UStinman 84 You're exactly right. This is simply the most resource efficient way to clear brush and trees. One man, one machine, soil is undisturbed, and mulch will decompose into soil. I cleared this 3.7 acres in 7.5 hours. This property will just need to be bush-hogged twice a year, in Jun and Oct, for maintenance and it will look great.
I like how you film from inside the cab both in real time and in fast motion and that you also show it from a distance good job makes it more interesting to watch
Laurel Herbert Thanks for that feedback, Laurel. I appreciate that, and glad you liked it. I'm a novice with the cameras and editing. I make these videos mostly to show land-owners what is possible with their over-grown land after using a forestry mulcher to improve it. I try not to waste time setting up cameras when I'm on the clock at a customers property, so this is a down and dirty video production. Thanks for watching.
midnightrider1087 Yea, I love this music. People from all over the country, and also other countries around the world, actually watch my videos, so I wanted to add some genuine flavor of Tennessee. I really respect talented people, and this music displays talented musicians, and the music puts you in a good mood. I'm glad you recognized it and enjoyed it.
Chakat Nightsparkle That would have been a good idea. The owner of this property wanted it cleared so he could sell it. He moved away 4-5 years ago and didn't think it would grow up this high and dense in that time.
That’s amazing that you recognize this area. It was on Garfield Way in Clarksville, and backed up to the Little West Fork creek. That 2010 flood was a bad one.
@@clevingerforestservicesllc1164 Well some of our fence ended up in the woods at the far end of the field. I asked the people in the one house if I could go and pick up my fence and they were like we are not sure and .... I was like call the cops if you need to.
Question do you walk something like that before you begin to mulch or just take a chance oh maybe hitting a metal rod or anyting metal and if so will it damage the machine a lot or would it be something minor
Hey Rob- On this particular job. the owner told me that it was just an open field that he use to keep mowed before he moved away. He told me there was one small rock pile, that he pointed out, and there were no other hazards, like stumps, ditches, etc. Generally speaking, when I'm mulching I keep very focused of what's in front of me so I can spot debris and hazards. When I get into very dense material where I can't see in front of the mulcher, I slow down to an appropriate speed so if I hit something solid I won't damage anything. But there can always be debris hidden under the brush and laying on the ground, like fencing, tires, tarps, rope, posts, etc. That's just part of this game. I carry all the tools I need to getting everything unstuck from my drum.
Excellent work. That was the perfect job for your machine. Nice and relative flat.. No rock's it appears. Dusty. I really enjoy watching your video's. If we had that type of ground here in Virginia where im located, I'd buy a mulcher like your's today for my Takehuchi TL12.!!!
You're exactly right, John. These were all perfect conditions on this job. Wish they were all like this. The only thing that would have made this job better was if a soft-serve ice cream truck would have pulled up to the curb when I was finished! Haha! Lot's of mulcher operators use that TL12. I here its bullet proof and very reliable. Lots of business out there for a mulcher......
Thanks for the time and effort you put into sharing the info.Always wondered how you billed for your work,thought it would be rude to ask.Thank you agin.Was in Cumberland City last week and pass by Clarksville on I24. Live in Tullahoma so near neighbors.Always great video, I have learned a lot.cj
Hey CJ. I appreciate your comment. I don't mind sharing if its going to help somebody out there. It doesn't bother me when people ask most questions. I don't answer super specific questions about my business. People have asked for my revenues, how much profit I make, how many hours per year I work, etc. Those are rude questions. I can tell when someone wants to be spoon fed business information instead of researching their specific business plan. I answer good questions, but I don't spoon feed. But its all good and enjoyable. You know, I get a lot of calls for mulching from down your way. All the way down to the AL border, and some from AL even! The furthest I go that way is Murfreesboro. I've got a lot of area to cover up here around Clarksville. I appreciate you watching my videos, for sure CJ. Thanks.
Clevinger Forest Services, LLC , just read your reply. Big time lag as l am out pushing this “ diesel car” around. Thanks for info. Is your primary work Forestry mulching as skid steer and forestry mulching as a side? Between you and V belt & son in Cal. and the guy in No.Carolina you have ruined me,looking at mulches. Was at Kubota dealer dropping 5 Z turns and there was a 95 with a bradco head. Just had to look.
carlj3515 I'm retired from the military. I started my forestry mulching business in 2014, and have been doing it full time since then. Be safe out there on the road.
I have a couple questions please. How do you keep from clearing someone’s property next to the property your getting paid to clean up? Like let’s say the customer told you to clear along a side and and it had 3 good size trees that ended up being someone else’s property? How do you keep that from happening? Or someone is leasing the property and get you to clear lanes on it without owner permission. How do you protect yourself from things like that? Next question is what type of insurance do you need? Is it in case the machine is stolen? Or does it cover other things also? Thanks for your time sharing your business with people. It really helps others out. I love watching the channel.
I do a couple of things to avoid those situations. I always walk the property with the owner. Most property owners know their exact property lines, and I tie survey tape around trees until we have defined the work area. Normally there are well defined boundaries, such as a fenceline, treeline, trail, etc. If there is no defined demarcation between adjacent land, and the customer is not exactly sure of their lines, then I ask them to talk with their neighbor, and agree on where they both think the line is, and have the customer put survey tape on the trees to mark the work boundary. I also use an App called OnXhunt, that shows property lines and owner's names. This information is derived from county property records. Its pretty accurate, but I generally use this as a back up to verify lines in question. I never cleared land for someone who was leasing it, but I would ask to see the lease to see what their rights on the land were. Or ask them to get a letter of authorization from the owner. I use All State Inland/Marine commercial insurance. I carry insurance for total loss, theft, and liability. The amount of liability you get depends on what type of work you do. Some types of contract work requires certain minimums.
