What tools and methods do you use for firewood?

[Deleted member 83629]

chainsaw and truck and along with a 12 volt harbor freight winch.

 

[firefighter938]

A 30cc, 50cc, and 70cc saw. A wheel barrow, come a long, and some straps. A maul, axe, hatchet, wedges. And a 8x10 single axle trailer. I normally cut standing dead trees and problem trees for friends and family. I also scavenge when farmers are cleaning out fence rows. If the trees aren't too big I cut into 3-6' logs and strap to trailer. If I can't carry them out I cut and split on site. Then load the barrow and haul to my trailer.

 

[Ambull01]

A 30cc, 50cc, and 70cc saw. A wheel barrow, come a long, and some straps. A maul, axe, hatchet, wedges. And a 8x10 single axle trailer. I normally cut standing dead trees and problem trees for friends and family. I also scavenge when farmers are cleaning out fence rows. If the trees aren't too big I cut into 3-6' logs and strap to trailer. If I can't carry them out I cut and split on site. Then load the barrow and haul to my trailer.

I've been thinking about a wheel barrow. Gets tiring as hell carrying out rounds in a bear hug. Only issue with it is terrain. I'm using my kids sled right now. Busted the plastic all to hell already. Good thing we don't get enough snow or have hills near us for them to actually use their Christmas gift lol.

 

[firefighter938]

I've been thinking about a wheel barrow. Gets tiring as hell carrying out rounds in a bear hug. Only issue with it is terrain. I'm using my kids sled right now. Busted the plastic all to hell already. Good thing we don't get enough snow or have hills near us for them to actually use their Christmas gift lol.

Frozen ground makes it easier, but you still have to take time clearing your path. You can't have logs or sticks in your way or the wheel will just stop. Not fun when you have a heavy load on. I have broken a few handles too. That is also not fun when you have a heavy load.

 

[Ambull01]

Frozen ground makes it easier, but you still have to take time clearing your path. You can't have logs or sticks in your way or the wheel will just stop. Not fun when you have a heavy load on. I have broken a few handles too. That is also not fun when you have a heavy load.

Oh yes, I've done that a few times. Really sucks when you have to really put your weight into it and almost run to get it started only to discover you missed/didn't see that one root ahead you. I wonder if one of those hand truck thingies that can go up stairs would work? Have large wheels to get over stuff and able to get over roots/sticks. Would be nice to have something that can fold up for storage too.

 

[woodchuck357]

This is the type of wheel barrow for firewood. Works best in rough pulled. Lower CG helps a bunch.

 

[Ambull01]

This is the type of wheel barrow for firewood. Works best in rough pulled. Lower CG helps a bunch.
View attachment 406519

Nice! What's the name/manufacturer? If that thing had sides I would be all in

 

[Ambull01]

Actually I think I've found my next must have scrounge tool:

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/gorilla-cart

A dump cart! I'm sold

 

[firefighter938]

I was thinking about buying one of these. The larger tires would probably roll better. Only problem I see it is wider so not good for right places. But then I would just use the other wheel barrow.

http://m.northerntool.com/products/shop~tools~product_200308231_200308231

I punched in the shipping and it said $100.00. Think I will pass and try to find one I can pick up.

 

[Ambull01]

Speaking of Northern Tool, I'm kinda curious about using a hand winch for scrounging. What's the benefit of using something like a Maasdam rope puller vs a hand winch? If you could somehow secure the winch to an anchor tree seems like it would serve the same purpose or am I missing a distinct difference in the two tools?

 

[firefighter938]

Speaking of Northern Tool, I'm kinda curious about using a hand winch for scrounging. What's the benefit of using something like a Maasdam rope puller vs a hand winch? If you could somehow secure the winch to an anchor tree seems like it would serve the same purpose or am I missing a distinct difference in the two tools?

I use a come-a-long because a winch is harder to use in the woods IMHO. To secure the come-a-long I just grab some HD webbing and wrap around a nearby tree. The webbing won't cut into the tree hurting it. Then a rope to the tree I'm pulling.

