Ax Men

[EZ TRBO]

I am sure some of you have seen the previews for the new series on the History Channel, Ax Men. Some of you in the Northwest(USA) might now more about it than any of us, but from what I have read it will be simalar to the Ice Road Truckers Series last year. My only hope is that TH doesn't try to portray it bigger than what it is. I enjoyed the IRT series last year but from talking on other forums to guys who live up there and are actual IRT's themselves say the HC made things seem way more exciting and wild then what they really were. I look forward to this new series which premires in March.

Trbo
http://www.history.com/minisites/axmen

[dirtwhore]

Let me assure you of this. Every minute you spend working under a yarder on a logging job is exiciting. From the time the rigging slinger hits the go-ahead on the Tooter till the time the chokers get back to you is a rush! You got crap flying and crap rolling back down the hill and noise and dust, a guy could go for ever! I spent a summer pulling rigging under a line machine right outta high school. WHAT A RUSH! It was exiciting! Never seen any one get hurt when I was doing it, but it does happen. You have to be on your toes all the time. Never take your eyes off the lines, or the ground your running like hell over to get in the clear. The boys I know that still do it today, I have to take my hat off to em. Some of the most tough and brave S.O.B's i know. Look at it this way. Logging is the second most deadly job in the world, right under crab fishing. I know with all the mechanical logging, and cut to length, and all the other ground based logging shows, that statistic has fell a little. But in high line and chopper loggoing, it is pure exicitment. As with any job, a safety concious crew is the most productive.

[EZ TRBO]

Sounds like it should be a good program, I'm looking forward to it thats for sure.
Trbo

[CascadeScaper]

I know a few diehard loggers, out here there isn't much mechanical harvesting, most of the falling is done by a guy with a saw in hand. The terrain is usually too steep for mechanical harvesting, so it's either chopper logging or high flyin' yarding. I've done some light logging, nothing serious, but I enjoy it. I've always been on the end of the saw, I've even taken down trees on a plot of land we had set aside for us in high school as part of an FFA project. We'd take down bug and disease infested trees and remove them from the plot. It is dangerous as hell though, even as a faller you can get killed way easy and having the tree land on you is the least of your worries. I know a guy that was a choker setter and had a good size tree dropped on him, he shouldn't be alive right now but he is. Dangerous work, but I'd totally go do it, I wouldn't think twice about the danger aspect.

We'll see how the series ends up, I keep seeing the ads on TV. I believe all the footage is shot on the Olympic Peninsula, but I could be wrong. The Peninsula is gnarly territory, steep as hell and wet all the time. That part of WA state is about a 2 hour drive from here.

[iron kid]

its only a hand!!!!!!!!!

[dirtwhore]

All the show was shot in the Northwestern Oregon area. I found it on another web site. An outfit named Stumpbranch Logging is a star in the show. They have a new web site: www.stumpbranchlogging.com I love logging and would still be doing it if it paid as much as what Im doing now. My bro has a little logging outfit and wants me to come and ramrod for him, but he cant make the figures work. Such is life!!
I really cant wait for the show myself. For one, mabey it will make the wacko enviromental nuts see just what it takes for them to have a house, toilet paper, all the paper they use to file junctions on a new logging job, etc, etc. Mabey it will let them see just what they are doing to small towns and the people that make them when they shut down the woods for the sake of saving a rotting, dieing, piece of crap tree that has no purpouse when left standing, then to be a fire hazard!!

[72V]

Sure is a small world... Melvin was my "little brother" in the AGR fraternity at Oregon State.

[Lashlander]

Sure is a small world... Melvin was my "little brother" in the AGR fraternity at Oregon State.

What?:eek: A logger with an education? From all I've read or heard out of the greenie camp it can't be. Are you sure it was him?:confused:

[nedly05]

This is a clip from Melvins bio on his website(www.stumpbranchlogging.com)

At 22, after attending college for Forest Engineering and working for other logging companies, Melvin started Stump-Branch Logging. The company has grown successfully at a steady pace ever since.

Sure sounds like he has an education to me.

[joedirt]

All the show was shot in the Northwestern Oregon area. I found it on another web site. An outfit named Stumpbranch Logging is a star in the show. They have a new web site: www.stumpbranchlogging.com I love logging and would still be doing it if it paid as much as what Im doing now. My bro has a little logging outfit and wants me to come and ramrod for him, but he cant make the figures work. Such is life!!
I really cant wait for the show myself. For one, mabey it will make the wacko enviromental nuts see just what it takes for them to have a house, toilet paper, all the paper they use to file junctions on a new logging job, etc, etc. Mabey it will let them see just what they are doing to small towns and the people that make them when they shut down the woods for the sake of saving a rotting, dieing, piece of crap tree that has no purpouse when left standing, then to be a fire hazard!!

AAAAAAA Men. :notworthy:iagree:scool:thumbsup

[Dirtman2007]

It's on tonight 10pm

[rino1494]

I watched it last night and it was so good, that I couldn't fall asleep. I was up to midnight watching it.

[EZ TRBO]

I watched it last night and it was so good, that I couldn't fall asleep. I was up to midnight watching it.

I thought they did a wonderful job with the first episode. I will be waiting, on another forum to see what the guys who run the Ice Roads thought of it, as alot up there were not very happy with the HC crew last year. It was on two times, watched it both times.
Trbo

[72V]

It was hyped up and overly dramatic as I expected it would be, but not as bad as it could have been. Hopefully it will show that most loggers are hard-working family guys who love the place they work and want their sons and grandsons to have a healthy, productive forest to harvest. I have a feeling that those on the show who are not exactly the "cream" of the logging workforce will make the show entertaining and potentially embarrassing for their employer.

[9420pullpan]

i love seeing how they get logs out of the woods, along with the various techniques. i love the equipment too

[637slayer]

not knowing how logging really goes i learned alot about it last night. those high wires makes their job alot easier, i was impressed.