On the back drags is the head in the ground mulching? If not wouldn’t it be better to spin around and do a pass from the other side making you more productive?
FishFind3000 Yes, I do keep the mulcher head on the ground on the back drags. These mulcher heads actually have a better cutting action when back dragging because they pull more material up into the drum casing and it gets ripped up by the fixed cutter tines in the casing. My windshield kep getting covered in dust in this video, so it's probably hard to see the mulch getting shot out of the mulcher during the back drag.
I've never ran a skid mulcher, but been in equipment industry some 25-30 yrs and just kinda curious as to if the dirt cloud is sign of having to elevate head by a couple inches , it would seem you wanna avoid dirt mulching as much as possible or not an issue?
sixfoot4 PigDog Its better to keep the teeth out of the dirt, for sure. I was running the mulcher head along on its skid-plates, so this puts a gap of 1-1/2" between the ground and the teeth. The dust is being kicked up by all of the woody material being ripped through the drum head and dragging up the dirt surface. It was pretty dry out there.
Dave H I didn't order the hydraulic flap with my mulcher head. I talked to operators who had it, and they basically said its not worth it because they keep getting bent and damaged. I agree with that, too, after using mulchers since 2014. The mulcher and machine should be as streamlined, bullet-proof, and build like a tank as possible. Working in the forest environment will tear things up. The size mulch that a head without a flap makes is very acceptable. These machines are for mass material mastication/reduction. These are not lawn care finishing machines. I always read about operators who talk about the tiny size of the mulch, and I don't really understand the obsession with that when the vast majority of work these machines do are in a forest or on a farm, and are normally step in a larger process.
Any failsafe methods to prevent a machine from catching on fire due to debris build up? Do you try to adhere to a strict schedule to blow the machine out ‘X’ amount of hours of work? Monitor engine and hydro temps to a “T”? I hear all the horror stories, but I believe you are more meticulous with maintaining these machines than others might be. Thanks for the content!!!
Travis Higday I can only speak for Bobcats that I own, and how I maintain my equipment. How a forestry machine is designed makes a huge difference. Bobcat has a forestry application kit that seals up every opening in the machine that prevents debris from getting into the engine compartment, and under the cab into the hydraulic valve area. This kit does a great job. I don't think most other skidsteer machines have this protection kit. I prep my machine before it leaves my shop for a job site. I use a ShopVac and compressed air to clean out the engine compartment, blow out the radiators, fans, air filter, and a/c filters. I grease all the fittings, and check the track tension. Check the hydraulic fluid, DEF, engine oil level, and coolant level. Gas it up, and clean the windows. Then it goes out. At the end of each day on the job site, I brush off all of the radiators and screens, gas it up, check hydraulic and engine oil levels, and clean the windows. That's my maintenance routine. I'm on several mulcher operator sites, and I only ever hear about Cat mulchers routinely burning down. So I would assume they have some kind of design flaw. I've heard about a few Kubota's catching fire. But that's it. I would say some cases are from not cleaning them out, but Cat seems to have some other issue going on.
Clevinger Forest Services, LLC Thank you for the response. I’m just trying to gather as much information as possible from real owner/operators. It does seem that Cat has it’s share fire problems in this industry. I have not heard much on the negative side with Bobcat’s catching aflame. I’m currently looking at Deere 325G’s and Bobcat T650’s. Most of my work will be dirt related, but I would like to run a Diamond or Bradco rotary to do some light mowing and small brush work. Thanks again!!!
Travis Higday Doing research to find the right machine for your exact requirements, is the right way to go. I'm not a "brand" guy, I'm a "capabilities" guy. Good luck, Travis.
@@twhigday, I want to say that the new Deere's have an operation that happens from time to time where it automatically reverses the fans to blow away any debris that builds up at the intake areas... Also...the GRex Disc Mulcher was designed and prototyped on a Deere 333 and Deere 332.
mark g Haha! I know, sometimes it looks more like a forestry vacuum cleaner the way it seems to make the material disappear. In reality, the visual volume of space that brush takes up appears to be much larger than the physical volume it actually takes up. This machine is a reduction process that breaks that volume down 98%+ of what it appeared to occupy.
Wow! We could vacuum and tidy-up vast tracts of the US with these things! I have to wonder if they had used them on the California underbrush, how different the fire disasters may have turned out.
@@markg6860 Unfortunately it wouldn't have turned out all that differently....Why?.. Wildland firefighters regularly use brush clearing techniques such as this, combined with big Cat dozers to clear huge areas of forest and reduce it to bedrock. Even with these measures, the most extreme fires were reported to have jumped bare fields and bodies of water 300 yards across.
mark g I believe many career forestry professionals have said that California does not actively manage their forests. Ladder fuels are the problem. Ladder fuels are the thick underbrush that grows within forests. This is the bulk of the material that burns, and carries the flames up to the canopies of the mature forest trees. And as I understand it, the state doesn't even allow road/trails to be built in many of the forests, so firefighting equipment doesn't have access to large swaths of forest. And planned logging is also part of forest management, because it creates large firebreaks. Many states have the same dry weather as California, and have forest fires caused by lightening or man made, but they don't get out of control. There are probably lessons to be learned here.
