Advice on how to process first thinings

[Treemover]

We have approx 25 acres of first thinnings this year, mainly Ash and Sycamore. Due to poor soils yields are not high, but I would just like some advice on what's the best method to take timber and convert.

 

Should I convert in situ, or cut to lengths of 8th and process later indoors? I don't have access to a processor or circular saw; just me and my chainsaw.

 

I'm toying with building a small holder that I can fill with logs and cut with a larger saw?

 

But it would be great to hear you guys experience and advice?

 

Cheers

[hiluxstihl]

what are conditions like to get timber to where you can process it?

[Treemover]

I have hp a plenty, to assist, with a quarry adjacent. But just want to avoid double handling if possible.

 

Thinking of using a bale spike with just four tines to load 8-10ft logs onto, use watched strap and cut into 50cm logs.

 

Today I just used a basic log holder and cut in situ and filled bulk bags.

[Marko]

Unseasoned wood straight into bulk bags is more than likely to mould/rot very quickly so best to get them home and tip them out.

 

I would extract on the bale spike, stack and season, cut to length as required.

[slack ma girdle]

I would make up an A frame for the back of your tractor like this:

 

This will enable you to skid out the trees in whole lenghts, or if they are small diameter trees, then in bundles of 6-10.

If the trees are not going to be split, then they need to be stored off the ground, otherwise they will rot quickly, particularly Sycamore, Birch, and Alder. Smaller diameter timber will also not need splitting, but it will take longer to season.

25 acres is probably going to produce more than you will have time to deal with, so you will need either to sort out a buyer wholesale, or divide the wood up into 3 or 4, and do it over 3 or 4 years.

 

Good luck

[kernowstu]

buck rake:001_smile:

[Chris Sheppard]

If it's a fairly level site that you can ride round well enough on the tractor, taking into account you're doing it all by hand, I'd be cutting to approx 1m lengths, splitting down into billets with a wedge and sledge hammer (sycamore really isnt bad to do that with) and then lead them out of the wood either on a trailer or on a linkage mounted rack. Can either dry in the wood or on a stack elsewhere but then can be sat into a rack (like a buckingham type thing) and crosscut with the chainsaw when dry (or drier anyway).

[kernowstu]

dumper with timber rack on e bay (search timber trailer)

[Chris Sheppard]

dumper with timber rack on e bay (search timber trailer)

 

That looks quite a useful tool - it only made £510 last time round and I was half kicking myself for not looking into it a bit more.

[normandylumberjack]

I agree with CS, 1m lengths then you can cut to suit the customers needs once seasoned. I find that spliting the log with a maul, whilst it lays flat on the ground works well, just wear stout boots, i have done this a lot and find it stops the need for too much wedge use.

 

If you can get a Bilke processor on hire it will make your life a pleasure, look at them on youtube, perfect for this type of job!