Thread: Log tongs vs snug chain

Bit off topic but figure there are a few here that may have answers....

Have a firewood job coming up, old man pines about 35-40m and about 3.5-4' diameter (going by the way my 3" bar vanished into the damn thing) last time I whacked it into lengths about 3 rings long. Put the chain round them and had a mate drag them up the bank with his surf at speed. This resulted in losing a couple when the cabin came lose and taking off down the bank.... Ideal

Not the best set up for h&s either with lengths of wood moving fast in the air. This time looking at winching them up with my LandCruiser.

Do I stick with the chain or find a pair of tongs? Would the tongs stop the logs from rolling as much? Any tricks to stop the end digging into the bank? Plan on having a pulley block in a tree at the top of bank as high as i can

put a ring on end of chain instead of a hook.......or use wire strop to noose them.... to stop end digging in,keep chain/strop close to end of log... 3-4" round and 3 lengths long isnt even a fence post...so no big deal weight wise....heck a 2.5ton transport strop would be more than enough...tie big loop in one end and either lasso with that and hook chain onto the hook end ,or hook chain onto big loop and thread strop back through the triangle metal bit to form noose.

I have a set of tongs, but not sure if they would open to 4' and I would have thought they were more for lifting than towing...I have one of the proper chains for towing, the hook doesn't come adrift when towing...I'll put up a photo in the morning.

umm is it 3-4 inches or 3-4 feet through????I wouldnt think a 4 foot log of any length would move easily...but to stop it digging in...cut V groove around it and notch front face so strop will bite in and keep it pointed in right direction..sort of like end of ya knob..... the problem with pulley block is if you run out of room..you will need it anchored up on flat so you can pull right up to it....
if you need to use chain and hook....put belly of hook against log opening to outside.... but a D or loop in end will fix your issue ,wire strop much better.

Should have said, used chain with open loop on end and chain fed back through it to make a loop. trouble was getting the chain to grip to a log, went round the logs twice a couple of times (amazing how much length that took of the chain) Did actually use tie down strops to make up the length needed.

Old mate in the surf had to put his foot down and try keeping them moving/
Bouncing, was a good moment to stand well clear

If using winch plan on cutting them a lot longer, 9500lb winch, may run a couple of pulleys, shall see how it goes. Plenty of dynamic winch rope and extention straps

Making a v groove for it to sit in makes sense, didn't both when I was doing so many short lengths but worth the hassle if I'm not doing as many.

3-4 foot diameter, think the last one was 37m tall, good news is they are already on the ground thank to the amount of rain /wind we have had. Bad news is they went down the bank.... Least the but end is pointing up

confusion stemed from the 3" bar bit LOL......
ok so you already using chain with open loop..... the notch thing will definately help...bugger you so far away or would give you wire strop..... go see the lads down on wharf,dont know if you have a cookes down there,but any one who can splice wire rope will whip one up in no time...might cost a box of beerzies.you COULD use a couple of 4" nails through links of chain close to ring to stop them moving back through it???? maybe more hassle than its worth.

Hey md, Have a length of wire rope somewhere.... Came on the winch and I got a second loop out on the other end to use as an extension, shall have a dog through the shed for it. Sounds like there is no major advantage of the log tongs in my situation

There is a Cooke's in invercargill I have used before if I run short on anything.

much much safer to winch them up, a simple wire rope choke won't slip with a constant tension, sounds like you've already dodged some bullets . . . . that size stuff/energy required doesn't take any prisoners.

Originally Posted by 223nut

Hey md, Have a length of wire rope somewhere.... Came on the winch and I got a second loop out on the other end to use as an extension, shall have a dog through the shed for it. Sounds like there is no major advantage of the log tongs in my situation

There is a Cooke's in invercargill I have used before if I run short on anything.

If you going to Cooke's get a proper chocker made up, I had one but sold it.

@Tentman yeah it wasn't the safest thing I have been involved in.... Made sure I wasn't downhill when they were on the move.

David, think I can make do with what I have but will bear it mind.

Just trying to find a safer / easier way. Cutting your own firewood is enough hard work without making harder on myself

If you coming down to Invercargill I have a length of wire rope that’ll just need the love from Cooke’s
PM me

This is the shape of the hook for dragging logs by chain, as used behind bulldozer and chain don't slip off the log



This is the tongs I have, at a quick measure they would do up to 800mm, so you would need a far bigger set.

I’d make up a yoke and and drive pins into the log ends to secure it, then roll the bastards. No good if you’ve got some decline though


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I’d snipe the log n use a wire rope strop so the rope/strop pulls from the middle of the log. Uses less strop that way. Could pay to bevel front end (towing end) of log.


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@MSL trees were standing about 40m off the side of the driveway and downhill vertically maybe 15m they fell straight down the hill so no way to roll them up, much better to drag from an end.
@tiroahunta I suspect if I drag from the middle it's going to get snagged between any trees/ vegetation left, yes putting some sort of bevel on the front face will save it digging in, may have to put it all the way round if it rolls, easier than the "skidding cones" I have seen around
@SiB I'll take you up on that offer as mine has not come too light, not sure when I'll be over in the big smoke again.
@DavidGunn similar size chain (mines still shiny) has an open eye on one end then a standard hook (able to go between the links and make adjustable loop) on the other

Cheers for all the help and advice, am a few weeks from getting started so trying to think it all through. Having to bring my old LandCruiser over to the island, bit of a cost for that but at $175/m for dry wood at the moment there is plenty of logs there to make up for it