Bucket Mount Sawbuck

Colonel Monk · Nov 12, 2014

Howdy Guys

Been wondering if any of you have seen any good designs or built a "cantilever style" log holder for cutting firewood at stand up height?

I just emailed with this company, interesting product but it wouldn't do larger than 8" - and really most of them don't, because of course you have to lift them up there somehow.

Woodchuck Quad

Here's another of a simple design

Smart-Holder Firewood Holder | Smart Splitter | Wood Splitting, Hand | www.baileysonline.com

So the idea is, you bring the bucket down to ground level, pull the log into the gripper, or if you're lucky and skilled, drive the bucket into the log, and then lift up to cutting height with log jutting straight out of bucket.

I have seen the brush fork type tines other ways folks do this, but this way makes more sense, you could even position the log over the trailer or truck, get up there and cut it right there. The old man can't to any of that work anymore but he can drive the tractor fine.

Do plan to get some brush forks as well but they are spendy and I'm gonna take a stab at building some with work scraps down the line. Lots of thick-walled 2" tubing.

Other thing that's cool about the canteliever style is you can use it for small stuff without getting on the tractor. Getting on and off takes effort too if you have bad knees...

So any ideas or a link if you've seen something similar.

thanks

CM

CurlyDave · Nov 13, 2014

I use my grapple for this task, and there are several advantages.

My grapple design allows me to pick up a single log cantilever style (like a unicorn) or crossways. A cantilever pickup is much more difficult than a crossways pickup because I need to push the grapple under the log to pick it up, and this means the log needs to have a stop behind it. It is round, and will roll out of the way easily unless I get it just right.

For a crossways pickup, I raise the bucket, dump it with the joystick and open it. If the log is not perpendicular to the grapple, pushing it forwards a few feet gets it exactly right. The man with the chainsaw can stand in the bed of a pickup and drop cut logs into the pickup all day. Just be careful to switch ends of the log before it gets too unbalanced.

My grapple can easily handle logs up to about 20". About as big as anyone wants to chainsaw standing in the deb of a truck, or even on the ground.

KiwiBro · Nov 13, 2014

It's well down the roundtuit list I'm afraid but I would like to mount two hydraulic saws to my tractor log forks. One at each end, on a threaded pipe that extends out each side about 8-10' passed the forks. Then buck the whole log without getting off the tractor. It just bugs me having to get on and off tractors all day long.

Best I have been able to do so far is make up some large log cradles to load logs in before getting off the tractor to buck them.

bumperm · Nov 13, 2014

Backhoe with hydraulic thumb works well. Also works well for picking up rocks, digging, tearing out saplings roots and all, etc.

Colonel Monk · Nov 14, 2014

CurlyDave said:
I use my grapple for this task, and there are several advantages.

My grapple design allows me to pick up a single log cantilever style (like a unicorn) or crossways. A cantilever pickup is much more difficult than a crossways pickup because I need to push the grapple under the log to pick it up, and this means the log needs to have a stop behind it. It is round, and will roll out of the way easily unless I get it just right.

For a crossways pickup, I raise the bucket, dump it with the joystick and open it. If the log is not perpendicular to the grapple, pushing it forwards a few feet gets it exactly right. The man with the chainsaw can stand in the bed of a pickup and drop cut logs into the pickup all day. Just be careful to switch ends of the log before it gets too unbalanced.

My grapple can easily handle logs up to about 20". About as big as anyone wants to chainsaw standing in the deb of a truck, or even on the ground.

I'm not sure I totally understand. Is your grapple at the bottom of your bucket? Confused because most I've seen are on the top and you mentioned driving the grapple under the log.

We inherited the tractor from my deceased uncle, so my aunt actually owns it - but my old man is averse to the changes I want to make for my use. He's in florida all winter and I'm the one trying to stay warm! So I'm curious, how hard is it to add a grapple to the average tractor? I'm guess it requires an additional valve but is it as simple as tapping into the hydraulic return from existing manifold and adding a cylinder?

Colonel Monk · Nov 14, 2014

bumperm said:
Backhoe with hydraulic thumb works well. Also works well for picking up rocks, digging, tearing out saplings roots and all, etc.

Been trying to convince the old man that a backhoe would be worth having. I'd buy it of course, but like I said above, he worries alot about me "tearing up" the tractor..... I get it, he wanted one his whole life and couldn't afford it till we inherited one, but what's the point of having a powerful machine if you aren't going to use it?

Does anybody know what backhoes will work on that tractor - I've looked a little bit and it seems there are other brands that might work? they don't seem to come up used very much.

thanks

bumperm · Nov 14, 2014

The BL4520 backhoe is what I found listed. Though I don't know if that's available anymore, maybe used. If you do look for a backhoe attachment, frame mounted is the way to go A 3-point hitch mount backhoe will sometimes damage the tractor as it can impose loads the 3-point was not designed for.

bcp · Nov 14, 2014

I have the one from Bailey's. It works well. At least half my wood is under 6 inches and in various stacks around 5 acres. My only complaint is that it is too low. It should be about a foot higher to keep my back from getting sore. Notice how the guy in the ads isn't standing up straight. Some blocks or logs under it would help. Or I may just set it in my low utility trailer.

Bruce

Colonel Monk · Nov 14, 2014

Thanks.

Yeah I see your point regarding the 3 pt damage, but it would probably be the least used implement we have. Frame mounting is a big todo from the looks of it, and that would take the fun out of tractoring! For me, anyway... We don't have anything that needs digging, we live on a swamp.

Now, a 3 point log grapple? That's probably way more useful for us. Wouldn't need to be nearly as tough as those available either, as we don't have big timber. But, those would be long term goals, immediate need a little bit of sweat is OK.

Jeez, now I'm thinking about building a lightweight grapple! Grapple might not be perfect though, they seem to be designed to flop around, so I'm not sure it would hold the log up for bucking.