Cutting in South Scotland

[Stephen Blair]

Nice work! 

[Donnie]

4 hours ago, Mike Hill said:

How do you measure the volume of wood pulled up the hill onto the landing? In tonn or cubic meters?

How much are you pulling in a day do you know?

Depends on the job but that's for harvester drivers to know. As that's what they get paid by ton or metre. 
 

Not sure, it's not really a straight forward job as far as I'm concerned. Only done 2-3 days so far as local boys have got most of the work. 
 

Here's another photo out by Newcastleton way. 

[Mike Hill]

Are you paid by the day rate? Do you get an allowance to run your own saw or is that and the fuel built into the day rate?

[Spruce Pirate]

16 hours ago, Mike Hill said:

How do you measure the volume of wood pulled up the hill onto the landing? In tonn or cubic meters?

How much are you pulling in a day do you know?

 

I can't speak for JDon, but in my experience timber is measured through the head of the harvester when it's processed.  Then often paid for by the ton.  Amounts pulled in a day can vary hugely depending on the terrain, difficulty and trees.  Some days you'll get hardly anything, some days can be quite productive, it does depend on who's cutting and who's on the winch.100m3 plus is possible, but I rarely actually ask what is coming out when doing this type of work.  Main contractor sometimes swallows the cost of the winching within their overall costs or will sometimes charge it as a separate part of the contract, normally if it is complex work, such as around roads, powerlines, paths, houses, etc

 

39 minutes ago, Mike Hill said:

Are you paid by the day rate? Do you get an allowance to run your own saw or is that and the fuel built into the day rate?

 

Most cutters are paid by the day, including all saws and fuel.  Sometimes you'll get oil supplied, occasionally fuel and oil, but most of the time it's a day rate you agree with the contractor and that includes everything.

[Mike Hill]

Ok interesting. What sort of tonnage would be considered a good day in a cable logging job?

[Spruce Pirate]

Skyline not really my field of expertise, but dragging 30-40t a day isn't bad I think.  Again, depends on the length of the drag, size of the tree, size of the winch, number of people in the crew, etc, etc.

[openspaceman]

Are trees manually felled then skylined/highleaded out and processed on landing? If so what happens to the lop and top?

 

I used to think I was doing well to get 10 tonne up on a simple highlead. Modern forwarders put paid to that as the hills round here are not steep enough to be beyond their capabilities, ground damage is another thing though.

[Donnie]

7 hours ago, openspaceman said:

Are trees manually felled then skylined/highleaded out and processed on landing? If so what happens to the lop and top?

 

I used to think I was doing well to get 10 tonne up on a simple highlead. Modern forwarders put paid to that as the hills round here are not steep enough to be beyond their capabilities, ground damage is another thing though.

We have a high lead, and a tiger cat to process. 
 

All trees felled to a forest road or winched to the landing by us/cutters. 

[Donnie]

11 hours ago, Mike Hill said:

Are you paid by the day rate? Do you get an allowance to run your own saw or is that and the fuel built into the day rate?

Aye paid day rate. Get extra for going a fair distance etc. 

 

I supply petrol, oil, saws, chains ppe. Everything. 

[Donnie]

Climbed this hill today after brashing a big block that's to come, here's a panoramic view from the top. 
 

Maidens Paps, Shankend. Scotland.