Look at how it handles that big log - It’s amazing!
I’ve seen one of these on Modern Marvels (I think). They are amazing. Besides speeding the process up, the machine solves several problems. It controls the tree to prevent damage to the trunk and surrounding trees when it falls. It keeps people away from the most dangerous parts of the process (of course, it puts those people out of a job).
The next problem that it is not solving is transport. If you put that machine in the woods, you’re bunching up logs at a spot where you may not be able to get the truck. The traditional method in East Texas has been to drop the trees, cut the limbs, then skid them to a gathering spot where that you can access with the truck.
I think the video clip exaggerates the size of the trees. Part 1 of that clip looks slightly less impressive. The harvester is about 13 ft tall.
I watched one of those while I was deer hunting this season, and my logger ex-boyfriend explained a lot about it to me. Unfortunately, I’ve forgotten what it’s called, but they’re here.
He said that when they’re not logging close to a more accessible staging area for loading, there’s a trailer-mounted version that also strips the branches and cuts the logs to length, and those are then skidded out to the landing.
It was fascinating to watch though. I’ve been around a lot of heavy equipment, but these guys are on the top of the “making it look easy” scale. They handle those logs as if they were toothpicks.
Fern Gulley, here we come.
Just wait untill they install that arm on one of this.
They remind me of the machines in “The Lorax.”
That said, yeah, they’re here in the US. I stumbled upon one with my father several years ago. Very interesting to sit and watch a crew of 3 people operate a few machines where it used to take a crew of a hundred guys. My father grew up in the logging camps, so it was pretty cool to be there with him.
That thing should be the final boss in some kind of video game.
Not as impressive, but I got to use one of these to clear out some scrub brush on my property.
I was on the larger FTX440 model.
(You need to clink on the FTX90 video link.)
Fun fun fun.
.