I've been threatening to build a log arch for use with a GT or ATV in my very small firewood operation for quite some time. Well, it is ready for its first trial, so, here is a picture heavy build from rusty parts to primed and near ready.
My ideas were further advanced when I found this already re-purposed Concrete Trowel Machine trailer while helping my Dad prepare to sell the old homestead and all contents.
As Number 1 Son, I scooped this up at a great price: Free. If you are like me, you can see the potential, there are wheels, there is an arch, there is a tongue. Oh, yea, and there is a piece of plywood wired to the center structure for moving who knows what around the place. And, of course the arch and wheels are not at the proper angle.
Not obvious in this picture, but the wheel axles are stout, and easily removed to replace those brittle, cracked tires.
Fast forward to a rainy day discussion in the mountain cabin last Deer season with a good friend and recently retired professional welder. Turns out he is building an OWB and will need a steady supply of firewood. I need some fab and welding skills. He does nothing half-fast. And before New Year I had a cad design proposal. And, since we hadn't yet fixed a loads of firewood to fab/welding exchange rate, his design did not rely on much of my treasure find. Anyway, he collected a pile of stuff to begin:
Note, he too has an ever alert security officer guarding the entrance to his shop.
Both of us have many projects in progress at any given time, so calendar time extends well beyond power-on time for the welder. But, I'm not in a hurry. A couple progress shots from the shop: First squaring up the arch:
And, cleaning up the frame structure:
Clamped, tacked, and welding the arch and frame.
Note the beginnings of the OWB there behind the table. Please disregard any appearance that everything is not properly stowed in a refined search/retrieval system that makes this an ISO 9002 work shop.
In the build process, an obvious design improvement was adopted to set the wheels inside the frame making them less susceptible to snagging on roots, rocks, and other trees when snaking through the woods.
Unfortunately, my friend has suggested that if I want an "as-built" set of CAD plans, it will be another load of wood. Hmmm.
This new design is facilitated by a threaded axle end:
More welding as this thing is taking shape nicely:
Welding completed, time for some primer:
Assembly of hardware and wheels:
Note: Security is still on guard. We've lost no production hours due to wild animal attack at either shop. A record both pups are pretty proud of.
And ready for transport back to my shop where I'll clean up the wheels, and replace the tires.
Of course, the cutting season is practically over due to temperatures, undergrowth, bugs, and other property maintenance priorities. But, I have a nice big Sassafras log just waiting to be drug around the test track in my woods. I'll get some pictures, and videographer willing, a video of this in action as soon as possible.
In the interim, we've arrived at a proper exchange rate:
For the Welding:
And for the Steel:
Fair trade, I've got plenty of Red Oak, he has a garage full of welding tools and supplies. I probably have more hours in my stacks, he has more dollars invested in his tools.
Finally, today, I had time to move the Custom Log Arch from the welding shop, to my garage and run a trial.
First, I just hitched it and drove it across the lawn to see it track:
Then, I tucked it into the woods and pulled it around some of my regular paths:
Looks great, so I pulled down to my benchmark log; it's about 20' long and 15" diameter at the butt. My pup helped me with the measurements.
Then I backed the arch over it (with a little bit of a man-handle adjustment there.
And finally, I winched it up, choked it off, and pulled it out of the place it has rested for a couple years.
Still want to paint it, work on the wheels, and replace the very old tires. But, for my equipment size, it seems to work well.
My ideas were further advanced when I found this already re-purposed Concrete Trowel Machine trailer while helping my Dad prepare to sell the old homestead and all contents.
As Number 1 Son, I scooped this up at a great price: Free. If you are like me, you can see the potential, there are wheels, there is an arch, there is a tongue. Oh, yea, and there is a piece of plywood wired to the center structure for moving who knows what around the place. And, of course the arch and wheels are not at the proper angle.
Not obvious in this picture, but the wheel axles are stout, and easily removed to replace those brittle, cracked tires.
Fast forward to a rainy day discussion in the mountain cabin last Deer season with a good friend and recently retired professional welder. Turns out he is building an OWB and will need a steady supply of firewood. I need some fab and welding skills. He does nothing half-fast. And before New Year I had a cad design proposal. And, since we hadn't yet fixed a loads of firewood to fab/welding exchange rate, his design did not rely on much of my treasure find. Anyway, he collected a pile of stuff to begin:
Note, he too has an ever alert security officer guarding the entrance to his shop.
Both of us have many projects in progress at any given time, so calendar time extends well beyond power-on time for the welder. But, I'm not in a hurry. A couple progress shots from the shop: First squaring up the arch:
And, cleaning up the frame structure:
Clamped, tacked, and welding the arch and frame.
Note the beginnings of the OWB there behind the table. Please disregard any appearance that everything is not properly stowed in a refined search/retrieval system that makes this an ISO 9002 work shop.
In the build process, an obvious design improvement was adopted to set the wheels inside the frame making them less susceptible to snagging on roots, rocks, and other trees when snaking through the woods.
Unfortunately, my friend has suggested that if I want an "as-built" set of CAD plans, it will be another load of wood. Hmmm.
This new design is facilitated by a threaded axle end:
More welding as this thing is taking shape nicely:
Welding completed, time for some primer:
Assembly of hardware and wheels:
Note: Security is still on guard. We've lost no production hours due to wild animal attack at either shop. A record both pups are pretty proud of.
And ready for transport back to my shop where I'll clean up the wheels, and replace the tires.
Of course, the cutting season is practically over due to temperatures, undergrowth, bugs, and other property maintenance priorities. But, I have a nice big Sassafras log just waiting to be drug around the test track in my woods. I'll get some pictures, and videographer willing, a video of this in action as soon as possible.
In the interim, we've arrived at a proper exchange rate:
For the Welding:
And for the Steel:
Fair trade, I've got plenty of Red Oak, he has a garage full of welding tools and supplies. I probably have more hours in my stacks, he has more dollars invested in his tools.
Finally, today, I had time to move the Custom Log Arch from the welding shop, to my garage and run a trial.
First, I just hitched it and drove it across the lawn to see it track:
Then, I tucked it into the woods and pulled it around some of my regular paths:
Looks great, so I pulled down to my benchmark log; it's about 20' long and 15" diameter at the butt. My pup helped me with the measurements.
Then I backed the arch over it (with a little bit of a man-handle adjustment there.
And finally, I winched it up, choked it off, and pulled it out of the place it has rested for a couple years.
Still want to paint it, work on the wheels, and replace the very old tires. But, for my equipment size, it seems to work well.
