Awesome drone footage of the tree dropping down and also very cool to see that the water bridge thingy is working out wonderful. Must admit that I had my doubts watching it getting constructed. :)
OK, I just found your channel today. This is my 3rd episode. When I seen Meg spreading the sawdust around the mill, I knew I was going to subscribe and go back and watch from the beginning. Dude, you scored! And so did Meg.
You really make great videos and I'm enjoying them. I am kicking around the idea of milling some timber on my property too. One thing I noticed on the cable, Crosby clamps should always have the u-bolt on the dead side of the rope and the malleable side of the clamp on the live side of the cable. Never seen one break because it was on the wrong way but best to be safe. Thanks for making these great videos.
Thanks for the reply back John , glad to hear you know what to has to be done to relieve the pressure, I bought a grapple with mine , but haven’t used too much yet good to know what to do , impressed with the work you guys have done on your property
Falling wedges up hill side pound them in!! It would make room for the bar and saw. Looks it would take more than one wedge. I prefer to cut top straight on the wedge cut then cut up to the top straight cut. Then you have your back cut is near level, I leave 1” offset so wood will hinge top of the wedge cut plus works more like a hinge in the cut. You can avoid the butt from kicking back at you. Learning is part the experience and safer for your self.👍👍👍 Bucking Billy Ray Smith he’s a long time cutter and watching him can teach how to work tree cutting much safer. You tube he knows how to!
I agree with Lincoln on Buck in Billy Ray. I think the mistake that you made was judging the lean. Its can be easy to do. Wedges help the problem you run into and allow you to be in control of the tree longer. The main thing is you didn't get hurt and you learned from it.
I just finished watching all of your videos. I'm looking forward to the finished driveway to the house location and to the start of the house. I do think the NEC National Electrical Code wants the raceway to be finished before cables or conductors are pulled in. Also you may want to try using a length of long clear plastic tubing filled with water to be used for leveling from one area to a more distant area.
Great video, I really like it. I share your pain with the difficulty you have with the steep land terrain and trying to manage the woods and trails. I was planning on purchasing a small mill this year but it seems they are very scarce. Keep up the videos 👍👍👍
watching you move into that log stop was like a slow motion wreck. I would have screamed at the screen to stop if I thought it would have made a difference, lol. you did better than most. some people get half through before they realize what just happened.
I have the same mill as you. I learned after hitting the back stops a few times, to rip a 2x4 in half and cut to about 6” long to use as back stops when you first get a corner in the cant
Looks like your wedge cut wasn’t deep enough on that tree. Don’t be afraid to make a large one and invest in some felling wedges to prevent the tree from falling the opposite way. On your nemesis tree you should have made a mantle out of it instead of putting it on a mantle. 😎 Keep up the hard work.
Exactly! He doesn’t understand that the wedge cut should be nearly 2/3 of the tree. Not 1/3. Also, he’s doing it too high. It should be down below his waist, not up near his chest. Finally, he doesn’t understand that his back cut should a slight angle from above. And yes, he should try using a sledgehammer and some steel wedges. I am 56 and started cutting firewood with my dad when I was 10 years old. So I’ve been cutting wood for a long time. This guy is actually a bit dangerous and needs to ask a local to give him some pointers. Back in the 70s they were very few college football games on TV. We used to listen to the Clemson games on the radio. Some of my fondest memories are of my childhood with my dad cutting wood on a Saturday with the doors open on the truck so we could listen to the ball game and we would take breaks and sit on the tailgate and have father-son talks. When people ask what’s wrong with the world today? That’s a big part of it. Not enough dads. Not enough children being raised like children used to be raised. I literally saw a story yesterday where a mother lost her job and had to go through hell because someone down the street called the police because her son was walking down the sidewalk in their neighborhood alone. We are on our second generation of snowflakes!
Things I have managed to learn in the last 2 years, rope in the tree to start with... (throw line kit totally worth it) pretension a bit....(come along can be helpful). falling wedge will help avoid bucking pinches....
Wait...what? 2 videos in a week. Chapters? Y'all gone Hollywood on us!! 😆 Next you'll be quarter sawing black walnut and making ship lap and resin cutting boards!!! Great job....stay warm.
Yes I have been there and done that. There are some very good videos on you tube on how to fell a tree. From what I learned the top and bottom cut should meet, if it doesn't then take the time to correct it before making the back cut. Also a good idea to have some plastic tree felling wedges. I would suggest you watch the videos that the professionals made as there is a wealth of info and they tell you all the do's and don'ts.
I hate to say it but that hollow is the better place for the home . Stays warmer in the winter cooler in the summer and less wind all year. We live in similar hollow and it makes all the difference
Tulip poplar and yellow poplar are the same tree. Grab some plastic felling wedges for cutting trees, and for taking the place of a stick, and when you are bucking the logs to length.
One of the things that might help you move logs and pull some trees down is a capstan winch with a strong braided nylon rope. It has helped me pull logs down hills and slopes that are too steep to do much with. The one I got can pull 4400lbs with one snatch block.
I know it's been mentioned but Wedges... You need wedges if you're going to continue doing this. The wedges would have helped fell the tree and worked well in place of your stick. Just something to add to the list. And here in Virginia tulip tree, tulip poplar, and yellow poplar are all the same. In about 2 to 3 months they will bud out and you'll have a orange, green and yellow flower. If you're getting into bee's it's a very mild flavor and a favorite for the bees in the early spring.
