How I Get Huge Firewood Piles For FREE! (Spotlight on a Professional Arborist)

[@carlfondelheitiii2742]

Splitting F/wood, tractors, trucks, chainsaws never gets old. Yr brother in-law sure is a good climber . Carl FONDEROSA FARMS MD

[@WatchWesWork]

I've worked with some tree trimmers. These guys are in another league. They might be from another planet...

[@7eis]

If they don't give you a funny look or smirk when you call them tree trimmers, chances are it's just a job to them.

[@digdrivediy]

I've never watched someone with so much admiration and been so sure I never want to try it at the same time!

[@willdavidsonakawd3062]

i call the guys that i work with skilled monkeys, they enjoy it cause i mean nothing in a negative light

[@MyClutteredGarage]

Fantastic job, Neil! I get a little nervous just cleaning out the gutters anymore. These guys are acrobatic engineers. Total respect! -Ed

[@digdrivediy]

I'm with you Ed! I can't stand to be 12' off the ground! Thanks for checking it out Ed!

[@andrewsamanthamadison3320]

This tree cowboy has nerves of steel. Dag on, the amount of things that could go wrong! Thanks for taking the time to film this.

[@digdrivediy]

Oh I know it. I'm amazed every time I watch him do it.

[@jimmymcclelland3727]

My father is 55 been climbing and cutting trees since he was 14. He runs a local crew. Pretty neat seeing another climber work and use more newer styles!

[@digdrivediy]

Awesome Jimmy. Glad to hear he is still climbing!

[@Steve_Wojo]

This video gives a whole new meaning to the term "action shots". Another great one Neil !

[@digdrivediy]

Pretty cool to see the view from up there! Thanks so much!

[@gregd931]

Excellent example of how to get it done correctly and trust a professional. That guy next door with the saw he hasn't started in years and can get that tree out of here on a Sunday afternoon after you buy him a 18 pack of Old Milwaukee, may not be the wisest choice. You did look quite official and efficient moving logs (on the ground), in your Darth Vader helmet. You know just wanted to show off that log splitter attachment again! Good job Neil. Always a pleasure spending a little time with you on a Sunday evening. Love home to all.

[@digdrivediy]

Yeah, that helmet made me look like I knew what I was doing; didn't it! Actually first time ever running that tractor! It is nearly brand new and made my wallet hurt just sitting on it but it was really nice for sure. I've had that neighbor cut wood with the Old Milwaukee payment plan. Usually have to tow his truck home too while I'm at it and you're right, not always the best choice! Glad to have you along on Sunday Greg! I zonked out about 8pm last night and just now making it back to all these comments!

[@gregd931]

I'll sleep when I'm dead doesn't carry too much weight these days, does it old man? All good brother.

[@randywilson6869]

I had a tree service for 25 years and a guy stopped by one and asked what I was going to do with the wood . He said they would bring a tractor and load it. It ended up 15 years they would come get my big chunks of elm. It took care of 6 families to heat their houses and they built a splitter to split elm

[@digdrivediy]

That's an awesome deal. So rewarding when a long term arrangement can be made like that. Thanks for sharing Randy.

[@blackdogexcavator21]

It's amazing to watch a great climber/arborist work up in the tree tops. It baffles me the way they swing around from place to place and get the limbs to fall where they want them to go.

[@digdrivediy]

Quite the skilled craft that's for sure. I enjoy watching them too.

[@joesjunkgarage]

Fantastic video! Really enjoyed watching everyone working together to take down that massive tree. I never realized how many obstacles can be in the way of taking down a tree. Never get tired of watching your John Deere log splitter in action!

[@aprilgeneric8027]

15:12 thanks. as a kid i had to do it the bit harder way lifting stuff like this onto a 1 ton log splitter my grandpa had made from a boom arm truck ram and an old inline4 ford engine. i had access to a 1976 ford backhoe like this, never knew they made a splitter attachment for it. had this been around when i was a kid i wouldn't have dreaded the weekends spent cutting up trees from the county my grandpa brought home to his place, and my dads place.

[@digdrivediy]

I know just what you mean. This thing has really saved my back. Plus I can sit alone and split wood in the heated cab with the radio on! Thanks for watching!