[roadrunner]

I could not find Axmen on last night.History channel right?I have BellexpresVu and am in Canada, anyone up here see it.Was really looking forward to seeing it!:beatsme:confused:

[637slayer]

go to history channel.com im sure they will repl;ay it all week

[DPete]

I thought it was a good show, I'd like to know how the yellow winch that drags the logs gets a strong enough grip on the cable to drag logs up a steep slope like that

[dirtwhore]

D Pete,
The chokers will bite into the log due to the weight off the log. Then that stupid thing called gravity takes over and it just grabs hold. (Im horrible telling stories by typing!) Ive seen chokers get embeded into the wood so deep before that you cant even get the bells unhooked without picking the log up and dropping it a few times to knock the bell lose, then have to drag the cable tight with the winch to get it loose from the log. You would be surprized at how tight those chokers can get!
Hope that helps a little

[Lashlander]

I may be mistaken but I think your talking about the trolly getting a hold of the highline. There is a cable hooked to the trolly to run it in and out. It just rides on the highline cable. If thats not what you mean I'm confused. Sorry.

[dirtwhore]

Never even thought of that Lashlander. Your right. The main line, or haul back line as I know it pulls the carriage up the hill and gravity takes it back down. The guy with the "bug" or tooter, can stop the carriage with a toot. That will lock the brakes on the car, which are amazingly strong. The brake locks on both sides of the skyline to hold it in place while the rigging slingers set the chokers. A few more toots tighten up the line from the car, a couple more release the brake and three quickies tell the yarder engineer to GO AHEAD ON HER!! Thats when he will hit the haul back lever and get it to the landing. Its been about 10 years since Ive been down in the brush, or working around a yarder, but hearing all the toots on the show got my mind a reeling! I do remember this. Each toot from the bug had a different frequency to control different functions.

[Colin Doy]

I know nothing about logging. It was a bit of an eye opener watching Ax men. I hope History channel keeps it "honest" although I'm sure you guys will point out any "staging." :)

[DPete]

I may be mistaken but I think your talking about the trolly getting a hold of the highline. There is a cable hooked to the trolly to run it in and out. It just rides on the highline cable. If thats not what you mean I'm confused. Sorry.
Ya, that was what I meant, I thought I heard them say it had a motor in it. Does the haul back line also hoist the logs?

[Big Iron]

For those of you lucky enough to have cable and be able to watch this program (I don't have and can't) that are unfamilar with logging, I have some diagrams of the various different high lead logging systems. They should help understand some of the terminolgy used as well as how the systems work. From what I am hearing in this thread it seems that this is a well put together program, its about time someone portrayed loggers as good hard working people:usa, rather than the rapist of the forests.:mad:
I can't figuare out how to insert text between the pictures so I'll do it this way
The first 3 are the high lead system, the live skyline or shotgun system and the running skyline (there is a photo of our Washington 78 using this system combined with a mechanical slack pulling carriage in the mechanical logging thread), these 3 are probably the most typically used today.
The live skyline shows it with a shotgun (non-motorized gravity) carriage, typically today that would be a motorized carriage with 200 + feet of up to 7/8ths" drop line in it. That is the one that will clamp to the skyline to allow the logs to be pulled up to it and then hauled to the landing using the main line.
The photo of the Washington 208 with a 110' tower typically will use the high lead or skyline configuartion (with either a shotgun or motorized carriage) it is a 5 drum machine capable of reaching out 2500'

[Big Iron]

Some more systems

[jim shepard]

Some more systems

great diagram now i understand ,thanks

[biggixxerjim]

i cant stand to watch this show for too long...... just more people making a big deal out of nothing. I love it how some of these guys act in such a predictable, stereotypical way. And the kid Jesse, I might have to kill him......

[dirt digger]

i cant stand to watch this show for too long...... just more people making a big deal out of nothing. I love it how some of these guys act in such a predictable, stereotypical way. And the kid Jesse, I might have to kill him......

i don't know if "killing him" would be the right thing to say...but he seems to be the biggest whiner of the bunch...nothing ever seems to "go right for him"

the other guys are out of hand too...maybe they are trying to be tough on TV but if they ever walked off the job where i work because they didn't like one of the operators it would be their last time working for the company

72V thats pretty cool...my best buddy is an AGR brother down at Del Val in eastern PA

[Buckethead]

Dirtdigger and Bigxxxer Jim I know what you mean. I didn't like the way they were badmouthing the new operator. If they could do it better, why were they not in the seat? Probably just drama added for the show I guess.

[humboldt deere]

I think they dramatize alot for the show but that dang jesse would drive me crazy I think he probably brings the whole crews morale down with his attitude. I'll bet his dad did'nt act that way when he was building the company and things did'nt go perfect. When something dont go right you can't do nothing about it except try to do it right next time. If things consistently go wrong you gotta wonder if your in the right business.:confused:

[John C.]

I've watched a few of the shows and they really don't represent the logging industry very well. They are trying to make it seem more dangerous than a year in Bagdad and how heroic the crews are for going back into the line of fire everyday.

Big Iron, I've never worked as a logger but had to fix lots of logging machines over the years so I just love your diagrams on the different high lead systems. They are complicated on paper and doubly so in the brush. The program shows mostly skycars and I saw one bullet carriage. One episode showed a crew standing around when a skycar broke. The side rod went for another skycar. The reason that struck me as so stupid was that most of the high lead operators I've seen over the years always had something else they could do to keep everyone producing logs. If the terrain was steep enough to use a skycar then why didn't they have a bullet carriage there in case the motor in the skycar blew up. I have also seen butt rigging used many times in the past but it seems to be nonexistant now days.

I think the show would have been better if they had showed as many different types of logging as there are. I've seen no shovel logging done and only one episode showed a couple of shots of skidder logging. The processors are also very interesting but the only thing the producers of the show can focus on is the green horn getting his foot stuck in a pinch while he is bumping knots. Never mind that he shouldn't be working on top of a deck of logs in the first place. Single grip harvestors are also used on tree farms all over the country but there is never a mention that they even exist.

