Logging, timber production

[Dig-UP]

New forum? is there any interest in the field here? Anybody ever hear of FABTEK?

[Countryboy]

Welcome to Heavy Equipment Forums Dig-UP! :drinkup

[DirectTech]

Yes I have they were based off of john deere forestry equipment.

[Dig-UP]

Yes I have they were based off of john deere forestry equipment.

Close, they were sold next to john deere equipment, but we manufactured them. Fabtek was owned and operated privately, and currently have the most heads working today. There are more Fabtek heads than any other kind... Fabtek was sold to blount, which was recently sold to Cat. You can see that the Fabtek design was superior to all others, simply by going to Caterpillar dot com, and seeing that forwarders, track harvesters, and wheel harvesters are the exact same as when we were making them, except they have cat engines now, not deere.

[John C.]

I would like to see a logging forum but would wonder how many loggers would used it.

As for the Fabtek brand of logging machinery in the Northwest from my experience they are a very marginal brand. Technology and initial cost seems to be what churns the brands and no one has a lock on the market. Common brands of dangle head processors include Quadco, Pierce Pacific, Waratah and Keto. Common stroke delimbers are usually Denarco which has been purchased by Pierce Pacific. In feller buncher heads the Koehring Waterous has been the most common I've seen but there have been a few others.

Caterpillar dealers sell the Timberking brand of logging equipment and the units I have looked at were all Cat componentry, including the electronics for the base machine. The feller buncher machine is well thought of but not very common because of the initial purchase price. I don't know where Cat is heading in their purchase of the Blount line but their regular logging product does not seem to carry the same commitment to the industry that it has in years past. It is very expensive compared to other manufacturers. Madill and Link-Belt are very strong in the Northwest and offer machines for many thousands of dollars less than the comparable Cats.

There is no other industry that has been as adversly impacted by environmental regulation, declining markets and tight profits. At the same time I know of no other industry that has driven technology so hard and fast. The latest and greatest today will be technologically obsolete in three years or less. The hot manufacturer of two years ago may have already been thrown on the scrap heap or their assets purchased by someone else for another two to five year run.

[DirtHauler]

I would love to see a forum for Forestry Equipment! (thou I have never worked in forestry) I would like to learn about some of the specialized equipment they have. Never know maybe someday one of us will find a really neat application for one of those machines in a different application.

[PSDF350]

http://forestryforum.com/ Great site dealing with the forest interest.

[Steve Frazier]

We are willing to add a forestry section here, I never considered the connection between forestry equipment and heavy equipment, many are built by the same manufacturers. I'm not that familiar with the popularity of the machinery, but it would seem that a skidder would be most popular, and I know that feller/bunchers and forwarders are becoming more popular.

Would a general Forestry forum cover the bases or should there be a breakdown of particular types of machinery? Keep in mind there is a potential for growth of this forum in the future.

[nedly05]

I am all for it, I think it would be a great addition, there is a site for arborists that focuses mainly on tree work, but they also have a "logging" category, I belong to that one too. The address is www.arboristsite.com there is a wealth of information over there too. I hope we can add a logging category of our own!

[PSDF350]

Can't hurt to add it Steve.

Nedly I am a member of arborsite, but haven't been there in a year. There is some good info there but also alot of crap and egos over there. Always found the forestry forum to be better. Plenty of info without the ego tripping.

[Dig-UP]

Would a general Forestry forum cover the bases or should there be a breakdown of particular types of machinery? Keep in mind there is a potential for growth of this forum in the future.


I think a general forum would be a great start... If it takes off, break it up... Thanks for taking notice/interest.

[Steve Frazier]

The thing is it's quite a bit of work to move things around once we decide we need some division. I'd like to have a forum to post general work topics and perhaps two or three dedicated to the most popular types of machine. Then a section for the remaining machines.

Where I need help is the suggestions of which machines are worthy of their own forum. I'd like to plan ahead a bit and save the administrators a little work down the road. Thanks!!

[Dig-UP]

Cut To Length (CTL) -Harvesters, Processors, Forwarders, Log Trucks.

Full Tree Logging- Feller Bunchers, Skidders, Slashers, Boom Loaders, etc.

Other- (any ideas for better title than other?) Chainsaws, Cable logging, Sawmills, etc.

Just a couple of ideas.

[John C.]

I wouldn't spend a whole lot of time making different categories for the logging market. Basically most of the people in logging do it and don't talk about it. Dollars are in short supply in that industry and someone with new methods or better operating machines don't like to give out ideas that might boost their competition.

You might just make one category and let it prove itself by the traffic. I think the thread titles would generally hit the search engines which seems to be the most effective means of bringing in traffic.

Just a thought.

[Jeff D.]

I'd also be interested in seeing some logging equipment here too, not that I know anything about logging, but I've still alittle room left in my coconut for new stuff, and them skidders are kinda cool IMO.:drinkup

Steve, I'd previously mentioned an Ag forum too, and you seemed possibly interested, but no-one else 'cept Orchard Ex responded.

