Randy Butler

If I wasn't already retired and I had interest in a side income, I would agree.

But it took me a couple years experience on the small tractor, and another couple to be really comfortable on the current one.
Not to say there haven't been a few times that the butt cheeks clenched hard as the rear wheels came off the ground
If you haven't done that yet, you will - and it will be memorable!

But as anyone who is retired knows, there seem to be fewer hours in the day and the "to-do" list never gets any shorter!

If disposable income was not a concern, yup, a small excavator would definitely be my next "toy."

Whatever you get, have fun with it!

I started with a small used Cub Cadet tractor with bucket.
There were a few repairs necessary over the first couple years and it did a good job.
And we realized it wasn't big enough for many of our needs.

BUT, a couple summers with it gave me time to do several things:
 1) learn how to use a tractor and front end loader;
 2) understand how such a machine feels underneath you;
 3) what it can do, what it can't do, what it SHOULDN'T do;
 4) WHERE i could use it.

I upgraded to a New Holland 35HP diesel compact tractor and here's why:
 1) it was available in town and could be serviced locally;
 2) it had enough power to do at least 80% of what I needed to do;
 3) it fit between all the trees on the property, so I didn't have to remove any more trees for property access;
 4) it had a standard front quick attach mounting system for a variety of tools (several added over its lifetime, so far);
 5) it had PTO;
 6) it was just off a 1 yr lease at a nursery. They moved mulch and pallets of plants. The wear and tear amounted to some paint chips missing;
 7) purchase price was less than 1/2 of the estimate for the gravel driveway I wanted to add;
  My wife said I could get it!!

Attachments:
 - Front End Loader
 - Front Pallet Forks
 - Front Brush Grapple
 - Rear Brush Chipper - sold 'cuz without hydraulic feed it wouldn't chip evergreens
 - need to add Rear Grader Blade or York Rake

I do wish I could justify an excavator.
But I can rent one locally for under $1k per weekend - and that's delivered within 50 miles.
I don't think that all my neighbors combined could come up with enough projects to warrant the price of a good used mini-ex.
And don't bother with a backhoe attachment for the compact tractor.  The excavator rental will be cheaper, do more work in less time and
 won't hang off the back end of your tractor making it 15 feet longer (remember that part about where you can use it?).

And don't forget to factor in the weight of the machine if you think you might want to move it.

In a short time, you'll also realize you won't get as much seat time as you expect - after your Dad finds out how much fun it is to operate!

My two cents worth.

Good luck.

With thin ground and lots of large spruce trees, we get plenty of practice felling trees of every angle.
Having the wonderful benefit of a small tractor makes easier work of the problem trees.
But I have foregone the ropes - I only use chains and steel cable. And snatchblocks.

I set up with the tractor beyond the reach of the tree and at least 90 degrees off the desired line of drop.
I prefer to face the tree and pull in reverse.
I start with chain as high as I can (usually 16-20 feet) on the tree, then run cable down from the chain to snatchblock at base of another tree in the drop direction.
Cable continues back from block to tractor and I make the initial saw cuts on the trunk.
IF you're lucky, like I am often, a neighbor will offer to run the tractor.
Take up slack - just barely, then finish front cut. Cut the back kerf only halfway. More tractor tension.
I've had trees decide to go with very little help.
On the other hand, if your tractor and gear are stable, you can finish the back cut into your normal thickness hinge.
I used this method over three days this summer to drop 6 big spruces (well, 80 feet plus is big to me!).
They all went within a couple feet of my target. THANKFULLY!!

I didn't see any reference to it in the above comments, so I'll add a link. Chimney Scrubber
My BIL struggled with steep roof and shaky knees for way too long. He finally heard about - and installed - one of these systems.
Nope, NOT cheap, but he would never again have a wood burning chimney without the chimney scrubber.

And no, I have no vested interest (other than staying off the steep roof myself!).

How I get most of my firewood...

The birch would have remained standing if not for the need of a new septic. I'm curious, Nancy - do you split spruce by hand or a powered unit?

My conifers are nearly all Red Spruce with a few Black and Englemann (sp?) mixed in.  NOT fond of hand splitting any of those!

Thanks all for the feedback

It just struck me as odd that I did that without even thinking about it.
But I know that birch will rot in a heartbeat if left fully wrapped in bark.
So it piqued my curiosity if, perhaps, bark down would retain moisture and cause problems?

Just one of those things you've probably seen a dozen times and then suddenly the lightbulb goes on - "why didn't I notice the before?"

Maybe as we age, we observe our surroundings better?  One of the VERY few perks of getting old(er)

I had to take some trees down in preparation for new leach field (erosion removed 80% of the old one build 70 years ago).
Unfortunately, with the new town requirements, I have to install a new 1000 gallon concrete tank, plus an effluent  pumping system.
The new leach field will be 100 feet away from the main tank and about 35 feet higher.
Still haven't had what I'd consider a reasonable estimate for the job.
And while I try to do most jobs myself, moving 10,000 pounds of concrete tank down the hill and around a corner - well, I think that one is just a little out of my league!

But the real point of this thread is - I cut, split and stacked the birch trees and then looked at the wood shed.
Inadvertently, I had stacked almost all the logs with the bark side up.
Since the shed is not entirely weathertight, should I have changed the log orientation or gone all bark side down, does it matter?

When you stack your firewood, do you pay any attention to the orientation of the bark ?

Thanks!

No, I'm not going to restack anything, but I always have more trees that fall over, so this surely won't be my last fell, cut, split and stack day

Peter - Congratulations - the brain still says 50 years old (I suspect the body says 50 with some extra experience).

I suspected I didn't need any further anchors than gravity and friction.
But nowadays, you never know what Mother Nature will throw at us next!
And Maine does have earthquakes - four in both 2024 and 2025, all less than 2.8.
I guess if we get enough shaking to disturb the heater base, I've got bigger things to worry about!

And yes Glenn, the floor is smooth, but it's concrete and far from polished (although there are likely to be splotches of oil or grease here and there)

Thanks for all the feedback, now to the mud mixing!

As I get older, I look for ways to make life (and chores) easier. So the bottom of the firebox in the new RMH will be up at 20 inches off the floor.
I had considered waist level - but that differs so much even for members of immediate family.
And at some time, the kids may be tasked with manning the heater.

I'm pretty sure - with the supplies I already have - the easiest/simplest method is a double stack of concrete blocks.
I am, by no means, a finish mason. But I can mix and slop mortar as well as keep the wythes (layers) fairly level and square.
My skills should certainly be good enough for a 40x48 base (I did build the 30 foot double flue brick chimney).

So now my question ... if all the blocks are mortared together, is there any reason to anchor this block to the cellar floor?
If I don't need to, I'd rather not drill holes and pin into the existing concrete.
Thoughts?

Thanks!