I have always wanted to buy a sawmill and watch lots of saw-milling videos You are the only one I've seen who let your viewers know you were slightly less than perfect by hitting the saw dogs, although I'd be surprised if a single sawyer hasn't hit them. Great video.
It happens, Ian. We try to just show what happens instead of making our adventure seem better than it is. We appreciate you recognizing that. HIGHLY recommend getting a sawmill. It pays for itself in no time. I chuckle every time I walk into Lowe's or Home Depot and see the price of their poplar.
I have found that a small cut in front for direction and then a deeper cut in the back side with a wedge driven into the backside will tip a tree as good as any of the different angles that you get into. I started cutting with my dad in the late fifties and was cutting in the sixties but just not good .... as in lucky to be alive type of downing trees. Small trees will get you hurt faster than the bigger trees where you have room for decisions to where its going and where you want to swing a tree from the cut. I don't want you hurt and even though I know many ways, its best to see and do it after watching someone else do it proper like.
If you get a demolitions blade for a sawall you can cut through the tree roots on stump. Also they make a demolition chain saw chain more expensive though
Jon cutting that tree was dangerous but you did it good and safely. There such a thing while cutting a tree called a hinge. There is a Utube blog called “Guilty of Tree-son”. One of his videos shows five or six ways of cutting a tree and the reason for doing so. Stay safe and good luck.
Get yourself a couple of tree strops for wrapping around trees instead of chains. They are lighter, don't damage the tree and don't slip. You could use the wain cuts to make a temporary corduroy road across that muddy patch.
Many different uses for a tree other than needing a long and straight piece to mill. Artists love the burls and angular joins for art as well as the bark. Wood turners can make exquisite bowls, vases, etc… from something you might see as scrap. Just encouraging you not to waste - but you seem to be very waste averse already. Best of luck.
We took down an old shed on the property a few months back. Our neighbor took all of the wood from it and we will be sharing soon what he did with it all. Very impressive. We are artists ourselves and fully understand your words and often see potential where others don't. We heat our camper with a lot of the scrap pieces from milling. Unique woods we put aside. We have cut a piece of wood from our "scrap" pile before to bring watermelon to a party. We try to use what we can. As time offers after the house is built, I am sure you will see more of our artistic sides come out using wood from the property. :) - Meg
You can make a home made winch for little money, take a car truck wheel etc and bolt to the rear wheel of tractor l, wrap a heavy rope around attach to your cable and you have a , boat winch, like sail boat. If you do not look up on line. I think it will help you . And yes yo will have to get tractor wheels off the ground. With back bucket in ground and outrigger’s you will have a multi speed winch. I do enjoy your videos
Jon and Meg, you guys are AWESOME. Most of the suggestions for the tree felling is spot on, so I won't put my 2 cents in. I would like to ask an off topic question. Having your camper set up with skirting and such, have you guys had any issues with the cold/snow/ice this winter. We may be living in our camper when we move and am curious what to expect. Thanks for the Awesome video content and info.
Hi Tim! Thanks for the kind words. This is our second winter set up in our camper. The only issue we have had with living in the camper in the wintertime is the humidity. This was a major issue last winter, so this year we installed a woodstove. The woodstove not only is super toasty it keeps the humidity at bay. We tried a dehumidifier last year and it didn't cut it. You will also need to use a heated water connection to the RV. We added this last year when the regular one froze. So to sum it up... I recommend a woodstove and heated waterline. Best of luck! - Meg
What is this, A new game "log bowling"? I see you switched to the heavier blades we talked about! The cut looks better. i'm not sure if it's just the wood or if changing the "tires" made the difference too. You might want to pick up some hard plastic wedges. They work very well for felling and cutting the tree. You can beat the heck out of them too. Very nice wood on that Poplar! My brother has the engineer mind like you and cuts the stacks of boards all at once. Works well!
You can definitely feel that it's a thicker blade going through and you need to slow down your feed rate, but wow! Night and day, Bryce. If you ever get waviness with your mill, give these a shot. Going to try shaping the grinding wheel like that guy we saw too (once these get dull).
Don, please note that I took down this tree when Meg was around. I did not wait for her to take a trip and have her come back wondering where her trees went. Haha! Good times, Don.
Dude just buy you some cheap arborist wedges (plastic ones) and cut a horizontal back cut and drive them in and you’ll be shocked how much you can push a leaning tree back vertical and get it over the other way. You left enough hing wood. Keep that hing to help guide your tree and don’t cut the corners out of it like you did. When the tree gets going and the notch closes she’ll shear right off. Always keep wedges with you because they will help you keep the bar from binding if it drive them in right behind the bar if the kerf starts closing up. Can also get you out of a jam if the nerf does trap your bar. Plastic wedges won’t hurt your chain if you cut into them. You’re doing awesome and I’m enjoying you guy’s videos.
