Brown Tree Saw

[japody]

A nyone have any experience with the Brown Tree Saw. Not to be confused with the tree cutter. I have a field that has been overrun with 6 - 8-inch cedars. Hundreds of them. I've tried using a chain saw but I don't think I'll live long enough to do it that way. I've checked into other ways to do it, so only looking for feedback on the tree saw. TIA.

 

[CliffordK]

I can't imagine that would be comfortable to use unless you managed to find one of the backwards tractors (former all terrain forklifts??).

That company does have hydraulic (skid-steer) cutters that would be easier to use, but also somewhat more expensive. It may be able to be mounted to a front end loader if you had adequate hydraulic flow.

What are you doing with the tops of the trees and the stumps?

How many acres?

About 30 years ago my parents hired a dozer to take out about 5 to 10 acres of nasty wild pear trees in a pasture. I think he was done in a day or two. But, left a dozen big piles of trees to burn. It took us a year or so to burn all the piles. A bit of a process of burning once. Then taking a Pulaski to chop the dirt out of every major stump. Then repiling and reburning. Perhaps 3 burns per pile.

Hmmm... we've had about 30 years of a good hay pasture... perhaps I'm forgetting the work in burning those piles!!!

Nonetheless, I think it was worth it. They also hired a commercial brush hog (excavator mounted?) to do an adjoining pasture, but unfortunately that pasture has completely regrown as if nothing was done to it.

 

[garry1p]

Proper use of a dozer and they will come out stump and all, push them up in a pile and burn.

Around 25 years ago I paid a guy around $1700 to clear 6 acres with hundreds of trees of all kinds including cedar, took about 4 days with the dozer.

I went back with 3,000 pines in the same area. I can't imagine the labor cutting them down, dealing with the down trees and digging up the stumps.

 

[japody]

I can't imagine that would be comfortable to use unless you managed to find one of the backwards tractors (former all terrain forklifts??).

That company does have hydraulic (skid-steer) cutters that would be easier to use, but also somewhat more expensive. It may be able to be mounted to a front end loader if you had adequate hydraulic flow.

What are you doing with the tops of the trees and the stumps?

How many acres?

About 30 years ago my parents hired a dozer to take out about 5 to 10 acres of nasty wild pear trees in a pasture. I think he was done in a day or two. But, left a dozen big piles of trees to burn. It took us a year or so to burn all the piles. A bit of a process of burning once. Then taking a Pulaski to chop the dirt out of every major stump. Then repiling and reburning. Perhaps 3 burns per pile.

Hmmm... we've had about 30 years of a good hay pasture... perhaps I'm forgetting the work in burning those piles!!!

Nonetheless, I think it was worth it. They also hired a commercial brush hog (excavator mounted?) to do an adjoining pasture, but unfortunately that pasture has completely regrown as if nothing was done to it.

The field is about 16 acres. I plan to burn the trees once they are piled up. I don't want to bull doze or pull up the trees because of the resulting holes that would leave. The field would then be used for pasture with yearly bush hogging.

 

[TripleS]

What about the pincher style? They will cut about a 10-12" tree I think. But you would need a skidsteer or something with auxiliary hydraulics to run it.

 

[jyoutz]

Hire someone with a mulcher/masticator. Only about a 2 day job for 16 acres. Your local USDA farm services office can cost/share your pasture improvement project and cover 60-70% of the cost.

 

[oosik]

After all that work of cutting - piling - burning - what will be done with the remaining stumps. I don't understand. If after eliminating the trees and there is still room to brush hog - around the remaining stumps - why not just leave the trees - use the 16 acres as it is. Obviously you will be able to brush hog with the trees still there.

 

[Rockbadchild]

first time I see such thing, very interesting... but yes I agree that operating it looking forward or with the FEL would be better. this thing over time look like a pain in the neck waiting to happen.