The boss of the high dollar outfit comes across as a timber raper only worried about how much money his people are costing him while the low dollar boss generally looks like a reject from the bum and stumble corps. I have known people in their positions and can say with reasonable certainty that both men are probably fairly sophisticated and knowledgeable about their business, concerned about their people and worried that their industry will be pulled out from under their feet. Unfortunately the show can only focus on the drama of the "dangerous job" and the petty interactions that are normal for anyone working in a tough job.

[dirt digger]

I've watched a few of the shows and they really don't represent the logging industry very well. They are trying to make it seem more dangerous than a year in Bagdad and how heroic the crews are for going back into the line of fire everyday.



thats how they get viewers that don't know any better....i feel that they did the same with Ice Road Truckers and they will probably do the same with that "Tougher in Alaska" show...I mean if they followed us around they would probably do half a show on how dangerous it is to climb the wet steps of a track hoe just to fuel it up at the end of the day...or make a huge deal on how dangerous it is to drop the belly pan on an old 955L...everything is dangerous to someone, you just have to be smart about it

[roadrunner]

John C, I think you should grab a saw and actually go out and fall trees for a day! I know that your ba**s would be dragging on the ground after a full day of cutting and would have a different view of how "non-dangerous" logging is!
The guys on the show are not acting.that is just the way it is and who they are.When your head is on a swivel all day and running on adrenaline you might seem a little diffrent to others also.

[td8]

I have done some logging before and let me tell you it is every bit dangerous as the show makes it out to be.I have known several guys that have been killed in the last few years logging.Everything in the log woods is dangerous from cutting,skidding, loading and unloading trucks.

[DPete]

I wonder what the workmans comp rate is or if there is any insurance co. that will even sell coverage.

[Big Iron]

I wonder what the workmans comp rate is or if there is any insurance co. that will even sell coverage.
when i was logging in the 70's we paid about $11>15.00 per 100.00 in wages for workmens comp ins. it was through the State of OR. i have no idea what it is today, but i can imagine its done the same thing everything else and went up!

[John C.]

When I started my business in 1996 an independant field mechanic paid 3.50 per hour to the state for state industrial insurance. Unless you were an officer of the company they got paid or you didn't work. The logging business at the same time was paying up to eighteen dollars an hour for choker setters depending on the accident history of the company. I too would imagine those rates are much higher today.

The coverage is great if you can afford it.

[dumptrucker]

I think it is around 60 to 70 dollars a hundred for work-comp. I know in NY some areas don't even allow men in the woods , it's all mechanical logging.

[TMTS]

workers comp for logging- for hand felling in NH its closer to $80-100 per $100 of payroll...hence most of us work on our own as owner/operators. Go mechanized (shear/feller-buncher) and the rate drops in half...course you need to get the machine to do it...

[Wolfcsm]

It looks to me like some of the companies are making things far more dangerous than they normally would be. The quote "do what you have to" to make the deadline sounds a lot like "forget the men, forget safety, get the job done". I saw a lot of men with pieces missing, on Mt Hood in Oregon, in the '60s from logging. Sounds today like pride in logging being an inharently dangerous job - at least on Axmen.

Wouldn't OSHA or the Oregon Safety folks be interested in some of the procedures?

Hal

[72V]

I heard recently that several of the outfits featured on "Ax-Men" have been visited by the OSHA man lately.

[PSDF350]

I heard recently that several of the outfits featured on "Ax-Men" have been visited by the OSHA man lately.

I wouldn't be surprised, becuase I know alot of what they were doing shall we say fell a bit outside the osha guidlines. Which is all well and fine, but not on national tv:Pointhead

[JJK]

AX Men is a good show, but some of those guys are just plain idiots!

Did you see where they sent up their "climber" (who knew NOTHING about climbing) and he topped the tree onto the cable line with the winch car and it snapped in 1/2 almost killing a guy?

[AtlasRob]

We finally got the trailers over this side of the pond :drinkup really looking forward to seeing this show.

[OneWelder]

I am watching Ice Road truckers, they roughly drag a genrater set off a trailier, let ist slam into the loader, surprise the next day when their delivering it the fuel tank leaks

[Steve Frazier]

I had to turn it off tonight, it was just too stupid. Rick driving so fast his head is bouncing off the ceiling, the nearly running in to the parked truck. They stuff absorbent material under the leak and claim to have saved the world. If the driver had continued on his route rather than stopping on the ice he'd probably have lost less fuel in the end. I changed the channel at that point.

[dumptrucker]

If it weren't for the stupid *ss Rick, the show might not be half bad. He just gives every blue collar worker in the world a bad name.

[OneWelder]

I agree with both of you. Although I did not turn off ,I came close.
I watch both shows to see the different types of equipment and procedures. Different parts of the country use different styles of equipment. For Example those trailiers are rarity around here - I see detachable lowbeds and Drop deck trailiers, with an occasional hyd. Landol(usally as rigging or fork truck dealer owned).
Instead ended up with a soap opera- with no steamy scenes

[Bellboy]

Ive finally seen both programmes now, and I really love it. As far as I'm concerned, Hugh can be a bit of an *ss, but I suppose, if you got a bad driver, its better to let them go early then cause big accidents later. as for ax men, yoah, that program gets me going! its on tonight, but early, not 10pm, at 7:35pm. Yay!