@@AllstarVentures Try www.southernlandworxtn.com/contact-us/ They’re located in Talbot, TN. I don’t know anything about them, but I know they’re out your way.
No, my T770 doesn’t have hydraulic over-heating problems. I keep the air intake screen clear of debris, and the radiators clear so the cooling system has full airflow. As an operator, I make sure to keep the mulcher drum spinning, and to not bog the drum down to a stop continuously or for prolonged time. I also make sure the cutter teeth are not dull.
Thank you for your service! Awesome machine! Do you travel to S.C.? If not could/would you recommend a reputable forestry mulching company near Cottageville, S.C.?
James Mims Hi James. I can recommend Hal Amick at Beaver Mulching and Clearing. (803) 318-8098. He's out of Irmo/Columbia area. Not sure what his travel area is, but he can definitely take care of any clearing you want done. Let him know that Dave Clevinger recommended him, he'll get it done for you. I've known him for a couple of years. Good man.
James Mims Congratulations on your property. It's always a nice feeling owning your own chunk of land. Good luck with it, and enjoy making it your own.
I change my paper air filters every 500 hours (engine and air conditioning). I keep the air filters and cooling radiators blown off with an air compressor before I start each job, then every third day when on the job.
Ryan Bbew Well, it was worth more to this customer to clear this land so he could sell it. Think realtors call it curb appeal. A large bush hog may have been able to handle this material, too.
Wow! Very impressive to recognize the music. How do you know it? First was Angeline the Baker. Second was Daley's Reel. Both by Nat Keefe and the Bow Ties. Wasn't sure people would like the southern folk music, but I really appreciate talented musicians who can bring actual instruments to life. And being from Tennessee, I enjoy the happy sound of bluegrass and traditional folk music. I really appreciate your comment. Be safe flying out there.
Looking at having 30 acres of woodland cleared of invasive privet in PA, probably piece-wise. What is the all in cost per day for this? I saw a local company claim UP TO 4 acres/day (ideal conditions) which is on par with what you did here. Although in my situation I think a disc mulcher would be more suitable. Thanks.
Live. Vibe. Lasers. A disc mulcher might be a cheaper way to go for you if you just want to get the material cut down. You can rent a skidsteer and disc mulcher cheaper than you can hire someone with a skidsteer with drum-style forestry mulcher. 3-4 acres per day is reasonable to expect if the terrain conditions, size and density of your material are similar to what you see in this video. The largest diameter tree in this video was about 4". I charged $1,250 to clear this material from an area about 3.7 acres in one day, where I'm located in Tennessee. Prices vary pretty widely based on location. I charge $150/hour, for this size machine, but others charge up to $250/hour for this size machine. There are other forestry mulcher operators that have larger industrial-sized machines out there who charge higher hourly rates, but have higher production rates. Another option if you want to do all 30-acres, is to buy a used forestry mulcher machine and use it to clear everything you want over a matter of months, and then sell the equipment when you finish. This is how people do large projects if the math is advantageous.
@@clevingerforestservicesllc1164 Thank you for your reply. You have confirmed what I suspected. I saw the larger tracked forestry mulchers. It looks like to have it cleared would cost 12-15k, and to buy an ASV RT-120 with a Diamond 60" disc mulcher would be around $100k, but only cost $2k/mo in payments. Still a lot of capital to put up front just to cut down some admittedly large weeds. Thanks.
It all depends on what your end-state goal is for your 30 acres. If you want to clear it to use it for pasture/crops or livestock, then its worth it. Having a plan to maintain the area cleared, such as by bush hogging or livestock eating it down, is important. If you don't plan on maintaining it, then its obviously not worth spending the money to clear it. Sometimes just cutting trails so you have access to it, or clearing specific areas around your home for a nicer view, may be enough. Really depends on what you want to achieve with it.
And as far as the monthly cost of $2000 per month in payments if you purchase a machine, in reality, that will be about 1-1/2 days of work if you are paying someone to do it for you. Flushing out the math for each of your options would be useful to make your decision.
Thanks for your time replying. It is a hardwood stand but no new growth can occur with the privet covering the ground, says a logger/forester I had out. My goal is to improve the health of the stand, make the land more usable for recreation (hunting, hiking, ATVs), and invest is the stand as a source of hardwood. It's just hard/intimidating to come up with $100k capital, or pay $12-15k out of pocket. Thanks again.
I billed the customer $1,250. Area was about 3.7 acres and took 7.5 hours. The trees were too big to bush-hog, and they were the Bradford pear thorn tree variety.
@@clevingerforestservicesllc1164 gotcha. I am currently in the process of getting into the business and I am trying to research the prices as much as possible so I don't trash the market for myself and others.
Thomas Daugherty Around the country, a skisteer sized forestry mulcher gets between $150-$200 per hour. That's the sweet spot. But there are outliers that charge less and more than that. But it's more important to know your cost to operate for your specific equipment, profit margin, goals, etc. Then know what the market in your area is willing to pay. This is different for every business and location.
"ASMR, which stands for autonomous sensory meridian response, is still a relatively new creation. It describes a feeling of euphoric tingling and relaxation that can come over someone when he or she watches certain videos or hears certain sounds." (quote from sleep.org) I had no idea that existed until my teenage daughter pointed out that is why I enjoy videos of machines at work, whether accompanied by engine noise or a good bluegrass melody. I bet you didn't realize you were a therapist as well? But to this job... On the surface it seems like an easy straight forward engagement. But as I see it's essentially an undeveloped field in what appears to be a residential area, I start thinking about trash, old bicycles, patio furniture, and construction debris hidden in that thick growth. It looks too dense to conduct a thorough pre-walk, so how do you deal with the inevitable foreign objects you might hit? Is a sharp eye and quick joystick hand just something that comes with practice? More importantly how do you estimate on something like this where you are likely to have to stop several times to clear the drum, or move junk out of your way?
