Wood Lots

[Ryan Willock]

Do any of you out there make a full time living from a wood lot??

 

[StIhL MaGnUm]

Well I just got done doing a 56 acre clear cut in Northern NH from a 65 acre parcel of land that I bought about three months ago..I make my living basicly logging/landclearing,selective cutting etc..I see you would like to start logging and also climb I do alot of gaffing when I clear house lots,I've been gaffing about 6 years now.Logging my friend is definetly not a easy job lots of hours,lots of money,and of course lot's of work,nevermind the price of a skidder,chipper,buncher,and a forwarder...but if it's what you want to do then go for it,I don't blame ya I personally love the logging bussiness..Too bad you were'nt closer I could use a hand on my next job,I could show you some stuff...

Later Rob..

 

[Nickrosis]

NEARLY impossible to make a profit without mechanization, unfortunately.

Nickrosis

 

[StIhL MaGnUm]

Yeah that's definetly thr TRUTH I know all about that believe me I did alot less jobs before I started buying the equipment now I have a little fleet if you would,John Deere 648G,and a 748G dual function grapple skidders,a HydroAx 20" shear head feller buncher,a Timbco tracked saw head buncher,a TJ forwarder,and I can't forget the Morbark chiparvestor whole tree chipper,and then my 89 Kenworth log truck,and a bunch of Husky,and Stihl saw's..When you start to buy wquipment like this you've got some real payment's to worry about so now I also buy my own land and harvest it too,instead of just contracting.Just my 748G is $1,700 a month everything else is paid for but then you add in fuel etc...It all adds up after a while I mostly do alot of new development's landclearing usually 8-20 acres so it tends to go fairly fast,it's when you get into the 40+ acre work clear cut's,and selective cut's you got some real long hours ahead of you,but then again there's always a very good check at the end of a job like this so it all worth it when it comes down to it..

"Logg On" Later Rob....

 

[Ryan Willock]

Stihl Mag, what part of NH are you from??? what do you figure your oporating cost are for a month???

 

[StIhL MaGnUm]

Ryan,

I'm from Southern NH near the Mass border,what are my monthly operating cost's I don't usually take care of that stuff my girlfriend does but I'll have to guess around $4-$5,000 anyway without anything breaking of course.You gotta pay if ya want to play,oh yeah I forgot to mention I almost always work alone,sometimes I'll have a few of my logging friends work with me when their not busy..

Later Rob....

 

[Ryan Willock]

did ya learn to clone yourself???lol. all that equipment for a one man show?? no ofense i just signed up for the arbormast Presision felling course in richmond va. looking forward to it what is your largest saw? what is the main species you harvest

 

[StIhL MaGnUm]

The arbormaster is a good course to take I took it a few years back,your right it is alot of equipment for a one man show,I work fast I usually do a 2 man day myself I'm thinking about hiring someone pretty soon.As for my biggest saw I have a few one would be my 064AV Stihl w/a 36",and a Husky 3120XP w/a 42" for the big felling,and my new 385XP that I just bought that has a 32" bar.I harvest White Pine and Oak,Maple mainly Pine though..but I really cut whatever I can purchase or whatever I contract the job for.

Later Rob...

 

[Ryan Willock]

what does one have to do to become a feller for a small op here on the east coast???

 

[Ryan Willock]

cool, it looks like stihl magnum is going to let me come up and try my hand at it with him. can't wait, i've always wanted to try it