[tctractors]

In the U.K. we are laughing our pants off at this comic strip crap, in the last series there was only 2 trucks within 10 miles of each other and they manage to crash???plus all this talk of sitting and waiting??? get on with it and stop moaning ,or give another driver a crack, it comes over rather lame here, no traffic jams, no road works, no junctions or round-abouts, 1 road and no map required??? one trip to much ?????

tctractors

[tctractors]

This is Rough Stuff, and things happen fast, A lot going on and great things to look at , A good and interesting program showing tough gangs doing things that could be best described as "Not for ME"

tctractors

[AtlasRob]

This is Rough Stuff, and things happen fast, A lot going on and great things to look at , A good and interesting program showing tough gangs doing things that could be best described as "Not for ME"

tctractors

Sure is different to anything I have ever encountered and I enjoyed both this and Ice Road Truckers.
Neither of which I fancy doing :D

[redlaker1]

I just watched my first episode of ax men last night and found it pretty entertaining. I am not a logger though, but I was a feller on a forest fire crew for 6 years and dropped a tree or two in my day. so I can relate.. but the yarders and stuff is what I find interesting. haywire business thats for sure.

as for ice road truckers, ummmm... trucking on the ice road has its interesting moments, but that is one moment (1 minute) in every 12 hours of bouncing along at painfully slow speed trying not to go completely insane. where I am from we have the real ice roads, not those paved ice freeways they show up in the NWT. around here the guys battle constantly with bad ice conditions, bad road conditions, hills, and every year the season gets shorter it seems. ice road truckers definitely has tried to crank the drama and excitement up way too high, anyone that has trucked on the ice road can tell you that.

the only hope is that some ice road trucker can use the show to impress a girl in a bar somewhere...
"ya baby, I truck on the ice roads, live life on the edge. 200km and 16 hours of pure adrenaline!!"

I'm not trying to ruin it for anyone, I enjoy both shows, IRT more for the laughs.
I can see the appeal though, many times I had tried to explain to people from the south how they drive big rigs on frozen lakes

[OneWelder]

On another forum Jerry Hall posted this http://www.komonews.com/news/local/41239732.html
Seems the state wants their share, and does not like their logs being taken for free with out permits

[AtlasRob]

On another forum Jerry Hall posted this http://www.komonews.com/news/local/41239732.html
Seems the state wants their share, and does not like their logs being taken for free with out permits

Oh man ! :Banghead thats what your 15 minutes of fame can do for you :mad:

At least it seems like a genuine mistake, though they do say ignorance is no excuse. Hope it doesnt work out tooooo expensive for him.

[John C.]

I can't believe anyone would be that dumb to take logs out of the river bed without checking on the applicable laws. Not too many years ago another outfit got busted for taking logs out of Lake Washington which is between Seattle and Bellevue. There was a big stink then and I can't see how anyone in the business wouldn't have known about it.

The proceeds for state timber harvests are designated for public schools. As far as I'm concerned those guys were stealing supplies from our kids.

[AtlasRob]

The proceeds for state timber harvests are designated for public schools. As far as I'm concerned those guys were stealing supplies from our kids.

I understand where your coming from but how long were they going to sit on the river bed ? a month, a year, forever?

[OCR]

On another forum Jerry Hall posted this http://www.komonews.com/news/local/41239732.html
Seems the state wants their share, and does not like their logs being taken for free with out permits

Take a look at the comments section of the above news article... :lmao


OCR... :)

[farmboy555]

That's bulls___ the logs belonged to a private company when they where dumped in the river to start with. You find something in the middle of the road does it automaticly belong to the state. They worked hard to get them out, just like the logger's did years ago to cut the and skid them to the river.:ban

[curly]

Well seeing as his operation looked pretty goofy to begin with (who goes out with a dead motor!) I think he can really claim ignorance. I mean heck, seeing his temper and complete lack of preparation (running out of gas) and the way he is skimming to save money it's a wonder nobody was killed or seriously injured.

[OneWelder]

I am wondering how much tax money this would amount to ? do they figure the tax by Footage or value?

[John C.]

It's not a matter of tax money. Basically the state owns the timber and the logger didn't pay for it in the first place. I don't believe the state is going to accept any less money for that timber than they do for logs on the stump. The cost of going down and getting it makes the business unprofitable. So it stays there.

That's why I say the logger has no concept of the business world. He should have known about all this and gone to the state to make a deal where both entities could have made some money.

If curley's post is correct, then this guy is another flake that gives the logging industry a bad name. I give them an A for idea and effort and an F for execution. Hopefully they don't kill someone with their idea.

The part not stated here is what was the effect of the production company? Was this outfit encouraged in their endeavor because of the amount of money the production company paid them for the right to film? One would have to look at that amount and decide if the production company is culpable in the theft. I would hazard a guess of that money being far more than what they recovered in logs.

[td8]

What it comes down to is that the people that are running our government are a bunch of morons.This guy is just a poor man trying to make a living and the way I see it.He is doing everybody a favor by getting rid of these logs out of the river.But the state wants it both ways they say its their logs but I will bet you if anyone hits one and destroys their boat they will say their not responsible.

[curly]

From what I see, most of the rivers he is in are little more than sloughs. Not really used much.

[Taylortractornu]

I cant stand to watch that show any more. I have seen one episode of American Logger and like it. They show more euipment and alot less BS. I'd probably have to kill Jesse if he talked like that to me. Idont think and of the other workers respect him. I dont then His skycar hit that tree the only tree they left and it hits it. That fit throwing gets me Id probably show up Monday with a box of Midol, some Kotex and maybe a pacifier. That Aqua logger should appreciate his son even helping him. His whole outfit looks like a joke. I mean the barge looks ok Ive got a friend that built his own with a knuckle boom to drive poles for boat houses. His set up wit hthe little out board and the winch that keeps blowing lines and other parts. I cant really think of a way to explain it without ot making him sound like and idiot but the whole way he cusses his son and other help about trying to lasso that an not moving fast enough. He should use the little boat to catch the othe logs that are half floating then tie to the barge.
Im all for the little man prevailing and working with what you have, Belive me theres still folks around her that are hauling logs with 1 ton trucks with tag axles. I saw a preveiw the other day showing him jerking the blade of his little IH dozer up and down mad. And the way he left that hydraulic shop whipping out infront of that other driver thats plain childish. I know logging espesially that type it superdangerous but I still think alot of its put on.
I had an old friend of ours that worked for us at the landfill and he was always in a hurry just like that. He got hurt about 6 times pretty good.
My wife saw it the other night when the winch kept stalling she told me I bet you could fix that. I wished i could help the old fellow out hes got too big of a hydraulic motor for his pump or too much flow. I think hes using a vane pump and a gear motor. He should use an orbit motor and a gear pump. I have mixed feelings on the taxes, I think he should have reseached but Im not sure of the salvage rules there. Its like here The landfill I run is hollow. We dump rubbish mostly wood product. Icant dump the same thing on my land all I want to but if I take payment to let folks dump I can get fined and have to clean it up. I missed this episode I may try to watch it next week with the other.