Once you put the effort into get it on the mill - I say saw it up. It may not be good for a deck but more than good enough for another purpose like siding for a shed or chicken coop
Your cuts for the most part were okay. The tree sat back on you, it is very important to access lean and weight of tree branches that dictate where the tree will fall naturally. If trying to make it fall in another direction wedges are very useful. But please be careful if planning to cut more trees and maybe watch some UA-cam videos on tree felling. Great content on your channel
I have a little homestead south of you in western North Carolina(about 8 acres). Your woods look very similar... it's almost like we're on the same mtn range lol. I need a bigger shop so I thought about getting a bandsaw mill to lumber'ize the trees that I'll have to cut to make room for a workshop. I just can't decide to get the mill and make boards for the shop or just pay for a metal building. I could always sell the logs from the trees I have to remove but any way I look at it I don't have equipment to move big logs.
A small 24 HP tractor like mine is all you need. The loader on that tractor can handle a 16 footer, but you'd probably be towing that on the 3 point system. Metal buildings are nice too. They last a very long time.
Look, just because you put a wedge on one side or the other of a tree does NOT mean it will fall that way. Like I told you, hold your axe up by the handle and see which way your tree is leaning to start with. Just go finish cutting through the hinge joint and let it fall where it may. Again, use your axe to see which way the tree is leaning BEFORE you cut your wedge or cut a jack pocket BEFORE you start making felling cuts and tip it where you want it to go.
Hello! We bought a little bit of land in Georgia, only 2 acres. We are in our 60's and will be building our home hopefully starting by the end of the yr. We are tossing around the idea of building a root cellar also. Is there a root cellar in your plans?
Guys, According to Chris at Let'sdig18, sawdust added to top soil makes really good compost, maybe this knowledge could prove useful later for other horticultural projects. Just passing on what others have found. Regards Robin.....
Is that a Craftsman saw. I just bought a 205s couple months back. Little $125 saw. It's made it through 3 chains and 10 cords of wood. I didn't figure it would last that long. I had to order a chain sprocket today. Those look pretty jicky if you ask me.
With all the rock you have on your property, if no one has mentioned it yet ... You need to invest in feathers and wedges. It will make your lives a whole lot easier.
Try to line your cuts up for the wedge better that little undercut can mess you up alot, it can certainly stop a tree that started falling and cause it to do funky stuff while falling. I'd say your wedge should be 1/3 of the way through and come to a clean point with no more than a 1/4" under cut preferably. Always leave a decent bit of hinge, 2-3" of hinge is typically good for a tree that size if it's not real rotted. I've always had good luck following this I've learned from a few knowledgeable people. I'm no pro tho. And I definitely started out not knowing much. Practice your wedges on stumps or logs if need be. Thats all the advice I have to give
Thanks, Tyler. After this mishap, I did a ton of research and feel 1000 times more confident. I redeemed myself in the next episode (#73) with a pretty epic fell using a humboldt notch and finally got smart and spent 10 bucks on some wedges. That hinge wood is really key to the whole thing 👍🌳
Before you pour the slab for your saw, you can get another 6' bed extension from HF--good a call the number on the manual. There is going to come a point when you need 12' or even 16' boards...think trusses, or in my case rafters for the solar kiln. I added one 6' bed section plus a 12" bed extension to make a 16' cut comfortably. The HF saw comes with 12' of bed, but you can only saw 9.5' logs with the original. I think the cost was around $400 shipped. The 12" extension was out of scrap, so it costs the time to weld it up. Took a 19.5' x 36" slab, but 60" width would make handling sawdust easier. On your wayward tree, buy some felling wedges, spend some time watching Bucking Billy Ray on UA-cam (seriously, a good source for logging knowledge), be careful with your new knowledge.
I really didn't know about extensions for the sawmill. I was going to buy 20 ft angle iron locally, but I'll check out this option. Does your slab have a sidewalk for the operator to walk on? Meg had this idea and I thought it would be really nice to have some concrete to walk on while milling - maybe with some anti-slip grooves etched into it.
@@WalnutsandWineberries A concrete walkway would be a step up, but you may wish to consider using some recycled grate material (like from a catwalk) and elevate it a little. That would allow the sawdust to fall through and you could clean the mud off your boots. Meg, that is your next challenge to find in the surplus/free pile.
Ok scratch the question about burying utilities under your road/driveway. Just saw Episode 52 sketch pad of the driveway. Too many switch backs. So what are you thinking about water and septic up at the top of the mountain ?
Hey there, Randall. Our well will push water through the pressure tank and then up to the house site where a booster pump will be. I was also thinking of having a small water tower for reserves and maybe even feed the house with gravity if we can get the right elevation. A booster pump would still need to supply the tower if we do one. As far as the septic, our dept. of health approved another tank be near the house and an effluents line be run to our existing system, which is why our leech field is so huge. Hope that helps you understand the big picture.
@@WalnutsandWineberries Yup that does it. How much elevation is your existing pressure tank good for. And the uphill water tank is a good idea. Are you cutting your own lumber package for the new house, and if so how are you drying it ?
That is a very good way to get hurt! NEVER hook that cable back on itself like that. Use a chain and use the hook for what it is made for. The strength of the cable across it's diameter is about one third of what it is pulling it length wise. Never pull 90 degrees across your cable like that. You snap that cable under that much pressure it will peel flesh to the bone or worse if it snaps.