[@greggb1416]

Great insight into the world of an arborist... Thank you sir.

[@digdrivediy]

You bet. Those guys are brave for sure.

[@carlcook3297]

They would make some nice looking tables. Hopefully you will be able to do a video on that process.

[@digdrivediy]

I hope to be able to do that as well Carl!

[@michaelmcguire3983]

Thanks Neil! I loved going along with Caleb! I use to love to climb but after my father-in-law’s fall my wife has put an end to it. Thanks for giving us a wonderful prospective! It’s different from up there! Take care Mike

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks Mike. I don't think I knew that you climbed? Much respect from me for that sir! Thanks for watching.

[@ArmoredXJ]

Thanks for another great video Neil! My friend and I are heavy into climbing, mountaineering, and rope work. That friend is an arborist and this gave me a new appreciation for that work. I am also going to talk to my friend that is a machinist about possibly fabricating friend me of those splitters for a tractor backhoe. Enjoy the rest of your family day Sunday!

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks so much Stephen! I didn't know you were a climber. Mad respect. Hopefully you got my reply email. Thanks so much for watching!

[@robsmith7681]

I like the rope hook! I’ve been fighting with a rope grapple (“yella grapple” to be exact) and a throw bag for getting my ropes back when they’re a few limbs over. I’m stealing that idea! You need to patent that splitter for the backhoe too. Seems very efficient and a awesome idea.

[@willdavidsonakawd3062]

i love watching that thing work and he really should patent it!!

[@digdrivediy]

Appreciate it Rob. That hook is pretty handy I think for sure. That splitter wasn't my invention and has been around a long time. I just reimagined it for my machine but man is it cool! :)

[@digdrivediy]

It was patented in 1985 I believe. They just never made many of them or don't promote it at all. I can't find one for sale anywhere either.

[@robsmith7681]

@@digdrivediy 1985 was a good year man, and I’m not just saying that because of me being born that year. 🤪

[@paulhadley7855]

hi neil i am from the uk and i statarted to watch youtube videos during the 2020 covid lock down.yours are some of the best i have watched thank you. in my work i used to go out to customers and export pack large machinery i would go to the customers and measure the machines then go back to our shop and cut and make the cases in sections then a team of us pack on the customers premises as the macines were too heavy to handle in our shop. we would load a semi low loader with the sections of cases and when we arrived on site there would always be a line of trucks waiting to be unloaded.but the 2 guys that did the un-loading with the cranes had wood burning stoves at home so i would always put 2 big sacks of fire wood on the back of the truck when they saw us they would always give us priority so the fire wood helped,

[@digdrivediy]

Hey that is a super clever idea to get favorable unloading! "Tip" the crane operators! Thanks so much for checking out my videos. I'm glad to have you watching!

[@watkinstreefarm6880]

Those are some big chunks!! I need to find a connection to firewood. Thanks

[@digdrivediy]

The best price is free if you can find it! Thanks Jeff!

[@johnmetcalfe1917]

thats a good pile of wood....watching your brother in-law, all i could think was the what if's....all the best..

[@digdrivediy]

yeah no kidding! Lots of potentials for bad things. He's as safe as they come though at least. Thanks John.

[@Andyrob323]

Of course I’ve seen your splitter before... but I’m still gonna watch and love every minute of it! There’s just something about firewood... have a good one, Neil.

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks as always Andrew!

[@andyd9199]

awesome, just found the channel. ive been doing the same for year. either having tree co dump, follow line crews or picking up at the wood yard of the tree co...have a good morning , be safe. Andy (Michigan)

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks Andy! Once you get hooked up with somebody it can be a great deal. Thanks for tuning in.

[@DavidDragonhammer]

Funny the down side is finding one who will work, I had 3 trees wanted trim this summer, I was having a new roof put on, so I contacted a arborist about what I needed for the trees , one had a power line go over my garage and other tree wanted removed and had one I needed trimmed. I will say,3 companies later, no call backs, until after needed the work done, I did the work myself, I am multi talented, I wanted someone else to do the work for once. I will never do that again, you got it made with people like that, I will never will trust another arborist again.

[@digdrivediy]

It is tough finding some good ones in certain industries these days. Sorry you had the stuggles David. I am lucky though to know someone in the industry. Thanks for watching and sharing you experience.