[woodchuck2]

IMO the show is getting too much drama. If i wanted to watch drama i would watch the soaps with the wife, at those shows have hot women on them.

That aqua logger is a hammerhead, he is a walking accident right there. Some of those logs he could have pulled without a boat and that money could have been spent on far better equipment than what he is using. All he does is run around screaming, his equipment sucks and he is very unorganized. He has quite an opportunity to make money but man is he fouling it up. As far as the state goes i would tell them to pound it. I could see him needing a permit to log on the waterway but not for each log individually. The state will make their money after he sells his product, they should be happy that he is cleaning up the waterways and in a sense is recycling.

[Timark80]

Just curious,why do they(ax men)wear suspenders?

[Wolf]

And then why do firemen wear suspenders? (There is a reason.)

[John C.]

Belts are tough enough that if you ever get snagged by the choker or a main line you will get thrown plenty far enough to get killed. Suspenders will just rip off. You also have to cut of your pants about mid calf. You take the seam out for the broken limbs you step over when dancing on the downed trees. Then you fray out the legs so they will rip when the broken limb goes up your leg anyway.

Its a tough business.

[d-oh]

some of the equipment they show on the show are really interesting. they're gigantic!

[334 lawn co]

And then why do firemen wear suspenders? (There is a reason.)

i told you earlier- now lets see if anyone else can get it right....

[D5G]

turnouts are too heavy without them

[d-oh]

i told you earlier- now lets see if anyone else can get it right....

because you couldn't pay the suspenders enough to wear the firemen. they smell.

[HEO Girl]

*** (sigh I'm sad non of my smilies work anymore :( boo for HEF's new profanity filter) I felt bad for the boy with his dad screamin at him like that. . . There was no need for it he was trying his hardest especially if he had never done it before. It should be about teaching him stuff. If that was my dad I woulda just walked off, I wouldn't take his crap especially if he was telling me I wasn't doing it fast enough or w/e. When you start yellin at me for crap I can't help I'd tell you to take a hike. I think that's what the boy shoulda done . . even parents can learn from their kids.

[Partsdude]

This show is like an accident. I just have to watch ... :confused:

I like to see some of the equipment they are using, but I cannot stand the theatrics, which I know they are only doing because of the camera.

[334 lawn co]

turnouts are too heavy without them

BINGO!:usa

[EZ TRBO]

What it comes down to is that the people that are running our government are a bunch of morons.This guy is just a poor man trying to make a living and the way I see it.He is doing everybody a favor by getting rid of these logs out of the river.But the state wants it both ways they say its their logs but I will bet you if anyone hits one and destroys their boat they will say their not responsible.


Not arguing with you but I've been following this issue quite a bit on the Arborist site and the guys from around the area say that the timber industry plays second fiddle to the fishing industry and ANYTHING being done in the water needs to be permited and such. The guy has no sense and his body is about 5 steps ahead of his brain at all times. Nice thing bout DVR, I can skip past his parts which I do quite often.

Trbo

[td8]

Not arguing with you but I've been following this issue quite a bit on the Arborist site and the guys from around the area say that the timber industry plays second fiddle to the fishing industry and ANYTHING being done in the water needs to be permited and such. The guy has no sense and his body is about 5 steps ahead of his brain at all times. Nice thing bout DVR, I can skip past his parts which I do quite often.

Trbo



I agree with you that the guy is a idiot and I don't like watching him either.But what gets me is that the government wants their hand in everything going.And people wonder why jobs are moving overseas.

[Monte1255]

Maybe this is a little bit late to join the conversation, but I watched both seasons of Ax men from start to finish, Good guys all of them, I learned a lot from how the mountain loggers do it, and even came away with some good ideas to apply to my own business. I guess the only thing I noticed and it seemed was quite prevelent is the tempers. Scary thought as to what a bad temper can to to you in the wrong situation. Know what I mean?:usa

[AtlasRob]

Maybe this is a little bit late to join the conversation.

Dont worry too much about that, we only just got series 2 over here and I'm just getting to see what all the comments refer to.

[thejdman04]

Looks like another season of ax men is coming back on, looks like they got a new aqua logger too.

[Autocar]

Personally I like Jimmy, after watching him work with that junk he has . I fell pretty good when I climb into my equipment :D

[DoosanFan]

Seen both Ax Men and Ice Road Truckers, both cool programs, but honestly, way over-dramatized, don't you think? I mean come on. Its a dangerous job, granted, but they act like it is a war-zone as someone mentioned earlier. And the focus on that Brad Hewitt guy quitting? Like whats that all about? "I don't respect"? Get a life.

To be honest, I started watching for the equipment, but the behaviour and overall demeanour of the so-called 'Ax Men' ruined it for me.

[Wolf]

great show all around.

[Heavyduty]

Yeap, ready for the new season. I read something about one of the crew of a crab boat on Deadlist Catch was robbing banks in between fishing trips. Maybe the Dicovery's Channel pay is a little low?:beatsme

[AtlasRob]

I read something about one of the crew of a crab boat on Deadlist Catch was robbing banks in between fishing trips.

You think maybe somebody watching the fishing thought ........ Hey.....I know that guy....... then remembered last time he saw him he was dressed in a ski mask instead of wadders :tong

[Heavyduty]

No, the dumbarss just walked in and robbed the place with no mask, just a ballcap. It's like he was out in the parking lot and decided he would rob a bank today.:Pointhead

[AtlasRob]

...... It's like he was out in the parking lot and decided he would rob a bank today.:Pointhead

I saw the program a few times while staying at a mates house, I'm not into sea and/or fishing but he loves it.

