Chipping or CTL?

[Steve NW WI]

They may not have given an answer, but there is one. Sometimes what's best for the bank account isn't what's best for the land and future generations.

Andy

Exactly right Andy, organic matter is easy to lose and dang hard to replace. I rent my cropland out to a dairy farmer for less than I could to the corn/soybean guys because of the advantages of having hay in the crop rotation and the return of nutrients via manure.

It took me a long time to realize this applied to wooded land as well, and it's only been the last few years that I've been leaving the brush where it's cut from my firewooding instead of piling and burning. It's too soon to really see results, but I'm confident that in the long run, it will be better for my land.

Besides, I have plenty of box elder in the fence rows to help with my pyro tendencies.

 

[Oldtimer]

CTL is where it's at, there is no doubt. But the cost is the biggest hurdle.

Less machines to feed and fix, less payroll, less ground disturbance, more working days in the woods, no need for a ball-field sized landing, costs less to move from job to job, insurance is probably less, foresters LOVE CTL, far better merchandizing, on and on.

But what kind of head...dangle or fixed? Dangles are fast, but you have no real control of the tree, and there is residual stand damage to some degree...
A fixed head is slower, but it controls the tree so there's very little if any residual stand damage..

I personally like the Rolly-II and Quadco ultimate 5660 heads. Being able to control the tree is a big deal to me. Around power lines and other such "no touchy!" things it's the only way.

Dangles can be used on about any carrier, but the fixed heads are for larger tracked machines only..

Plus a fixed head can be used to fell and bunch in a pinch...also, it can be used to load / handle wood if need be...

 

[ShearHeadMS]

Wow oldtimer!! That is exactly what I wanted to hear, the only thing that scares me is the price on the machine I want, let's just say a timberpro 840/30 ant cheaper than a wore out hydro-axe! But I'm sure it will be a great investment, I'll bet if I bought a new feller, skidder, loader, and saw buck I'd spend a whole lot more, and I talked to a buddy of mine today who is a certified forester, he said if I got into CTL he would never let me have down time, some folks are a fan and others aren't I guess.

 

[KiwiBro]

CTL is where it's at, there is no doubt. But the cost is the biggest hurdle.

Less machines to feed and fix, less payroll, less ground disturbance, more working days in the woods, no need for a ball-field sized landing, costs less to move from job to job, insurance is probably less, foresters LOVE CTL, far better merchandizing, on and on.

But what kind of head...dangle or fixed? Dangles are fast, but you have no real control of the tree, and there is residual stand damage to some degree...
A fixed head is slower, but it controls the tree so there's very little if any residual stand damage..

I personally like the Rolly-II and Quadco ultimate 5660 heads. Being able to control the tree is a big deal to me. Around power lines and other such "no touchy!" things it's the only way.

Dangles can be used on about any carrier, but the fixed heads are for larger tracked machines only..

Plus a fixed head can be used to fell and bunch in a pinch...also, it can be used to load / handle wood if need be...

When my lil' gig grows up, that's what I hope it becomes.

 

[Oldtimer]

Wow oldtimer!! That is exactly what I wanted to hear, the only thing that scares me is the price on the machine I want, let's just say a timberpro 840/30 ant cheaper than a wore out hydro-axe! But I'm sure it will be a great investment, I'll bet if I bought a new feller, skidder, loader, and saw buck I'd spend a whole lot more, and I talked to a buddy of mine today who is a certified forester, he said if I got into CTL he would never let me have down time, some folks are a fan and others aren't I guess.

I don't think I'd want the wheeled timber-pro. And I am talking for my ground here, mind you. For level wet ground, I supose they will be better. They just do not seem like they would be as stable as a track machine...I have seen late model 501 Cat track machines with Rolly-II heads used for $130 - $150K....they are kind of small, but in your wood I can't see where you will need the size of an 830 Timber-pro..
Stay away from the Timbcos...you will need a full time shop to keep it going.
Here's a couple videos..

[video=youtube;4YxwnVvCJm0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YxwnVvCJm0[/video]

 

[Oldtimer]

[video=youtube;hpzMs6jGx84]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpzMs6jGx84[/video]

 

[Oldtimer]

[video=youtube;wJUta7HPNKE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJUta7HPNKE[/video]

 

[Oldtimer]

The Log Max 7000 fixed head is extremely capable as well. Very fast.

[video=youtube;sIANUow_vy8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIANUow_vy8[/video]

 

[Oldtimer]

Of the heads I posted here, I feel the Quadco is the best. I like the disc, as it's far stronger than a bar saw...I can see bending a lot of bars in the first few weeks of learning the head...but the disc will take a greenhorn's learning curve better...When it's time to cut a big limb, or a burl...Give me the disc..

 

[Oldtimer]

[video=youtube;sZ-Nq037hsQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ-Nq037hsQ[/video]

 

[1270d]

Here is what I run. Now, no way an I as good as this guy but its what I do. Cutting similar size and lengths that shearhead is interested in.

Rekordförsöket - Johan Nordh kör John Deere 1470D - YouTube