Another great video , been trying to watch them all , John did you figure out why the one hydraulic line on your grapple was hard to connect,I think it was ep. 63 sorry if you answered in another video I read a lot of comments but not all lol would love to see more tractor service/ tips thanks …keep rk’n
The problem is in the flat face connectors on the tractor side. I bought those because most skid steer attachments come with those and I wanted the tractor to have something universal in case I need to rent something. I was actually in Rural King the other day talking to my mechanic friend and he says pressure gets trapped in those connectors as soon as you take disconnect. His advise was to hold the button for the third function and move the joystick to the side to allow the fluid to be pushed back while you plug in the attachment. Just have to figure out a way to do it on my own. Need a little modified clamp and a bungie in the toolbox.
@@WalnutsandWineberries When a hydraulic circuit is under pressure like that, it is almost impossible to mate by hand. Relieving pressure by wiggling actuator helps a great deal. There are also some big pliers made for this and a modified Irwin quick clamp that allows you to put them together much easier than by hand. Quick Jon, break out the welder and put some big "U" shaped lips on a pair of Vise Grips.
I just recently found your UA-cam channel and started from the beginning on watching it. I have seen in a few episodes where you said the grapple is not safe when using it without your backhoe attachment. I was just curious if you have fluid in your rear tires because it is a great way to add stability to your tractor
Hey Wesley, thanks for watching the older stuff too. It's funny you say that because I just reached out to my guy at Rural King yesterday inquiring about filling the tires and he responded by saying my 24hp tractor is a bit undersized for all that extra strain on the transmission. If I had one model up, line the RK37, I'd definitely get them filled with beet juice.
@@WalnutsandWineberries I would check other sources I have 2 tractors both are Massey Ferguson but one is 34 hp and the other is a small 23 hp and the dealer filled both of the rear wheels on both tractors and it does make an incredible difference on hills. I also live in southwest va
@@WalnutsandWineberries yes it does you would feel a lot safer and when I was looking at tractors I looked at rural king and they offered to fill rear tires if I bought from them
First love the channel! Did you try a wedge in the back cut? remember one inch at the bottom could give you a foot or so at the top. Thus, tipping it the direction you want.
Having them screwed down will help with warping. We will put them right next to each other and expect the shrinking to give us gaps. Many have suggested that we use the sawdust as a component in compost. All in due time. ;)
No, not allowed. All the outbuildings, yes, but we're not allowed by local code to do this for our main dwelling. I do wish poplar was in the statewide building code, because I would certainly consider milling and having it graded by a lumber inspection agency for structural use. We asked this exact question to the building inspector.
Your sawmill bed is moving up and down under the load of the saw as you move it back and forth. Is that a problem for getting flat cuts? (from a fellow Virginian in Chesapeake)
I love the videos! You guys have done a great job! I watch a guy on YT "guilty of Treeson" yep a tree guy! I've learned so much from him! I hope you will check it out.
Meg is a good helper . She thinks of things you don’t . That makes a good team. Keep it up Meg. Help your husband in areas that can help him.
Nothing like being the brains of the operation today!🤠
Meg you are a true homestead woman. Keep it up both of you.
Your my 1st choice pick at watchin off grid home making.
i found this show about 2 weeks ago i have went back and watched every show,
Glad you all like them! Awesome video!
Awesome drone footage of the tree dropping down and also very cool to see that the water bridge thingy is working out wonderful. Must admit that I had my doubts watching it getting constructed. :)
You guys crack me up , it's always an adventure with you guys, can't wait to see what happens next !!!!!
OK, I just found your channel today. This is my 3rd episode. When I seen Meg spreading the sawdust around the mill, I knew I was going to subscribe and go back and watch from the beginning. Dude, you scored! And so did Meg.
Her filling the jar with the sawdust, I wondered if that was to make the pasta for her presentation! LOL
You really make great videos and I'm enjoying them. I am kicking around the idea of milling some timber on my property too. One thing I noticed on the cable, Crosby clamps should always have the u-bolt on the dead side of the rope and the malleable side of the clamp on the live side of the cable. Never seen one break because it was on the wrong way but best to be safe. Thanks for making these great videos.
A lot of good thinking in this video ... bridge worked out great ...
Greetings from the BIG SKY of Montana. Just checkin.
Glad to see your rock bridge worked out for U's. I was Looking/Hoping that your efforts worked....
Great wood harvest, Stay Safe...
Thanks for the reply back John , glad to hear you know what to has to be done to relieve the pressure, I bought a grapple with mine , but haven’t used too much yet good to know what to do , impressed with the work you guys have done on your property
nice work, oh tell meg i love her sun glasses.
Falling wedges up hill side pound them in!! It would make room for the bar and saw. Looks it would take more than one wedge. I prefer to cut top straight on the wedge cut then cut up to the top straight cut. Then you have your back cut is near level, I leave 1” offset so wood will hinge top of the wedge cut plus works more like a hinge in the cut. You can avoid the butt from kicking back at you. Learning is part the experience and safer for your self.👍👍👍 Bucking Billy Ray Smith he’s a long time cutter and watching him can teach how to work tree cutting much safer. You tube he knows how to!
The best advice I've seen in the comments.
I agree with Lincoln on Buck in Billy Ray. I think the mistake that you made was judging the lean. Its can be easy to do. Wedges help the problem you run into and allow you to be in control of the tree longer. The main thing is you didn't get hurt and you learned from it.
Your idea of a rock culvert is a good idea to me.