I came to the conclusion that a person had to be slightly unhinged to do that job. Maybe he could plead that in mitigation. :)

[Heavyduty]

You have to be able to stay up days on end with very little sleep. I know between the caffine and whatever else that is used to stay up has to take a toll on someone. They earn the money for sure. :drinkup

[Steve Frazier]

I watched an episode tonight and some fool hired Jimmy to work for him??? What was he thinking??

[PSDF350]

I watched an episode tonight and some fool hired Jimmy to work for him??? What was he thinking??

I was thinking the same thing:Pointhead

[bd797]

That guy is just an accident waiting to happen. Its a wonder how he has survived up till now. He tries to take too many shortcuts. Eventually thats going to bite him in the arse. I like to see him on the show though. Its the comical portion. Makes me laugh every time they screw up.

[PSDF350]

That guy is just an accident waiting to happen. Its a wonder how he has survived up till now. He tries to take too many shortcuts. Eventually thats going to bite him in the arse. I like to see him on the show though. Its the comical portion. Makes me laugh every time they screw up.

He is comicail to a point, then his ignorance just bugs me. I did like the guy that towed him comment (what the f@@@@ wrong with you):D I meen what kind of idiot tries to take a 3500 mile one way road trip with a truck thats falling apart.:beatsme

[qball]

i am an equipment geek, as i would guess most of you are. i would love the show without all the dumb drama and b.s. and way more iron shots.

[Monte1255]

Agreed! we get enough drama every month when we pay our bills!!! More iron, Please! lets see the inner workings of those yarders and some saw action not just fleeting glimpses of the every day tools. I absolutely hate it when they flash past a good section of "how to" get down to the nitty gritty Hollywierd!! And for once when they slip a track lets see them put it on from start to finish.:drinkup:drinkup
:usa

[Iron Art]

Ax Men is OK but I kinda like the Swamp loggers. Fred

[Steve Frazier]

I was shaking my head from the moment Jimmy showed up on this episode. Without any trip prep he jumps in a 20 year old truck and down the road he goes to drive to Florida. No sooner does the narrator mention there could be problems do we hear Jimmy yell "I'm losing power!!" So Jimmy pulls over and the first thing he does??? Check the brake fluid reservoir!! If you doubted before that Jimmy had any clue of mechanical workings it should be removed by now.

One thing I haven't been able to figure out, if these logs Jimmy and that other guy are pulling out are so valuable, why is their equipment still junk??

[53cummins]

that is exactly what i was thinkin steve.... i mean its not like he could have much overhead when his sawmill is a chain saw and his "barge" has a 5 horse 2 stroke :Pointhead:Banghead

[Autocar]

I will bet you a dollar to a donut the the Discovery Channel paid everything so Jimmy could be on the show. Everyone talks about Jimmy so we go back every week to see what kind of stunt there do next keeping the rattings high. Now Bobby Goodson he's the real thing ! Looks like a great guy to work for,just my two cents. ;)

[Iron Art]

I agree, Bobby Goodson of swamp loggers is the real thing. Fred

[gasfield315c]

amen, i watch swamp loggers every week, even the rerun from the week before that comes on before the new episode. But i like axe men too, i want to see who is gonna get the new greenhorn position at ryggard

[Justin]

Did anyone watch moder marvels after axmen on wed. it was great for all the logging histrory and equipment it showed. Kind of had a greenie undertone though

[ben2helinback]

This Show is a Joke, and in no way portrays the industry for what it is really like !!!

Too much Manufactured Drama, which is obvious from the beginning. Look closely....
.... ever wonder how/why the camera men always seem to be in the perfect spot to catch the action then cut to a different angle to put the scene together. I guarantee that everything that makes it past the cutting room floor is scripted.

I would much rather watch this show if they would cut the b.s. and just film the guys while they work so that we could see it from the loggers perspective rather than from the director of photography's perspective. "Reality T.V." My Ass !!! Too much "T.V."
And not enough "Reality" if you ask me. I have no interest for scripted shows that are being portrayed as "Reality" . This should not be on the History Channel but instead should be on A&E where it belongs. The History channel is starting to lose me (Once my Favorite) but I'm finding myself watching the National Geographic Channel more and more !!! Just my 2 Cents

[barklee]

I agree, watched this from the first episode and its getting out of hand. They used to show what its like for these guys day to day and how they really adapt and get things done. Now its all about egos.
I was wathcing a rerun the other night and it made me sick. It was where the younger Rygard owner went nuts on the greenhorns for safety gear. He made his point but couldnt just stop there. He absolutley humiliated those guys and ultimatley himself. I have never seen a grown man in his position talk to anybody like that and not end up missing some teeth. It was on and on, at one point i thought the guy was going to cry. The dude needs to leave the acting to the ACTORS!!! What a baby, grow up pal

[Mack185]

This Show is a Joke, and in no way portrays the industry for what it is really like !!!

Too much Manufactured Drama, which is obvious from the beginning. Look closely....
.... ever wonder how/why the camera men always seem to be in the perfect spot to catch the action then cut to a different angle to put the scene together. I guarantee that everything that makes it past the cutting room floor is scripted.

I would much rather watch this show if they would cut the b.s. and just film the guys while they work so that we could see it from the loggers perspective rather than from the director of photography's perspective. "Reality T.V." My Ass !!! Too much "T.V."
And not enough "Reality" if you ask me. I have no interest for scripted shows that are being portrayed as "Reality" . This should not be on the History Channel but instead should be on A&E where it belongs. The History channel is starting to lose me (Once my Favorite) but I'm finding myself watching the National Geographic Channel more and more !!! Just my 2 Cents

I'm no logger but I do agree that the show sucks. Swamp loggers and American loggers put it to shame in my opinion.

