Calks

[mile9socounty]

For grease I use the Hoffman non-petrol based stuff. Says it doesn't eat away at the gore tex lining. I dont know about yall, but I like having dry feet at the end of the day. Never tried the O brand, haven't ran out of my first tub.

 

[OlympicYJ]

Used both Obenaufs oil and paste. The oil is good for breaking in a boot cause it soaks in like crazy. I tried the paste first and thought it was great but then tried the oil and In my opinion it works equally well if not better at repelling water. Maybe because the leather is completely soaked with the oil, whatever it is it seems to work well. Just seems like the paste wears off pretty quick... The oil also keeps the leather nice and limber and keeps it from cracking better than the paste.

Hubbards is pretty good stuff as well.

Wes

 

[slowp]

Be sure to buy some replacement calks too.

 

[TreeGuyHR]

Don't forget a boot drier -- the weird plastic thing made of two tubes on a little stand. Plug it in, and warm air oozes up and into the boots; dries them slowly overnight every time. Take the removable insoles out first. If the boots didn't come with a pair, get some Dr. Schols -- your feet stay warmer and the arch is supported and cushioned.

 

[RandyMac]

I did the cup of hot water in each boot and walked them dry, it worked well enough. My first set of calks were Buffalos, they were pretty much shredded in a year, they did see a lot of very hard use and went to several fires, I think that accelerated the wear. I went with White's after that, needed a rebuild every other year, I had three pairs in the rotation.
I rarely wore calks in the Sierras, too much rocky ground.

 

[4x4American]

Good input everyone!

Question- this job requires falling and equipment operation, I think it'd gonna be a little weird driving a skidder or a forwarder or a feller buncher with calks no?

 

[4x4American]

Don't forget a boot drier -- the weird plastic thing made of two tubes on a little stand. Plug it in, and warm air oozes up and into the boots; dries them slowly overnight every time. Take the removable insoles out first. If the boots didn't come with a pair, get some Dr. Schols -- your feet stay warmer and the arch is supported and cushioned.

oh believe you me i got one and love it

 

[Gologit]

Good input everyone!

Question- this job requires falling and equipment operation, I think it'd gonna be a little weird driving a skidder or a forwarder or a feller buncher with calks no?

More than a little. If you're going to be on a machine all day you need a plain sole...Vibram or something similar.

 

[4x4American]

More than a little. If you're going to be on a machine all day you need a plain sole...Vibram or something similar.

yea reckon ill wear my chippewars if im gonna be operatin all day. I'll have to see how it goes with that company, bossman said everyone runs everything so I dont know how that works only time will tell...definitely wont be driving my truck out there in my calks haha

 

[Gologit]

If I'm falling and I have to move my pickup I just move it, calks and all. I might have to move the pickup two or three times a day and messing with boots takes too much time. I keep an old mudflap on the floorboards and as long as you're careful you won't scratch up the pedals too much.

Also, a piece of plywood in the bed and a piece on the inside of the tailgate helps a lot.

 

[4x4American]

If I'm falling and I have to move my pickup I just move it, calks and all. I might have to move the pickup two or three times a day and messing with boots takes too much time. I keep an old mudflap on the floorboards and as long as you're careful you won't scratch up the pedals too much.

Also, a piece of plywood in the bed and a piece on the inside of the tailgate helps a lot.

Yup, I am a firm beliver in plywood for a bed liner. I work outta my truck right now and I have a piece of plywood I keep on the tailgate which makes for a nice workbench. I can also write down part numbers and to do lists and stuff so I like it. Also is helpful to keep a spare key under the plywood.

 

[1270d]

Do any of the boot companies you folks mentiioned offer a kevlar lined boot? Reason im asking is because our insurance co requires chainsaw ops to wear kevlar footwear. Whether that be kev socks or boots. I hate the socks so boots are the route I've gone. Matterhorn are what I've worn but from what you people have said it looks like I get really poor life out of them. Maybe a year and a half constant sawing.

Any recommendations?

 

[OlympicYJ]

I've worn calks all day long in a truck. Scratches the metal by the door seal but it's no biggie, floor mats keep em from screwin up the floorboard. Get to the first job then put em on and leave em on till visited the last landing for the day then take em off for the drive back to the office. Your calks can stick on the rubber sometimes so takes gettin used to.

I've tried runin the old mans excavator with em on and like they've said go vibram.

 

[056kid]

It's always fun to bust your ass in the middle of McDonalds, or the grocery store.

 

[RandyMac]

Old time taverns had plank floors, so did some grocery stores.

 

[redprospector]

Old time taverns had plank floors, so did some grocery stores.

Yep. The Western Bar here had plank floors....and a sign at the door that read; NO CALKS!
Since there isn't much logging around here anymore they covered the planks with carpet. The bartender used to just mop up blood spots after closing on Saturday nights. I wonder how they do it with carpet? Maybe there isn't much fighting around here anymore either.

Andy

 

[mile9socounty]

Old time taverns had plank floors, so did some grocery stores.

My Aunt and Uncle still allow folks to wear the corks in their story. Though the pavement leading up to the store can be difficult.

 

[slowp]

It takes about two years to rub the rubber off the pedals in the pickup. When I got the new Chevy at work, one of the head honchos from the Portland office came up, said, look, new pickup, and scraped his calk on the part that gets all scratched up inside the door.

I did a lot of driving with them on because it took too much time to change. They never stuck at a bad time. Also, wearing calks made me feel better when having to stop to talk to strange tourist/hunters/woodcutters along the way. A logger told me the secret of fighting with calks on.

The businesses here all used to have No Calks, No Guns, No Knives on their doors. Things were rowdier then.

 

[wowzers]

I wouldn't buy Whites. Mine fell apart in just over four months of hooking. Took them to Spokane and despite their one year warranty they said they were excessively worn and I would have to pay half of the rebuild. We are talking both heel counter ripped off, the sole delaminated, and one was completely walked over. The repairs gal kept telling me how they were such a great deal because they could be rebuilt. I said " I'm into these boots over five hudred dollars and now it going to cost me another couple hundred to rebuild. What part of a good deal is that?" I finally argued my way to paying for the resole and they fix the rest but still felt like I got ripped off.


I could have bought three pairs of Hoffmans for what I've paid I at least got a full year out of the Hoffman's even if they are a Guantanamo Bay torture device.

 

[northmanlogging]

hears a pic for ya... couldn't post these in a pm...