Re: Big project we are doing!!!
I also cut down some good sized maple trees, if I had a mill I would love to make boards out of it. Some of my neighbors had trees from their land milled, on brought in a large portable mill and milled some big logs; he used them for his new house. The other had them sent to a mill and used them for a large barn.
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rainbowgardener
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Taiji
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Some of the first things we made in wood class were cutting boards. They're easy and fun to make and use small scraps of whatever wood is laying around! I made several using black walnut, oak, maple, and alder laminated together in alternating one inch (approximately) strips. The contrast between the different woods make a really beautiful piece. Yes, I guess a board of just alder would probably be pretty soft. Maybe there are different varieties of alder too, don't know.
That is really beautiful country up there, Tomf. If you don't mind my asking, in what part of Oregon are you located? Like, what is the nearest town? Is that considered to be a rain forest environment?
This house which we recently purchased is older, county records say 1939, but my electrician some parts of the house could go back to the 1890's because of some things he saw there. Coincidentally, the floors are all old Doug fir, and on the underside it's stamped: "West Oregon Lumber Co., Linnton Oregon". We refinished the floors instead of covering them up, they look very "rustic", not perfect, but pleasing to look at!
That is really beautiful country up there, Tomf. If you don't mind my asking, in what part of Oregon are you located? Like, what is the nearest town? Is that considered to be a rain forest environment?
This house which we recently purchased is older, county records say 1939, but my electrician some parts of the house could go back to the 1890's because of some things he saw there. Coincidentally, the floors are all old Doug fir, and on the underside it's stamped: "West Oregon Lumber Co., Linnton Oregon". We refinished the floors instead of covering them up, they look very "rustic", not perfect, but pleasing to look at!
We are getting close to all the trees we need to cut down this year. I cut a bunch in the field in some of the photos to open it up, and to give us a better view of the other side of our land.
This tree was to big to get it all in the photo.
A branch from the big tree.
many of the trees are this size.
This tree was to big to get it all in the photo.
A branch from the big tree.
many of the trees are this size.
This is a hill side I thinned to let the confers grow and to open the view.
I have hundreds of logs to pull out and a ton of brush to clean up, it will take me some time and work. When the area I opened up is done I will plant grass, much of that area the grass gets killed every year from the leaves falling, now it should do fine. It will also be a nice place to look at the stars.
Some of the tools of the trade, I got a brush rake that bolts on to the tractor bucket, it work real well at picking up or pushing brush.
View from the top you can see the other side of the land now the ridge in the distance.
Well in another area I had some dead trees that were probably over100 feet tall, so I took them down before they became dangerous. Then I decided to drop a few more trees, I am thinking of about 4 more 100 footers. It was a scary day today, I tried and hurt my arm and shoulder not bad but it does hurt. Then I was pulling a tall tree with a long cable, cable was not long enough although and it was coming down on me and my tractor. Lucky it fell slow and I was already in a turn to get out from under it. From now on I use pulleys and long cables.
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applestar
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That's a LOT of work! I guess you want to get it all done before all the spring growths start?
I know even on my tiny scale by comparison, it's harder to cut down and clear overgrown areas later in spring and particularly during summer and fall while everything is growing. For me, in the winter, it's also easier to spot praying mantis ootheca/egg cases and other wintering pupae to save, and I know most of the beneficial insects, butterflies and caterpillars aren't here yet.
I know even on my tiny scale by comparison, it's harder to cut down and clear overgrown areas later in spring and particularly during summer and fall while everything is growing. For me, in the winter, it's also easier to spot praying mantis ootheca/egg cases and other wintering pupae to save, and I know most of the beneficial insects, butterflies and caterpillars aren't here yet.
One Thanksgiving the family got together in the country at my now late father-in-law's house for a 4 day weekend of feasting. While there, three of my brother-in-laws decided it would be a good time to drop a tree that was next to one of the houses that one of them used when visiting.
I was in the kitchen of my father-in-law's house cooking a big pot of gumbo and all of a sudden the whole house shook and I heard one of my sister-in-laws scream "Oh my God, the cars". So I run outside to see this huge gum tree laying across the roof of the house next door and the branches dangling precariously close to 3 cars parked in front of the house.
Needless to say, they were from then on dubbed "The Three Stooges" of lumberjacking. It took them the better part of a day to clear that tree off the roof and repair the damage to the structure.
There is an art to felling trees, especially when close to a structure and not one of the three were exactly Picasso in that respect. We've gotten a lot of miles out of that fiasco in humor.
I was in the kitchen of my father-in-law's house cooking a big pot of gumbo and all of a sudden the whole house shook and I heard one of my sister-in-laws scream "Oh my God, the cars". So I run outside to see this huge gum tree laying across the roof of the house next door and the branches dangling precariously close to 3 cars parked in front of the house.
Needless to say, they were from then on dubbed "The Three Stooges" of lumberjacking. It took them the better part of a day to clear that tree off the roof and repair the damage to the structure.
There is an art to felling trees, especially when close to a structure and not one of the three were exactly Picasso in that respect. We've gotten a lot of miles out of that fiasco in humor.
A guy at work wanted some advice about cutting down a tree. He told me he had a big tree he wanted to cut down that is 3 feet away from his house, he lives in the city. A big branch is hanging over his roof and he said he was going to put a rope on it and tie the rope to his car and cut the branch part way then pull it off with his car. Then cut the tree down in the spot between his house and the one next to him. I can see it now, one or more houses damaged, a totaled out car, and a trip to the ER or worse. I told him to hire a professional.
I have been doing some more clean up of brush and logs, it has rained so much that I can't get the tractor in most places with out making a muddy mess.
Some of the logs and stumps are so big that the biggest saw I had was too small so I went and got an even bigger saw it will run a 32" bar but I got a 28" bar on a Sthil 461R as that may be all I need. I have a 25" bar from another Sthil a 310, the 310 will cut with the 25" but it is under powered in my opinion, it is a chip tossing monster with a 20" bar although. I also have a 210 16" and a 250 18" Sthil. I have some non Sthil saws but they are wimpy in my opinion, I have to much to do to use any tool that does not get the job done fast.
Some of the logs and stumps are so big that the biggest saw I had was too small so I went and got an even bigger saw it will run a 32" bar but I got a 28" bar on a Sthil 461R as that may be all I need. I have a 25" bar from another Sthil a 310, the 310 will cut with the 25" but it is under powered in my opinion, it is a chip tossing monster with a 20" bar although. I also have a 210 16" and a 250 18" Sthil. I have some non Sthil saws but they are wimpy in my opinion, I have to much to do to use any tool that does not get the job done fast.
I tried to use a brush rake that clamped onto the front end loader bucket but it is not strong enough to do the job and bends. Now I am looking at getting a Grapple for the FEL. It replaces the bucket and I still can change back to the bucket when needed. This is the one I am thinking about. It will be well worth the expense I think as it is the tool I need to do the job.
So I went to the dealer to order it and he said that they do not make them to fit my FEL without having a quick change skid stear system in it. So this is going to add to the cost as I have to also get a new bucket that uses the quick change system. Oh well looks like I will need to put in a little more over time at work. The good part is it will be easy to change out from a bucket to a grapple.