[Heavyduty]

I agree, watched this from the first episode and its getting out of hand. They used to show what its like for these guys day to day and how they really adapt and get things done. Now its all about egos.
I was wathcing a rerun the other night and it made me sick. It was where the younger Rygard owner went nuts on the greenhorns for safety gear. He made his point but couldnt just stop there. He absolutley humiliated those guys and ultimatley himself. I have never seen a grown man in his position talk to anybody like that and not end up missing some teeth. It was on and on, at one point i thought the guy was going to cry. The dude needs to leave the acting to the ACTORS!!! What a baby, grow up pal

The first season was pretty good. Now, its all about the ratings and drama.:bash

[ben2helinback]

..... Now, its all about the ratings and drama.:bash

All shows are about the ratings....

....I just wish they would leave out the Scripted drama:(

It's Phony and it detracts from the shows credibility.

[LonestarCobra]

All shows are about the ratings....

....I just wish they would leave out the Scripted drama:(

It's Phony and it detracts from the shows credibility.

I figured that. I never have logged, but that show "Black Gold" was so far off scale of what a drilling rig is really about that I couldnt watch it for five minutes before changing channels.

[Contract Logger]

Not sure if anyone cares, but heres the original (1971) sales brochure for the yarder Gabe Rygaard is using. Old and slow.

[sandnsnow]

Contract logger keep up the good work. I really enjoy seeing all the equipment picts. Reminds me of when I was a kid growing up in Northern Cal. and watching some of that equipment work. Now that im in North Idaho I have to use some of it.:eek:

I like ax men but swamp loggers has to be the best of them all. I can releate to them, where there is too much drama in ax men. American loggers is a good show in small doses. Just my two cents.

[EGS]

Not sure if anyone cares.


I sure do!:D

[Taylortractornu]

I met a logger one time that was logging a job I worked on. He had a wad of scrs on his chest. I asked what happened, He told me never cuss a man with a chainsaw in his hands lol.

Contract what was the bas tractor for the yarder you pictured. Is it a Terex? I thought it may have been an AC but the final drives throw it off.

[QuickTrax]

All shows are about the ratings....

....I just wish they would leave out the Scripted drama:(

It's Phony and it detracts from the shows credibility.

I have been watching Axmen since the first episode. I haven't watched every episode but probably 90% of them. In the beginning it seemed it was real situations and recently it has become a joke. I hate to see them ruin a good show by scripting different shinanigans into it. I have lost respect for Gabe Rygaard because of the way he treats his greenhorns. Greenhorns are going to make mistakes and they have to learn from them. No one is going to know everything starting off. One way not to teach them is by cussing at them and treating them the way he does. I think he is a pathetic excuse for a boss. I would never talk to an employee the way he talks to his. I feel like he has probably rode his Dads coat tails to even get in his position. I am not even going to comment on Jimmy and his aqua logging. I think JM Browning has a descent company and he seems to be a better person to work for.
All of you boys who want to see a real company needs to change channels and watch Goodsons All Terrain Logging. Now thats a good crew and a good boss. All of the "So called" Axmen need to watch Bobby Goodson and take some notes!!!
Thanks for letting me share.
Quicktrax

[Contract Logger]

I met a logger one time that was logging a job I worked on. He had a wad of scrs on his chest. I asked what happened, He told me never cuss a man with a chainsaw in his hands lol.

Contract what was the bas tractor for the yarder you pictured. Is it a Terex? I thought it may have been an AC but the final drives throw it off.

Euclid C6's, then Terex 82-30's. Got around a heck of alot better than the tank bottomed machines.

[coopers]

I was just recently found American Loggers and I find the differences in logging very interesting. Very cool show.

[JoeinTX]

I would never talk to an employee the way he talks to his. I feel like he has probably rode his Dads coat tails to even get in his position. I am not even going to comment on Jimmy and his aqua logging. I think JM Browning has a descent company and he seems to be a better person to work for.

Pretty much agree with the consensus here. First season was interesting. Since...........scripted hi-jinks and BS. The aqua loggers, sheez, sometimes it hard to tell who the father is and who the son is. Jimmy needs his arse kicked up between his shoulder blades for being an abject moron about 75% of the time. Dangerous, Mickey Mouse-operation he has going on there.

Watch Swamp Loggers and American Loggers and they are refreshingly realistic and un-manufactured in comparison. As LoneStar mentioned above, if you've watched "Black Gold" don't buy too much into it...........a WHOLE LOT of faked-up high school drama and ridiculous baloney in that one too.

[DigDug]

I was just recently found American Loggers and I find the differences in logging very interesting. Very cool show.

Ha. I find it interesting to see how you guys do it out on the west coast. My family is in the logging business here and I have never seen any of those yarder rigs until a year ago watching Ax Men. They are pretty cool. doug

[tonka]

'Ax Men' star's daughter mauled to death by dog

by Associated Press

Posted on March 1, 2010 at 1:36 PM
******

ASTORIA, Ore. - Oregon authorities say the 4-year-old daughter of a reality TV show star was mauled to death by the family's Rottweiler.

Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin says Ashlynn Anderson's mother found her badly injured on their lawn in Astoria on Sunday. Ashlynn is the daughter of Jesse Browning, who stars with his father on The History Channel's show about the logging industry called "Ax Men."

She was flown to a Portland hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.

The attack happened four years (TV says months) to the day after officers had taken a Rottweiler from the same home after it bit an adult family member. The two Rottweilers at the Browning home have been quarantined.

Another sad dose of real life has hit the family of a reality TV star.

The 4-year-old daughter of Ax Men slinger Jesse Browning has been mauled to death by the family's Rottweiler.

Ashlynn Anderson's body was discovered by her mother outside on the lawn Sunday, according to officials in Astoria, Ore., where the family resides.

"Apparently, the dog just snapped," says Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin. "We have detectives working on investigating [what set the dog off]...We are going to give the family a day or two to grieve before we interview them."

Browning called 911 and the girl was airlifted to a Portland hospital, but pronounced dead on arrival.

There was no immediate comment from the History Channel, which airs the popular lumberjack series.