Practice makes perfect Have a good day
I just finished watching all of your videos. I'm looking forward to the finished driveway to the house location and to the start of the house. I do think the NEC National Electrical Code wants the raceway to be finished before cables or conductors are pulled in. Also you may want to try using a length of long clear plastic tubing filled with water to be used for leveling from one area to a more distant area.
Watched them all?! Wow! Lots to come Rick. Thank you 💪
Great video, I really like it. I share your pain with the difficulty you have with the steep land terrain and trying to manage the woods and trails. I was planning on purchasing a small mill this year but it seems they are very scarce. Keep up the videos 👍👍👍
watching you move into that log stop was like a slow motion wreck. I would have screamed at the screen to stop if I thought it would have made a difference, lol. you did better than most. some people get half through before they realize what just happened.
Didn't mean to startle you 😁
That tree I was pulling it towards couldn't have been in a more perfect spot to provide a shield for the incoming tree.
Excellent ! Congratulations !
I have the same mill as you. I learned after hitting the back stops a few times, to rip a 2x4 in half and cut to about 6” long to use as back stops when you first get a corner in the cant
Looks like your wedge cut wasn’t deep enough on that tree. Don’t be afraid to make a large one and invest in some felling wedges to prevent the tree from falling the opposite way.
On your nemesis tree you should have made a mantle out of it instead of putting it on a mantle. 😎
Keep up the hard work.
Felling wedges can also be used on the sawmill when making lap sideing
Exactly! He doesn’t understand that the wedge cut should be nearly 2/3 of the tree. Not 1/3. Also, he’s doing it too high. It should be down below his waist, not up near his chest. Finally, he doesn’t understand that his back cut should a slight angle from above. And yes, he should try using a sledgehammer and some steel wedges. I am 56 and started cutting firewood with my dad when I was 10 years old. So I’ve been cutting wood for a long time. This guy is actually a bit dangerous and needs to ask a local to give him some pointers.
Back in the 70s they were very few college football games on TV. We used to listen to the Clemson games on the radio. Some of my fondest memories are of my childhood with my dad cutting wood on a Saturday with the doors open on the truck so we could listen to the ball game and we would take breaks and sit on the tailgate and have father-son talks.
When people ask what’s wrong with the world today? That’s a big part of it. Not enough dads. Not enough children being raised like children used to be raised. I literally saw a story yesterday where a mother lost her job and had to go through hell because someone down the street called the police because her son was walking down the sidewalk in their neighborhood alone. We are on our second generation of snowflakes!
Checking out your drain and night crawler hunting is the ONLY time you'd get me out in the rain.
Things I have managed to learn in the last 2 years, rope in the tree to start with... (throw line kit totally worth it) pretension a bit....(come along can be helpful). falling wedge will help avoid bucking pinches....
Wait...what? 2 videos in a week. Chapters? Y'all gone Hollywood on us!! 😆 Next you'll be quarter sawing black walnut and making ship lap and resin cutting boards!!! Great job....stay warm.
Great job John and Meg you guys Rock
Yes I have been there and done that. There are some very good videos on you tube on how to fell a tree. From what I learned the top and bottom cut should meet, if it doesn't then take the time to correct it before making the back cut. Also a good idea to have some plastic tree felling wedges. I would suggest you watch the videos that the professionals made as there is a wealth of info and they tell you all the do's and don'ts.
I hate to say it but that hollow is the better place for the home . Stays warmer in the winter cooler in the summer and less wind all year. We live in similar hollow and it makes all the difference
Just look at where the older residents built. You don't find their homes on top of the hill, it is always down in a sheltered hollow.
Looking great. All's well that ends well.. 😎
As I was taught by Stihl Manufacturer tutorial video, is to cut your v-cut about 70%... So it past center.
You get more control for direction.
Tulip poplar and yellow poplar are the same tree.
Grab some plastic felling wedges for cutting trees, and for taking the place of a stick, and when you are bucking the logs to length.
Do you ever look for spring mushrooms in the woods like Morals mushrooms????
Yes, we have them here
Great job on the mill meg
One of the things that might help you move logs and pull some trees down is a capstan winch with a strong braided nylon rope. It has helped me pull logs down hills and slopes that are too steep to do much with. The one I got can pull 4400lbs with one snatch block.
I know it's been mentioned but Wedges... You need wedges if you're going to continue doing this. The wedges would have helped fell the tree and worked well in place of your stick. Just something to add to the list.
And here in Virginia tulip tree, tulip poplar, and yellow poplar are all the same. In about 2 to 3 months they will bud out and you'll have a orange, green and yellow flower. If you're getting into bee's it's a very mild flavor and a favorite for the bees in the early spring.
I have always wanted to buy a sawmill and watch lots of saw-milling videos You are the only one I've seen who let your viewers know you were slightly less than perfect by hitting the saw dogs, although I'd be surprised if a single sawyer hasn't hit them. Great video.
It happens, Ian. We try to just show what happens instead of making our adventure seem better than it is. We appreciate you recognizing that. HIGHLY recommend getting a sawmill. It pays for itself in no time. I chuckle every time I walk into Lowe's or Home Depot and see the price of their poplar.
The only way to avoid mistakes is to gain experience, the only way to gain experience is to make mistakes, just be careful and learn from them
Couldn't agree more, Russ!
