Thread: Chainsawing dirty wood

Thanks for the picture, looks like you were pretty cramped in there.
bob

And I doubt I could have blown it out--even if I still had my shotfirers licence.
They certainly seem to be a thing of the past these days!!

If you could bothered you could make a root saw.
They fit in the same place as the bucket, a little machine like that you could get away with 4" x 1" x 2ft long, cut teeth into it and put a 45 on the end so it pushes into the ground easier.

You poke it in at a root and pull it into the root and draw it out at the same time, repeat until you cut through, might take a few goes on the larger roots.
If you have hydraulics then why not use them.
Cheers, shed

Originally Posted by shedhappens

If you could bothered you could make a root saw.
They fit in the same place as the bucket, a little machine like that you could get away with 4" x 1" x 2ft long, cut teeth into it and put a 45 on the end so it pushes into the ground easier.

You poke it in at a root and pull it into the root and draw it out at the same time, repeat until you cut through, might take a few goes on the larger roots.
If you have hydraulics then why not use them.
Cheers, shed

So that's basically a ripper with teeth on it?

The two attachments I would like to have would be a thumb and a ripper, both are not exactly rocket science to make, but it's all a matter of time. It wouldn't be at all difficult to incorporate teeth and even harden them if required.

The chances are I'll be finished all the work with it and sell it on before I'd get them made. I won't take this excavator with me when I move, and as it will be on to land I'll be aiming for a bigger excavator. This one is great as I can get it in to tight spots (as it is now, it's now working over the top of where that stump was), and it can be towed with a conventional ute etc. Unless I had some special need for something bigger the next one will probably be around the 3 tonne mark. A good size, still small enough to tow with a normal truck, but can move a fair amount of soil. Even this one will move a surprising amount of dirt around.

Yes I agree, hydraulics are king. I've seen all manner of attachments for excavators, including some giant scissor things that chomp through logs and roots. Very cool.

The one I used didn't have the ripper on it but I like the idea as it could stop a bit of jarring by stopping you from slipping over the top of the root.
here is one root_ripper

I just finished removing this lump of joy the other week.

IMG_2328.jpg

Access was only enough to get a Dingo in, which did OK at ripping up some of the small roots, but as you can see, most of the roots were easily 6" and bigger.

Used a chainsaw where I was reasonably confident of not hitting dirt, and a reciprocating saw where I was cutting in dirt. I got quite adept at sharpening those blades with the cut-off wheel in a dremel.

Had some luck making vertical cuts and pounding in a steel wedge.

Once I got tired of sharpening chains and blades, and more importantly, I'd sighted the 1/2" natural gas line that runs nice and shallow directly under the stump, I hired Kennards' new 30hp tracked stump grinder, which proved to be quite an effective machine.

Originally Posted by shedhappens

The one I used didn't have the ripper on it but I like the idea as it could stop a bit of jarring by stopping you from slipping over the top of the root.
here is one root_ripper

Ok, cool! Thanks.

Oh I forgot, the third thing I've wanted is a laser receiver to attach to the dipper. Super handy but very expensive considering what they are. Unlike a regular receiver they have almost 360 degree receiving angle.

If you are thinking of moving to a larger property and getting a bigger excavator then i guess that you orta think about
upgrading that piddly little c/saw, some contenders here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8WK9wKOL4I

I dunno Pete, where was your sense of adventure. Here is the obvious answer

4a6ea783f8ea4a618950c0bee6579c49.jpg

And there is always the option of shooting the roots off.

Originally Posted by droog

I have used a reciprocating saw when i have had to cut roots in the dirt, easier than sharpening chains.

ditto