Nice Oak Score

Last fall me and my cuttin buddy scored some mighty nice oak. In fact it was so nice it didn't go for firewood. At least not all of it. The guy in the pics is Earl. Earl cuts wood nearly everyday, rain or shine, hot or cold. He is one firewood cuttin machine. Oh yeh almost forgot, he is 78 yrs old. Hope I'm half as good a shape when I'm only 60 hehehe.

okotoks guy said:

I am DROOLING!! We don't have wood ANYTHING like that here in Southern Alberta.
Out of curiosity, what would be the cost of those logs in your area?

Click to expand...

The log Earl is holding hehe was half of that but log. Veneer grade is most valuable but hard to know before hand. A log that saws out real well might be worth 300.00 on the top end. But most of the time they aren't worth much unless you have a whole woods to sell that size. I've tried to take individual logs to the mill to sell and they won't give you anything for just one. Now on CL I've done real well selling logs. We scored some very nice Sassafras last summer that sold quick and for god money on CL. I wouldn't be surprised if a log like the one pictured would go for 200+ on CL. Everything on the trailer was Red Oak from 2 downed trees that fell in a storm. They were on a hillside. Where and how we had to cut those made my Solo 681 imperative for the job.

chinkapin_oak said:

What model John Deere is that, and what model # is the loader? I'm looking to buy one like your friends that can handle some heavy stuff!

Click to expand...

Thats a JD5400 with 520 loader. That size IMO is ala-round best value. You"ll spend less on that size than you will a SCUT. And its still trailerable which was the biggest reason I didn't go bigger. I kept my size limit at 10K. 30hp units are handy as pockets on a shirt but most max out at 800-1000lb lift capacity and don't handle that very well. That grapple weighs 800 by itself and I can't even till its on there. Even at max breakout the back end stays solid on that tractor. The compacts have to have 4wd to be able to do anything cause they are light. Now put 4WD under the 5400 or better yet the 5500 and you'll really have a machine. That unit is 60hp PTO and about 75hp engine. Remember when comparing CUTs with farm tractors that CUTs are engine hp and farm tractors are PTO which can be much less. A 30hp farm tractor is way more tractor than a 30hp CUT. That is a BoDozer grapple and IMO best overall for a combination or log and bush work. When I'm out cutting I sometimes have to do clean up and that style lets me do it. Plus I can grab a stick if I want to not just big stuff.

TreePointer said:

wkpoor, you're not helping things, LOL! A log/brush grapple has been longstanding atop my wish list for for the JD4600. I need to decide if I want to add the 3rd function hydraulic line myself or let the shop do it. I also want to switch from JD quick attach to Universal on the front end.

Click to expand...

I wouldn't switch to universal. Nothing at all wrong with the JD mount and adding an adapter will ad weight to the system that will take away from max lift. In fact the JD system is easily adaptable to just about anything. You can buy the hooks and pins from the dealer and weld on anything. Buddy of mine just got the same grapple as mine but had the folks at BoDozer scale it down a bit. He put it on a 40 something horse JD can't remember the model #.

TreePointer said:

wkpoor said:

I wouldn't switch to universal. Nothing at all wrong with the JD mount and adding an adapter will ad weight to the system that will take away from max lift. In fact the JD system is easily adaptable to just about anything. You can buy the hooks and pins from the dealer and weld on anything. Buddy of mine just got the same grapple as mine but had the folks at BoDozer scale it down a bit. He put it on a 40 something horse JD can't remember the model #.

Click to expand...

Hmmm, I'll have to think more about keeping the JD system. Thanks for the tips.

Click to expand...

BTW forgot to mention the 3rd SCV is about 500.00 from the dealer. I got lucky and found mine as an overstock item on Epay and paid 200.00. Other option is Faucy valve but they are 400.00. If you have the multifunction joystick your in business.

Its all red oak in those pics. In old growth woods all the trees will be straight with sometimes 50-60' or more to the first branch.