East Texas Logging

[jinman]

I have a friend and coworker whose father-in-law lives in east Texas near the town of Alto. He showed me some pictures of logging equipment at work, and I asked him if he would let me post a few pictures of the equipment here because I know a lot of folks like looking at it. If you know anything about it, you know more than me. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

The first attached picture is a log stacker/loader.

 

[jinman]

Here's a skidder to be envious of...

 

[jinman]

I saved the best for last. You just drive this up to the tree and grab it with the claw while cutting it off with the big rotating blade at the bottom. Anybody want one of these? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[MF1455v]

Sure beats a chain saw. Nice Pictures!

 

[markie61]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I saved the best for last. )</font>

I see why - VERY cool. Did you notice the tree-shaped dent on the roof of the cab, though.... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Mark

 

[kensfarm]

"Did you notice the tree-shaped dent on the roof of the cab"

Sometimes the tree wins! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Golfgar4]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Sometimes the tree wins! )</font>

Or at least goes down fighting! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[jimg]

Theres an equipment dealer not too far from me who has several of these on the lot and some much bigger. Some saw and others 'snip' w/ hydraulic jaws. The saw blades are pretty neat too. The teeth are removable carbide 'cups' that range in size (dia) from about a nickel up to half dollar. Those of larger dia are a bit hollowed inside forming a true cup. I've watched these machines work and its pretty interesting. After disconnecting the tree from its roots they lay them down in neat piles for the skidder to haul away. Its all very fast and efficient.

The same dealer also has many log skidders. BTW up my way they don't have the high flotation tires like those in your pics. (The ground there sure is red!!!)

This dealer usually has one or two trailer mounted chippers fitted w/ a grapple. Using the grapple the operator can feed several whole trees
simultaniously into the hopper. Once the feed rollers grab it takes only a few secs for the trees to disappear. By the time the operator has another load the machine is ready.

 

[California]

Here are some logs you wouldn't want to drop on the loader. (See attachment.)

We saw monster logging trucks like this one in British Columbia in 1973. They ran on MacMillan Bloedel's separate road network.

I think the trucks were 12 ft wide, and the one in this photo looks like it was made even wider with outriggers.

More photos.
http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/paul_keenleyside.htm

 

[Taylortractornut]

We have alot of the HydroAxe cutters here. Theres still a few 3 wheeled Hydro Axe and Bell 3 wheel cutters here. Ive run a few Axes before but didnt want to make a habit out of it. I ll stick to the dirt work. I had a friend roll one last week he cut a nice pole pine one that is perfectly straight and tall. It was almost the same size all the way up and when he cut it the wind caughts it and over she went. We hooked the pioneering dozer to it a D6b and rolled her back over. Youll see alot off junked logging engines in th back of shops with good pistons and bad welded bearings and cranks. Thats what happens when onje rolls over and the oil runs up past the worn rings and goes to the tops of the pistions. They run on the oil till they seize up or sling a rod. What I hated about the cutter was you sometimes cant see up to the top of the trees sometimes and you dont see a rotten section about the time you cut through it and all is ok you here a bam and get jarred.