At 8:26 you can also start from top and using a cutting wedge :)
I have found that a small cut in front for direction and then a deeper cut in the back side with a wedge driven into the backside will tip a tree as good as any of the different angles that you get into. I started cutting with my dad in the late fifties and was cutting in the sixties but just not good .... as in lucky to be alive type of downing trees. Small trees will get you hurt faster than the bigger trees where you have room for decisions to where its going and where you want to swing a tree from the cut. I don't want you hurt and even though I know many ways, its best to see and do it after watching someone else do it proper like.
Here in Southern Ontario Canada, Tulip Poplar and Yellow Poplar are two different names for the same tree.
If you get a demolitions blade for a sawall you can cut through the tree roots on stump. Also they make a demolition chain saw chain more expensive though
Jon cutting that tree was dangerous but you did it good and safely. There such a thing while cutting a tree called a hinge. There is a Utube blog called “Guilty of Tree-son”. One of his videos shows five or six ways of cutting a tree and the reason for doing so. Stay safe and good luck.
You guys ever consider using your sawdust for briquette making? Burns better in that fire place you have.
Get yourself a couple of tree strops for wrapping around trees instead of chains.
They are lighter, don't damage the tree and don't slip.
You could use the wain cuts to make a temporary corduroy road across that muddy patch.
Many different uses for a tree other than needing a long and straight piece to mill. Artists love the burls and angular joins for art as well as the bark. Wood turners can make exquisite bowls, vases, etc… from something you might see as scrap. Just encouraging you not to waste - but you seem to be very waste averse already. Best of luck.
We took down an old shed on the property a few months back. Our neighbor took all of the wood from it and we will be sharing soon what he did with it all. Very impressive. We are artists ourselves and fully understand your words and often see potential where others don't. We heat our camper with a lot of the scrap pieces from milling. Unique woods we put aside. We have cut a piece of wood from our "scrap" pile before to bring watermelon to a party. We try to use what we can. As time offers after the house is built, I am sure you will see more of our artistic sides come out using wood from the property. :) - Meg
Jon, why don't you load up your twin axle trailer with logs and save some trips back and forth to the mill?
Great job, keep the videos coming, love them.
You can make a home made winch for little money, take a car truck wheel etc and bolt to the rear wheel of tractor l, wrap a heavy rope around attach to your cable and you have a , boat winch, like sail boat. If you do not look up on line. I think it will help you . And yes yo will have to get tractor wheels off the ground. With back bucket in ground and outrigger’s you will have a multi speed winch. I do enjoy your videos
Jon and Meg, you guys are AWESOME. Most of the suggestions for the tree felling is spot on, so I won't put my 2 cents in. I would like to ask an off topic question. Having your camper set up with skirting and such, have you guys had any issues with the cold/snow/ice this winter. We may be living in our camper when we move and am curious what to expect. Thanks for the Awesome video content and info.
Hi Tim! Thanks for the kind words. This is our second winter set up in our camper. The only issue we have had with living in the camper in the wintertime is the humidity. This was a major issue last winter, so this year we installed a woodstove. The woodstove not only is super toasty it keeps the humidity at bay. We tried a dehumidifier last year and it didn't cut it. You will also need to use a heated water connection to the RV. We added this last year when the regular one froze. So to sum it up... I recommend a woodstove and heated waterline. Best of luck! - Meg
What is this, A new game "log bowling"?
I see you switched to the heavier blades we talked about! The cut looks better. i'm not sure if it's just the wood or if changing the "tires" made the difference too.
You might want to pick up some hard plastic wedges. They work very well for felling and cutting the tree. You can beat the heck out of them too.
Very nice wood on that Poplar! My brother has the engineer mind like you and cuts the stacks of boards all at once. Works well!
You can definitely feel that it's a thicker blade going through and you need to slow down your feed rate, but wow! Night and day, Bryce. If you ever get waviness with your mill, give these a shot. Going to try shaping the grinding wheel like that guy we saw too (once these get dull).
John, somewhere on your blade you have a bad tooth and I think it's causing those marks at 90 degrees to the length of the log.
You and Meg work much better together than Daphne and I. My male ego gets in the way - hard to believe I know!
Don, please note that I took down this tree when Meg was around. I did not wait for her to take a trip and have her come back wondering where her trees went. Haha! Good times, Don.
FarmCraft 101 has good information on felling trees.
Dude just buy you some cheap arborist wedges (plastic ones) and cut a horizontal back cut and drive them in and you’ll be shocked how much you can push a leaning tree back vertical and get it over the other way. You left enough hing wood. Keep that hing to help guide your tree and don’t cut the corners out of it like you did. When the tree gets going and the notch closes she’ll shear right off. Always keep wedges with you because they will help you keep the bar from binding if it drive them in right behind the bar if the kerf starts closing up. Can also get you out of a jam if the nerf does trap your bar. Plastic wedges won’t hurt your chain if you cut into them.
You’re doing awesome and I’m enjoying you guy’s videos.
Thanks for the tips. Well said. I'm glad this error happened. It has taught me a lot.
Once you put the effort into get it on the mill - I say saw it up. It may not be good for a deck but more than good enough for another purpose like siding for a shed or chicken coop
I'll be using the center good section for my work bench top. Not going to waste it.