Even a one section "Ag Equipment" would suffice, I'd think, if you were to try it?:beatsme I'd like to see and learn the old farm tractors, Steiger's, etc.

Could we put it to a vote, like in a poll, a "yes" or "no" to a logging section, an Ag section, both, neither??

[PSDF350]

Jeff heres a few for you.

[PSDF350]

Dont like other. I would either just have one size fits all logging forum or sub forums of conventional, cut to lenght, tree lenght, and landclearing.

[Jeff D.]

Jeff heres a few for you.Thanks man!! I'd ask you for some info on them pics and more, but maybe will wait till we find out if we're gonna get a special place for them pics.

I'd hate to get started in a thread hi-jack in someone elses thread like I did one other time...............er, maybe it was twice before.:wink2

[PSDF350]

Ok will wait. By the way it was 3 times.




























































No wait maybe 4.

[joedirt]

Nice Pics PSDF350. Nothing like the sound of an old 518 working side by side a Feller. I get fired up every time we have a clearing job and I get to run my saw.

We had been building some logging roads for some loggers about 6 months ago. They were great to work with. A smaller operation with one JD Track Feller, one JD Dangle Head Delimber, one JD skidder and one monster track Log Loader ( I posted some pics of it on our 9 axle) Unfortunately, with the housing crunch they were shut down over night. I believe most all of their wood was bing sold to a pallet mill. I am going to miss those guys.... Joe

[Countryboy]

Jeff, here's some pictures of Jawja logging for ya. Take notice of the schoolbus/lube truck. :D

PSDF350, do yall use many tracked machines up there. Down here, tracked machines aren't used that much. Most machines have wheels. I'm not really sure why but thats the way it is. Different terrain maybe? :beatsme

10483

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10485

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[PSDF350]

CB no mostly it is one guy in the woods with a saw and cable skidder, But then there are the tree lenght loggers, and like in pic (not mine guy I was subbing for) cut to lenght. Which isn't as commen. Probably because of the hardwood. But from what I understand in your neck of the woods pulp is big industry there. So you guys run the feller bunchers and grapple skidders. Mid west is big on the cut to lenght.

[Dig-UP]

http://forestpro.cat.com/cda/files/335460/7/CAT%20550%20Wheel%20Havester%20

link to sales brochure for Caterpillar 550 cut to length 6 wheel harvester. Used to be called FABTEK 663.

link is to a PDF

[nedly05]

PSD, I checked out the forestry forum, has a whole different feel to it then that other forums, so I joined, been spending some time there! Thanks!

[nedly05]

Here's a pic of last winters logging operation, looking forward to cutting this winter, but we've been too busy plowing...getting a little antsy to here my 575XP and 353 roaring...:D

[PSDF350]

PSD, I checked out the forestry forum, has a whole different feel to it then that other forums, so I joined, been spending some time there! Thanks!

Good people there and they wont put up with the bs that goes on at the other place.

[digger242j]

Take notice of the schoolbus/lube truck.

CB, did they make you lube the equipment on the way to school, on the way home, or during recess? :D

[nedly05]

CB, did they make you lube the equipment on the way to school, on the way home, or during recess? :D

:falldownlaugh

[72V]

Jeff, here's some pictures of Jawja logging for ya. Take notice of the schoolbus/lube truck. :D


So.... there is some truth to the stories I hear about the south! :D Have to give that logger an "A" for improvising, for sure.

There used to be old short buses used for crummies here, mostly in days gone by. It was common for there to be a small stove in the back of the bus for the cold, wet rigging crew on the trip home.

[Countryboy]

But from what I understand in your neck of the woods pulp is big industry there. So you guys run the feller bunchers and grapple skidders.

I think you're about right on that. I've seen plenty of logging in my life but have never been in the business so I know little of how it all works. I do know we do alot of pulp wood down here so what you said makes sense.

CB, did they make you lube the equipment on the way to school, on the way home, or during recess? :D

My mommy took me to school ***. She was a teacher, remember.....10th grade English. That's why I'm such a good speller. :cool:

So.... there is some truth to the stories I hear about the south! :D Have to give that logger an "A" for improvising, for sure.

You' see alot of that down here. Not too much goes to waste, just gets a new life as something different. :drinkup

[Dig-UP]

I don't want this thread to die, it seems there seems to be some legitimate interest in the field here. Steve: how bout that new forum??? :stirthepot

[atgreene]

I like the idea. I've logged off and on my entire life. I do some small scale logging now for some of my customers.

I run a Farmi winch on my Kubota 4150 and occationally we run our Bellsaw Sawmill and the Chase Shinglemill.

[stuvecorp]

I wouldn't mind more logging stuff, never logged myself but find the equipment really interesting. I think it would be enjoyable but everyone has always said it is nearly impossible to get in to and make money doing it.