My Little Logging Operation

[Deere John]

This is your thread Alan, so I won't get carried away. These were taken two weeks ago. The white pine deck behind my pickup worked out to about 13 tractor trailer loads (about 600 tons) - we can haul heavier loads legally during frozen conditions. The other is white birch pulp, sawlogs and veneer, plus lesser amounts of poplar and SPF. We produce about 20 loads per day, and haul about the same.

[atgreene]

Feel free to post away, any logging pics are good pics.

[L-ENTERPRISES]

Originally Posted by atgreene

Feel free to post away, any logging pics are good pics.

We are producing and shipping 65 - 70 loads a day

[Dewey]

Originally Posted by L-ENTERPRISES

We are producing and shipping 65 - 70 loads a day

WOW thats alot of wood.... Where abouts on the Bay of Fundy ???? My wife is from Nova Scotia

[Dewey]

Originally Posted by atgreene

Feel free to post away, any logging pics are good pics.

I like wood pics too ....Gosh if I can figure out how.. I'll try to get some of my "operation" on

[T-Zab]

Great thread guys.

[hlntoiz]

GEEEEZZEEEE I have "wood" now

[Deere John]

Originally Posted by L-ENTERPRISES

We are producing and shipping 65 - 70 loads a day

Boy, that's alot of wood, and even more logistics to keep ahead of. How much iron do you throw on the job? If my math is right, and you work 200 days a year like us, you would be doing over 500,000 tons per year. That is a big operation. We are probably the second largest in these parts, doing 160,000 tons. The largest may go to 200,000.

Our opertion uses 6 cut & skid skidder gangs to slay the pine, and 3 Tigercat bunchers to cut the mixedwood bushes - two are 822's and the third is a semi-retired 845. Pulling behind the bunchers are Cat skidders: two 535Bs and a 545. One of the 535s is also semi retired - it forwards behind the gangs on long skids, and pushes trucks when needed. Two Cat delimbers keep strokin and strokin and strokin. Like the other equipment, 4 slashers are used, with one being again semi-retired to pick up the slack. Only one loader is used though - it is a Liehbehr with the rising cab. He keeps 8 - 10 trucks rolling with that. Three dozers and two hoes build my roads ahead of the operation, two Champion graders are around, and two plow trucks/sanders keep the roads open in the winter. There is one mechanic roving in a F550 service truck. My position is Woodlands Manager, but to keep things going, my position is many times also "parts runner" I also am the one to do all of the government paperwork to get approvals in place and wood moving. There is no shortage of things to do

[atgreene]

I feel good if I can get 1-2 loads a week out. Man, that's a lot of wood you guys do.

My little 'bota and I are having skidder envy.

[Deere John]

Originally Posted by atgreene

My little 'bota and I are having skidder envy.

You know, I do too. I used to operate 550 Timberjack and 528 Cat skidders back in the early 90's, and now I watch our 545 grapple in the hands of a great operator - I am still awed at the production we get from that machine.

Here, we only work one shift. Partial cutting has never lent itself to nightshift. Just the truck haul goes on at night, starting usually at 1 am. The "Sandman" goes to work at midnight to get the road plowed and sanded. He is usually done his shift by 10 am.

[atgreene]

A couple pics from today. I mentioned it was steep, right?

This hemlock was 80', managed to pull it out in one piece. Trying to find a logyard or mill that will take hemlock over 16'. Seems too bad to be hacking these big ones into 16's if someone will take 18, 20 & 24's. There's a few sawing longer ones, just need to find out who.

And one of the sawmill where the pine is headed. Checked with them yesterday, everyone is on quota but since I'm doing just a small amount they will take it.

[Dewey]

Alan there are a couple mills up this way tha t buy long logs Timber Valley in Thorndike and Vikings in Belfast . If your interested P.M. Me and I will get the numbers for you...

[L-ENTERPRISES]

Originally Posted by Deere John

Boy, that's alot of wood, and even more logistics to keep ahead of. How much iron do you throw on the job? If my math is right, and you work 200 days a year like us, you would be doing over 500,000 tons per year. That is a big operation. We are probably the second largest in these parts, doing 160,000 tons. The largest may go to 200,000.

Our opertion uses 6 cut & skid skidder gangs to slay the pine, and 3 Tigercat bunchers to cut the mixedwood bushes - two are 822's and the third is a semi-retired 845. Pulling behind the bunchers are Cat skidders: two 535Bs and a 545. One of the 535s is also semi retired - it forwards behind the gangs on long skids, and pushes trucks when needed. Two Cat delimbers keep strokin and strokin and strokin. Like the other equipment, 4 slashers are used, with one being again semi-retired to pick up the slack. Only one loader is used though - it is a Liehbehr with the rising cab. He keeps 8 - 10 trucks rolling with that. Three dozers and two hoes build my roads ahead of the operation, two Champion graders are around, and two plow trucks/sanders keep the roads open in the winter. There is one mechanic roving in a F550 service truck. My position is Woodlands Manager, but to keep things going, my position is many times also "parts runner" I also am the one to do all of the government paperwork to get approvals in place and wood moving. There is no shortage of things to do

We cut for Fort Reliance , Hydro Quebec and others . We did 357,000 last year wich was slow . We are hoping to do 525,000 tons this year , but who knows . We harvest in 5 provinces and 2 states .