Your cuts for the most part were okay. The tree sat back on you, it is very important to access lean and weight of tree branches that dictate where the tree will fall naturally. If trying to make it fall in another direction wedges are very useful. But please be careful if planning to cut more trees and maybe watch some UA-cam videos on tree felling. Great content on your channel
I have a little homestead south of you in western North Carolina(about 8 acres). Your woods look very similar... it's almost like we're on the same mtn range lol. I need a bigger shop so I thought about getting a bandsaw mill to lumber'ize the trees that I'll have to cut to make room for a workshop. I just can't decide to get the mill and make boards for the shop or just pay for a metal building. I could always sell the logs from the trees I have to remove but any way I look at it I don't have equipment to move big logs.
A small 24 HP tractor like mine is all you need. The loader on that tractor can handle a 16 footer, but you'd probably be towing that on the 3 point system. Metal buildings are nice too. They last a very long time.
Get a RV Garage Tarp for covering your Mill.
You all should invest in a couple steel wedges that you can drive with a sledge hammer into backcut and push the tree over for the next time.
If that’s walnut, it would make wonderful boards for cabinets and things
What do you think about the Harbor Freight Saw Mill? Did it pay for itself? If so how long did it take?
Look, just because you put a wedge on one side or the other of a tree does NOT mean it will fall that way. Like I told you, hold your axe up by the handle and see which way your tree is leaning to start with. Just go finish cutting through the hinge joint and let it fall where it may. Again, use your axe to see which way the tree is leaning BEFORE you cut your wedge or cut a jack pocket BEFORE you start making felling cuts and tip it where you want it to go.
Hello! We bought a little bit of land in Georgia, only 2 acres. We are in our 60's and will be building our home hopefully starting by the end of the yr. We are tossing around the idea of building a root cellar also. Is there a root cellar in your plans?
Guys, According to Chris at Let'sdig18, sawdust added to top soil makes really good compost, maybe this knowledge could prove useful later for other horticultural projects. Just passing on what others have found. Regards Robin.....
Must be awsome to harvest and build from your own forrest..
Is that a Craftsman saw. I just bought a 205s couple months back. Little $125 saw. It's made it through 3 chains and 10 cords of wood. I didn't figure it would last that long. I had to order a chain sprocket today. Those look pretty jicky if you ask me.
I'd be a picky as you if I could pick the trees I needed to make a house.
With all the rock you have on your property, if no one has mentioned it yet ... You need to invest in feathers and wedges. It will make your lives a whole lot easier.
fine holler, where's your creek?
Piling on here...... *WEDGES* are your friend.
Try to line your cuts up for the wedge better that little undercut can mess you up alot, it can certainly stop a tree that started falling and cause it to do funky stuff while falling. I'd say your wedge should be 1/3 of the way through and come to a clean point with no more than a 1/4" under cut preferably. Always leave a decent bit of hinge, 2-3" of hinge is typically good for a tree that size if it's not real rotted. I've always had good luck following this I've learned from a few knowledgeable people. I'm no pro tho. And I definitely started out not knowing much. Practice your wedges on stumps or logs if need be. Thats all the advice I have to give
Thanks, Tyler. After this mishap, I did a ton of research and feel 1000 times more confident. I redeemed myself in the next episode (#73) with a pretty epic fell using a humboldt notch and finally got smart and spent 10 bucks on some wedges. That hinge wood is really key to the whole thing 👍🌳
Can I make a suggestion Your yard stick should be zeroed out from the deck that way your last piece will be 1.5 " also
If the blade is dull it makes the timber rough cut better fo non slip decking
Before you pour the slab for your saw, you can get another 6' bed extension from HF--good a call the number on the manual.
There is going to come a point when you need 12' or even 16' boards...think trusses, or in my case rafters for the solar kiln.
I added one 6' bed section plus a 12" bed extension to make a 16' cut comfortably. The HF saw comes with 12' of bed, but you can only saw 9.5' logs with the original.
I think the cost was around $400 shipped. The 12" extension was out of scrap, so it costs the time to weld it up.
Took a 19.5' x 36" slab, but 60" width would make handling sawdust easier.
On your wayward tree, buy some felling wedges, spend some time watching Bucking Billy Ray on UA-cam (seriously, a good source for logging knowledge), be careful with your new knowledge.
I really didn't know about extensions for the sawmill. I was going to buy 20 ft angle iron locally, but I'll check out this option. Does your slab have a sidewalk for the operator to walk on? Meg had this idea and I thought it would be really nice to have some concrete to walk on while milling - maybe with some anti-slip grooves etched into it.
@@WalnutsandWineberries A concrete walkway would be a step up, but you may wish to consider using some recycled grate material (like from a catwalk) and elevate it a little. That would allow the sawdust to fall through and you could clean the mud off your boots. Meg, that is your next challenge to find in the surplus/free pile.
Ok scratch the question about burying utilities under your road/driveway. Just saw Episode 52 sketch pad of the driveway. Too many switch backs. So what are you thinking about water and septic up at the top of the mountain ?
Hey there, Randall. Our well will push water through the pressure tank and then up to the house site where a booster pump will be. I was also thinking of having a small water tower for reserves and maybe even feed the house with gravity if we can get the right elevation. A booster pump would still need to supply the tower if we do one. As far as the septic, our dept. of health approved another tank be near the house and an effluents line be run to our existing system, which is why our leech field is so huge. Hope that helps you understand the big picture.
