Tractors and wood! Show your pics

[John_Mc]

I agree, what a back saver, should have got one years ago. Had to look up what a pulp hook is. I have some hay hooks in the barn,looks like they would do the same thing?

Some pulp hooks have a specially shaped tip - it's almost like a little barb on the end. It makes it stick in the wood better, but you can still release it with a slight flick. I find mine works well for reaching out a bit longer - similar to what I'd use my LogRite Hookaroon for, but not as much reach. The pulp hook also works OK for lifting, but is not as "positive" a lift as some other tools. While the bale hook can work to slide logs toward you, I found the shape was just enough different that it was not all that convenient to use.

My favorite tool for loading firewood rounds into the splitter or picking up one end of a log to reposition it is a set of Husqvarna 8" Timber tongs (sometimes referred to as Lifting Tongs). It saves a LOT of bending: just push them down onto the log, and the jaws spread. Lift, and the jaws dig in, lifting the log. The jaw opens to 8", but I regularly pick up 12" diameter logs with it, sometimes even larger (smooth barked hardwoods like Beech are tough at the larger diameters unless you keep the tips sharp - I only have to sharpen mine about once every two years or more).


They also make a 12" version, but I found them too cumbersome to carry around in the woods with me. Plus, if I get much above the 12" diameter hardwood logs I can lift with the 8" tongs, I'm not likely to be lifting them one-handed anyway.

A tip: if you are searching on Amazon, look at both the 20CM tongs and the 8" tongs. They are identical, as far as I can tell, but the price can differ significantly.

A handy accessory for the 8" tongs is the Husqvarna tool holster. The 8" tongs fit in there perfectly: loose enough that removal is easy, tight enough that they don't fall out. I keep one holster on the belt of my Chainsaw chaps, and another on a belt that holds a variety of tools for working in the woods (wedge pouch, axe scabbard, small first aid pouch, chainsaw multi-tool).

 

[Oldpath05]

Mostly doing a Smartphone test from Mrs. Claus, starting with another year of firewood gathering.

Ever have those times when trying to get a choker chain under a tree is nearly impossible unless you have a pickaxe and or shovel, I didn't think so. Anyways this is my solution, a 1/4"x 18"-ish rod with a quick snap chain link welded on one end, and half a chain link welded on other end where I can stick a pulp hook in it and slide, pull the the chain and the whole 9 yards easily under any size tree like in these pictures, also there is a half chain link welded on all 5 of my choker chains.

Not sure the pictures will show it that good or not, but when done with the Chain Sticker Underah I hook it on my belt loop then back on the winch.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Pretty useful item. Especially when you have wood on the ground and then you get an ice storm or rain followed by cold. Mine just has a dowel handle. Your pulp hook idea gives a lot more pulling power. I like it.



gg

 

[MossRoad]

How do you use the log tongs - from an FEL?

Like this! :laughing:

I pulled this pile of firewood out in just a couple hours. See the pile at the end of the video. Pardon the shakiness, but I was driving and operating the FEL with one hand while recording with the other.

Tongs were skidding tongs on sale at Northern Tool for $29. What you can't see in the video is that I have a 2" receiver hitch on one of my quick attach plates. In that receiver is a ring hitch, that I drop a chain through and hang the tongs from.

 

[MossRoad]

 

[Creamer]

Like this! :laughing:

I pulled this pile of firewood out in just a couple hours. See the pile at the end of the video. Pardon the shakiness, but I was driving and operating the FEL with one hand while recording with the other.

Tongs were skidding tongs on sale at Northern Tool for $29. What you can't see in the video is that I have a 2" receiver hitch on one of my quick attach plates. In that receiver is a ring hitch, that I drop a chain through and hang the tongs from.

I am thinking seriously of them. I was out in the trees Friday and Saturday and the number of times on and off the tractor to hook and unhook chains really takes its toll on this old body.

 

[goeduck]

Always impressed with those of you that have woods with little to no understory of brush. You can hardly walk into ours without clearing brush first. Brush is often easily over your head to the point you can not walk. Not so much with mature forest.

 

[SpringHollow]

Mostly doing a Smartphone test from Mrs. Claus, starting with another year of firewood gathering.

Ever have those times when trying to get a choker chain under a tree is nearly impossible unless you have a pickaxe and or shovel, I didn't think so. Anyways this is my solution, a 1/4"x 18"-ish rod with a quick snap chain link welded on one end, and half a chain link welded on other end where I can stick a pulp hook in it and slide, pull the the chain and the whole 9 yards easily under any size tree like in these pictures, also there is a half chain link welded on all 5 of my choker chains.

portablewinch.com sells something very similar with either chain or rope attached to it.

Ken

 

[MossRoad]

I am thinking seriously of them. I was out in the trees Friday and Saturday and the number of times on and off the tractor to hook and unhook chains really takes its toll on this old body.

That's the way I did it for quite a while...
Drive to log.
Hop off tractor and hook up chain.
Hop on tractor and drag to landing.
Hop off tractor and unchain log.
Hop on tractor and drive to log.
Repeat 40-50 times...
Tires you out and takes twice as long (or longer) than the tongs.
I can unhook the tongs without getting off the tractor most times, too, which is nice.

 

[MossRoad]

Always impressed with those of you that have woods with little to no understory of brush. You can hardly walk into ours without clearing brush first. Brush is often easily over your head to the point you can not walk. Not so much with mature forest.

If its late fall or early spring, I can get in there no problem. If its late summer, its pretty hard to physically move through the brambles in most spots. Those spots in the videos I've been working for firewood, removing the locusts, leaving the maples, for about 20 years, so that's why its not too overgrown.