I would think the hand winch would need to be elevated so the handle can make a full rotation. Plus, I think you get more pull with a come-a-long.

 

[wood4heat]

Damn you guys work hard for your wood! I be done it but I have to be pretty desperate to carry a piece of wood more than 20'! For the most part I can get the trailer close enough to toss a 10" X 18" round within 6' of it.

I cut on a lot of DNR land where ant sort of mechanical yarding is prohibited. At most I might get away with a wheel barrow.

 

[zogger]

Speaking of Northern Tool, I'm kinda curious about using a hand winch for scrounging. What's the benefit of using something like a Maasdam rope puller vs a hand winch? If you could somehow secure the winch to an anchor tree seems like it would serve the same purpose or am I missing a distinct difference in the two tools?

The massdam you can use any length rope. Meaning for guiding trees, or hauling out logs/branches. I've used my comealong before hauling out, PITA limited to around 15 feet at a whack, then have to reset it. Very slow and tedious. Do able, but tedious.

I want one just for helping getting trees where they need to go, using a snatch block, so I can be up here pulling, not down yonder over there where the tree wants to fall. I have done it like that with the comealong and chains and ropes and straps...err...darwin award action eventually.

 

[Ambull01]

I use a come-a-long because a winch is harder to use in the woods IMHO. To secure the come-a-long I just grab some HD webbing and wrap around a nearby tree. The webbing won't cut into the tree hurting it. Then a rope to the tree I'm pulling.

I would think the hand winch would need to be elevated so the handle can make a full rotation. Plus, I think you get more pull with a come-a-long.

Yeah you're probably right. Okay a come-a-long and that cool dump trailer is next on my list then I'm done for good.

Damn you guys work hard for your wood! I be done it but I have to be pretty desperate to carry a piece of wood more than 20'! For the most part I can get the trailer close enough to toss a 10" X 18" round within 6' of it.

I cut on a lot of DNR land where ant sort of mechanical yarding is prohibited. At most I might get away with a wheel barrow.

Believe me, if I could just toss rounds into my wood hauler and drive off I definitely would. Exercise is great and all but I would rather lift weights.

 

[Ambull01]

The massdam you can use any length rope. Meaning for guiding trees, or hauling out logs/branches. I've used my comealong before hauling out, PITA limited to around 15 feet at a whack, then have to reset it. Very slow and tedious. Do able, but tedious.

I want one just for helping getting trees where they need to go, using a snatch block, so I can be up here pulling, not down yonder over there where the tree wants to fall. I have done it like that with the comealong and chains and ropes and straps...err...darwin award action eventually.

I see. The others are limited because the rope/cable has to go around the spool vs the Maasdam is pulled behind it. I think lol.

Be right back, have to look up snatch block.

 

[rancher2]

I have too many tools for making firewood according to the boss. [WIFE] We burn about 15 cords of locust and hedge in our Garn a year. I have to go to the shed and take a count on the saws but there is a herd of them. Biggest is the 694 Solo with a 36 in bar and down in size from there most are Solo or Stihl and run 20 inch bars. I have a S-750 bobcat with a 3 ft ground force saw on it that I take most on my trees down with it and cut them off at ground level. Robo grapple for the skid loader. I have a old cat 941B track loader that is handy for skidding and pushing brush in to tight burn piles. Two homemade wood splitters that both have buzz saws on the back for cutting down hedge logs. Have several dump trailers from pickup box size to 8 by 16 three axle so we can have a years supply of wood on dump trailers in the shed. We do have a conveyor to load load from the splitters to the trailers but we hand stack the trailers to get more of a load on them. We are doing more than just making firewood as we are cleaning up a pasture for more use able land. But now I think it is time to start building more of a processor that we can buck the logs and split them all in one. Need to find the money to do that. This three dollar corn is not helping.

 

[firefighter938]

The massdam you can use any length rope. Meaning for guiding trees, or hauling out logs/branches. I've used my comealong before hauling out, PITA limited to around 15 feet at a whack, then have to reset it. Very slow and tedious. Do able, but tedious.