 

[oosik]

For 27 years I used a 3-point snow blower to clear my mile long driveway - mailbox area - yard. Four hours looking back over my shoulder. It took two to three days afterward for my neck and shoulders to be pain free again. NO WAY am I going to use any type of 3-point implement that requires operation in reverse. NEVER again.

 

[2manyrocks]

We have eastern red cedar in middle Tennessee. 6-8" cedars are not that deeply rooted compared to other species of trees.

One problem with any tree saw is that it will leave a stump sticking up above the surface. A dozer will push the stump out. A forestry mulcher will grind the whole tree below the surface. Rather than deal with stumps sticking up or holes everywhere plus deal with handling and burning the trees, I'd recommend the forestry mulcher.

I had forestry mulching done last Fall. This would be my choice.

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[jyoutz]

After all that work of cutting - piling - burning - what will be done with the remaining stumps. I don't understand. If after eliminating the trees and there is still room to brush hog - around the remaining stumps - why not just leave the trees - use the 16 acres as it is. Obviously you will be able to brush hog with the trees still there.

Mastication could take the stumps to ground level or below.

 

[2manyrocks]

Mulching or mastication, whatever you call it, solves several big problems. First one is grinding up the trees means you don't have to physically pile them up for burning. With 16 acres, that's a lot of grapple work. Second one is the mulching gets the stumps to a level that they shouldn't interfere with mowing. Having 16 acres with stumps or holes everywhere would be a pain. Third is the mulching process leaves mulch behind to prevent soil erosion instead of raw dirt that can erode. Fourth one is the job gets done over a couple of days by a machine that can handle this kind of work. The OP won't be tearing up his tractor and spending all his free time cutting trees, moving them into a pile, and then having to take the risk of a fire getting out of hand burning the brush piles.

 

[Smokeydog]

Good advise using a forestry muncher if wanting to do all at once.

Haven’t used that kind but have really liked using the Brown tree cutter for reclaiming tree encroachment. 5’ works well on M59 HST tractor. Sometimes carry off trees, sometimes just chipping them up or de-limbing the main stem. Used it bushhog the fields last year as a test. Did okay but at 5’ takes more passes. Works on my time and schedule. Having a tool does have its benefits. Don’t miss having to chainsaw.

 

[Smokeydog]

Black walnut stump. Size 13/4E shoe. Can really tell how stumps flare at ground level. Low enough to bushhog over next time. This was before I sharpened the blades, refurbished the deck, unwinded 100’ of fence wire and replaced the pto shaft. Cuts better now.

Stump sometimes push up rocks. Think the tree cutter could tolerate rocks better than a tree saw?

 

[big bubba]

have a few experienced sources quote the job. then compare what you'd pay for that equip plus the hundreds of hrs of your labor.

 

[japody]

Thanks for all the input. The tree saw cuts at ground level, so stumps would not be an issue. The biggest drawback that I have gathered is the constant turning around in my seat. I've had neck and back surgery so that would be an issue. BTW, the saw costs $6K delivered. That's another major issue! But, I figured that I would be able to sell the saw when I was finished and recoup at least 2/3 of the cost. I might check to see how much it will cost to have someone with a mulcher do it.

 

[big bubba]

what about a rear camera, may take some skill at 1st, but you can do it facing forward

 

[CliffordK]

what about a rear camera, may take some skill at 1st, but you can do it facing forward

I was going to say that.
Lots of backup cameras on eBay.

 

[CliffordK]

Keep in mind that some cedar can take quite some time to rot away

 

[Smokeydog]

No idea about the saw and backing precision but the cutter is forgiving and use a couple of trucker convex mirrors. Camera could help too. Also cuts low. Big advantage is still having the grapple on the FEL.

The saw does have a clamping option to move cut trees.

Both take some serious horsepower. Any tractor would benefit with some armor and skid plates.

Expensive, yes! But there are good used ones that come available.

Old cedar stumps are $$$ used for flowerbed and landscaping decorations.