Cutting Our Own Lumber | Logging with a Tractor

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

We cut the logs up in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppume62qq79om9U

[@andrewanderson1436]

Another excellent video and successful day Tony. Your camera lady is on point!! When she zoomed out on the first popular to see the tree for perspective that was a big boy. Your gona have to take her out to lunch lol.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

She is pretty and talented! You got it-lunch on me.

[@timothybrawley7909]

After you make your wedge cut, I find it to be safer to cut the other side down in an angle. It creates a hinge for the tree to pivot in as it falls hopefully preventing the tree from kicking out on you. I could help keep yourself safe from injury. Be careful. Don't get hurt. I want to see more of your videos. Thanks Tim.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I appreciate your comment more than you know. Thank you.

[@RAM-on8xb]

Great video! I love how you are so honest in your videos. Its wonderful to see someone so transparent in todays world. My wife and I are looking to purchase some property and harvesting trees from it to make our own lumber. First we have to save up the money for the saw mill. LOL Keep the videos coming!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you for your kind words. I love the work, and honestly, it keeps me looking forward to getting up.

[@frankiea6482]

Great video. I love when a human being can be transparent and critique themselves in front of a faceless audience, with honesty and confidence. Respect to you. Keep those great videos coming! 👍👌👊💥😊

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you. I truly appreciate that.

[@johnpyle8027]

First and foremost, I like the humility. I like that you put God first and acknowledge his blessings and grace. I need to do a better job at that myself. The felling looks good to me! I like to make my back cut about an inch or two higher than your flat front cut to keep it from kicking back. Your depths are good looking at the hinge. I've never seen anyone cut the little lip off the front, but dang! You're right, that tree looked like it jumped off and out 5' from the stump! lol

[@Bodhranarama]

Good confident work there fella, lovely timber too. A more open face cut and coming in about an inch above the hinge with the felling cut should reduce the plucking you're getting. Plunge cut (watch out for kickback) is a good strategy where the tension is unfavorable and you could jam the saw, kerf wedges can be your ally here too. Interesting vid, many thanks for posting Tony.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I appreciate your candor. I am learning so much from comments, and people have been very nice about it also. That is why I love the community we are building. Heading out to the sawmill today.

[@richardglandus1576]

Bonjour Tony Très belle vidéo, comme je les aime 👍❤️ Tu fais un excellent travail, pour couper les arbres 👍 C'est avec plaisir que l'on regarde tes vidéos 😀 Merci pour tout

[@kevinbuie4081]

You sure do have the cutest camera operator I’ve ever seen!!!!!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Yes sir! I did pretty well.

[@sinksalot8860]

This is the first video I have watched from you two so I will get to see them in order! Nice work!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

[@markhampton3599]

Popular is great stuff !!! But it does move alot with weather !!! Would would be setter with pine or other !!! But is great to work with !!! With the glue up it may not move so much !!!! Thanks Tony great video !!!!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

People have built with it for years around here. I would guess, different areas cause the wood to swell. Poplar is used a lot in the furniture industry for drawers and non seen structure stuff.

[@Wheelloader__]

Nice video Tony.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you, brother. I am heading out to the sawmill tomorrow.

[@HomesteadJay]

Great work Tony! Just took some of our logs from our property to I guy I know who mills and cant beat milling your own stuff!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

We are heading to the sawmill tomorrow and cranking out lumber. I think it is gratifying.

[@michaelchastain4957]

I'm not an expert but I was taught to open the face cut more. If you hold the saw at the bend of the top handle, it should balance at the correct angle for the face cut. Felling wedges will help keep the saw from pinching and kicking when you can't cut from the bottom too. Love the videos. Keep them coming.

[@ritterjon]

💥 Great vid, please tell Tonya she does a great job filming! *Keep on tractoring!*

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Will do that, my friend. We are working tomorrow tilling and sawmilling. God bless.

[@davida.p.9911]

Very well done...nice cuts! 🌲🌲🌲

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Nobody died, so it is a win! I learn more from peoples comments every time I do this. Showing the good cuts and bad cuts has taught me so much. Most people are truly helpful, but a few have been harsh.