That is interesting, because many people who watch these videos do say they are relaxing. Lot's of magic happening, I guess. lol This area was too thick to do a walk through before clearing it. I relied on the owner to tell me about any hazards hidden in it. He was accurate, thankfully. But I'm always very focused when I mulch. I move at a speed that I can safely see through the brush. I still sometimes still ram into solid objects, and jar the machine and myself. This work is actually pretty mentally draining after a full day, since you stay 100% focused al of the time, to avoid debris, tipping over, watching so no trees damage hydraulic lines, etc, etc
@@clevingerforestservicesllc1164 An informative, educational audiobook might help alleviate the mental stagnancy. Do you listen to music while your operating?
@@nighted7421 I listen to music when I’m on easy jobs, like rehabbing over-grown farm fields. When I do more technical jobs, like on slopes, I stay focused on feeling the machine and being aware of my movements.
With this size and density of material (Bradford pear thorn trees 1"-4"dia. and very dense briars), on this terrain, this area was about 3.7 acres and it took me 7.5 hours to clear. Cost $1,250 in my location of Clarksville, TN. I charge by the hour, have an equipment transport charge, and a 4-hour minimum charge. I think charging by the hour is the fairest for the customer, and for my business. For example, this job in the video I estimated would take 11 hours because about 3 acres of it was covered with a dense growth of 15'-20' tall trees. It was also covered with extremely dense briars, so I couldn't get into the trees to determine how big the tree trunks were. And the owner wasn't sure of the acreage, and guessed it was 4-5 acres. So I based my cost estimate on this information. It turned out to be less acreage and smaller diameter trees, so this worked out in the owners favor to pay by the hour, and not a fixed quoted price. That's how I roll.
@@clevingerforestservicesllc1164, i wish more people were fair and upfront with costs like you are.... and passing on savings is a sign of a good man. Good on you sir!
Well, my business plan and goals may be different than yours, so giving a number of hours may not relate to your plan, desires, or goals at all. I'm retired from the military, so I have other income. Kids are grown. Not saving for college, etc, etc. Many different variables go into this. Having said that, I do forestry mulching 'full-time', and for the first 4 months of 2019, I've been billing about 50 hours per month engaged in mulching. I'm a one-man, one-machine operation, so days I'm not mulching, I'm out visiting customers for estimates, doing services on my equipment, buying supplies, talking with realtors, builders, etc. I also buy land on speculation and clear it and develop it, so I do research and property visits for that. And then there is living my life on my terms according to my schedule. So there's that.
Thank you! That does help. I'm retired as well and we're pretty similar in those other aspects too. I enjoy your videos, they're very informative and professional.
Chris DeBord I appreciate you watching, and glad to hear you find them informative. There is a wealth of good business information in the comment sections of each of my videos on my YT channel. People have asked me every business question from A to Z, and I always give detailed answers. So be sure to check those out. It will answer most of your questions I'm sure. Good luck to you, Chris.
Dillon Is that a kids movie?? I read US Forestry Service material, and I was surprised to learn that the US has more land covered today than prior to WWII. Apparently there were tens of thousands of families who did small scale family farming. After WWII, many of these families took advantage of the post-1945 booming economy, and got out of small farming. These farms have since turned back into forest. And I run into this everyday in my business.
Love what this machine does, no chain saw, no brush hog, no hauling away stuff No burn pile I love it, One stop shopping
UStinman 84 You're exactly right. This is simply the most resource efficient way to clear brush and trees. One man, one machine, soil is undisturbed, and mulch will decompose into soil.
I cleared this 3.7 acres in 7.5 hours. This property will just need to be bush-hogged twice a year, in Jun and Oct, for maintenance and it will look great.
NEVER get bored watching man and machine!!! GREAT JOB my friend!!! 👍👍
HAHA! Thanks Grizzly. I wish all of my jobs were under these awesome conditions.
I like how you film from inside the cab both in real time and in fast motion and that you also show it from a distance good job makes it more interesting to watch
Laurel Herbert Thanks for that feedback, Laurel. I appreciate that, and glad you liked it. I'm a novice with the cameras and editing. I make these videos mostly to show land-owners what is possible with their over-grown land after using a forestry mulcher to improve it. I try not to waste time setting up cameras when I'm on the clock at a customers property, so this is a down and dirty video production. Thanks for watching.
these videos are soothing to my soul.
Fantastic! I appreciate your comment.
Always like your videos.
I appreciate that, Joe! Thanks for watching.
Like the Angeline the Baker music to brother, can tell you a Tennessee boy! Born and raised about 75 miles south of Clarksville
midnightrider1087 Yea, I love this music. People from all over the country, and also other countries around the world, actually watch my videos, so I wanted to add some genuine flavor of Tennessee. I really respect talented people, and this music displays talented musicians, and the music puts you in a good mood. I'm glad you recognized it and enjoyed it.
Very impressive piece of machinery!
Thanks for sharing!
Using the right tool for the right job always makes things look easy.
I appreciate you watching.
