Cutting down the mountain laurel for range space...
I think I posted about this a year or 2 ago. My property is covered with mountain laurel. The stuff sucks. Too thin for chain saw, too thick for weed wacker. So I put a saw blade on the weed wacker and it works good enough.
My range has only about 30 feet. I shoot pistols at it and I still kind of suck, no matter how much I practice or what classes I take. Mostly it's because I'm impatient, cross eye dominant, and need reading glasses.
Anyhow I'm good enough to shoot the bad guy. LOL But my neighbor put a few holes in my steel targets with a rifle. I told him this was not safe. I don't care about the targets so much (he offered to replace them). But I don't want a ricochet killing him.
Soooo... now that I have a few rifles of my own I need more space. I'm thinking I want 50 yards and paper targets only. I have more land but it's too sloped in most spots to get more than 50 yards.
Anyhow, back to the topic.. I hit this crap with the wacker this morning. Made good progress. But man it is work.
These go to eleven.
April 02, 2022, 02:32 PM
MikeinNC
Round up.. I used to live in the mountains of western NC and laurels are everywhere. Most were big enough to get em with a chainsaw at the base. But I can see how the smaller ones would be a PITA to get em. Good luck.
"Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor.” Robert A. Heinlein
“You may beat me, but you will never win.” sigmonkey-2020
“A single round of buckshot to the torso almost always results in an immediate change of behavior.” Chris Baker
April 02, 2022, 02:37 PM
frayedends
Some are definitely big enough for a chain saw. But it’s easier to get to the base with the length of the weed whacker. I won’t be using chemicals. Once it’s clear I will frequently ride over it with the quad to keep them from growing again.
These go to eleven.
April 02, 2022, 02:45 PM
recoatlift
Looks like good copperhead country.
April 02, 2022, 02:51 PM
Gene Hillman
Have you considered a red dot optic as a possibility for helping your vision situation? Would cutting the mountain laurel on the top of your bar work better? This woods looks like good snake country.
April 02, 2022, 02:57 PM
recoatlift
I noticed his location, maybe too far north for vipers. Like Indy Jones, I hate snakes!
April 02, 2022, 03:07 PM
frayedends
Not many venomous snakes here. Although copperheads are not unheard of I’ve never seen an actual report of one. Timber rattlers are here but very endangered so you don’t really see them.
Red dots. Yes. I have none on pistols but they are what made me finally get rifles. They defeat the cross eye dominance issue for sure.
These go to eleven.
April 02, 2022, 03:10 PM
pedropcola
Don’t know what a mountain laurel is and I’m not sure from the picture. Sounds like a job for a walkabout and a good machete.
April 02, 2022, 03:16 PM
frayedends
quote:
Originally posted by pedropcola: Don’t know what a mountain laurel is and I’m not sure from the picture. Sounds like a job for a walkabout and a good machete.
It’s basically like rhododendrons. Thick trunks like 3” or so. But spindly and winding like bonsai. Most of it would laugh at a machete. In my picture it’s in the foreground.
Those are for hay and maybe 1.5” saplings. Mountain laurel would giggle at it. Lol. The stuff doesn’t grow straight. It’s 3” thick and even thicker. It’s all intertwined. It sucks. My saw blade wacker is working. A good day of work and I’ll be all set.
These go to eleven.
April 02, 2022, 04:00 PM
Tuckerrnr1
What about a pole chainsaw?
_____________________________________________ I may be a bad person, but at least I use my turn signal.
April 02, 2022, 04:05 PM
frayedends
quote:
Originally posted by Tuckerrnr1: What about a pole chainsaw?
That could work but I’d need gas or a 800 foot extension cord.
These go to eleven.
April 02, 2022, 04:13 PM
Tuckerrnr1
Ask and yee shall receive.
_____________________________________________ I may be a bad person, but at least I use my turn signal.
April 02, 2022, 04:22 PM
Skins2881
I'd use a pruning blade in a szawall combined with loppers depending on the trunk thickness.
Jesse
Sic Semper Tyrannis
April 02, 2022, 04:37 PM
gjgalligan
quote:
Originally posted by Tuckerrnr1: What about a pole chainsaw?
I HAD one of those, battery powered. What a piece of shit it was
Integrity is doing the right thing, even when nobody is looking.
April 02, 2022, 05:24 PM
recoatlift
Carl suggests:
April 02, 2022, 05:28 PM
Aglifter
We used brush clearing saws, growing up. The do have a reputation as being quite dangerous though.
I think as long as you pay attention, and actually use the proper blades, it will be OK.
(They look like circular saw blades, but rotate much faster)
April 02, 2022, 05:38 PM
Jelly
Do you own a good battery powered reciprocating saw? If so get ya a DIABLO 3 pack of 6 in. 3 TPI Demo Demon Carbide Reciprocating Saw Blades for Pruning.
These Carbide 3 TPI rip through smaller wood stuff under 3 1/4", that is not worth firing up the chainsaw for and last a long time. I like them because they are safer than a brush blade on a weed wacker.
Ask and yee shall receive.
