Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Crawlers, Dozers, Loaders & Backhoes Discussion Forum

How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn?

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Richard Shreck

01-31-2004 16:49:13




Report to Moderator

I have 2 to 300 pine trees i just cleared with a dozer. We tired diesel...lots of it. It would burn for a few minutes, then go out. I know some of you pro's out there know something I have not figured out. Any help? Thanks Rich




[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Brad

02-04-2004 15:14:54




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
Richard, I bought 5ac last year and have been clearing it. There were two large tree piles on the property when we bought it from where a dozer pushed them in a piles. There was quite a bit of dirt, and you could tell the previous owner tried to burn the piles as they were. I got out my 'ol trusty chainsaw and cut up the trees. I put the smaller branches on the bottom, and piled some heavier pieces on top. I used some diesel fuel, and once the fire got going, I kept fueling it with the bigger stuff. I got quite a fire going. I put several green pine trees on the fire, and they burned right up. 3 days later I stirred up the ashes, and there was still fire underneath!! Brad

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Jim in michigan

02-02-2004 13:39:45




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
someone said that pine trees wont burn,,well take from a firefighter who has battle forest fires,,pine trees WILL burn and burn hot,,,when you get that fire going stay way back or else you wont have any hair left..make sure all around is cleared and that there is little wind,, pine trees throw off a lot of sparks causing spot fires,,be careful,,,Good luck....Jim



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JimMd

02-01-2004 16:21:23




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
I cleared about 20 acres of what locals call silver thorn, about 6-8" diameter of nasty thorns. Found they wouldn't burn green. Found that by cutting the root ball off it kept the tree from wicking water from the dirt and the burning went much faster. Of course you need a dense pile. What I did was burn the tree first and put the root balls on top. Next morning the dirt was dried and used the dozer to push the pile a few feet and with the dirt off they were the base for the next days fire. Burned 7-800 trees in two weeks. I found no matter how hot the fire they wouldn't burn with the roots attached, It took a few minutes with the chain saw, but it worked. Also the root dirt made a nice ramp to push the days work up and onto the top of the fire. Jim

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Tim

02-01-2004 14:04:21




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
Park your dozer and get out your chainsaw. Start a small fire upwind up the main pile. keep cutting logs 36 to 48 inch adding (by hand) to your small fire. Pretty soon you'll have a bawnfire. Then fire up the dozer and start pushing the pile into the fire. Be careful not to push to much all at once.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
john

02-01-2004 13:07:30




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
The pile has to be tight and it is best if seasoned. You have to get a good coal base from burned seasoned wood to hold the heat long enough to burn green wood. You should have sold the trees then all you would have is brush and stumps to burn.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bryan

02-01-2004 11:31:43




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
You want fire huh ? OK this really works ,best fire starter ever !!! Take propane tank off grill ,,set down in brush pile ,,,set small can of gas infront of it , light gas .Get back about 50 yards ,, shoot propane tank with rifle , .22 won't work , sks ,,30-30 223, anything like that ,,smaller less expanding bullet makes long burn time ! Awsome fireball !!! lol



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob

02-01-2004 08:26:14




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
How tight is the bush pile? Are there Lots of holes in it? Did you pile the bush or just shover it up there? How much dirt in the bush? You can burn green trees somtimes you just have to keep punching them with the dozer.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Paul

02-01-2004 06:16:48




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
Up here in Maine, I use a leaf blower to supply the air needed to keep the fire going.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mark

01-31-2004 21:52:41




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
Rich, I take it that these pine trees are green since they won't burn. Well, just like in your fireplace or woodstove or a wildfire out here in CA, it's nearly impossible to start a fire with green wood. Pine trees are very flamable so you have that going for you. So with that being said here is what I would do: I would take a saw and cut some dead limbs from the trees and start a pile of small dead stuff up against your main pile(s). Use the wind, if any to your favor so that it's blowing into the pile. Since I am cheap I don't use much fuel to start piles, but a quart or two should work to get your small pile of dry, dead limbs/brush. When I say small pile I mean 4'x4'x4', about a small pick-up bed size amount. After you light it keep feeding it small stuff and if there is good heat built up start adding small green stuff and so on. Feed it by hand to get a good hot fire going unless you can push a little brush on it without putting dirt in the fire. Dirt will not help your situation either. I would keep adding small stuff (like under 3") and then try to roll some of the brush up on the fire with the dozer. By doing this you don't disturb the base of the fire nor do you push a bunch of dirt in it. Add some fuel if needed. A sprayer is a good idea, I use something open like an old paint can or a 5-gal bucket. Just my 2-cents and good luck.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Shannon

