Snowback
Platinum Member
Fun times cleaning up this week. Piled a bunch of big logs for later burning, and burned a bunch of small stuff and stumps that I uprooted. What a great tool!
Grappling fun - A Picture Thread....
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WoodChuckDad
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Do you get nervous burning that close to the tree line?
Xfaxman
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I have seen several threads saying their tractor just quit running or a hydraulic hose burst.
Do you have insurance that will cover the tractor when it burns up?
IslandTractor
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It would be a bit unusual for a hydraulic hose to burst while dumping a load. I've busted one on my grapple but it was when I rammed the grapple into brush and some debris snagged the small hose right at the cylinder attachment.
Sure, tractors can occasionally quit for no reason but again that is pretty darn rare. I stall mine periodically when mowing or digging but I've never had it stall when simply dumping a load or reversing.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
Well that one is a pretty small fire, I wouldn't make one of those 20 foot mounds that close though. I think he would be safe as long as the fire doesn't get much bigger. Assuming damp conditions.
PhysAssist
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Do all the bucket grapples pictured use/require another hydraulic circuit, or 3rd function?
Has anyone bought and used these: BC-3 : Westendorf Attachments for Tractor & Skid Steer. ??
They don't require any hydraulic modifications for use, and are made for pin-on buckets, but I wonder how well they would work.
Thomas
Has anyone bought and used these: BC-3 : Westendorf Attachments for Tractor & Skid Steer. ??
They don't require any hydraulic modifications for use, and are made for pin-on buckets, but I wonder how well they would work.
Thomas
Snowback
Platinum Member
That's the deal k0ua - you nailed it. Thanks also to the others above with their concerns as well. I understand and appreciate it - for both my safety, and for the woods around our place as well. Probably not the most cautious approach dumping limbs onto fire, but I was satisfied that appropriate precautions were taken in case of tractor problem or rogue wind storm.
1) It had rained an inch or so the prior day and a half - nice soaker came through SE Texas and it was drizzly for the first half of week
2) Humidity was off the charts and it was overcast - no measurable wind as well
3) Only smaller stuff and the odd medium size stump were placed in this fire
4) Fire was never bigger than what you see in the original picture as it burned down as fast as I could collect a new load of tops, limbs, and large pieces of mulch debris
5) Out of frame on the right was my dirt bucket with a fire extinguisher and rake/shovel - (Worst case scenario I could have pulled that fire back by hand and put it out with dirt in conjunction with the extinguisher.)
I'm sure it was wet enough that I could have built a big log pile and lit if off. In that event I would not touch it with tractor until it came time to push in stragglers at end of day. I respect fire more than most after a good number of close calls and hard lessons while younger and "inquisitive".
(I will only share those over a beer or cold tea.) At the end of the day I like to document 1% of what I do each work day, and I enjoy sharing my efforts and learning from all y'all as well! Thanks for the dialogue that makes me think.Now - here is that exact same spot about five months ago with a slightly bigger fire.
(Posted a while back as well.) This guy was far more of a go getter than I will ever be! These two pics are sequential and no trick photos. Git 'r done! If you want A+++ land work around Houston you should call Keys and Sons!
WoodChuckDad
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I only ask because I will have to burn. I plan on having about 100 feet from the nearest vegetation, and digging a good hole to do the burning in.
PhysAssist
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Wow, firenado, cool given, the low risk for wildfire that you cite.
Snowback
Platinum Member
That pile and burn spot is about 75'-100' away from the trees - wish it were more, but I have a larger open area where bigger burns can be done. Still lots of trees and fuel around, so conditions are key when we burn. I will soon be completely cleaning out fuel and deadfall for another 100' in all directions from this spot. On the day of this burn it took some nursing and my Canadian Boy Scout firestarter kit to get this one going.
My small burn was this week with nice moist conditions and no wind. It was a low risk fire in a very low risk environment. That picture where the crew was working and that firestorm took off was last year and had a much bigger fire going in a little less than ideal conditions, but still only a few days out from a major rain event.
The key in my opinion is to keep burns very small and controlled with good weather until you are ready for a big pile cook off. For the latter you should watch for a good rain event, dig a hole if possible, and make sure there is little to no wind. Those guys who have big open fields/pastures definitely have an advantage on ability to burn at their leisure.