Wouldof kept the wooded area. Seemed like there was Suitable building spot for a home site next to the Trees creating a Perfect Forest look.
Chakat Nightsparkle That would have been a good idea. The owner of this property wanted it cleared so he could sell it. He moved away 4-5 years ago and didn't think it would grow up this high and dense in that time.
We owned the house (4-5 down) from that property and moved away in 2010 when it was nothing but a field - the year of the big flood.
That’s amazing that you recognize this area. It was on Garfield Way in Clarksville, and backed up to the Little West Fork creek. That 2010 flood was a bad one.
@@clevingerforestservicesllc1164 Well some of our fence ended up in the woods at the far end of the field. I asked the people in the one house if I could go and pick up my fence and they were like we are not sure and .... I was like call the cops if you need to.
Question do you walk something like that before you begin to mulch or just take a chance oh maybe hitting a metal rod or anyting metal and if so will it damage the machine a lot or would it be something minor
Hey Rob- On this particular job. the owner told me that it was just an open field that he use to keep mowed before he moved away. He told me there was one small rock pile, that he pointed out, and there were no other hazards, like stumps, ditches, etc. Generally speaking, when I'm mulching I keep very focused of what's in front of me so I can spot debris and hazards. When I get into very dense material where I can't see in front of the mulcher, I slow down to an appropriate speed so if I hit something solid I won't damage anything. But there can always be debris hidden under the brush and laying on the ground, like fencing, tires, tarps, rope, posts, etc. That's just part of this game. I carry all the tools I need to getting everything unstuck from my drum.
Excellent work. That was the perfect job for your machine. Nice and relative flat.. No rock's it appears. Dusty. I really enjoy watching your video's. If we had that type of ground here in Virginia where im located, I'd buy a mulcher like your's today for my Takehuchi TL12.!!!
You're exactly right, John. These were all perfect conditions on this job. Wish they were all like this. The only thing that would have made this job better was if a soft-serve ice cream truck would have pulled up to the curb when I was finished! Haha!
Lot's of mulcher operators use that TL12. I here its bullet proof and very reliable. Lots of business out there for a mulcher......
Thanks for the time and effort you put into sharing the info.Always wondered how you billed for your work,thought it would be rude to ask.Thank you agin.Was in Cumberland City last week and pass by Clarksville on I24. Live in Tullahoma so near neighbors.Always great video, I have learned a lot.cj
Hey CJ. I appreciate your comment. I don't mind sharing if its going to help somebody out there. It doesn't bother me when people ask most questions. I don't answer super specific questions about my business. People have asked for my revenues, how much profit I make, how many hours per year I work, etc. Those are rude questions. I can tell when someone wants to be spoon fed business information instead of researching their specific business plan. I answer good questions, but I don't spoon feed. But its all good and enjoyable. You know, I get a lot of calls for mulching from down your way. All the way down to the AL border, and some from AL even! The furthest I go that way is Murfreesboro. I've got a lot of area to cover up here around Clarksville. I appreciate you watching my videos, for sure CJ. Thanks.
Clevinger Forest Services, LLC , just read your reply. Big time lag as l am out pushing this “ diesel car” around. Thanks for info. Is your primary work Forestry mulching as skid steer and forestry mulching as a side? Between you and V belt & son in Cal. and the guy in No.Carolina you have ruined me,looking at mulches. Was at Kubota dealer dropping 5 Z turns and there was a 95 with a bradco head. Just had to look.
carlj3515 I'm retired from the military. I started my forestry mulching business in 2014, and have been doing it full time since then.
Be safe out there on the road.
Clevinger Forest Services, LLC Sounds like you would be a good mentor.
carlj3515 I always like talking business and ideas.
I have a couple questions please. How do you keep from clearing someone’s property next to the property your getting paid to clean up? Like let’s say the customer told you to clear along a side and and it had 3 good size trees that ended up being someone else’s property? How do you keep that from happening? Or someone is leasing the property and get you to clear lanes on it without owner permission. How do you protect yourself from things like that?
Next question is what type of insurance do you need? Is it in case the machine is stolen? Or does it cover other things also?
Thanks for your time sharing your business with people. It really helps others out. I love watching the channel.
I do a couple of things to avoid those situations. I always walk the property with the owner. Most property owners know their exact property lines, and I tie survey tape around trees until we have defined the work area. Normally there are well defined boundaries, such as a fenceline, treeline, trail, etc. If there is no defined demarcation between adjacent land, and the customer is not exactly sure of their lines, then I ask them to talk with their neighbor, and agree on where they both think the line is, and have the customer put survey tape on the trees to mark the work boundary. I also use an App called OnXhunt, that shows property lines and owner's names. This information is derived from county property records. Its pretty accurate, but I generally use this as a back up to verify lines in question.
I never cleared land for someone who was leasing it, but I would ask to see the lease to see what their rights on the land were. Or ask them to get a letter of authorization from the owner.
I use All State Inland/Marine commercial insurance. I carry insurance for total loss, theft, and liability. The amount of liability you get depends on what type of work you do. Some types of contract work requires certain minimums.
Nice work
Thanks, Shane. I could do jobs under these conditions all day, everyday. Thanks for watching.
On the back drags is the head in the ground mulching? If not wouldn’t it be better to spin around and do a pass from the other side making you more productive?
FishFind3000 Yes, I do keep the mulcher head on the ground on the back drags. These mulcher heads actually have a better cutting action when back dragging because they pull more material up into the drum casing and it gets ripped up by the fixed cutter tines in the casing. My windshield kep getting covered in dust in this video, so it's probably hard to see the mulch getting shot out of the mulcher during the back drag.