01-31-2004 20:11:27




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
First of all,Were the trees dead when you dozed them?? If not wait a year or two then they will burn like matchsticks..Unseasoned wood does'nt burn very good at all..... ..... ..... ..... .....



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
farmnut

01-31-2004 19:31:25




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
put the dozer fan to it like gene said works here in ohio good. although we use a bobcat to do it. goodluck



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Johnski

01-31-2004 19:25:10




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
A couple of road flares after the diesel and you'll be roastin' marsmallows in no time. ;)



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob

01-31-2004 18:54:12




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
Hello, Short of using diesel to light them up, you might try contacting the folks in california... they seem to have no problem with setting fires to trees... :)



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mark

01-31-2004 22:01:27




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to in reply to Bob, 01-31-2004 18:54:12  
Bob, Due to the Clinton Admin. i.e. Al Gore, most of the western states logging and forest thinning had been stopped. This is part of the wildfire problem out here. Bush on the other hand is changing that.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
David in SC

01-31-2004 18:04:51




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
Use your diesel in a pump up garden sprayer if you are not already doing that. You create a situation almost like an injector and you can spread the fire much easier this way. Uses maybe 1/10th of the fuel you would if you are just dumping it on. Just spray it often enough to keep a little flame for about 30 minutes, then start piling onto the flames at the rate it is able to consume it. Before you know it, you got a nice burn. Low humidity and a lite wind help. Good luck. David in SC

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Gene Davis (GA.)

01-31-2004 18:02:14




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
Very simple to do. When you get through piling them with your root rake, start your fire with fuel or what ever and then take a dozer with a forward blowing fan and drive it close enough to blow the fire. As the fire increases speed up the motor to match the burn. The fan supplies the combustion air to make the fire burn hotter and gives less smoke and less unburned scraps. JUST be sure you don't leave it uuattened and let fire get to the dozer!!

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JD dozer mike

01-31-2004 17:37:39




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
Pine trees WON'T BURN,,,!!!! What's this world coming to!!!!! Old Motor oil helps too , and some old dry wood scraps , start little fire in down hill side or in a concave so fire will follow into the pile.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Davis In SC

01-31-2004 17:34:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
Old tires burn hot, they will get things going. Better check with authorities first, might be illegal now.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
marlowe

01-31-2004 17:47:42




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to in reply to Davis In SC, 01-31-2004 17:34:11  
tires ? it's illegal



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
William

02-01-2004 05:33:58




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees in reply to marlowe, 01-31-2004 17:47:42  
As Marlowe said, it's illegal to use tires. Hefty Fine, Here in Illinois if caught by EPA. On the other hand if you don't get caught...



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Davey

02-01-2004 13:07:24




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Re: How do you get a pile of cleared t in reply to William, 02-01-2004 05:33:58  
I know a lot of people who burn tires at night, it is actually easier to push up piles at night with the dozer. Of course I would never burn a tire at night, even though you would probably never get caught as the smoke would be invisible.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Wingnut

02-03-2004 16:48:31




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: How do you get a pile of clear in reply to Davey, 02-01-2004 13:07:24  
The Wire left over from the tires always gives it away...Thats what someone told me anyways... Wing



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
marlowe

01-31-2004 17:20:05




Report to Moderator
 Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to burn in reply to Richard Shreck, 01-31-2004 16:49:13  
rose bud torch



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
goofus fr L.A.

02-03-2004 07:05:32




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: How do you get a pile of cleared trees to in reply to marlowe, 01-31-2004 17:20:05  
Would you please wait for the mess to dry out a while, so I won't have to breath that dreadful (green wood burning) smoke for a week. You would be so very kind. goof



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy