seen a few for larger tractors. Don’t recall ever seeing one sized for a CUT. Nice!

 

[Survivor]

Assuming your grapple is something like this: https://ramsplitter.com/shop/ols/products/3pt-grapple

Seen a few for larger tractors. Don’t recall ever seeing one sized for a CUT. Nice!

Yes, it was the cheapest one out there.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Yes, it was the cheapest one out there.

That looks pretty slick…

Are you able to turn them sideways? I’ve seen those with CTL/CWL and they could spin them….seems like would be handy for stacking a pile of logs if could turn them?

do you need front ballast when skidding (transferring) logs that way?

 

[Survivor]

That looks pretty slick…

Are you able to trim them sideways? I’ve seen those with CTL/CWL and they could spin them….seems like would be handy for stacking a pile of logs if could turn them?

do you need front ballast when skidding (transferring) logs that way?

No, those start out about eight grand!

This one doesn't have a centering spring, either. But I rigged up a couple of bungee cords and routed the hoses so the shortest path is centered and the hose have to be stretched/pulled to swing left and right. It was a bit frustrating the first couple days and I got hung up a bit. Then I discovered that when you close the grapples they tend to return to center on their own once you drive a few feet.

I keep the grapples closed when empty including as I back up to a log. Then I open them at the last minute. I can get them around a log 90* to the tractor by backing one jaw into the log and letting the other jaw free swing around the butt of the log. You don't have to get it all the way around. When you close the grapple it will turn the rest of the way and grip the log tight. It's not a log loader but it gets pretty easy after a few days.

My big brush rake on the loader weighs almost 400 pounds. It's NOT a grapple but more like a straight bulldozer blade with massive teeth. And with the butt end of the log raised off the ground and not plowing a furrow then there's not much tendency to tip the tractor back, despite what guys will tell you.

This is what I had before I bought the grapple:

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Then There are the labonville chaps, haix boots, and a stihl helmet with the muffs/face screen.

Looks like a tasty cigar my friend!

Glad to hear about the safety equipment, and just to bolster the idea of using PPE when using such a tool, here is a pic that my SIL sent me just yesterday.

He said that he slipped and it probably would have damaged his foot "real bad" had he only been wearing regular work boots.

There goes a $500 set of boots......but it sure beats the alternative!

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Looks like a tasty cigar my friend!

Glad to hear about the safety equipment, and just to bolster the idea of using PPE when using such a tool, here is a pic that my SIL sent me just yesterday.

He said that he slipped and it probably would have damaged his foot "real bad" had he only been wearing regular work boots.

View attachment 156335


There goes a $500 set of boots......but it sure beats the alternative!

Agree on all counts…but I’ll be honest, I haven’t gotten through the first pot pot of coffee yet this morning and having some trouble keeping up with you…I had to go back and read and scour the the pictures to keep up with you this morning. .

At this point I dont remember that particular cigar, but in my experience they are pretty consistent and so long as kept fresh, you could make a lot worse choices than a macanudo..

After a day of of humping a 2 stroker around I like to finish with some clean air , and I assure you there was some bourbon shortly thereafter…proper hydration just as important as fresh air.

I went to the safer gear when I went to a 6hp saw with longer bar…I think most people are lucky (vs good)…I don’t think people really have the reaction time to beat an accident…most likely just lucky it wasn’t worse….some not so lucky. I’d sure rather replace my favorite boots than my favorite foot. Glad your SIL had the boots.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Agree on all counts…but I’ll be honest, I haven’t gotten through the first pot pot of coffee yet this morning and having some trouble keeping up with you…I had to go back and read and scour the the pictures to keep up with you this morning. .

At this point I dont remember that particular cigar, but in my experience they are pretty consistent and so long as kept fresh, you could make a lot worse choices than a macanudo..

After a day of of humping a 2 stroker around I like to finish with some clean air , and I assure you there was some bourbon shortly thereafter…proper hydration just as important as fresh air.

I went to the safer gear when I went to a 6hp saw with longer bar…I think most people are lucky (vs good)…I don’t think people really have the reaction time to beat an accident…most likely just lucky it wasn’t worse….some not so lucky. I’d sure rather replace my favorite boots than my favorite foot. Glad your SIL had the boots.

I read somewhere that the "average stitch count" for a chainsaw accident was 160 stitch's (sutures?)

That a hell of a lot of stitches.

My mom says I'm an "above average guy", so theres that too.

I look at buying chainsaw PPE as "paying my healthcare deductible upfront, but not having to go to the hospital". (hopefully )

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

I read somewhere that the "average stitch count" for a chainsaw accident was 160 stitch's (sutures?)

That a hell of a lot of stitches.

My mom says I'm an "above average guy", so theres that too.

I look at buying chainsaw PPE as "paying my healthcare deductible upfront, but not having to go to the hospital". (hopefully )

From The threads that you have published, I agree with your mom and i believe you have some serious talent and maybe a bit a of luck…I mean that’s a good way…that impalement shit from a Year or so ago was sort of your fuccili Jerry moment. I am glad you are here with us. My theory is that a chainsaw would leave a mark…I dont want to prove myself right / test that. Chaps/helmets/kevlar boots etc are an ounce of prevention.

