Frozen feed wheels

[Serf Life]

Hope that’s the Katz meow…

 

[TreeCo]

One of those tubed shaped kerosene burning floor heaters that look like a tank would do no matter how cold it is. I've heard them called 'salamanders' before.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Propane torch worked till the bottle froze. Air hammer for the win! Tray will stay off for the season.

 

[southsoundtree]

I believe some people leave those door open while chipping to let rocks drop out. There's clean-up afterward. If chipping on one spot for a while, a weighted-down tarp would make for easy cleanup.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Oh...there...

Thats why I never had a freeze up. None of my chippers had the door anyway.Wejustgot used to doing a few rake swipes to clean up the dribble.

 

[Matias]

I'm told that OSHA will write a guy up for even running with it open, but I hate the door most of the time.

Is it true? With what else I have heard here recently, I'm dubious.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

I believe some people leave those door open while chipping to let rocks drop out. There's clean-up afterward. If chipping on one spot for a while, a weighted-down tarp would make for easy cleanup.

We use tarps for clean up anyways. Good call

 

[Brando CalPankian]

I'm told that OSHA will write a guy up for even running with it open, but I hate the door most of the time.

Is it true? With what else I have heard here recently, I'm dubious.

That would be silly. Worth some investigation. Out where I am OSHA is few and far between, still something to be cognizant of

 

[Brando CalPankian]

I believe some people leave those door open while chipping to let rocks drop out. There's clean-up afterward. If chipping on one spot for a while, a weighted-down tarp would make for easy cleanup.

Rocks? I mean... Huh.

 

[evo]

I'm told that OSHA will write a guy up for even running with it open, but I hate the door most of the time.

Is it true? With what else I have heard here recently, I'm dubious.

I always thought that was the purpose of the door. I’m certain it’s in the manual so OSHA can go to hell

 

[evo]

We would store fuel and bar old plus a few odds and ends in a Rubbermaid tub that would live in the infeed shoot. Turned out after a while I noticed that it fit perfectly under the bottom feed wheel flap. Easy cleanup as long as it wasn’t over filled.

 

[Matias]

That would be silly. Worth some investigation. Out where I am OSHA is few and far between, still something to be cognizant of

I have only ever seen one OSHA guy ever. He only wrote us up for saw dust in our water container which wasn't in there until he opened it up. The fact that it was all exclusively on the top surface wasn't enough to convince him. $800.

 

[Rodger_Dodger]

Sorry Brando, don’t have anything meaningful to contribute, but would like to say as bad as I hate summer in the south, this is one problem I’m glad I don’t have to deal with.

Folks that move down here often express astonishment that we work in the sometimes extreme heat of peak summer. Let me reciprocate that astonishment and admiration to you guys that are able to work in the temp extremes at the other end of the thermometer. My hands don’t want to function in Texas winters! I can’t imagine trying to work in temps that cold.

Hats off to you guys, seriously.

 

[southsoundtree]

That sucks. Where?

 

[southsoundtree]

If it helps at all, I've spent all day unfreezing my well. Persistance!

My thermostatically-controlled outlet stopped working for the heater. Little things that take a lot of time.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

East Central Minnesota. My dad's on the Olympic peninsula, y'all were colder than we have been all year! Family in eastern Washington saw -30 today. We've been blessed this winter. Lol

 

[Brando CalPankian]

We would store fuel and bar old plus a few odds and ends in a Rubbermaid tub that would live in the infeed shoot. Turned out after a while I noticed that it fit perfectly under the bottom feed wheel flap. Easy cleanup as long as it wasn’t over filled.

That's a great idea. My chip truck lacks storage, any little bit helps.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Sorry Brando, don’t have anything meaningful to contribute, but would like to say as bad as I hate summer in the south, this is one problem I’m glad I don’t have to deal with.

Folks that move down here often express astonishment that we work in the sometimes extreme heat of peak summer. Let me reciprocate that astonishment and admiration to you guys that are able to work in the temp extremes at the other end of the thermometer. My hands don’t want to function in Texas winters! I can’t imagine trying to work in temps that cold.

Hats off to you guys, seriously.

I worked a year in West Texas heat. It's no joke but at least it was dry. I don't miss the heat like that anymore

 

[flushcut]

I like a forced air propane heater and a tarp myself, slower than a torch but less damage potential.

 

[Bucknut]

Had this happen a few years ago. I also had to leave a job. Tried the propane torch. Was stunned at how slowly fire melts ice! And of course I discovered that propane cylinders will quickly freeze up.

I resorted to an electric heat gun and chisel. What a pain. One idea we came up with later was to route some metal ductwork from a truck exhaust to the iced up area, and maybe surround it with a blanket or something to retain heat.

Another time we had a soaking rain at night and then the cold came in quickly thereafter. The rain had somehow made its way into one of the chip pockets under a knife on the drum. Filled it up and froze. So we go to chip at the job, throttle up and the whole machine starts vibrating. Bad. Like it’s about to start bouncing. Just that bit of water weight was enough to throw the drum out of balance and turn the chipper into a paperweight for the day.

I love winter.