Manually Moving Heavy Logs?

[JNC]

I know a lot of chainsaw carvers work with some pretty good size logs for bears and such, so thought I'd ask this question here. I'm working on some big jumping saltwater fish and I have two 600# logs in my driveway right now. I know the obvious answer is to get some heavy equipement, but for right now I'm looking for a manuel way to handle these logs. I have 40 years construction experience so have some ideas, but I'm sure there are some carts, dollies and and jacks that would make this job easier without spending $40,000 on equipement. Thanks, Jack

[Donsexton]

I remember that Christina had a very cool hoisting device back in one of her posts. I have an engine hoist from Harbor Freight back at my shop I think $400. You are a construction man so you know that on job sites we have Lulls and Skytracks , backhoes. The picture is not too long after Katrina we still had a fema trailer. That red trailer tilts and the wench will pull huge logs up onto the trailer its handy when folks give you nice logs. Have you seen that grapple with a log hauler that Baileys sells I am thinking I may need one?

[Claude]

You could try an engine hoist from your local rental shop. They have wheels, so once the log is elevated (just like pulling an engine from a car), you could carefully move it around...
Claude

[TreeWizard]

Maybe a friendly neighbor with a tractor and a front end loader. My small tractor can still life over 1500 lbs.

[Robson Valley]

Best to rent somebody so you can stand and watch them place the logs just where you want them.

Once upon a time, not too many years ago in a city in eastern Canada, there was a chainsaw carver man who had accumulated some big wood in his yard. Anonymous, mysterious tip to the city ByLaw people about that. Seems that city has an ordinance about the dimensions and stacking of firewood (or pay a hefty fine AND get rid of all the carving wood, too.) Never found out what the disposition of this was but I hope he got a variance.

[JNC]

Thanks all. No problems here with logs in the yard, but right now I have no desire to own big equipement again. When housing was booming I owned three Lulls and when things crashed the banks got them back. It's tough to pay for expensive equipement when there is no work, so now looking to keep it simple. I like the hoist idea. I can't believe I didn't think of that, since I grew up with one in the backyard. Back in the 60's if you wanted to keep a truck you got pretty good at popping in engines.

[rickm]

car jack and a peavey pole, which arent too expensive, the other thing would be a pick axe and blocks.

[MC297]

Try using a cant hook, available from Northern Tools 4ft., Model# 06140.
This will help in moving the logs around the yard. Then using levers or construct a frame and use a chain hoist. This should do the trick without a lot of expense or trouble.
Good luck!

Michael

[JNC]

Michael, Thanks the cant hook will work great. I have actually used them when I was a teen cutting firewood for a farmer. I'm building an A-frame for a hoist right now and the cant will allow me to move the logs more easily. Right now I'm using a digging bar.