Fuel Reduction

[thansen]

Hi,
I have a small fuel reduction business in Montana and I'm looking for some input to help me up my acres/day production. Currently I do everything by hand (chainsaw) and use my JD 250 rubber tire skid steer to gather brush etc. I've been looking at tree shears and saws and at the possibility of upgrading my skid steer to a compact track loader. So here is my questions:
How does over the tire skid steer tracks compare to a actual compact track loader? What would be better to use with a shear?
As far as a shear, I keep going back and forth between the kind that just shear the tree down and let it fall, or the kind that actually holds the tree after you shear it so you can carry it upright to a landing. What have you guys found works the best in thinning? I'm concerned that if i get one that does not hold the tree I will be injuring the "leave trees".
Thanks for your help, and I appreciate any suggestions and help in this matter. I just want to get the best production for the dollars I invest in equipment. O'yea, i'm mostly working in pine forests, lots of lodgepole, and ponderossa and those blasted Junipers. Thanks a bunch.
Travis

 

[atlas1]

try the marshall saw ..we run them on track skid steers only...much more stable than a wheeled machine...

 

[jrizman]

Travis,
i worked on thinning/fuel reduction/ etc in Colorado for a while. we did most work by hand also and used a quad to skid at times. we had a demo day where a local contractor came by with a track Cat loader with shear head (cant remember the exact model or head). he ran thru an acre of ????ty lodgepole in maybe an hour (this was a thinning project). that included removal, piling and even stacking of nicer logs for processing.
i was very impressed with this machine. i have used Cat skid steers before and really like them. plus you can have different attachements to put on (bucket, etc) do finish the job or even do other side work to help pay for the machine.

tracks are the way to go. low impact-dont tear up a site and great traction in slippery, snowy, muddy, etc.

On a side note: ill be moving to montana here pretty soon (springtime) I have my certified arborist lic and have been doing this type of work for some time if you may be interested in talking more, just let me know!

 

[thansen]

Thanks for the reply. I recently have purchased a set of the McClaren Magnum tracks and a tree shear to hopefully speed up my thinning work. I appreciate your info. Definately keep in touch, I would like to visit with you about some things if you are moving to Montana in the spring.

 

[redprospector]

Thansen,
Let us know how the tree shear works for you. I have been concidering one myself. I just wonder how they'd work on steeper terrain.

Andy

 

[CompleteLori]

We have a tree shear on a TL 150 Takehuchi - I can shar over 75 trees an hour and run them through a chipper and get about 30 tons in the truck .

for what its worth .

email me for info on a 15 and a 17 inch shear . I will forward picts.

 

[skipspearman]

hardwoods

The acreage I am soon to work on is mostly hardwoods. I am doing a diameter limit cut, taking out 14-16" and below. Will most tree shears handle hardwoods okay?

Also, any recs on what brand tree shear to buy? What are considered the low-end and high-end brands?

 

[CompleteLori]

Shear Head I use

Here is the Shear Head we sell and use for our rental fleet. We can get one for all interested because we manufacture them-- $ 14,500 delivered in all 50 states.

 

[Peakebrook]

I am satisfied with my Dymax. It has been in service for several years and has been an excellent addition. They recently upgraded the main hydralic pistons to shorten cycle time. Well built and reasonably priced.