[@erikgiggey4783]

i look back at the 5 years i spent working for a tree service and wonder how i survived lol. only 1 injury in the time i was there that required medical help(stiches) the owners brother in law was there and rather than set the chain brake and readjusting he turned the powerhead with the bar close to him and cut about a 1 inch deep cut in his thigh. no chaps were not used they would have saved him from himself. didnt have hard hats or anything yeah this was the late 80s early 90s but i learned a huge amount and tbh i would do it over again, was great work and we cut some giant old trees. seeing a 6 foot bar not be able to make it half way through the base of an old white oak was something. and lol at my young self barely even being able to carry the above mentioned saw and my boss handled it like it wasnt that heavy. i was a ground guy and rarely ran a saw but a stihl 038

[@digdrivediy]

It really is great experience and a wonderful opportunity to learn a lot of valuable skills that can be applied to lots of things. Thanks for checking it out Erik.

[@camper273]

Finally a new firewood video! Great Video!

[@digdrivediy]

Haha! Oh yeah!

[@DirtBrute]

Dangerous job for sure ! My neighbor Who’s been climbing for years just had his rigging fail and fell 40 feet breaking his pelvis😳. A lot of times he’s my wood supplier. I’ll probably bring some back to him now . Great video 👍

[@digdrivediy]

Oh man! Sorry to hear that about your neighbor. There is so much risk in that job. Thanks for checking this out Steve!

[@majorpayne4098]

Very Impressive! I had a crew of similar experience and professional abilities take down a massive maple tree in my back yard, 4 guys on the ropes all day long. not even a nick in the house.

[@HamiltonvilleFarm]

excellent video Neil!

[@digdrivediy]

Hey thanks Hank! Did you ever get that valve loose on the 310 and get it moving yet?

[@HamiltonvilleFarm]

@@digdrivediy let’s just say it has fallen way down on the priority list. 😂

[@digdrivediy]

Dang it!

[@davidfisher69]

Great video. Gotta love it when it's free.

[@digdrivediy]

Best price!

[@BusyBeaver22]

That was awesome. He is definitely on another level. Amazing footage from up on high

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks! Yes, very cool and a gifted climber.

[@casycasy5199]

nice work in the tree.i like that splitter

[@digdrivediy]

Thank you Ron.

[@alancoleman4370]

Great video, and what a neat look at a true professional at work. In our neck of the woods, true arborists/climbers are very rare, the business dominated by sketchy "tree services'" operating solely out of brush-painted old bucket trucks.

[@digdrivediy]

Yeah, we have a lot of that too unfortunately. They really undercut on pricing too which makes it tough for Caleb to get paid what he should sometimes. Fortunately there are still folks out there that want it done by a pro. Thanks Alan for the great insight!

[@ahuman6825]

Love the splitter on the backhoe

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks!

[@johnhamilton9229]

Not the first time seeing you use your splitter. But enjoy the thought of one day making one for my little blue New Holland. Thanks

[@digdrivediy]

That would be cool John!

[@terryrogers1025]

That was great, tree work is no place for the faint of heart. Good source recommendations. Like your backhoe splitter, I could see that becoming my main split if I were still in the thick of burning wood. I also wouldn’t mind seeing a start to finish on saw milling those big logs you hauled.

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks Terry. Hopefully I can get some good saw mill videos when he gets into those logs.

[@m2hmghb]

My cousin was an arborist for a decade, before regulations started tightening and his profit margin got slimmer and slimmer from required classes and so on. It's a hell of a job. To think it all started when he fell out of a tree and broke his arm. Great video Neil.

[@digdrivediy]

Wow! yeah, getting tougher all the time. Thanks for checking it out!

