Forum Replies Created
- AuthorPosts
Brad Johnson
ParticipantJared-
Glad to hear you are taking making a go of this! I am willing to help you to whatever extent I can. I am super busy so not sure I can take time to come over to you but I can certainly give you a sense of how I run my business. Perhaps a visit from you over here to see what I do might be helpful. I have all the financial details down on the computer and you are welcome to take a look if it would be helpful. Let me know what works for you. Thanks.
-BradParticipantThanks gentlemen!
-BradParticipantJared-
I do a couple of firewood jobs a year. Some are hourly – $40 with saw or $50 with horses. If hourly does not work out, I generally charge $60-70/cord. Be careful about specifying who is doing the estimating at the pile, as landowners often think they are accurate and are anything but. You might also see if you can sell the woods off the landing log length. I usually pay $10/cord to buy the woods, and then now I an getting $80-90/cord off the landing. Also, Rick is dead right about insurance and about having a plan for working the landing. I use my tractor on the landing, as you can lose 25-30% of your overall working time just handling wood on the landing.
-BradParticipantI agree. Go Reva!
-BradParticipantIs this a Campbell frost proof hydrant? If so, I may be able to help. I have fiddled with them many times. First, is it leaking from the hydrant mouth itself? If so, take a 3/8 open end wrench and loosen the set screw (small one sticking out of the back of the brass extension rod). Lift handle and retighten the screw and then push the handle all the way down. When you have it in the closed position (off) you should be able to put your ear to the threat and hear water draining out of the weep hole below frost line. If not, then the hydrant still needs adjustment. It should sound like a decreasing “whoosh” as the water drains. You also may need to change the packing nut, and a Campbell repair kit from the hardware store has that part. The instructions that come with it are easy enough to follow. Also, in the winter I use heat tape on both my hydrants to keep the frost away – it is a small investment to avoid a major hassle!
-BradParticipantThings seems to looking up a bit in the pine markets. We are heading back in on Monday for pine that will ship to Hancock in Maine. They seem to be the best market we can reach from here. Anyone else cutting pine? How is the pricing looking for you?
-BradParticipantI would strongly recommend against buying any Moritz trailer. I bought one new three years back and it has been a piece of you know what!!
-BradParticipantDaniel-
I have only ever used open gear mowers, single and team. It seems like they work pretty well, though newer models show signs of improved performance. I think my mower could be very functional for someone who has some sense of what is needs and is willing to tinker a bit. Jay is right about bushings and pitman arm, though I have twice replaced the arm by making one myself – it is not hard to duplicate with oak or ash. The mower is still here if you are at all interested. I would let it for $300 at this point, as I have not used it once this season, and it is taking up space under cover.
-BradParticipantNobody around these parts has put in dry bales yet, all wrapped or sileage. I am glad not be be producing my own this year, but hopeful that I will get a call soon to come and pick up in the field. Let’s all hope for drier weather to come!
-BradParticipantThis is beyond the normal summer fluctuations. Sold pine/spruce/fir all summer last two years with good prices, but not at the moment. As long as I don’t let it sit on the landing stain not an issue…
-BradParticipantWhere is Ben located and what is he asking for that gelding? Why is he selling?
-BradMay 2, 2015 at 10:51 am in reply to: New Western Harness, Hames, Collars, Pads, Lines for 18 h Percherons #85492ParticipantDaniel-
Might be worth going back to older threads about harness makers and the like, as I remember some excellent info shared on these subjects shared here on the site. In short, I have only used dring style harness with my horses, and I use biothane harness from Meaders. They work well and are plenty durable, but I had to do lots of adjustment to make them fit well, including shortening the front tugs and extending the metal ends of the traces.
-BradParticipantGeorge-
The carbs on my 562’s are good in terms of adjustment – none needed, and they do adjust for temp. For example, if I have my saw inside overnight and then start cutting in the cold it runs a bit rough for a time and then smooths out. But, the compression release sucks and in fact I never use it as when the saws get hot they will not start, not at all! I get about 2 full seasons out of my primary felling saw and then they go to the landing, and that is about 300-400 mbf annually, so not near as much as the skidded operator mentioned above. On the positive side, the 562 just has so much power and chain speed, and is very light. The shop guys at Windy Ridge, where I usually but the saws, call the 562 the “crack saw”. In other words, they are fantastic when they run well but usually bite you in the ass at some point! I did run Stihl’s for awhile in Maine and I like them, but they are heavier, and seems to be better built. Also, I did not have good luck at all with Husky in terms of warranty. My older 562 (2 years old now but had problems almost right off the shelf) is now a parts saw as it needs a short block put in and I don’t want to put any more money into that piece of crap…
-BradParticipantEd-
We used to get mower and Grimm tedder parts from a small tractor supply place in central Maine. They were super to work with, and I will try to check down the name and number for you. The specialized in FarmAll tractors but had a great selection of old and hard to find parts.
-BradParticipantEd-
Team, spreader, and even the teamster look great there! We used a similarly sized spreader with our single in Maine and it worked very well. It takes awhile to spread the winter manure but great fun and good work for those learning to drive. Do you ever take on apprentices? I had a call from a fellow in NH looking for a summer apprenticeship and I thought of you.
-Brad- AuthorPosts