[@whitetailcartel80]

Been doing the exact same thing since tornado blew through last Easter. Love the loader with grapple...I’m rocking a Massey Ferguson 1100 and chains!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I am spoiled with the grapple, and I respect it. I used chains with a three-point hitch only for firewood. Thank you for your support.

[@gringopines3476]

HAY TONY KEEP PUSHIN ON MY FRIEND... YOU DO GOOD WORK!!! YA, YOU KNOW IT!!! NO WORRIES MATE YOU KEEP DOIN WHAT YOU DO, AN ALL IS WELL... PEACE...

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

All is good, my friend. All is good!

[@Hfoutdoorsyt]

Excellent video! But as the Cotontop3 tree felling champion I say bore cutting is the way to go! And I should know, because i was the Cotontop3 tree felling champion

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you

[@kmarch6630]

You are the Cotontop3 tree felling champion? Never heard of it but congrats.

[@matthewharvey8755]

Now I have to search bore cutting lol

[@matthewharvey8755]

I'll have to practice that. I've cut hundreds of trees, watched lots of arborist use different cuts....never seen it before lol. Off to the stumps I go!

[@noonerstrickland1743]

Well as the Elvis Fan of the Week, I’d say Tony is Taking Care of Business in a flash ⚡️.

[@cpt.hindsight]

Great videos👍interested in cutting my own lumber.. tip if you like, let the chainsaw idle some minutes before you rew up, lets the motor/piston heat up and reduce wear..

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

The video is not in real time. The chainsaw had been running cutting other small things. I can't show everything in a video because it would be hours long. I appreciate the input and for you journeying with us.

[@wmcwood]

Great videos! Don't forget to bungee up the grapple hoses. Hard to see from the tractor seat but easy to see in the video.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Will do! I appreciate that.

[@stevepappin7675]

Hi, Here is my advice for you when cutting trees. Keep at least 2 inches higher on the back cut, on the front cut make sure it is no more then a 3 rd of the diameter of the tree and make sure your scarf cuts meet to form a perfect V. Easy!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you.

[@robertg.9964]

I drop a lot of trees but not for lumber but for fire wood. The thing I have learned there are different cuts for different circumstances (surrounding area of trees, limbs in the way etc.) and topography. I find the cut I do is my open cut is not flat at the bottom, but angle up. The cut to remove the wedge will be flat on the top. My back cut comes down at a angle starting higher than the wedge cut. All my cuts are done at waist level for better control. Once the tree has fallen, then I cut the remained of the stump level to the ground. I keep a pretty good size hinge because I am aiming the tree to drop in a very narrow drop zone and to also reduce a large bounce at the bottom of the trunk. Trees I am cutting are White and Red Oak ranging 12"s to 40"s across the stump. Lately I have been dropping a bunch of leaners from past storms. I hate leaners because of the danger involved and the spring action from the trunk once you get thru....Otherwise, very nice work!! I enjoy watching others cutting techniques. We Never stop learning watching others. As for getting your saw under the log, before you start cutting the trunk length, cut the big limbs (6-10" diameter) into 18"-20" lengths. Throw those under the trunk. So as you cut, the trunk stops there vs hitting the ground. This will allow you to get the saw under the full length of the trunk. I do this a lot since my trunks have to be 18-20" in length for the log splitter. It also avoids hitting the saw blade into the dirt.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you for taking the time to write this. I appreciate the information. I have much to learn, and I am not too old to learn.

[@robertg.9964]

@@TonysTractorAdventure LOL, I'll stop learning when I'm 6 feet under.

[@deanbarr5740]

Another good day Tony. I totally agree with your comments on the cost of lumber today. Prices are slightly lower, two weeks ago 6x6x16 treated was 180.00 bucks. Yesterday at Lowe's they were 97.00 bucks for a 16 footer. Still overpriced but not quite as much ouch. My neighbor was telling me he sometimes can get better deals at Carter Lumber and Ace Hardware. Worth checking out.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I think it will settle down some.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I appreciate that. Sorry my first reply was so short. I bumped a button. My luck, I will do all this work and lumber prices will drop.