[@jimmccormick6091]

Hi, Neil, new subscriber from just west of Cleveland. I did find the video entertaining, and informational, and a bit frightening. I dont know what it is about wood fired heating, but, I find it interesting to watch. I watched another youtuber, Joe Swenson(?) up in Minnesota, he just got a Royal Crown wood boiler similar to yours, and I think he said he went throgh 30 some odd cords of wood (which to me, seems like a MASSIVE amount of wood), and I cannot comprehend how costly it would be to purchase. Joe gets it dropped off in log form, and then cuts up the tree, and bucks it all himself, which I guess would reduce cost drastically from having it all processed for you. it seems, in the few videos I have seen of you, and Joe, that firewood almost becomes a full time profession! If you are not getting wood, you are cutting wood, or splitting wood, or feeding the boiler (which I know only takes a few moments. (I am imagining, ir rural areas, gas lines may not be a common thing, and the cost of electric heat is absurd, on good days. As I watch some of this, i try to imagine what kind of a job this would have been 100 years ago, or 150 years ago. I imagine young men got VERY good with saws, and axes, and I imagine that every year, they had to go further, and further, and further from the house. Thank you for sharing, it is certainly very interesting!

[@bhepner1]

That’s crazy! Thanks for sharing.

[@digdrivediy]

yes sir! Thanks for watching!

[@d.a.ballou9740]

What's not to like about this video? Love the backhoe splitter.

[@digdrivediy]

Really appreciate it.

[@hollandduck79]

nice video agian Neil . from the Netherlands thanks for the video Neil and Fam

[@digdrivediy]

Thank you my friend!

[@outdoorswithlarryrobin]

Great video, Bobcat Power and Agility 💪, Cool Splitter on the backhoe💪Take Care 🚜🪵🇺🇸

[@digdrivediy]

Well thanks a bunch Larry! I've seen that Bobcat of yours. Their nice machines for sure!

[@chrismcmorrow6223]

Maddie and Caleb took down a 60foot pine in our backyard in south Florida. I have more work for them this winter. Leave it to the experts!

[@digdrivediy]

Really?!? That's really cool to hear. Thanks for saying hi Chris! I'll tell Caleb you commented.

[@halliwilljon]

I get alot of my wood from the dpw in my town, saves them time and money when i come in and clean it up...usually maple, some oak, elm and ash..

[@digdrivediy]

That would be cool. What does "dpw" stand for if I may ask?

[@halliwilljon]

@@digdrivediy department of public works. The gentleman who take care of the town, water and sewer.

[@willdavidsonakawd3062]

i have seen you work this backhoe splitter and cant get enough of it!!! i absolutely love it, where do you store all this wood once you burn it up?? maybe a storage video sometime soon??

[@digdrivediy]

Hey thanks a lot Will! I keep the wood in a lean to next to my wood boiler. You can probably catch a glimpse of it in some of my other videos if you poke around the channel. I will likely have some more firewood videos this winter. Thanks for watching!

[@willdavidsonakawd3062]

@@digdrivediy this response made my night as i just stoked my fireplace right before bed!! We have pallets out back and under tarps is where i have emassed i believe to be around 8 cords and some are dry and some are waiting. I love this stuff and it would be awesome to come and see the stuff in the videos. Now i know you are always busy so i'd help in any chores but getting to meet and know people, its so much fun!!!

[@tripodds]

Thanks!

[@JonsDailyHustle]

Hey that's a really sweet collaboration there. My saying is "if it's free, its for me" lol

[@digdrivediy]

I'm right there with you Jon! Thanks!

[@roncorbin1500]

Good one Neil .

[@digdrivediy]

Appreciate it Ron!

[@INFINITYSWAGGER1]

I'm loving the firewood videos!

[@digdrivediy]

Thank you sir. Glad you folks are willing to watch em!

[@kevinallen8072]

No way, I'm not dancing in the trees. Hats off to your brother in law. I'm not that brave when it comes to heights.

[@digdrivediy]

Right there with you Kevin!

[@michael_house]

I got vertigo just watching this. Caleb is a badass.

[@digdrivediy]

Oh yeah!

[@patl900]

Great channel. Even tho its only splitting wood, it's actually fun to watch! lol. I like splitting wood my self. Keep it going!!

[@BG-vq9fd]

I like to watch August Hunicke climb. Tree climbers are mesmerizing to me.

[@digdrivediy]

I need to check that out. Certainly fun to watch! WATCH...

