Logging, and the logging equipment required in the industry, is gaining more attention both as the wood products that are in so much demand, but also for an alternate source of heat. In order to tap into this industry, you need to have the proper equipment to get started.

Browse ways of making the most of logging and lumber equipment to find information about the kinds of equipment you need as well as how to find them. With this information, you company will be able to apply the information that will enable it to succeed.

1. Start with forestry equipment.

2. Process the wood with lumber machinery.

3. Acquire used logging equipment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use forestry equipment to get the wood from the forest

The first step in any logging operation is getting the wood from the forest. This involves cutting down the trees, doing preliminary processing as far as removing limbs, then transporting them out of the forest. One of the oldest of all the forestry equipment is the chainsaw. This piece of equipment is useful for not only removing limbs from the trees, but also cutting them down--especially when the terrain does not allow the passage of equipment. Once you have cut the wood, you'll need grapplers to lift the lumber onto the trucks.

I recommend: Stihl has had a history with the lumber industry since the 1920s, so it's not surprising that the Stihl chainsaw is favored in the lumbering industry. Caterpillar makes forestry backhoes on which you can attach grapplers and other forestry equipment. Valby grapplers from Northeast Implement have an excellent reputation in the logging industry.

Process the wood with lumber supplies

If you are interested in getting into the firewood industry, you need to have some equipment to process the wood. If you are interested in doing more than a few cords, you need firewood processors. These beasts are wood splitters on steroids that can process up to four cords an hour. If you have a smaller operation, gas hydraulic wood splitters can split 1 cord an hour. Electric wood splitters are less hardy than gas hydraulic wood splitters. For starting your own lumber business, portable band saws are an excellent investment in that they can cut 8-inch thick timber to form beams, and other pieces of lumber.

I recommend: CRD Metalworks and Hud-Son Oscar have excellent hydraulic firewood processors. Timberwolf Stores has both portable band saws as well as hydraulic wood splitters.

Buy used timber equipment

If your company does not wish to buy new logging equipment, there are plenty of dealers who have a big inventory of used logging equipment available. Through them, you can purchase chippers (hand-fed and pull type), feller buncher-track or wheeled, grapples and more.

I recommend: Equipment Locator can find you the used timber equipment you need for your business. Forestry Equipment Sales is another good source of forest equipment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The logging and lumber industry is a very lucrative one. Contact the forestry service in your area to learn more about the wood that's available in your area. This can help you decide which kind of logging equipment you need.

Without the right logging and lumber equipment, your business could come crashing down like an improperly cut tree. Quality tree harvesters, grapple loaders, wood splitters, log loaders, skidders, chains and saws are vital to getting the job done. These purchases are major and often quite costly. So you'll want to make sure you buy equipment that will serve your company for years to come.

Before you buy logging and lumber equipment, consider the following:

1. Do you want to purchase logging and lumber supplies and equipment that you will use for years to come?

2. Can your needs be met with used forestry and lumber machines?

3. Do you need financing to purchase your logging and forest equipment?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a directory of suppliers of lumber equipment and logging equipment

Through the Internet, it is possible to find hundreds of companies that offer logging and timber equipment. The key is to shop around and compare logging equipment prices before you buy. A directory of logging and lumber equipment suppliers can make your search a lot easier.

I recommend: ForestIndustry.com maintains a directory of log and lumber equipment supply companies in North America. If you need harvesters, winches or skidders, you can quickly compare the offerings from dozens of companies. Corporations Online operates logsplitters.com, a wood and forest products directory.

Purchase used lumber supplies and equipment

The right piece of used logging equipment can fill your needs and provide you with an excellent value. The key is to find the right piece of equipment. Fortunately, online classifieds exist that link buyers and sellers of logging and forestry equipment nationwide.

I recommend: Yankee Equipment Sales offers a wide variety of used logging and sawmill equipment. Tidewater Equipment has more than 100 pieces of equipment in its used inventory, including skidders, chippers and loaders.

Get the financing to purchase your own logging and lumber equipment

Buying high-quality logging and lumber equipment is certainly not cheap, and chances are your company won't be able to pay cash. If this is the case, you may want to consider financing your purchase.

