Hand Tools for Trail Work (2005) [pdf] • Hacker News Board

Re: Hand Tools for Trail Work (2005) [pdf]

#31

Post by madaxe_again » Wed, Apr 28, 2021, 10:59 AM UTC

Pfhreak wrote: post #3

I've used my tech salary to buy some formerly clear-cut acreage near National Forests with a plan to rehabilitate and protect the forest there. One of the first things I want to do is set up some trails for hiking to the ridge and creek on the property. Thanks for sharing this, super interesting to read!

Forest trails aren’t just useful for people.

We bought 5ha of scrubby forest in Portugal two years ago, absolutely cluttered with dead trees, brambles, and stunted, overcrowded saplings. 30 years ago it was agricultural land, but with abandonment has rewilded, but badly.

We cut a number of trails through the forest, cleared some of the undergrowth, and we now have boar and deer maintaining said trails and cropping the undergrowth down in the areas around them.

What was just dense thickets of dead thorns is now grassy and flowering, and we’ve started seeing all sorts of wildlife appear that just couldn’t get in previously.

Re: Hand Tools for Trail Work (2005) [pdf]

#32

Post by rrrix1 » Wed, Apr 28, 2021, 3:33 PM UTC

gdubs wrote: post #16

I shared this in another thread yesterday, but appropriate here — this is my favorite all-around tool: https://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/products.ph... It’s a trail tool, but serves many purposes — from grubbing out weeds, to contouring paths, to leveraging boulders. I love it. I also have a Japanese saw referred to as a human powered chainsaw (I think it’s called “The Silky Big Boy”) and it’s a close…

Wow, that thing looks amazing! Never seen this before and I thought I've seen them all. Definitely getting one.

Re: Hand Tools for Trail Work (2005) [pdf]

#33

Post by gdubs » Wed, Apr 28, 2021, 4:31 PM UTC

emi420 wrote: post #29

gdubs wrote: post #16

I shared this in another thread yesterday, but appropriate here — this is my favorite all-around tool: https://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/products.ph... It’s a trail tool, but serves many purposes — from grubbing out weeds, to contouring paths, to leveraging boulders. I love it. I also have a Japanese saw referred to as a human powered chainsaw (I think it’s called “The Silky Big Boy”) and it’s a close…

What about the sharpening of that tool? seems to be inverse than on a Pulaski, it works good anyway?

Great question! I haven’t sharpened it yet, but it’s made from reclaimed agricultural discs which are known to take a beating.

Re: Hand Tools for Trail Work (2005) [pdf]

#34

Post by prteja11 » Wed, Apr 28, 2021, 4:56 PM UTC

Pfhreak wrote: post #3

I've used my tech salary to buy some formerly clear-cut acreage near National Forests with a plan to rehabilitate and protect the forest there. One of the first things I want to do is set up some trails for hiking to the ridge and creek on the property. Thanks for sharing this, super interesting to read!

Would you be willing to chat (either here/privately) a bit about how you went about buying this land, where and how much it cost you, etc.? Completely understand if you want to keep this information private. I tried to look at your profile for a social handle/email, but couldn't find it.