[@motownXJdad9565]

all my years climbing were never as Dangerous as Calebs is, but i did it in the same boots lol. Wesco climbing boots are the best! and worth every penny, well over 100 years of tradition in those boots. i had to retire medically in 2017, i sold all my climbing gear, my Klien belt, bashlin hooks etc. but i still have my Wesco highliners, and my hardhat👍

[@digdrivediy]

Right on! The gear is super important in that industry I'm sure. Thanks for watching!

[@mainerdiy8399]

Great video! Thanks for taking the time and effort to make it.

[@digdrivediy]

Sure thing. It had been in the works for quite a while.

[@Marine-72]

ery good video, you do a great job. And the family can watch too! I do have a question. What are the V's in the front of your deck over trailer for?

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks so much! Those Vs are where I place my backhoe bucket when I load it. It's a cradle for the bucket essentially.

[@Marine-72]

@@digdrivediy Thank you for the reply, and have a blessed week.

[@MerindaStevens]

Neil like to see more about the log splitter on your 310 ,

[@digdrivediy]

There are several videos about it if you poke around.

[@jeepxj]

should update the backhoe splitter with a splitting edge on the bottom of the stationary piece. then you can spit against the concrete pad by dropping the arm down.

[@digdrivediy]

Well that's an idea! Now I'm curious.... Thanks for watching!

[@jeepxj]

@@digdrivediy right at 14:32 or so gave me the thought.

[@davidnielson1960]

That's a very nice video man

[@digdrivediy]

Thank you much David!

[@SemiReTired]

Ive never paid a dime for wood,,, thats my favorite price,,lol,,, get after it Neil.. Thats some awesome footage

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks! I've never bought wood either, but I have paid for it one way or another :) Appreciate you watching!

[@SemiReTired]

Love the channel

[@randywilson6869]

Can u tell about in the ballpark that cost the home owner? I know one thing . U saved that tree guy a lot of work and money

[@digdrivediy]

I really don't know for sure. I'll ask Caleb one of these days. I think the second tree in this video was about $1800 or so.

[@randywilson6869]

When I got out of the tree service I went to driving a truck hauling cars. I had never drove one before but I worked for the county for a year and they sent all of us to a state employee training (1day book test) they outline in yellow what to study and the next day let us take the test. Every body passed lol funny how that works. The we drove around the block in a junky old truck and didn’t have to pass pretrip or post. Just show u can drive around the block but I bought a used Cree truck and a 6 car trailer and thought myself to do it. But any way I looked at a tree and thought it is a 5 to 6 hundred dollar tree and she got 3 estimates and the best one was 1800 to 2800. I I thought wow what 7 years has changed.

[@mkc0005]

Climbing higher than my tractor bucket is beyond my comfort level (even that high is questionable).

[@digdrivediy]

Haha! I feel ya on that one!

[@robertdavis5163]

Anthony from crc would be so proud I pray yhe place doesn't burn to the ground!

[@digdrivediy]

Huh? Yeah, We all usually hope for people's homes not to burn down...

[@Eastondanic]

The bronco is looking mean and clean

[@digdrivediy]

Patiently waiting. Got the fuel issue sorted out, now just working on a plan for what's next.

[@tonyfreehauf4463]

good production - OldTony

[@daniele.woodhead1218]

Sir thank for sharing, love the back hoe wood splitter never seen one before now, that's a cool tool God bless y'all from South Carolina viewer and very merry Christmas to y'all. ❤️

[@digdrivediy]

Why thank you Daniel. Appreciate you clicking on this video and having a look. Merry Christmas to you in SC as well!

[@shanesherwood343]

Couldn’t pay me enough to climb trees all the respect for those who do it

[@digdrivediy]

Same. Thanks Shane!

[@DadBurl]

I'll keep him I'm mind, I know of some work in fulton county OH

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks Sam!

[@gregmercer5171]

That’s amazing

[@digdrivediy]

Sure is Greg. Thanks,

[@russellbelton8213]

I was getting vertigo being up in the tree with your brother in law 🤢🤮. Great video 🇬🇧😍👍

[@digdrivediy]

Yeah, I felt a little queezy just editing it too! Thanks Russell!

[@stephaniechaffin1154]

As I see all of the oak being cut for fire wood I just can't help but think of all the boards that could come from that tree. Has anyone seen the price for oak boards? Seems like a missed opportunity to really cash in or save those oak boards for a project.

