Forestry Equipment and Supplies Key Terms

Keep your forestry industry knowledge fresh with these key terms for forestry equipment and supplies

By Angela King, Freelance Writer

In a physical, labor-intensive industry like forestry, the best forestry equipment and supplies are necessary to ensure optimum performance and the safety of the workers who use the equipment. From portable sawmills and wood splitters to log skidders and grapple bunchers, forestry equipment knowledge is key.

Whether you are a distributor of forestry equipment and supplies or use these tools in your business, familiarize yourself with these forestry equipment and supplies key terms to ensure you understand the tools of the trade.

Log skidders

A log skidder is a diesel-driven tractor that uses a cable to pull logs out of a forest. Log skidders are essential machines when selective logging is necessary to spare surrounding trees.
Try: Learn more about log skidder types and styles at the official John Deere website.

Grapple loaders

Grapple loaders are steel crane mechanisms used on logging trucks to grab and move bunches of logs. Grapple loaders can be mounted on heavy-duty trucks.
Try: The Tree Care Industry Association offers more in-depth information on grapple loaders.

Feller bunchers

Feller bunchers are machines used in the forestry industry to clear areas of dense trees. With sharp blades, a feller buncher can cleanly cut and remove trees with minimal damage to the surrounding area.
Try: WiseGeek.com offers extensive information on the uses of feller bunchers.

Wood or log splitters

Wood splitters, also called "log" splitters, are motor-driven machines that cut logs into predetermined sizes. Wood splitters are available in different sizes and styles appropriate for personal or professional use.
Try: American CLS offers information on wood splitters and descriptions of the types and styles of wood splitters available.

Tree harvesters

Tree harvesters are tractors that cut trees to specific sizes, remove the branches from the tree and stack the trees in piles. Tree harvesters can remove single trees or clear an area of trees at one time.
Try: TheTreeHarvester.com offers information on tree harvester uses and pictures of tree harvesters in action.

Portable sawmill

A portable sawmill is a small-scale sawmill used on a forestry job site to cut logs into lumber. There are different types of sawmills based on the type of blade used in the saw.
Try: TruthAboutAx.com offers extensive information on portable sawmills and compares the different types and styles of portable sawmills available.

If you want to buy used forestry equipment and supplies, test the equipment before you commit to purchase to ensure the equipment works properly.