Working With Big Logs - Tiki Carving

AA Aaron's Akua Member Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Joined: Jul 09, 2004 Posts: 1596	AA Aaron's Akua Posted posted on Fri, Dec 24, 2004 5:01 PM Ben, I gotta agree with JT - A bunch of drunk overweight middle aged guys lifting huge logs may be a recipe for disaster. Maybe after its done & a lot of wood has been removed I'll have a tiki raising party & we'll break out the kegger then. JT, the crane or lift route may be the safest, but how much does that run you? I saw some pics of a crane setting that last huge tiki that you did. Danny & Tony, you guys are nuts. I like that! I won't need a trailer though, cause this guy can set the log right in the bed of my Bro's truck with that skiploader. Getting it home isn't the problem. Ono, the "V" stumps were Benzart's suggestion. My solutions are usually way too complicated. Ben always sets me on right path, though. Lake, that guy is cool. I think its good to start with an irregular shaped log sometimes. It forces you to think different, and makes for a one of a kind tiki. You've gotta show us more after the holidays. That must be murder hauling those logs down to the basement, then back up again when they're done. I guess that's the only way to work when it's freezing outside? I agree on the chisel thing. It feels good and you have way more control. I'm just working on figuring out which tools work best at which stage. The Lancelot is my favorite right now, but I also need a chainsaw, which I'll be getting SOON. Of course, there's the later stage where chisels seem to work best, rather than dremel or die grinder. Still figuring it all out as I go. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ So, here's my plan so far. Skiploader sets the BIG log in the truck bed. Strap it down & take it home. Pull into one side of the driveway with the tailgate sloped down toward the street. Put a tow strap aroung the log & hook it up to my Blazer. Pull the log out fast & drop it on the street behind the truck. (Normally I'd tie the log off to a big tree or something, then drive the truck out from under it. I don't have a big tree, though, & it's probably not wise to tie it off to the porch post). The last part depends on what I can find at the rental yard & how much it would cost. I was thinking of renting a cherry picker to lift up one end of the log to get some kind of (rental?) heavy duty caster wheel dolly underneath. Same thing for the other end. Then it's just a matter of rolling it into the back yard & dropping it on the ground. Break out the brewskis for all of my buddys that I commandeered for the job. Have any of you guys used a cherry picker to lift logs? Whaddaya think? Last question - What's the biggest log that you guys have attempted? There must be a cutoff point where its just not possible to move without heavy machinery. All thoughts appreciated. :) Aaron

Ben, I gotta agree with JT - A bunch of drunk overweight middle aged guys lifting huge logs may be a recipe for disaster. Maybe after its done & a lot of wood has been removed I'll have a tiki raising party & we'll break out the kegger then.

JT, the crane or lift route may be the safest, but how much does that run you? I saw some pics of a crane setting that last huge tiki that you did.

Danny & Tony, you guys are nuts. I like that! I won't need a trailer though, cause this guy can set the log right in the bed of my Bro's truck with that skiploader. Getting it home isn't the problem.

Ono, the "V" stumps were Benzart's suggestion. My solutions are usually way too complicated. Ben always sets me on right path, though.

Lake, that guy is cool. I think its good to start with an irregular shaped log sometimes. It forces you to think different, and makes for a one of a kind tiki. You've gotta show us more after the holidays. That must be murder hauling those logs down to the basement, then back up again when they're done. I guess that's the only way to work when it's freezing outside?

I agree on the chisel thing. It feels good and you have way more control. I'm just working on figuring out which tools work best at which stage. The Lancelot is my favorite right now, but I also need a chainsaw, which I'll be getting SOON. Of course, there's the later stage where chisels seem to work best, rather than dremel or die grinder. Still figuring it all out as I go.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So, here's my plan so far.

Skiploader sets the BIG log in the truck bed. Strap it down & take it home.
Pull into one side of the driveway with the tailgate sloped down toward the street. Put a tow strap aroung the log & hook it up to my Blazer. Pull the log out fast & drop it on the street behind the truck. (Normally I'd tie the log off to a big tree or something, then drive the truck out from under it. I don't have a big tree, though, & it's probably not wise to tie it off to the porch post).
The last part depends on what I can find at the rental yard & how much it would cost. I was thinking of renting a cherry picker to lift up one end of the log to get some kind of (rental?) heavy duty caster wheel dolly underneath. Same thing for the other end. Then it's just a matter of rolling it into the back yard & dropping it on the ground.
Break out the brewskis for all of my buddys that I commandeered for the job.

Have any of you guys used a cherry picker to lift logs? Whaddaya think?

Last question - What's the biggest log that you guys have attempted? There must be a cutoff point where its just not possible to move without heavy machinery.

All thoughts appreciated. :)

Aaron

Post #132699 by Aaron's Akua on Fri, Dec 24, 2004 5:01 PM