To me, chaps aren’t just something to wear to the Blue Oyster Bar or when about town, they serve a very functional purpose in the woodlot.

 

[Old Machinist]

I went all electric in 93 and never looked back but I use to use a dirt scoop on a 855 John Deere for skidding. Worked great. Back it under the log to lift so you can connect the chain and go.

 

[Survivor]

From The threads that you have published, I agree with your mom and i believe you have some serious talent and maybe a bit a of luck…I mean that’s a good way…that impalement shit from a Year or so ago was sort of your fuccili Jerry moment. I am glad you are here with us. My theory is that a chainsaw would leave a mark…I dont want to prove myself right / test that. Chaps/helmets/kevlar boots etc are an ounce of prevention.

To me, chaps aren’t just something to wear to the Blue Oyster Bar or when about town, they serve a very functional purpose in the woodlot.

In forty plus yeas I never hurt myself with a chainsaw, except one time the long bottom tooth of the bucking teeth poked me in the knee and it swelled up pretty bad for a couple of days. I had been walking a 3-4' alpine fir with about 10,000 limbs and slipped.

I had to start wearing chaps when working for other people somewhere along the way. I hated them because they were hot and heavy the leg straps snagged up on all the branches that you have wade through made them more dangerous. So eventually i got some special pants from Bailey's that had removable inner Kevlar liners with snaps to hold them in place. Then started putting the hammer-together snaps from fabric stores into regular old jeans before I finally figured out that I didn't even need that. The liners fit pretty good in regular jeans, and I just hooked the front clips of my suspenders over both the waist band the part of the liners that come all the way up to the top just to keep them from sliding down. A couple times I had to unfasten my jeans and turn down one side just to show the boss that I was indeed wearing kevlar protection inside my jeans.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

In forty plus yeas I never hurt myself with a chainsaw, except one time the long bottom tooth of the bucking teeth poked me in the knee and it swelled up pretty bad for a couple of days. I had been walking a 3-4' alpine fir with about 10,000 limbs and slipped.

I had to start wearing chaps when working for other people somewhere along the way. I hated them because they were hot and heavy the leg straps snagged up on all the branches that you have wade through made them more dangerous. So eventually i got some special pants from Bailey's that had removable inner Kevlar liners with snaps to hold them in place. Then started putting the hammer-together snaps from fabric stores into regular old jeans before I finally figured out that I didn't even need that. The liners fit pretty good in regular jeans, and I just hooked the front clips of my suspenders over both the waist band the part of the liners that come all the way up to the top just to keep them from sliding down. A couple times I had to unfasten my jeans and turn down one side just to show the boss that I was indeed wearing kevlar protection inside my jeans.

I hope your boss is at least cute.
(I am sorry I couldn’t help myself…only kidding)

you are spot on about the snagging…some proper chainsaw safety britches would be nice.

I am certainly no pro and I know it. I don’t have enough confidence in my abilities or deteriorating athleticism to not have an accident. Even with gear, when I get tired or frustrated or even over heated now, I turn the machine off and head for the barn. It can wait until another day.

since I got my chaps, I even wear them when running the stihl brush cutter just for the briars.

safety gear way cheaper than a deductible should I be lucky enough to make it to a hospital.

 

[Survivor]

I hope your boss is at least cute.
(I am sorry I couldn’t help myself…only kidding)

you are spot on about the snagging…some proper chainsaw safety britches would be nice.

I am certainly no pro and I know it. I don’t have enough confidence in my abilities or deteriorating athleticism to not have an accident. Even with gear, when I get tired or frustrated or even over heated now, I turn the machine off and head for the barn. It can wait until another day.

since I got my chaps, I even wear them when running the stihl brush cutter just for the briars.

safety gear way cheaper than a deductible should I be lucky enough to make it to a hospital.

I started out in the sawmill in 1976, bucking up long logs into saw logs as part of my job. I don't think I was required to wear all that safety stuff until about 1990 when contract cutting for bigger outfits. I had acquired a hard hat and some ear plugs on my own along the way, Those old slow running Stihls were not too loud compared to the modern high rpm saws.

I think he was more embarrassed than I was. All he could see was a few square inches of my heavy work shirt where it tucked into my jeans. I wore the heavy Carhart work jeans for a while until they got so damn expensive, Then I went to Walmart and bought some regular cheap jeans about four inches to big in the waist so my thighs would fit. About ten bucks versus about forty bucks.

 

[Survivor]

I am continually trying to think of ways to update my process and make it easier and faster.

I had been limbing and bucking the firewood trees down next to the burn pile and hand loading the wood into the pickup and hauling it to the house yard for splitting. (but I can't do the physical work anymore) So I got to thinking that if I use the tractor to hold the trees off the ground for my neighbor who has promised to help my wife after I'm gone in trade for use my tractor and log splitter, then he can limb and top them and I (or he by himself later) can skid each log over out of the way and push them up into a little deck. You can push them together pretty tight if you don't have the crowns pushing them apart and all cris-crossed. Depending on the tree size then the tractor with the grapple can grab and skid maybe five or six logs to the house yard to be bucked up and split. That's a bunch of wood maybe a half of a cord and you only have to man-handle it ONCE.