[nedly05]

Originally Posted by atgreene

Feel free to post away, any logging pics are good pics.

Heres some from a little job back in June.

I like those chains, what would a set run me for 14.9x28's?

[atgreene]

Those are 14.9 x 28's and I paid $650 at Windy Ridge in Tamworth. Best price I could find, beat Labonville by $100.00.

How do you like your grapple, btw? I've always wondered about getting one, but with the excavator it makes it redundant, hard to justify the $$.

[hlntoiz]

Originally Posted by atgreene

Those are 14.9 x 28's and I paid $650 at Windy Ridge in Tamworth. Best price I could find, beat Labonville by $100.00.

How do you like your grapple, btw? I've always wondered about getting one, but with the excavator it makes it redundant, hard to justify the $$.

Alan, I have a grapple also. Different tools for different applicatons. I dont' use it that much but when I do it is so worth it.

[stargazer]

Saw some grapples at the Fryeburg Fair near the wood processor. Tried to buy one but it didn't fit my bucket arms. Very good price on them at that time. Looked like a nice thing to have for wood and the occasional rock.

'Course, I don't have an excavator!

[nedly05]

Originally Posted by atgreene

Those are 14.9 x 28's and I paid $650 at Windy Ridge in Tamworth. Best price I could find, beat Labonville by $100.00.

How do you like your grapple, btw? I've always wondered about getting one, but with the excavator it makes it redundant, hard to justify the $$.

$650 How can I get ahold of them??? Thats a heck of a price! did you have to cut them down or were they built to size?

I love the grapple, the AnBo one was a bit expensive, but I got it anyway because a buddy has one and I had uses it on his tractor and was impressed with it. I dont have it on right now because I have the excavator where I am working. I'm thinning out the sugarbush, so we are ending up with a ton of wood, we should have plenty of firewood for both Me and Dad, and plenty of archwood for this year (if we get ready in time) and the next. I will try and get some pics today.

[atgreene]

Windy Ridge in Tamworth NH has some decent prices. I was suprised as I have shopped for a set of ice chains for the tractor for years. I'm going back next week to get a set for the front, 9.5 x 20= $305.00. Can't buy chains for the 19.5's on my 5500 for that.

[Deere John]

OK, so things take longer than others. My lovely bride (on Valentine's Day even) scanned these pics for me taken in 1998. Do you recognize this mill Alan? They are the only photos I took, as inside photos were not allowed. You can see the water cannons watering the logs to prevent stain.

[atgreene]

Originally Posted by Deere John

OK, so things take longer than others. My lovely bride (on Valentine's Day even) scanned these pics for me taken in 1998. Do you recognize this mill Alan? They are the only photos I took, as inside photos were not allowed. You can see the water cannons watering the logs to prevent stain.

I don't recognize the gantry crane/water system? It may be their Bethel mill yard, I haven't been to that one. I'm fairly certain their Casco Ryefield Mill yard isn't set-up like that, unless it's outback somewhere. I toured that mill while in 4-H 25 years ago, but haven't been in the yard since. Maybe someone from Bethel way will recognize the yard/gantry.

[Deere John]

Since I was invited Alan, I'll put up a few more pics taken this morning. I'm having a sandwich now, so it is my chance to do it.

The first is our bush sander, put to bed for the daylight hours. It is loaded from the bank with the 322 in the background, and the grizzly keeps the bigger chunks out. The blade is a Cote, and it more or less holds up. The spinner is mounted tight to the framerail, to put the sand in the middle of the road as much as possible.

The next is the Liebherr log loader with the rising cab - very productive machine.

The next is one of the Hood slashers. We are going full tilt right now - less than one month left of winter!

[Deere John]

Here is a closer shot of the Cote. It is a popular plow for bush trucks, with the trip edge, crankshaft hydraulics and low-profile mount.

A Cat 535B in action. The 545 was back in the patch when I went by.

I guess biofibre is the thing of the future. I sure hope so, because I have figured out that the harvest will yield 15-20% more tonage if biofuel is taken out (ground up in a chip van) rather than just piled like this for burning.

I'll get some pics of the Tigercat bunchers tomorrow if they are near the road. And yes, I DO get out of my pickup - just not to take pics

[atgreene]

Nice pics! That's some serious piles 'o wood!

I'm kicking myself, been watching a skidder on CL for a month or so, price dropped again to $6800.00. I should go buy it, but hate to lay out the savings. Debating.

[PSDF350]

This the one Alan http://burlington.craigslist.org/grd/1605796438.html Heres another just like it 800 cheaper http://burlington.craigslist.org/grd/1605964744.html . Course the trucking would make up that differance.