trailer safety chain vs. cable

[Bill Stockard]

Mechanized logging is an awesome way to log now days. It can really produce the timber if it is small and you have relatively flat ground, very expensive tho. It don't work on big timber or steep ground.



Nick

"Pine plantations" are common in east Texas. The trees are in rows and uniform size just like in the video and the land is relatively flat to gently rolling hills which makes mechanized harvest easier. Snow conditions aren't a problem, but sometimes there is soft ground and mud. Many of these pine forests are "harvested" several times by thinning the stand of trees which allows the remaining trees to become much larger for larger dimension lumber. Oak trees are harvested in our area too, but it's not as easy as harvesting a pine plantation.



Bill

 

[Jim W]

Now that you want to talk about logging I have a question. What is a JILLPOKE and where did this term come from?

Jim W.

 

[mwilson]

I don't know where it originated, but here is an example of the word's use in Maine speak... sometimes called a Joepoke as well.



"A joepoke came thorough the mesh on the skidder cab and took me up side the head. "



So it is a branch or a small sapling on the loose. One common jillpoke attack comes from a stick wedged in the ring tire chains, as the tire goes around it will drive a stick into some weird places including the operators cage. .



Mike.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I'd stay with chains as they are more forgiving when twisted, abraded, etc. than cables. If they are too long, most trailers use hooks that are removable, and you can cut a few links of chain off so they won't drag on the ground. Most tralers come with chains whose breaking strength is just enough; rated load is 1/3 or less that amount. Strong enough cable (wire rope) is stiff and putting things on the ends is done professionally with swaging sleeves; most sleeves result in a loss of strength as well--typically 70-90% of the cable strength.

 

[BIGNASTY]

"Pine plantations" are common in east Texas. The trees are in rows and uniform size just like in the video and the land is relatively flat to gently rolling hills which makes mechanized harvest easier. Snow conditions aren't a problem, but sometimes there is soft ground and mud. Many of these pine forests are "harvested" several times by thinning the stand of trees which allows the remaining trees to become much larger for larger dimension lumber. Oak trees are harvested in our area too, but it's not as easy as harvesting a pine plantation.



Bill

Some of the lumber companies did this in Ca after the Green Peace folks got natural forest's saved (and are now in trouble because of not thinning) but anyway the pine that the grew was Fast growing and very straight trucks but the lumber was of inferior quality.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Mike



Took a look at your log skidders they are wheeled in CA/OR/Wa most that I have seen look like a Bulldozer with the cab removed just the tracks and a seat. Used a hyd lift arm and choke chains to bring up trees to the landing. Skidder drivers were nuts they had such a low center of gravity that they just drove off of cliffs and hook up and drive back up. Or lots of companies used high line equipment to bring trees from a distance to the landings.

 

[NIsaacs]

"Pine plantations" are common in east Texas. The trees are in rows and uniform size just like in the video and the land is relatively flat to gently rolling hills which makes mechanized harvest easier. Snow conditions aren't a problem, but sometimes there is soft ground and mud. Many of these pine forests are "harvested" several times by thinning the stand of trees which allows the remaining trees to become much larger for larger dimension lumber. Oak trees are harvested in our area too, but it's not as easy as harvesting a pine plantation.



Bill

I wondered why the forest looked like a field, it didn't dawn on me that it was planted. I wonder what they will be used for? Saw logs or pulp wood?



Nick

 

[NIsaacs]

I don't know where it originated, but here is an example of the word's use in Maine speak... sometimes called a Joepoke as well.



Maine must be an equal opportunity state good explanation by the way. As a trucker I was always leary in the minimum truck turn around's, the loggers would build. My partner had a D-8K and a 16G grader, but the less road he built the more money he made:-laf



Nick

 

[Jim W]

Mike,

The jillpoke term came about do to railroads in the logging industry in the late 1890's and early 1900's. A post was planted in the ground with an arm sticking out mounted to the top of the post. This arm was mounted above and at the rail car height. The arm would poke the wood off the car as it rounded a curve on the bed. This was done near the mill so the wood could be sorted and milled easily. Hence the term jillpoke was invented.

This was told to me by a western logger who use to work in the woods industry in OR. These were some real tough men that worked out there. One of his jobs was riding on haul trucks to water down the brakes as it came off the haul road downhill. This was to prevent the brakes from catching on fire.

Jim W.

 

[NIsaacs]

Mike,

The arm would poke the wood off the car as it rounded a curve on the bed. This was done near the mill so the wood could be sorted and milled easily. Hence the term jillpoke was invented.





Jim, I don't understand. The arm would poke the wood off the car, as in logs?



Thanks



Nick

 

[mwilson]

That is pretty cool Jim. Never heard that before.



Found a couple links to the useage of the word, one in Maine, the other in BC which matched the useage that I know.



Jillpoke opens machine door and strikes operator | BC Forest Safety Council



Maine Memory Network - Jillpoke, c. 1900



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

Found one, Nick.



The pictures are from a model railroad but illustrates it well. Go down the page and there is a drawing for another style below the pictures. Pretty cool.....



Railroad Line Forums - any one have a plan/photo of a Jillpoke?



Mike.

 

[NIsaacs]

Well for crying out loud, if that ain't just cool as heck!!



Thanks Mike, I couldn't see in my mind why it would poke the wood, lol



Nick