Thanks for the video. As a novice operator to working in the woods, it brough up some problems (and the solutions) that were helpful. Other videos I found were just “watch me work for 15 minutes” and offered no explanation.
FWIW, I agree with below about a mulcher. Having said that, they require a big machine to work effectively, a high flow skiddy with excess of 30gpm flow and heavy as the mulcher heads are quite heavy, too. I clear a different species spectrum where I live, have an old KX161 with a 36" brush rake and thumb, it sits on 21.5" steel tracks so getting rubber punched is not a worry. If you want to renovate to grass/pasture, don't be afraid to rip the ground towards you to get a good pile of brush caught with the thumb - the disturbed soil will grow grass just as well and you'll be able to see tree roots a lot better. Leave the bigger stuff till right at the end of your set so you can rip them out and deposit on top of the pile to keep it in place, and the weight will compact the pile making it easier to pick up with grapples later. Or..if you're burning, the small dead stuff at the bottom will do a much better job of ignition.
Chris over at let'sdig 18 is the top dog at ripping out trees. I love his techniques. He has a really interesting way of taking out trees and folding them up against other trees.
A tip for people, pulling on vines as an example, the trees could be rotten above and you can bring stuff down on your head if you aren't super aware of what is above when you start banging into or pulling on things. Always be aware of what is overhead and what angles it's sitting at. I'd go with a good bit larger ex with an extended arm to leave more room between the work and the cab, given a choice to do it. I'm no expert but having messed with an E50 as an example, it's not big and heavy enough for messing with trees much taller than 20' or so and only a few inches across at most. It's a lot more work with a mini too. Something 25k lbs to 40k lbs makes it a breeze of a task. So you trade the cost vs time and risk to you and the equipment.
Good advice on driving over stuff. I tweaked my hydraulic suction line on my tractor with a freak accident. My front tire rolled over a long stick that caused it to raise the other end just high enough for the line to catch it and put a kink in it. $74 line and a couple hours of my time.
Case in point, I cut down some trees in my farm. Left what I thought were small limbs...meant to pick them up but forgot. This summer I ran over them with my Fendt 724 and batwing, one branch flipped up into a crevice and broke the water separator shield, a $275.00 plastic cover. Could have been worse/more expensive. On a side note, if an excavator is not available, a tree puller for a tractor loader works good to. If time is spent pushing and pulling the trunk, a good size tree will pull right out root ball and all.
I love running certain mini exes with a thumb. Mostly Yanmar, Komatsu, Takeuchi. I have also ran several other brands that I do not like. Especially cat and John Deere, and a few others.
Sam I am not a problem for the same time as well as a few weeks ago I have a great time in the same time as well and you can see that the following link unsubscribe if you want to get back to you in a few weeks
My back part ofmy property look loke this,,lot of dam vines which makes using chainsaw or hand brushcutter impossible,,,thinking of buying walk behind brushcutter but after this may rent a mini excavator
For 20 acres I would have hired someone with industrial mulcher mounted on a skid steer and had it done in about a week roughly. It's a lot faster with better results.
Lol. My 10 year old daughter could clear twice as much acreage with a weed whacker than you did with that excavator. Should have titled this "How to Talk Brush to Death".
Thanks for the video. As a novice operator to working in the woods, it brough up some problems (and the solutions) that were helpful. Other videos I found were just “watch me work for 15 minutes” and offered no explanation.
FWIW, I agree with below about a mulcher. Having said that, they require a big machine to work effectively, a high flow skiddy with excess of 30gpm flow and heavy as the mulcher heads are quite heavy, too. I clear a different species spectrum where I live, have an old KX161 with a 36" brush rake and thumb, it sits on 21.5" steel tracks so getting rubber punched is not a worry. If you want to renovate to grass/pasture, don't be afraid to rip the ground towards you to get a good pile of brush caught with the thumb - the disturbed soil will grow grass just as well and you'll be able to see tree roots a lot better. Leave the bigger stuff till right at the end of your set so you can rip them out and deposit on top of the pile to keep it in place, and the weight will compact the pile making it easier to pick up with grapples later. Or..if you're burning, the small dead stuff at the bottom will do a much better job of ignition.
Chris over at let'sdig 18 is the top dog at ripping out trees.
I love his techniques.
He has a really interesting way of taking out trees and folding them up against other trees.
A tip for people, pulling on vines as an example, the trees could be rotten above and you can bring stuff down on your head if you aren't super aware of what is above when you start banging into or pulling on things. Always be aware of what is overhead and what angles it's sitting at. I'd go with a good bit larger ex with an extended arm to leave more room between the work and the cab, given a choice to do it.
I'm no expert but having messed with an E50 as an example, it's not big and heavy enough for messing with trees much taller than 20' or so and only a few inches across at most. It's a lot more work with a mini too. Something 25k lbs to 40k lbs makes it a breeze of a task. So you trade the cost vs time and risk to you and the equipment.
Kingsqueak- I agree, I appreciate this video but I'd rather have a 20ton excavator with thumb.I would buy a used one of course.
Good advice on driving over stuff. I tweaked my hydraulic suction line on my tractor with a freak accident. My front tire rolled over a long stick that caused it to raise the other end just high enough for the line to catch it and put a kink in it. $74 line and a couple hours of my time.
Case in point, I cut down some trees in my farm. Left what I thought were small limbs...meant to pick them up but forgot. This summer I ran over them with my Fendt 724 and batwing, one branch flipped up into a crevice and broke the water separator shield, a $275.00 plastic cover. Could have been worse/more expensive. On a side note, if an excavator is not available, a tree puller for a tractor loader works good to. If time is spent pushing and pulling the trunk, a good size tree will pull right out root ball and all.
I love running certain mini exes with a thumb.
Mostly Yanmar, Komatsu, Takeuchi. I have also ran several other brands that I do not like. Especially cat and John Deere, and a few others.
Good vid. Nice reminder that damage can occur.
What size excavator were you using?
Great video, this really opens up my eyes, all I knew all this is machete that is how we do it around here.
Sam I am not a problem for the same time as well as a few weeks ago I have a great time in the same time as well and you can see that the following link unsubscribe if you want to get back to you in a few weeks
You would have got a lot more cleared with a machete than he did and been home for lunch too.
Worried to much...just clear the brush!!
My back part ofmy property look loke this,,lot of dam vines which makes using chainsaw or hand brushcutter impossible,,,thinking of buying walk behind brushcutter but after this may rent a mini excavator
I want a mucher so bad. I'm going to get one as soon as i've finished saving up. Its about a 4 ton machine.
If you're talking about removing organic material you would do better with a mulcher, not a muncher to pulverize concrete. 😁
Good work. What weight is your machine?
No offence but you are just dropping water in the ocean with an eye dropper with that machine
hey mate you're bobcat excavator would be better doing this with a mulcher attachment mate
what model excavator are you using?
331g bobcat 2008.
denis cimaf dah-080c would be perfect for you're excavator clearing the bush
Brendan & Lovely and caring for the same as a result of raexxx
For 20 acres I would have hired someone with industrial mulcher mounted on a skid steer and had it done in about a week roughly. It's a lot faster with better results.
@Charles... so how big of a check are you willing to write?
Lol. My 10 year old daughter could clear twice as much acreage with a weed whacker than you did with that excavator.
Should have titled this "How to Talk Brush to Death".
You talk too much and nothing
Dude take the camera off your head and stop talking .