To thin or not to thin

[smstonypoint]

Just curious. Are you going to be able to market any of the thinned pines as pulpwood? If not, how are you going to handle the felled trees?

Steve

 

[Silvic]

Sounds like he (the forester) gave you good advice. I went back through the posts quickly. Did not see a dbh on your trees.
Poster smstonypoint asked about pulp. Good question but suspect from your description that they are thin and matchstick in style being that crowded and have not enough dbh to be marketable. If they are not then mulching them back into the forest floor is always healthy for the forest.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

Don't know what I am going to do with the trees. I have a couple larger ones that are in the way that i would like to cut into boards and make a bench just to say i did it. Bother in law has horizontal band saw. Other than that have not gotten that far. Mulching would be the best but finding some one in this area to do it? Another 100 miles north maybe. The shear will be the next project, in between the pole building and the larger powder coat oven. I won't build anything unless it gets powder coated anymore. Thanks for your help, soon as figure out what I am going to do with the wood I'll up date the post.

 

[hslogger]

In thinning a forest, the real thing to remember is not what you take out, but what you leave, and the condition it is left in.Machine harvest has come a long way in the past twenty years. Often it can be done to a landowners' silvercultural and asthetic standards. Buggered up leave trees are a no no and a competent and recommend operator should be able to meet the criteria.

If you do it yourself remember the most dangerous piece of equipment in the forest is a farm tractor. Maybe there are some horse loggers in your area that have a stellar reputation.

 

[MossRoad]

Don't know what I am going to do with the trees. I have a couple larger ones that are in the way that i would like to cut into boards and make a bench just to say i did it. Bother in law has horizontal band saw. Other than that have not gotten that far. Mulching would be the best but finding some one in this area to do it? Another 100 miles north maybe. The shear will be the next project, in between the pole building and the larger powder coat oven. I won't build anything unless it gets powder coated anymore. Thanks for your help, soon as figure out what I am going to do with the wood I'll up date the post.

You've mentioned a shear..... what diameter trees are you talking about here? Just curious.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

12" and I am leaning towards making a shear that would go in the middle of a grapple bucket. Then I would like to make it so you can slide it out then install the two center bucket tines. I'm in the early planning stages. The issue I have is the forces of the two are different. With the shear it is lateral. Once I add that bracing to the grapple bucket, I end up filling in two much of the bucket defeating its purpose.

 

[MossRoad]

If you have a bobcat with a quick attach, why complicate it? You can shear a tree, drop a tree, and when if falls, pick up the end and drag a tree, all with the shear, I'd think. Then go back with the grapple to clean up the branches and leftovers.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

If you have a bobcat with a quick attach, why complicate it? You can shear a tree, drop a tree, and when if falls, pick up the end and drag a tree, all with the shear, I'd think. Then go back with the grapple to clean up the branches and leftovers.

Agree

 

[MossRoad]

However, I guess I should say, if you want to build something, by all means, build something. Not trying to put a damper on that. Just being practical, that's all. If no one ever built anything different, there wouldn't be any cool stuff!

 

[smstonypoint]

You've mentioned a shear..... what diameter trees are you talking about here? Just curious.

12"

Is that the diameter at breast height?

Steve

 

[truckdiagnostics]

Is that the diameter at breast height?

Steve

It would give me flush with the ground on all but a few. If I could not cut the base, at the least, I could go high shear it then drag the shear down the tree, knocking the dead branches off making it easier to drop with a saw. My fear would be if you don't get a clean shear and top is heavy I could flip the loader. That is the thought anyway, there does not appear to be a lot of used shears out there. New they are real pricey and I can't find one to rent. This is going to be an interesting project, will have to be light enough yet be able to shear 12". Almost be easier to do a saw?

 

[Mysfyt]

It would give me flush with the ground on all but a few. If I could not cut the base, at the least, I could go high shear it then drag the shear down the tree, knocking the dead branches off making it easier to drop with a saw. My fear would be if you don't get a clean shear and top is heavy I could flip the loader. That is the thought anyway, there does not appear to be a lot of used shears out there. New they are real pricey and I can't find one to rent. This is going to be an interesting project, will have to be light enough yet be able to shear 12". Almost be easier to do a saw?

I'd give the saw idea some thought. Less stress overall and parts might be a little more economical. Both would be a fun build, though. Logging show coming to Escanaba (MI) next month. Might be a good 'idea' trip.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

Like the logging show idea. Thinking shear is the way to go. From what I have read and it makes sense, on anything over 5", if the tree does not tip in right direction the saw binds up. I can build the shear, Issue i have is I am not very good at under building and by the time I am done it is going to weigh to much. The shear everyone is saying is the best and from what I can gather is, comes in at 1,400 lbs. I would be real happy with half that. One of these days I am going to sit down and learn/teach myself cad. Issue there being sit down. I can get card board models, made a lot faster than I'll ever learn cad and they are three d. Only thing is I can't e mail a card board model for an engineer to do my calculations.

 

[Mysfyt]

I hear you on the overbuilding part. I have a good friend that is an engineer and will crunch numbers for me at times. He really helped me out building a hydraulic punch press. Steered me towards T1 steel and after seeing it stand the test of time, I'm a believer. Cut the weight in half plus it was stronger. Sounds like a good material for your shear structure.

As far as the shear blades go, check into ironworker replacement blades such as Edwards or Scotchman. I don't think they are too pricey and you can get four sides out of them before needing to resharpen. Just some thoughts to ponder.

 

[fishfactor]

What kind of skid steer do you have? You will need plenty of pressure and weight with that size trees. We had a Bobcat T320 and it had a really difficult time pushing enough pressure to shear a 12" loblolly pine using a fecon 14" shear. Out CAT 299DXHP machines have higher relief pressure which helps a lot. We paid $8K for our shear, lightly used, but it was money well spent.

On a side note, if you are dealing with 12" diameter trees, they should be marketable. Definetely pulp wood, maybe some hew or chipsaw in there too.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

What kind of skid steer do you have? You will need plenty of pressure and weight with that size trees. We had a Bobcat T320 and it had a really difficult time pushing enough pressure to shear a 12" loblolly pine using a fecon 14" shear. Out CAT 299DXHP machines have higher relief pressure which helps a lot. We paid $8K for our shear, lightly used, but it was money well spent.

On a side note, if you are dealing with 12" diameter trees, they should be marketable. Definetely pulp wood, maybe some hew or chipsaw in there too.

Thanks, that is good information. I can work things backwards and go with a larger diameter cylinder. It will function slower, but time i have.

 

[Zerk]

. So, yes i am being Even though i don't believe I would need a permit to thin, I would involve the county. It is just paying respect to your elders so to speak

This is one of the saddest things I have read in awhile.

I am not against getting advice, but I don't need the government's blessing.