@@WalnutsandWineberries Yup that does it. How much elevation is your existing pressure tank good for. And the uphill water tank is a good idea. Are you cutting your own lumber package for the new house, and if so how are you drying it ?
That is a very good way to get hurt! NEVER hook that cable back on itself like that. Use a chain and use the hook for what it is made for. The strength of the cable across it's diameter is about one third of what it is pulling it length wise. Never pull 90 degrees across your cable like that. You snap that cable under that much pressure it will peel flesh to the bone or worse if it snaps.
Another great video , been trying to watch them all , John did you figure out why the one hydraulic line on your grapple was hard to connect,I think it was ep. 63 sorry if you answered in another video I read a lot of comments but not all lol would love to see more tractor service/ tips thanks …keep rk’n
The problem is in the flat face connectors on the tractor side. I bought those because most skid steer attachments come with those and I wanted the tractor to have something universal in case I need to rent something. I was actually in Rural King the other day talking to my mechanic friend and he says pressure gets trapped in those connectors as soon as you take disconnect. His advise was to hold the button for the third function and move the joystick to the side to allow the fluid to be pushed back while you plug in the attachment. Just have to figure out a way to do it on my own. Need a little modified clamp and a bungie in the toolbox.
@@WalnutsandWineberries When a hydraulic circuit is under pressure like that, it is almost impossible to mate by hand. Relieving pressure by wiggling actuator helps a great deal. There are also some big pliers made for this and a modified Irwin quick clamp that allows you to put them together much easier than by hand. Quick Jon, break out the welder and put some big "U" shaped lips on a pair of Vise Grips.
Meg-O-Block’nTackle will get that puny tree down
You do know that you can resharpen the band saw blades at least 10 times, right!
I just recently found your UA-cam channel and started from the beginning on watching it. I have seen in a few episodes where you said the grapple is not safe when using it without your backhoe attachment. I was just curious if you have fluid in your rear tires because it is a great way to add stability to your tractor
Hey Wesley, thanks for watching the older stuff too. It's funny you say that because I just reached out to my guy at Rural King yesterday inquiring about filling the tires and he responded by saying my 24hp tractor is a bit undersized for all that extra strain on the transmission. If I had one model up, line the RK37, I'd definitely get them filled with beet juice.
@@WalnutsandWineberries I would check other sources I have 2 tractors both are Massey Ferguson but one is 34 hp and the other is a small 23 hp and the dealer filled both of the rear wheels on both tractors and it does make an incredible difference on hills. I also live in southwest va
@@wayneleonard1966 Appreciate you letting me know! I bet it really lowers your center of gravity nicely with all these hills around here.
@@WalnutsandWineberries yes it does you would feel a lot safer and when I was looking at tractors I looked at rural king and they offered to fill rear tires if I bought from them
First love the channel! Did you try a wedge in the back cut? remember one inch at the bottom could give you a foot or so at the top. Thus, tipping it the direction you want.
I see enough people said wedge it. So I will just add my vote to that.
Vcs coletam e replantar sementes dessas Árvores Nativas??? Ou existe algum órgão do Estado que produz e distribuem dessas mudas???
Erosion control. Watch how the water flows and you can slow the run off in different ways !!!
Nice safety gear used when dropping trees. How about when sawing the lumber? At least gloves and glasses when handling the blades.
Where is your helment?
looks like tree backset. need to drive wedges in backcut and always watch top of tree to see it move and watch for limbs falling
Won't the boards warp as they dry? Won't they shrink? Is there any real use for all of that sawdust?
Having them screwed down will help with warping. We will put them right next to each other and expect the shrinking to give us gaps. Many have suggested that we use the sawdust as a component in compost. All in due time. ;)
@@WalnutsandWineberries Sawdust could be bedding for chickens! Ha Ha! NO! too dusty for their respiration.
You need to get a drywall trowel for cleaning off you wood at the mill. Much safer and faster. No splinters either. LOL
Are you cutting your own lumber package for the new house, and if so how are you drying it ?
No, not allowed. All the outbuildings, yes, but we're not allowed by local code to do this for our main dwelling. I do wish poplar was in the statewide building code, because I would certainly consider milling and having it graded by a lumber inspection agency for structural use. We asked this exact question to the building inspector.
Your sawmill bed is moving up and down under the load of the saw as you move it back and forth. Is that a problem for getting flat cuts? (from a fellow Virginian in Chesapeake)
Pouring a slab for that mill once it warms up and we don't have to worry about the concrete freezing 👍
Mind boggling how camera footage can’t fairly capture how steep the grade of a hill is from my experience.
felling wedges !
fyi timber wedge something like what you spilt wood with but not as thick.
Have you ever thought about making a saw mill building it will make it easier for you in the summer and winters brother
All in time, Richmond! Moving the mill soon and a covered lean-to is in our plans.
@@WalnutsandWineberries that’s great John I didn’t want to see your saw rusted and your wood wet you guys Rock 🪨
I love the videos! You guys have done a great job! I watch a guy on YT "guilty of Treeson" yep a tree guy! I've learned so much from him! I hope you will check it out.
Get some wedges and then use them.