I Finally Finished a BIG Job!

[Sawyer Rob]

The forks and grapple that i have were designed/build by my loader mfg., they have been unbelivable! Extremely strong and well designed! I'm VERY happy i bought something designed for my loader, rather than home building something cheaper that works, but could never equil the factory tools in performance.

This thing is STRONG!

Is fully adjustable, and has MANY uses around my place,

Small logs or even brush is no problem at all...

SR

 

[KiwiBro]

Thank you for this info'.

Do you have a link to the website please? I googled my loader mfg and got too many hits to go through them all.

It looks like the extra wide capacity of the forks would come in handy when carrying those logs.

The way that grab is pivoted up and forward is interesting. It also has some width to the grab itself which could be very useful too.

I've only a 50HP tractor so there's often a trade off between implement weight and loading capacity, but I'd rather lean towards a stringer implement I can use if ever I get something more powerful in the future.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

My loader is an ALO Quickie, it has the european mount, not the skidsteer mount. The Eroupean mounting system is stronger than the skid mount, and you are going to see it more and more on the bigger tractors, as they are seeing failures of the skid mount on the big tractors.

My point being, my forks/grapple probably won't work on your tractor... And i haven't looked for or at the ALO website, so i don't know what it is.

SR

 

[KiwiBro]

My loader is an ALO Quickie, it has the european mount, not the skidsteer mount. The Eroupean mounting system is stronger than the skid mount, and you are going to see it more and more on the bigger tractors, as they are seeing failures of the skid mount on the big tractors.

My point being, my forks/grapple probably won't work on your tractor... And i haven't looked for or at the ALO website, so i don't know what it is.

SR

Thanks for this. My tractor FEL uses Euro hitch, has a full height lift capacity over 1000kgs (2200 Lbs) at the pins, and I note the weight of the forks and grab combined on their site is around 200kgs for the 1000kg max load option. I am really liking the design of these forks and grapple.

Do you mind advising what you paid for 'em? It might be more than I can afford, as is usually the way when I see something I really like.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Thanks for this. My tractor FEL uses Euro hitch, has a full height lift capacity over 1000kgs (2200 Lbs) at the pins, and I note the weight of the forks and grab combined on their site is around 200kgs for the 1000kg max load option. I am really liking the design of these forks and grapple.

Do you mind advising what you paid for 'em? It might be more than I can afford, as is usually the way when I see something I really like.

I bought them LONG time ago, and i don't remember exactly what i did pay for them, but it was over a thousand dollars at the time.

It just proves what i always say, "if" you buy GOOD tools that really work for you, in time the cost will be forgotten. If you buy something so so that works half azz, you will never forget that deal!

SR

 

[KiwiBro]

I bought them LONG time ago, and i don't remember exactly what i did pay for them, but it was over a thousand dollars at the time.

It just proves what i always say, "if" you buy GOOD tools that really work for you, in time the cost will be forgotten. If you buy something so so that works half azz, you will never forget that deal!

SR

Got a price from a dealer.

forks: $885
log grab: $1718
total: $2603

As I suspected, beyond my means at this point in time :-(

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Got a price from a dealer.
forks: $885
log grab: $1718
total: $2603

As I suspected, beyond my means at this point in time :-(

I'm certain i didn't pay that much, but i've owned them over 10 years now too... The way things go up, if it's something you will really use, it's worth it to try to get it sooner rather than later.

As far as i'm concerned, mine have paid for themselves just in the huge amount of work they have saved me, allowing me to get other things done!

SR

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Well, i guess i'll add some more to this, as i've had several people ask me what the 30' beam was for? It's for a sawmill shed i'm building and here's how i got started.

First thing i wanted to do was to push the sod off the area where the bld. was going, so i got my 450 and started pushing sod,

It also leveled the area,

I didn't need to go too deep, as i wanted to raise the area with clean sand,

And, as my friend has an sand pit close by, i would just go there with my tractor and get the sand myself,

And bring it home one bucket load at a time,

Then leveling it and using the tractor to "pack" the lifts,

Until i had a nice pad of sand all compacted,

SR

 

[Garmins dad]

vey nice work.. I can't wait to see how your setting this saw shop up..

I have the baby brother to your dozer.. a old JD 440 with a detroit..