[@matthewharvey8755]

Man I wish I had popular here, all I get to mill is typical hardwoods, and a whole lot of tall southern yellow pine.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Where is here? We have mill Red Oak, White Oak, and some Southern Yellow Pine. I did Cedar too, but that like to have put me in the hospital. Allergic to Cedar.

[@bigmule35]

Great video , the hing was to far back and the notch was off a bit . Look up the fista bore cut , good safe bore cut . One thing to do when bucking the log instead of cutting the wedges out to keep the say from getting pinched is putting a felling wedge in the top of your cut cut in from the top and run it down a bit , put the wedge in and tap it down with your palm , make your bottom cut , it will hold enough for your to get your saw out . Be safe .

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you for your wisdom. I am learning each time I do it.

[@whatscoldoing5627]

I always envy you the nice easy, soft timber you folk have to cut! Here in Australia we have so many very hard wood trees and on my property, they are made of concrete I am sure!🤪 We also have to take great care to keep most timber away from the ground due to the ever present white ants (termites). That is why most sheds here are steel. (They still get tiny teeth marks on them from the little buggars having a go at them anyway!!😜)

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

You had me laughing out loud this morning. My wife just looked at me like I was crazy. That is common, though!

[@kmarch6630]

I enjoy your videos. Also, it's a shame you're not here in Georgia. We had a horrendous tornado about a month ago that took down 100 year old oaks that will probably end up in the landfill. They would look beautiful sawed into slabs.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

We had terrible storms come through here too.

[@mitch_smith]

Tony, I ain't no expert, but I've laid a few down. go to 6:06 in your video, look inside your cut. on the side nearest your body, is a "dutchman" or an extra notch of wood where the cut didn't even out from your face cut. Those will cause a tree to pull everytime.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I did see that in the video. It seems like I remember coming back and cutting it out, but I don't think we videoed it. I should check my face cuts better either way, because I really don't remember. Having all of the comments is making me better. I try to remember them all. Some stuff leaks out because I am getting older. LOL.

[@mitch_smith]

@@TonysTractorAdventure Well i'm firmly in the "more leaks out" than "more stays in" crowd! I shoulda realized you'd cut that out.

[@69jokerking]

Do you like that style of tire on your tractor or would you prefer the agriculture style tires

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I like the R4s that are on the tractor. R1 ag tires are very aggressive and tear up yards. R1s are not good on hard surfaces. If I were only in the field, then R1 it would be.

[@ct1freak]

If I have a big log off the ground, I go straight down thru until I see the top of the cut start to close. Then I hammer a wedge down and cut thru

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I have done that before, but sometimes I get in a rush or I only have my chainsaw with me. In this case, I was just lazy.

[@ct1freak]

@@TonysTractorAdventure i keep few wedges, file and extra chain and bar tool with the saw and axe next to it. if i got my saw i got everything. everything but safety gear. dont even own chaps anymore. totally agree they tend to be more a problem. between the heat and restrictive feel of it i feel like im safer without it. makes me take my time and use good form knowing i dont have the option to mess up.

[@abc-ed1nr]

Tony - I’ve been watching your videos because you have a t474 and are doing many of the same things I plan to on our new property. I had a 55 horse kubota a few years back, it was closer in size to the t494 with a cat1/2 hitch. I’m wondering if you have ever wished for the larger machine? It’s only a few thousand more, but same engine. I’ll be building a house so, lots of dirt digging, gravel to move, logs to mill, etc. once done tho, it’ll bush hog a few acres and drag a few logs for fire wood, not much else.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Sure, I have wished for a bigger machine at times; however, there are times the bigger machine would get in the way. The T474 seems like good compromise.

[@dannydrake7348]

Fun to watch, working on 100k

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

You got a smile out of me. 😄😄

[@DomDom282]

Great video Tony. I came for the TYM tractors but stayed for the logging. Just a suggestion, after making the front V cut the rear cut should be about 6-8 inches higher and the cut can then extend past the front cut so that the tree won't seesaw backwards. It really has to fall towards the front as the 6-8 inch difference won't allow it to fall backwards.(unless the tree is slanted). Cheers

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I appreciate your feedback. I have some new video coming where I work with a pro logger. This guy can run a chainsaw.