I've never ran a skid mulcher, but been in equipment industry some 25-30 yrs and just kinda curious as to if the dirt cloud is sign of having to elevate head by a couple inches , it would seem you wanna avoid dirt mulching as much as possible or not an issue?
sixfoot4 PigDog Its better to keep the teeth out of the dirt, for sure. I was running the mulcher head along on its skid-plates, so this puts a gap of 1-1/2" between the ground and the teeth. The dust is being kicked up by all of the woody material being ripped through the drum head and dragging up the dirt surface. It was pretty dry out there.
@@clevingerforestservicesllc1164 good to know boss. Appreciate your response. And your info. Slot of guys wanna act like it's all top secret 😆👍
sixfoot4 PigDog Haha! I hear ya. I don't know why guys are like that. I guess I have no fear of competition. I know how to compete.
How long did it take you to clear that 4 acres almost ?
This 3.7 acre job took 7.5 hours to complete, with the conditions (material, density, terrain) shown in this video.
Very nice man 😎💪🏻
Thanks! Appreciate you watching, Flemming.
That is a good job kind of large for the machine
Dwight Jones The size of this job was perfect for this machine. Cleared 3.7 acres in 7.5 hours. Big headache for the customer GONE in one day👍
Have you run that head with the hydraulic flap? If so, does it improve the fineness of the mulch? Thanks.
Dave H I didn't order the hydraulic flap with my mulcher head. I talked to operators who had it, and they basically said its not worth it because they keep getting bent and damaged. I agree with that, too, after using mulchers since 2014. The mulcher and machine should be as streamlined, bullet-proof, and build like a tank as possible. Working in the forest environment will tear things up. The size mulch that a head without a flap makes is very acceptable. These machines are for mass material mastication/reduction. These are not lawn care finishing machines. I always read about operators who talk about the tiny size of the mulch, and I don't really understand the obsession with that when the vast majority of work these machines do are in a forest or on a farm, and are normally step in a larger process.
Any failsafe methods to prevent a machine from catching on fire due to debris build up? Do you try to adhere to a strict schedule to blow the machine out ‘X’ amount of hours of work? Monitor engine and hydro temps to a “T”? I hear all the horror stories, but I believe you are more meticulous with maintaining these machines than others might be. Thanks for the content!!!
Travis Higday I can only speak for Bobcats that I own, and how I maintain my equipment. How a forestry machine is designed makes a huge difference. Bobcat has a forestry application kit that seals up every opening in the machine that prevents debris from getting into the engine compartment, and under the cab into the hydraulic valve area. This kit does a great job. I don't think most other skidsteer machines have this protection kit.
I prep my machine before it leaves my shop for a job site. I use a ShopVac and compressed air to clean out the engine compartment, blow out the radiators, fans, air filter, and a/c filters. I grease all the fittings, and check the track tension. Check the hydraulic fluid, DEF, engine oil level, and coolant level. Gas it up, and clean the windows. Then it goes out.
At the end of each day on the job site, I brush off all of the radiators and screens, gas it up, check hydraulic and engine oil levels, and clean the windows. That's my maintenance routine.
I'm on several mulcher operator sites, and I only ever hear about Cat mulchers routinely burning down. So I would assume they have some kind of design flaw. I've heard about a few Kubota's catching fire. But that's it. I would say some cases are from not cleaning them out, but Cat seems to have some other issue going on.
Clevinger Forest Services, LLC Thank you for the response. I’m just trying to gather as much information as possible from real owner/operators. It does seem that Cat has it’s share fire problems in this industry. I have not heard much on the negative side with Bobcat’s catching aflame. I’m currently looking at Deere 325G’s and Bobcat T650’s. Most of my work will be dirt related, but I would like to run a Diamond or Bradco rotary to do some light mowing and small brush work. Thanks again!!!
Travis Higday Doing research to find the right machine for your exact requirements, is the right way to go. I'm not a "brand" guy, I'm a "capabilities" guy. Good luck, Travis.
@@twhigday, I want to say that the new Deere's have an operation that happens from time to time where it automatically reverses the fans to blow away any debris that builds up at the intake areas... Also...the GRex Disc Mulcher was designed and prototyped on a Deere 333 and Deere 332.
Watching you makes me jealous I would love to have one of those just to expensive :(
I hear ya, Travis. These things are expensive. But if there's enough demand in your area, they pay for themselves, for sure.
Fascinating to watch! But, where does all that crap go?
mark g Haha! I know, sometimes it looks more like a forestry vacuum cleaner the way it seems to make the material disappear. In reality, the visual volume of space that brush takes up appears to be much larger than the physical volume it actually takes up. This machine is a reduction process that breaks that volume down 98%+ of what it appeared to occupy.
Wow! We could vacuum and tidy-up vast tracts of the US with these things! I have to wonder if they had used them on the California underbrush, how different the fire disasters may have turned out.
@@markg6860 Unfortunately it wouldn't have turned out all that differently....Why?.. Wildland firefighters regularly use brush clearing techniques such as this, combined with big Cat dozers to clear huge areas of forest and reduce it to bedrock. Even with these measures, the most extreme fires were reported to have jumped bare fields and bodies of water 300 yards across.
mark g I believe many career forestry professionals have said that California does not actively manage their forests. Ladder fuels are the problem. Ladder fuels are the thick underbrush that grows within forests. This is the bulk of the material that burns, and carries the flames up to the canopies of the mature forest trees. And as I understand it, the state doesn't even allow road/trails to be built in many of the forests, so firefighting equipment doesn't have access to large swaths of forest. And planned logging is also part of forest management, because it creates large firebreaks. Many states have the same dry weather as California, and have forest fires caused by lightening or man made, but they don't get out of control. There are probably lessons to be learned here.