[@jdhogyellowhelmetproductio358]

COOL!

[@tallboy2234]

Check Buckin’ Billy Ray Smith on YT for tree felling and axe making action. He’s one-of-a-kind!👍😀

[@digdrivediy]

Oh yeah! I've watched plenty of Billy Ray before! He's a good dude.

[@kevinsmiley1948]

So interesting

[@russorpcom]

Thumbs up!

[@digdrivediy]

Many thanks!

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

There ain’t no way! I’ll scale a roof… even a steep one. Climbing a muddy creek bank with cold deep water beneath me is a practiced trek. Climbing a haystack to the loft above is in my genes! Acrophobia is not an affliction of mine. But, dangling from a skinny string, 75’ above the ground with a razor sharp chainsaw in my hand? Nope! Not me. Neil, I have a 3’ diameter black oak growing within 1” of the (already cut back) soffit of my screened-in porch. There are six others within 6’ of my roofline around the rest of the house. They are maturing so they shed limbs regularly. So far, nothing big enough to poke a hole. But, I can see a couple that have died and will need to be removed soon. Am I going to do it? Well sir, I have used a rental lift a couple of times. At 45’ they were so unstable… I had to sedate myself just to set it up. The old broken-down bucket lift truck, that my buddy borrowed, gave me the heebie-jeebies just watching it pull in the driveway. There’s no way I’m a gonna DIY those trees again. But, here’s the catch. My wife loves having the shade over our house. In the heat of summer we always enjoy the shade. It is always cooler on that back porch than anyplace else outside that we have to sit. We’ve enjoyed that shade for over 35 years… pulling the trigger to remove them is tougher for that reason than any other. So, perhaps this year we’ll pull the trigger and hire a professional Arborist to come in and scale them back. Perhaps we will even have a few taken out… but, my guess is that the one I’m worried about most… will still be standing within an inch of that back porch soffit! Thanks for the POV of the arborist. As interesting as it is from the ground… it becomes spell bindingly fascinating from up there! Oh yeah… My neighbor just picked up a 3 point splitter that goes on a tractor. We are trying to figure out how to adapt it to a skid steer quick attach mount. Then we can dice big rounds that are too heavy to move to Frankensplitter. I had him watch your backhoe splitter build video for inspiration. Hopefully we can do the build this winter.

[@digdrivediy]

Whenever I'm at the top of a lift or bucket truck, my legs have a mind of their own and if they had a mouth, they'd be screaming at the top of their lungs! Instead of being vocal they just shake uncontrollably! Oh, I don't envy anyone that is faced with the dilemma of whether or not to remove big, beautiful shade trees. My brother in law hates it anytime he has to remove a tree that could just have been scaled back, but it happens. I know that it will be tough to deal with whichever way you are forced to decide. But if you're like me, there's nearly as much satisfaction from watching someone do it for you as there is in trying to do it yourself... when it comes to heights that is. Actually for me there is no satisfaction in doing it myself now that I think about it!! I had been sitting on that first tree footage for a long time and finally had some new footage of bringing the wood home from a job to feel like I could put a wrap on this video. It's amazing what he can do though up in a tree so I just had to share. Wished I had more footage actually. Best of luck with your frankenskid splitter. That will be fun build and even better addition to the wood splitting arsenal! Thanks for watching Dave!

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

@@digdrivediy I am glad that you got the footage to release the story…. I enjoyed it and steeled my resolve to work out my own tree puzzle!

[@BuildALotAcres]

Never get tired of the backhoe splitter. It needs more screen time :)

[@digdrivediy]

I can probably arrange that for sure! :)

[@hardwoodharry6364]

You forgot enjoyable which it is

[@firedog9113]

Nice wood pile, one way to get a free fire wood pile is hand me a chainsaw and say, GO CUT THAT TREE, I'LL CUT MORE THAN THAT TREE IF NOT POINTED OUT

[@skipman8yard]

👍👍👍👍💯😎🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@jeffreycurrie3410]

First video I didn’t like. Just because I was being a baby. The views from the tree were too much for me. When ever a crane shows up on a job site, I leave. Too many safety videos. The in-laws are good though

[@loganwands1646]

First

[@digdrivediy]

My man. Way to be Logan!