[@joshlower1]

@@TonysTractorAdventure no not do this. Dont ever violate your hinge wood this way. You cut 2 to 3 inches higher on your back cut then your face cut but you always leave ten percent hinge wood. Thats the only thing that controls the direction the tree falls.

[@jbonesbonees4518]

Great video, do ever wish you had R1 tires? I have soft ground and need to do some log skidding but cant decide on tires, R1, R4, R14?

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I have had good luck with R4s on my soil.

[@kevinbrewer2141]

I've seen someone when cutting to length they started their cut then used felling wedges to keep the cut open. I've always wanted to try but I I've been to lazy to carry the wedges with me.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I had wedges with me. I need to try that. I keep forgetting.

[@markmckeen262]

I was going to say use a wedge also. That way you don’t waste any wood

[@craigslitzer4857]

7:08 I'm no expert, so bear that in mind. Do your own research, etc. But I don't like making that big of a wedge cut. The wedge only needs to go about 1/3 of the way thru the trunk. Just take enough of the face off to control the tree's fall. Also, your method of bucking, cutting that wedge to prevent burying your chain in the dirt, it's looks solid without causing too much waste. If you'd rather have all of that wood, you should be able to drive a felling wedge into the top of the cut and it'll force the log upwards off the ground just slightly. Enough to hopefully finish the bucking cut without wasting anything and without dulling your chain.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I truly appreciate you honest and knowledgeable evaluation. I have learned so much from comments. I have to have thick skin sometimes, pride and all, but I will be a safer timber guy for it. I will use a wedge next time. Tony

[@craigslitzer4857]

If you go home with no damage to your person or your equipment, then you're doing it right. Lol. That's my philosophy anyways. The main safety rule I follow is never to operate a chainsaw when tired. Getting the job done is what counts most, regardless of what specifics you use to grt there.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

You are right about the tired part. I get sloppy when I am tired. Have a great day.

[@guyvenables7623]

The back cut is lower than the front cut the back cut should a little bit higher than the front cut

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I seen that two. I am getting better, but still, plenty to learn.

[@mr.redneck2715]

The back cut shud be a couple inches above the hinge cut to prevent the tree from kicking back. Just saying!!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you for "just saying "

[@bigsway4414]

I haven’t watched all your videos. I started watching after a you're collaboration with Brock. But when I see an Oregon bar on a Stihl or an echo I assume you’ bent the original bar? I know that’s true in my situation…

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Not in this case. I bought a longer bar for the saw. I have bent a chainsaw bar. LOL!

[@scrotiemcbogerballs8286]

I don’t know if you watch logger wade KZbin channel but if not you should check it out there’s probably something in his video history that can help you out buddy thanks for sharing

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I appreciate that.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I will check it out.

[@karl-egertdaskov6217]

bare with me it in metric but back cut should be 0-4cm higher than the facecut then when it starts falling it doesent let so easily tree slide back its a little thing but you cant be too safe about cutting trees and also dont push so hard on the saw let the sa do its thing you will shorten saws life when pushing too hard and also leave the holding wood a little bigger and cut some extra off than cut too much and also always put the wedge because when the tree lays back you acn ruin your day bar saw and everything

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I appreciate your knowledge. I am always learning. Thank you again. Tony.

[@tommyrichmond1293]

Your back cut was lower than front cut. Slow down when cutting stop and look pick your point where you want the log to it will go Hardest part make sure your cut is straight

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you fro your insight. I learn more every day.

[@raybelanger]

Hi If you want to learn about cutting trees try this guy Buckin' Billy Ray Smith on KZbin

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

That guy is awesome. I need to spend a week or two following him around like a lost puppy.

[@russr]

all i see is poison ivy all of that tree..... :(

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

It has never bother me too much. My wife has to be a bit more careful about poison Ivy.