@@Sara-L When you say "jump", you mean sparks?
What’s your work area radius in Tennessee? I have some property outside of Gatlinburg that I need help mulching
Can you recommend someone? I see that Clarksville is probably way out of your range
Hey Joey- My work area is within a 60-70 mile radius of Clarksville, TN.
@@AllstarVentures Try www.southernlandworxtn.com/contact-us/
They’re located in Talbot, TN. I don’t know anything about them, but I know they’re out your way.
Have you ever had a problem with your T770 overheating?
No, my T770 doesn’t have hydraulic over-heating problems. I keep the air intake screen clear of debris, and the radiators clear so the cooling system has full airflow. As an operator, I make sure to keep the mulcher drum spinning, and to not bog the drum down to a stop continuously or for prolonged time. I also make sure the cutter teeth are not dull.
Thank you for your service! Awesome machine! Do you travel to S.C.? If not could/would you recommend a reputable forestry mulching company near Cottageville, S.C.?
James Mims Hi James. I can recommend Hal Amick at Beaver Mulching and Clearing. (803) 318-8098. He's out of Irmo/Columbia area. Not sure what his travel area is, but he can definitely take care of any clearing you want done. Let him know that Dave Clevinger recommended him, he'll get it done for you. I've known him for a couple of years. Good man.
@@clevingerforestservicesllc1164 Thank you Dave, greatly appreciated! Just purchased 9 acres and need a couple acres cleared.
James Mims Congratulations on your property. It's always a nice feeling owning your own chunk of land. Good luck with it, and enjoy making it your own.
I bet you go through air filters like crazy.
I change my paper air filters every 500 hours (engine and air conditioning). I keep the air filters and cooling radiators blown off with an air compressor before I start each job, then every third day when on the job.
worth more standing brush than open fields.
and 1-4" is perfect for bush hogs. Thats child's play for batwing
Ryan Bbew Well, it was worth more to this customer to clear this land so he could sell it. Think realtors call it curb appeal. A large bush hog may have been able to handle this material, too.
Loved it! Wishing I could justify a machine and mulcher like yours. Liked the music too! Angeline the Baker played first , what was the second tune?
Wow! Very impressive to recognize the music. How do you know it?
First was Angeline the Baker. Second was Daley's Reel. Both by Nat Keefe and the Bow Ties. Wasn't sure people would like the southern folk music, but I really appreciate talented musicians who can bring actual instruments to life. And being from Tennessee, I enjoy the happy sound of bluegrass and traditional folk music. I really appreciate your comment. Be safe flying out there.
How many yellow jackets did you run into
Andy Yates I'm sure I made a few bees mad, but I didn't hit any hives and get swarmed. Thankfully Bobcat makes a very well sealed cab.
Looking at having 30 acres of woodland cleared of invasive privet in PA, probably piece-wise. What is the all in cost per day for this? I saw a local company claim UP TO 4 acres/day (ideal conditions) which is on par with what you did here. Although in my situation I think a disc mulcher would be more suitable. Thanks.
Live. Vibe. Lasers. A disc mulcher might be a cheaper way to go for you if you just want to get the material cut down. You can rent a skidsteer and disc mulcher cheaper than you can hire someone with a skidsteer with drum-style forestry mulcher. 3-4 acres per day is reasonable to expect if the terrain conditions, size and density of your material are similar to what you see in this video. The largest diameter tree in this video was about 4". I charged $1,250 to clear this material from an area about 3.7 acres in one day, where I'm located in Tennessee. Prices vary pretty widely based on location. I charge $150/hour, for this size machine, but others charge up to $250/hour for this size machine. There are other forestry mulcher operators that have larger industrial-sized machines out there who charge higher hourly rates, but have higher production rates. Another option if you want to do all 30-acres, is to buy a used forestry mulcher machine and use it to clear everything you want over a matter of months, and then sell the equipment when you finish. This is how people do large projects if the math is advantageous.
@@clevingerforestservicesllc1164 Thank you for your reply. You have confirmed what I suspected. I saw the larger tracked forestry mulchers. It looks like to have it cleared would cost 12-15k, and to buy an ASV RT-120 with a Diamond 60" disc mulcher would be around $100k, but only cost $2k/mo in payments. Still a lot of capital to put up front just to cut down some admittedly large weeds. Thanks.
It all depends on what your end-state goal is for your 30 acres. If you want to clear it to use it for pasture/crops or livestock, then its worth it. Having a plan to maintain the area cleared, such as by bush hogging or livestock eating it down, is important. If you don't plan on maintaining it, then its obviously not worth spending the money to clear it. Sometimes just cutting trails so you have access to it, or clearing specific areas around your home for a nicer view, may be enough. Really depends on what you want to achieve with it.
And as far as the monthly cost of $2000 per month in payments if you purchase a machine, in reality, that will be about 1-1/2 days of work if you are paying someone to do it for you. Flushing out the math for each of your options would be useful to make your decision.
