Excavator Land Clearing: Preparing a Burn Pile and Clearing Trees

Morning Operations and Tree Removal

• 🥶 The day starts with a cold, frosty morning, with the excavator warming up for 15-20 minutes.
• 🌲 The operator begins felling trees along a field edge, separating a row of pine trees from the predominantly gum trees.
• 🚜 Robert uses a dozer to push branches to a burn pile, allowing the excavator operator to focus on felling more trees.

Managing Difficult Trees and Power Lines

• 🌳 A large tree is felled, but branches get dug into the dirt, requiring careful maneuvering to roll it.
• ⚠️ Caution is advised when working near a power line, requiring more careful tree felling.
• 🌲 The operator emphasizes the importance of continuous swinging once a tree starts to fall to prevent it from stopping.

Equipment Issues and Cleanup

• 🔋 The excavator's batteries are sluggish due to the cold, potentially requiring replacement.
• 🪵 After felling trees, the focus shifts to chainsawing and cleaning up debris, stacking it for a burn pile.
• 🔥 The dry grass mixed with debris poses a fire risk, necessitating careful management of the burn pile, especially at night.

Auction Finds and Log Management

• 💰 A valuable rake was purchased at an auction for a significantly reduced price, highlighting the benefit of attending auctions.
• 🪵 Logs are being moved to a separate wood pile, while brush and stumps are destined for the burn pile.
• 🪓 The chainsaw chain is getting dull, requiring sharpening or replacement for continued work on large trees.

End of Day Progress and Future Plans

• 🚚 The last load for the day is hauled, with all cleared trees cut up and logs moved to the wood pile.
• 🏠 Future plans include tearing down a horse barn, a shed, and other structures to open up the farm's view and clear the property.
• ✅ Good progress was made, with everything downed and loaded for the burn pile, and plans to finish hauling in the morning.