What 3 Hours in a Ditch Will Get ya

Operator1975

Operator1975

Joined
Sep 24, 2010
Messages
2,395
So I have this long ditch that runs along the back side of my field that was here when I bought my property 10 years ago this past March. It is there for drainage purposes of course, for pretty much all the time seeing we have wet ground here in NW Pa and then also for when it rains for extra runoff control.

So I haven't touched it in 5 years - and so it was time to get after it. It is a holy mess, so it will be a tag team effort with my Stihl, Flint Edge, Black Donald, and me.

These pics are with the cell phone, so sorry in advanced they aren't top notch -

So this is what it looks like from the middle of the ditch looking back towards the field edge and woods -

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So yeah, this thing is a disaster. I only had limited time today(Alabama game at 4 and had to do other chores until noon) - so I only got 3 hours in the hole....

So I brought in the tools - here we go -

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Bucket is white because I was spreading 2b limestone last couple weekends.

So get to work - and making progress -

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I couldn't move that stump up and out myself, so I will have to pull it out with the tractor. I cut the big stuff with the chainsaw and little misc stuff with the Flint Edge.

Then moving on down, ran into this mess - down trees, rotten, grapevines, prickers, etc. Time to get after it.

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Cleaned up pretty well -

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Moving on down, had some dead trees laying across, then some dead standing ones on the bank as well - the old Flint Edge was looking for some work -

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Total time to drop it, then buck into those pieces was 11 minutes - its a cutting fool

The Black Donald wanted some action, so it got its turn

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All in all a good day for 3 hours - got a lot done. Tomorrow I will continue, and once the big stuff is cleared I will start over and clear the ditch out with shovel or pitch fork to enable good drainage, and then start back in the middle where I started today and head the other way. Might take me all day, but I think I can get it done. We will see. Nice weekend for it, it is hovering around 50 degrees here - for the start of December that is unheard of.

Well thats it. One redneck getting after it.

Thanks!!!
 
For some reason, I love this type of work. (I can watch it all day...)

Seriously, when in the thick of it, other problems don't exist and it gives a good feeling of accomplishment.

Thanks for the post.
 
You made pretty good time. Sharp tools are a joy to use.
You reminded me for some reason;)that I don't own a brush hook.
 
Steve Tall said:
For some reason, I love this type of work. (I can watch it all day...)
Click to expand...

*lol*
I can watch other people work all day too!

(actually, I can't. sitting still while time burns away drives me nuts)

Nice pix, Operator. I'm way impressed with your felling and bucking speed.
 
Little disappointed though. My Flint Edge came loose on my handle. This is a great example of a guy trying to use a handle that wasn't quite right for the head. Even after I wedged it there was some space up top in the eye. I tried to tell myself it wasn't a big deal, even though in the back of my mind I figured it might be.

So lesson learned kids - don't cut corners and do things right. Now I have an axe that doesn't work for me. The Black Donald held true so ill have that for tomorrow as usual.

So I have to order a 30, 32 inch handle now, wait for it to come in, etc. might try another axe out tomorrow - see what I have, might be able to round something up..... :)
 
You're having way too much fun there, Mike. Only thing you're missing is a crosscut saw. How do those boots hold up in the slop? Stay dry?

I got muddy today, spent 4 hours doing habitat restoration work along a local salmon river. Been doing this for 5 years. In 8 more years I'm going to have a world class sockeye run in my back yard. Best eating fish in the world.
 
Actually my steel toes did stay dry today. When I got done my carhart bibs and boots didn't like me much because we were covered in mud - but all told it was a good day. Except for my dang axe head.
 
There's a joy to using simple tools. And the therapeutic value of bashing the crap out of something with an axe just can't be underestimated.
 
Operator1975 said:
Little disappointed though. My Flint Edge came loose on my handle. This is a great example of a guy trying to use a handle that wasn't quite right for the head. Even after I wedged it there was some space up top in the eye. I tried to tell myself it wasn't a big deal, even though in the back of my mind I figured it might be.

So lesson learned kids - don't cut corners and do things right. Now I have an axe that doesn't work for me. The Black Donald held true so ill have that for tomorrow as usual.

So I have to order a 30, 32 inch handle now, wait for it to come in, etc. might try another axe out tomorrow - see what I have, might be able to round something up..... :)
Click to expand...

Was the gap from front to back or side to side (the way the wedge is wedging)? I learned a great trick from a fella, I use a narrow flat peen hammer, or a cold chisel ground to maybe a 4.5mm flat to push the wedge in deeper. Might be worth a try. I never found the gaps to affect much as long as the wedge is really really tight.
 
Nice work. I really like how the best made felling axe chops. Of my xx axes, it's one of my go-to work axes.
 
I have a Sager 3 1/2 DB and a Collins Connecticut on 28 inch handle ready to go for tomorrow, plus the BD. I removed the handle from the Flint Edge and it will be on the sidelines tomorrow. I want to try and get it done for the most part tomorrow. See what happens.
 
Steve Tall said:
For some reason, I love this type of work. (I can watch it all day...)

Seriously, when in the thick of it, other problems don't exist and it gives a good feeling of accomplishment.

Thanks for the post.
Click to expand...

You and me both! Great post. I love that sort of work.
 
Looking forward to seeing that sager db in action! I am curious though, you must have hundreds of axes, do you give all of them a chance to perform and have these set aside? (besides your valuable labels and such?) Or do some just "speak" to you and get some edge work done or a new handle and get tried out? I have a fraction of your collection and I am a bit overwhelmed at what to use.
 
Good question. I am always on the lookout for a good user. I have basically had that flint edge for years now, and the black Donald for roughly year and a half. I have used different ones for periods of time over the years, then returned them to the collection. It's not a science per say, the nice ones never get touched except for anti rust maintenance and the others I will use here or there if something catches my eye. The Sager I have been wanting use for about 2 years and keep forgetting about it and the Collins I think could be a beast of a worker. On 28 inch handle though concerns me - would like it to be at least 30. As I awake and get ready it's trying to rain, so we will see what the day holds.
 
nice photos.

So driving one of them there luttle shiny steel wedges in that loose head would be out of the question :rolleyes: just a thought, not a good one, but a thought.
 
I tried a steel wedge - didnt help. Like I said the handle wasnt quite right for the head, so that gave way to wiggle room, which proceeded to always try and push the wedge up and out pretty much constantly. It was usable, just not up to standard. Chalk it up to OPERATOR ERROR.

Happens sometimes.
 
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