I start on this downed tree which I think is a Sugar Maple, it will feel good to start on this which we plan on having down here by October. I still am not sure how the rounds will get up the hill but I'll make my mind up by Tuesday. I might get something like this at our local Stihl dealer on Monday so I can drag them up the hill. http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/3_4-x-16-Skidding-Tongs-by-Dixie/productinfo/400-0505/
Its getting much more pleasant out to be working in the woods. Those tongs should work well. A decent sized eye bolt would work just as well (would take longer though) if you were bringing up rounds- hooking up to the winch. Looking forward to some when it all goes down............
I made a couple of chokers with this: http://www.labonville.com/516-Choker-Chain-Hook_p_91.html It worked it very well and never slipped off.
I just remembered that I have some old ice tongs, if they will open up wide enough, we'll give them a try.
It's perfect for working in the woods up here, we drop to 47 last night. It's time to take the 660 with me for this job.
If they don't, give the choker hook a try. $7 and a length of chain is a lot cheaper than tongs and it works.
I think for me to get them up the hill I'll need to cut them down to single rounds or a length that I could cut in half to make two rounds. I have chains so if I use them what would be the best way to wrap the round so I could pull or winch them up?
That choker hook is a slip hook. The harder you pull, the tighter it gets. It probably won't work well with just a length of chain. You pin it on the end of a 5 or 6 ft chain and make a loop with the hook.
Something else you could try in the future. I have also used a log dog that I learned about from Camp Inspector. Pound it in quickly with a hammer or back side of hatchet, hook a chain to it and pull away. When done just pound on it from one side and then the other to loosen it up. Here is a pic of one.
If it wasn't for dealing with the top, I would've finished this today, also I needed a longer bar because for some stupid reason I went with a 18 & 20. The 28 inch bar will go up with me next time. I not sure on how much wood we'll get but our open areas should be full by late fall. One of the bigger rounds took off down the hill so I checked down in where I thought it would be, it's not there so I'll hunt for it this fall
Nice job Woody! That round you lost down the mountain must have been the same one that rolled into my yard! But fear not, its split and stacked already! Thanks!
That Rhino and a simple chain should do the job nicely for pulling those logs. I use a short 10' chain. Put a slip hook on one end and a grab hook on the other. Use the slip hook on the log, of course. I'd try cutting probably 4-6' logs and see what happens.
Backwoods Savage , I had a dream last night that some little redhead pulled those big azz rounds up the hill all by herself.
Thanks Gasifier , before I get going on the main trunk again, I'll clean the mess up at the top so that area is clear for some pulling up of the bigger rounds. I think we'll try pulling with the chains and the cables.
I was thinking and going to reccomend this same thing. I would take my saw and mark the lengths of 3-4 rounds then buck it and drag those longer pieces to flat loading area then buck the rest of the log up there and load it.