I want one just for helping getting trees where they need to go, using a snatch block, so I can be up here pulling, not down yonder over there where the tree wants to fall. I have done it like that with the comealong and chains and ropes and straps...err...darwin award action eventually.

I suppose I don't know what a maasdam is. I thought it was a come along. I use a piece of webbing around one tree. Then the come along, then a section of rope to tension my trees to aid the direction of fall.

I have also used them to help pull a tree up a steep ravine. That was time consuming, but it was a big black locust that fell and I wanted it.

 

[Ambull01]

I have too many tools for making firewood according to the boss. [WIFE] We burn about 15 cords of locust and hedge in our Garn a year. I have to go to the shed and take a count on the saws but there is a herd of them. Biggest is the 694 Solo with a 36 in bar and down in size from there most are Solo or Stihl and run 20 inch bars. I have a S-750 bobcat with a 3 ft ground force saw on it that I take most on my trees down with it and cut them off at ground level. Robo grapple for the skid loader. I have a old cat 941B track loader that is handy for skidding and pushing brush in to tight burn piles. Two homemade wood splitters that both have buzz saws on the back for cutting down hedge logs. Have several dump trailers from pickup box size to 8 by 16 three axle so we can have a years supply of wood on dump trailers in the shed. We do have a conveyor to load load from the splitters to the trailers but we hand stack the trailers to get more of a load on them. We are doing more than just making firewood as we are cleaning up a pasture for more use able land. But now I think it is time to start building more of a processor that we can buck the logs and split them all in one. Need to find the money to do that. This three dollar corn is not helping.

15 cords a year! That would be a full-time job for me. I'm amazed how freaking slow I am at cutting and loading stuff lol. Could be the fact I'm a newbie so I purposely take my time. I don't feel like testing out the tourniquet in my first aid kit.

 

[square1]

Here's three pieces



The closest I'm most proud of. Won the 54" diameter x 17" wide tires and wheels, and a 34" wide heavy steel (1/2" thick x 6" wide reinforced everywhere) tractor front weight bracket in an auction for $115. Had some wheel bearings that went bad on the front of the jeep which became axle stubs (no good for high speed, but fine for hauling a log through the woods), picked up an old style bumper pull car towing hitch at a garage sale, $20. Threw it together with the help of a neighbor's machining skill and WHAA-LAA there it is! (Not sure "what" it is though ). Pick up one end of the log with skidding tongs on the 1700 Ford 4x4 tractor with FEL (when it's feeling better, I broke it ) 3 point hitch and use the log for the trailer spine with the opposite end chained to the weight bracket suspended between the tires and it can trailer about a ton of tree at a time out to the landing.

Next to that is the 5x10 trailer that I deliver 1/3 cord with behind the jeep, or hook up to the F250 and overload them both (just a smidge) for a full cord. Finally is the 18' x 82" tandem (soon to be triple) axle trailer that will haul 4 tons of logs to the mill (very slowly) behind the 3/4 ton 7.3 Turbo IDI Diesel.

Get the wood into manageable size pieces with (2) Husky saws, a 435 to limb & trim and 445 to drop & block. Split them up with a X27 and / or 8 lb. sledge with wedges. Carry all that with chains, gas, oil, tools on the 3 point in a custom plywood box that also has a shelf for bucking up 8' logs into rounds when I'm too tired to go after them on the ground. Did 13 cord this year for the exercise

 

[zogger]

I suppose I don't know what a maasdam is. I thought it was a come along. I use a piece of webbing around one tree. Then the come along, then a section of rope to tension my trees to aid the direction of fall.

I have also used them to help pull a tree up a steep ravine. That was time consuming, but it was a big black locust that fell and I wanted it.

These pullers work like a comealong, but don't have a built in spool of cable. Instead you use your own rope, and it can be any length, and there's the advantage. Once there is a little tension, it grabs and pulls. No need to stop, run the cable back out and reset if your pull is farther then the length of the cable on a regular comealong.

short video showing one loaded up and how they work