Thanks for your time replying. It is a hardwood stand but no new growth can occur with the privet covering the ground, says a logger/forester I had out. My goal is to improve the health of the stand, make the land more usable for recreation (hunting, hiking, ATVs), and invest is the stand as a source of hardwood. It's just hard/intimidating to come up with $100k capital, or pay $12-15k out of pocket. Thanks again.
What did you bill for that job?
I billed the customer $1,250. Area was about 3.7 acres and took 7.5 hours. The trees were too big to bush-hog, and they were the Bradford pear thorn tree variety.
@@clevingerforestservicesllc1164 gotcha. I am currently in the process of getting into the business and I am trying to research the prices as much as possible so I don't trash the market for myself and others.
Thomas Daugherty Around the country, a skisteer sized forestry mulcher gets between $150-$200 per hour. That's the sweet spot. But there are outliers that charge less and more than that. But it's more important to know your cost to operate for your specific equipment, profit margin, goals, etc. Then know what the market in your area is willing to pay. This is different for every business and location.
Not more houses! We have enough houses built already!
"ASMR, which stands for autonomous sensory meridian response, is
still a relatively new creation. It describes a feeling of euphoric
tingling and relaxation that can come over someone when he or she
watches certain videos or hears certain sounds." (quote from sleep.org)
I had no idea that existed until my teenage daughter pointed out that is why I enjoy videos of machines at work, whether accompanied by engine noise or a good bluegrass melody. I bet you didn't realize you were a therapist as well?
But to this job... On the surface it seems like an easy straight forward engagement. But as I see it's essentially an undeveloped field in what appears to be a residential area, I start thinking about trash, old bicycles, patio furniture, and construction debris hidden in that thick growth. It looks too dense to conduct a thorough pre-walk, so how do you deal with the inevitable foreign objects you might hit? Is a sharp eye and quick joystick hand just something that comes with practice? More importantly how do you estimate on something like this where you are likely to have to stop several times to clear the drum, or move junk out of your way?
That is interesting, because many people who watch these videos do say they are relaxing. Lot's of magic happening, I guess. lol
This area was too thick to do a walk through before clearing it. I relied on the owner to tell me about any hazards hidden in it. He was accurate, thankfully. But I'm always very focused when I mulch. I move at a speed that I can safely see through the brush. I still sometimes still ram into solid objects, and jar the machine and myself. This work is actually pretty mentally draining after a full day, since you stay 100% focused al of the time, to avoid debris, tipping over, watching so no trees damage hydraulic lines, etc, etc
@@clevingerforestservicesllc1164 An informative, educational audiobook might help alleviate the mental stagnancy. Do you listen to music while your operating?
@@nighted7421 I listen to music when I’m on easy jobs, like rehabbing over-grown farm fields. When I do more technical jobs, like on slopes, I stay focused on feeling the machine and being aware of my movements.
@@clevingerforestservicesllc1164 Copy that.
How long did that take and how do u charge?
With this size and density of material (Bradford pear thorn trees 1"-4"dia. and very dense briars), on this terrain, this area was about 3.7 acres and it took me 7.5 hours to clear. Cost $1,250 in my location of Clarksville, TN. I charge by the hour, have an equipment transport charge, and a 4-hour minimum charge. I think charging by the hour is the fairest for the customer, and for my business. For example, this job in the video I estimated would take 11 hours because about 3 acres of it was covered with a dense growth of 15'-20' tall trees. It was also covered with extremely dense briars, so I couldn't get into the trees to determine how big the tree trunks were. And the owner wasn't sure of the acreage, and guessed it was 4-5 acres. So I based my cost estimate on this information. It turned out to be less acreage and smaller diameter trees, so this worked out in the owners favor to pay by the hour, and not a fixed quoted price. That's how I roll.
@@clevingerforestservicesllc1164, i wish more people were fair and upfront with costs like you are.... and passing on savings is a sign of a good man. Good on you sir!
Jacob Fyfe I appreciate that, Jacob. This way of doing things is just good business to me.
I'm considering getting into this business, on average, how many hours a week are you doing mulching jobs?
Well, my business plan and goals may be different than yours, so giving a number of hours may not relate to your plan, desires, or goals at all.
I'm retired from the military, so I have other income. Kids are grown. Not saving for college, etc, etc. Many different variables go into this.
Having said that, I do forestry mulching 'full-time', and for the first 4 months of 2019, I've been billing about 50 hours per month engaged in mulching. I'm a one-man, one-machine operation, so days I'm not mulching, I'm out visiting customers for estimates, doing services on my equipment, buying supplies, talking with realtors, builders, etc. I also buy land on speculation and clear it and develop it, so I do research and property visits for that. And then there is living my life on my terms according to my schedule. So there's that.
Thank you! That does help. I'm retired as well and we're pretty similar in those other aspects too. I enjoy your videos, they're very informative and professional.
Chris DeBord I appreciate you watching, and glad to hear you find them informative. There is a wealth of good business information in the comment sections of each of my videos on my YT channel. People have asked me every business question from A to Z, and I always give detailed answers. So be sure to check those out. It will answer most of your questions I'm sure. Good luck to you, Chris.
Live action ferngully. Ha
Dillon Is that a kids movie??
I read US Forestry Service material, and I was surprised to learn that the US has more land covered today than prior to WWII. Apparently there were tens of thousands of families who did small scale family farming. After WWII, many of these families took advantage of the post-1945 booming economy, and got out of small farming. These farms have since turned back into forest. And I run into this everyday in my business.
Bet you stirred up some critters doin this
Things that I like A few rabbits and snakes scurried away.