Bergin says the attack came four months to the day after deputies removed a Rottweiler from the premises after it attacked an adult family member; that animal was euthanized. The Brownings' two other Rottweilers have been quarantined at a shelter and are awaiting their fate.

"It's from my understanding...only one of the dogs was involved in the attack but both dogs were seized by animal control services," said Alan Oja, assistant chief of the Astoria Police Department, which received the initial dispatch.

"It's a terrible tragedy."

(Originally published March, 1, 2010, at 2:18 p.m. PT)
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/deta...#ixzz0gzNy9ze2

***


Another sad dose of real life has hit the family of a reality TV star.

The 4-year-old daughter of Ax Men slinger Jesse Browning has been mauled to death by the family's Rottweiler.

Ashlynn Anderson's body was discovered by her mother outside on the lawn Sunday, according to officials in Astoria, Ore., where the family resides.

"Apparently, the dog just snapped," says Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin. "We have detectives working on investigating [what set the dog off]...We are going to give the family a day or two to grieve before we interview them."

Browning called 911 and the girl was airlifted to a Portland hospital, but pronounced dead on arrival.

There was no immediate comment from the History Channel, which airs the popular lumberjack series.

Bergin says the attack came four months to the day after deputies removed a Rottweiler from the premises after it attacked an adult family member; that animal was euthanized. The Brownings' two other Rottweilers have been quarantined at a shelter and are awaiting their fate.

"It's from my understanding...only one of the dogs was involved in the attack but both dogs were seized by animal control services," said Alan Oja, assistant chief of the Astoria Police Department, which received the initial dispatch.

"It's a terrible tragedy."

(Originally published March, 1, 2010, at 2:18 p.m. PT)


http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/deta...#ixzz0gzNy9ze2

[rino1494]

Man, that is really sad. Thoughts and prayers go out to their family.

[thejdman04]

I feel for the family in the dog incident. After watching the first season of ax men, I had a lot of respect for jay browning, how he didn't accept any disability money etc from his employer when the hand mishap happened etc. Now however after the recent "shooting of the phone" on the last episode and him allowing them to drum up his bee stinging for 3 weeks on the show, I have lost a lot of respect for him. To me something that has to do with you health shouldn't be dramatized. Rygard, that is a whole other story, gabe said the green horn had no work ethic, was disrespectful to his company etc and yet he was still at his house begging him to come to work. I realize he spent time and money training him, but if you truly think someone is disrespectful and has no work ethic why would you beg him to come back to work.

[EGS]

I feel for the family in the dog incident. After watching the first season of ax men, I had a lot of respect for jay browning, how he didn't accept any disability money etc from his employer when the hand mishap happened etc. Now however after the recent "shooting of the phone" on the last episode and him allowing them to drum up his bee stinging for 3 weeks on the show, I have lost a lot of respect for him. To me something that has to do with you health shouldn't be dramatized. Rygard, that is a whole other story, gabe said the green horn had no work ethic, was disrespectful to his company etc and yet he was still at his house begging him to come to work. I realize he spent time and money training him, but if you truly think someone is disrespectful and has no work ethic why would you beg him to come back to work.


Not saying that I disagree but remember that it is made in Hollywood. I would be willing to bet that if you where there in real life it would be a lot different. I think most of that is edited to look that way.

[KW318]

Very sad about the little girl.

The show has become unbearable to watch.

[excav8r]

i'm not sure they are even bothering to air it in canada

[EGS]

Check the Browning website there is a letter up about the dog attack.

[tonka]

Jay's Letter Regarding Ashlynn:
Ashlynn

I am sure many people that see us on TV think we are nothing but hotheads. Our work can test your temper, it’s stressful. Home life is way different. Do some people really think we would train our dogs to attack people or even kids?

I gave up hunting because I did not enjoy killing a beautiful animal like elk or deer. I love animals, especially dogs. Jess and Jared grew up around German Shepards. We always had one or two extra large dogs, most were black and tan, intimidating to look at. Now after this tragedy, could this same thing have happened to our family with the boys or their friends?

Our dogs were never fenced in. We lived in the country and they never left the property. They instinctively guarded our home and watched over the boys when they were playing or walking in the woods. One dog in particular would walk the boys to the school bus in the morning and head for the school bus stop 10 minutes before the bus arrived in the afternoon to safely walk them home. After the boys would go in the house, the dog would lay down in front of the door outside and keep watch. We never trained him to do this. I trusted the dog with their young lives. An attack such as this never entered my mind. What in the world could trigger this sort of thing?

Jess and Dette’s dogs are kept in a huge fenced in yard, the fence being at lease five feet tall. Ashynn was in the front yard, the dogs in the back. The female has never gotten over the fence. I don’t know how it could, but it did. I have pet these dogs many times with no hesitation, they were so friendly. A large male they had was put down four months ago after he was aggressive with a family member. These dogs were the family pets. They were kept in a fenced back yard. Anytime kids were near the dogs, so were Jess and Dette, always watching. This was very freak and we will never understand. In some way I hope families with pets can learn from this. I pray no family will ever have to go through this horrible experience.

Ashynn Dawn Anderson was the love of all her huge family, the daughter of loving father Ryan Anderson and his girlfriend Katie her other mommy and brother Patrick, loving mother Dette Parker Browning and Jesse her other daddy and sister to Jaycie. There are many families grieving this tragic loss Andersons, Wings, Parkers, Brownings and a huge family of friends. She touched all our hearts.

People need to stop with the cruel statements. You do not know the circumstances, you assume. To look at these young parents and the pain in their eyes, hurts us all so bad. All our families have such empty feelings in our hearts that will be with us forever.

Ashlynn was such a precious angel and will not allow me to fight back with a nasty letter. I thank the many people for their thoughts and prayers as we try to prepare for the impossible task of laying her to rest. Please stop the remarks while we cry, remember and occasionally laugh at the many things she did that melted our hearts.

Cherish your moments with your children, grandchildren and parents. That’s the way Ashlynn would have wanted it. I hope it is not your last.

Jay Browning