Once trees have been felled and brought to a collection point using the Alpine tractor it then becomes necessary to determine how these logs will subsequntly be moved to enable conversion of same either by employing hand or mechanical methods.
The average small woodland owner will not probably own heavy mechanical equipment or machinery nor be able to afford the ongoing hire of same from others
The logs will need to be lifted one by one to the central area where they will be converted. Some of the heavier logs weigh up to 0.75 tonne.
Maybe a gin pole or modified version of same fitted with a boom derrick might do the job.
The Harcourt cruck frames were lifted into position using a pair of Shear Legs which is a relatively simple device that can be made up on site but this device is only able to lift vertically and is unable to slew to reposition logs.
Roger Nair at The Timber Framers Guild advises that the US Army Field Manual Rigging Techniques, Procedures, and Applications Manual No FM 5-125 provides good advice on making safe self made lifting devices.
Jon Senior in Normandy, France advises that the correct names for a gin pole fitted with lifting arm is a derrick crane and this appears to be quite a simple device that could be made by a competent wood worker. It can be refined by the use of metal parts to aid rotation but a woodland derrick crane made using rope lashings could also be employed provided these were regularly inspected.
Any other ideas welcome.
Ken Hume ET OWG
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Moving Heavy Logs