I recommend: Forestry Equipment Sales provides a directory of companies that provide forestry and logging equipment financing. Empire Financial Group specializes in offering financing for equipment purchases, including forestry and lumber machinery. The company has three types of programs for businesses with different types of credit ratings, ranging from the Elite Program with no down payment to the Alternative Program for businesses that have filed for bankruptcy or have had other credit issues.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Whether you are purchasing skidders or hydraulic wood splitters, be sure to ask about a warranty. You don't want to have to foot the bill for expensive repairs on a piece of logging and lumber equipment that you just bought.

Logging equipment and supplies are a necessary part of logging, which is a vital industry in many parts of the country. It draws young workers in with the promise of the great outdoors and good, honest work. The job is not without its hazards, however; heavy equipment and powerful machinery are par for the course, and injuries are common. In fact, logging's high number of fatalities has historically ranked it among the most dangerous jobs in America.

Because of this, education and training are essential for workers to learn how to safely operate forestry equipment and manage lumber supplies. From chainsaws to firewood processors and hydraulic wood splitters, workers can gain valuable knowledge and hands-on experience by participating in a training course or certification program. Before settling on a training option, workers should consider the following:

1. Many state forestry associations run logging certification programs.

2. There are a few agencies that operate training programs in different locations around the country.

3. Some professional organizations offer training in specific kinds of logging and lumber equipment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check state associations for forestry equipment certification programs

States with large logging or forestry industries often have organizations designed to promote logger safety and welfare. These associations frequently offer training programs that teach loggers how to safely use lumber machinery. After completing these programs, some associations register the loggers as certified forestry professionals and put their names into a database local employers use to find certified workers.

I recommend: Both the Ohio Forestry Association and the Minnesota Logger Education Program provide training courses and certification for loggers and other forestry professionals. Aside from logger education, they also hold social gatherings and offer their members exclusive benefits.

Register for a nationally recognized logging equipment training course

There are a variety of logging equipment training courses not affiliated with state forestry associations. These programs give both new and experienced loggers training on how to operate chainsaws, remove difficult trees and operate heavy forestry equipment like skidders and forwarders.

I recommend: The Game of Logging training programs are among the nation's best. Northeast Woodland Training offers courses for professional loggers as well as a variety of easier programs for other professionals working outdoors.

Receive education in specialized lumber equipment

Loggers who work in the lumber yard can also receive training in operating specialized heavy forestry machinery. These courses teach workers how to safely move logs off the truck and through the various stages of the milling process.

I recommend: Shephard's Industrial Training Systems teaches workers how to safely handle logs once they reach the lumber yard. For workers with no experience operating heavy machinery, a beginner's training course from Associated Training Services might be more appropriate.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check the websites of state logging associations for the latest forestry job postings and classified ads. Most will include a list of the foresty equipment experience required for the jobs.

Whether you own a logging company or lumber mill, it's important to become knowledgeable about the key terms associated with logging and lumber equipment. When it comes time to order new equipment or have a machine fixed, you will have to equip yourself and your team with the right terminology in order to get exactly what your business needs.

Make sure to learn the following terms: log skidder, arch, heel boom, debarker, delimber, and cant hook.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Log skidder

A log skidder is a piece of equipment, similar to a landmover, that drags cut logs from forests to sites, called landings, where they can be loaded onto logging trucks.

I recommend: VanNattaBros provides an in-depth definition of a skidder along with in-depth descriptions and photos of different types of skidders.

Arch

An arch is the framework on the trailer of a logging truck that is used to suspend the ends of skidded logs and trees when they are loaded onto the truck.

I recommend: The glossary on OSHA's website defines arch and several other logging equipment terms.

Heel boom

A heel boom is a loading boom that uses tongs or grapples to lift one end of a log toward the boom in order to stabilize it. Most heel booms use hydraulic systems.

I recommend: Read the definition of heel boom in Central Oregon Community College's logging terminology glossary. The site can also provide you with a wide array of other logging term definitions.

Debarker

A debarker is a piece of equipment that uses metal blades to remove the bark from a cut log. There are four main types of debarkers: ring, drum, Rosser head and flail.

I recommend: Learn all about debarkers, and what makes each type different, at the International Online Expos website.

Delimber

A delimber is a piece of equipment that feeds trees into the body of a machine where the limbs are removed and the log is cut to size.

I recommend: Stripper Manufacturing can provide you with all of the information you need to know about delimbers.

Cant hook

A cant hook is a simple and traditional logging tool that has a long wooden handle with a metal hook at the end. It is used to move around smaller logs.

I recommend: Go to Petersons Global Sales website to read the definition of cant hook and other related logging and lumber terms.