 

[Sawyer Rob]

With the pad all done, i got a couple of my nephues over to help me, and i bored the holes for the poles,

Going down 4' and throwing a post pad in the bottom of each hole,

then sitting the poles in the holes,

Next we started adding braceing,

and the nailer for the rafters,

It has a 26' door opening to get logs through,

and is 30' long by 10' wide with southern exposure. It will be plenty big for how i use my mill...

SR

 

[terryknight]

looking good there sir.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Thanks guys!

Now it's time to set the beam, so made some brackets to hold it, and trimmed the center post off to length, as the beam is going to set on top of it. With the beam being 30' long and so heavy, it took a little jockying to get it centered on my folks, and over to the mill site,

Once there, i got it quite close with the tractor, and then used ratchet straps to get it where i needed it,

Then nailing it into place, adding the home made brackets i made. It came out pretty good and i'm happy with it.

With that done, i milled out a bunch of 2x4's and 2 x and also 3 x by 6's for the rafters ect....

I want this roof VERY strong, so i'm putting plenty of rafters up, so i got started nailing them up,

putting them 16" OC, some 3x and others 2x,

until i had them all up,

and i could get started on cutting them to length and nailing a facia board on,

Then lifting the 2x4's i cut up onto the rafters, i started nailing them into place too,

That's it for now,

SR

 

[Dave Boyt]

First tractor envy (even more, with your latest photos), now shed envy! Looks like a great design. Is the part on the end going to be for storing blades & tools?

 

[Dad2FourWI]

I agree with Dave !!!!

Great pics and the project is looking super!

Are you going to put in some roof panels that allow light in? The older I get... there is no such thing as too much light! LOL!

Keep the pics coming!

-Dad2FourWI

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Thanks guys... Did i mention that i love my tractor??? lol

I mostly closed one end of this bld. in a bit, to give more protection to the head of my mill.

I think with a door opening as big as this bld. has, and with all the southern exposure, it will be lit plenty good, and i will have some lights in it too. Also, i have some glass i can put in the back wall if i decide i needs them.

SR

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I'm not sure how much more i'll get done on my sawmill shed before winter closes in, with the geese and sandhill cranes heading south, it's not far away!

But, i do have it a little further along now,

I didn't have quite enough lumber milled out, so i set another pine on the deck and made some more lumber,

Until i had plenty to finish the roof project,

And finished getting what i needed nailed into place,

So with that done, i picked up the pile of metal a friend gave me, and started cutting them to the length that i needed,

The sheets are 22' long, and i need them 16'- 6", so with all of them cut to length, i set them aside to be installed another day,

Some of the sheets are starting to rust, so i need to decide what i'm going to do about that before i install them...

SR

 

[Cody Colston]

The mill shed looks great and I'm definitely envious. I've got one question about the construction, though. Why no birdsmouth notch on the rafters where they cross the outside beam?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Thanks Cody,

Did you notice how much over hang i have on those rafters? I didn't want to weaken them with an unneeded birds mouth, so i didn't cut any into them. I just may need the extra strength on down the road.

Glad you liked the picts...

SR

 

[Dad2FourWI]

Great pics! It looks like the project is coming along!!!

I bet your mill will be "tucked away" for the winter any day now!!!!!

That is quite a span on your door opening... one idea, we had an old barn with a large opening for equip and it had a central post that could be put into place and taken out when necessary. It sure made is feel more at ease when we had an "old fashioned" Wisconsin snow season!!!!! LOL!

Keep the pics coming!

OK, enough coffee... time to lay up a bit more firewood!

-Dad2FourWI

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Great pics! It looks like the project is coming along!!!

I bet your mill will be "tucked away" for the winter any day now!!!!!

That is quite a span on your door opening... one idea, we had an old barn with a large opening for equip and it had a central post that could be put into place and taken out when necessary. It sure made is feel more at ease when we had an "old fashioned" Wisconsin snow season!!!!! LOL!

Keep the pics coming!

OK, enough coffee... time to lay up a bit more firewood!

-Dad2FourWI

Thanks for the kind words!

I've had a post "mid span" ever since i put the rafters on. Because i put the beam up so soon after building it, and because the rafters were put up green, i wanted a post under the beam until the glue was dry in the center of the beam.

Anyway, i've been VERY busy, but i did manage to get the tin on now!

I'll move the mill into the bld. soon, and perhaps i'll mill some sideing?? It all depends on the weather, as i don't mill much in cold weather any longer.

I'm thinking the floor can wait until next spring!

SR