Sometimes in life, you have to do a lot of work to get the job done.
This is one of those time. Since we want to build our house near the center of our property and use the existing woods as a windbreak, our driveway will run through part of the forest. For a while now I have been clearing the path with my STEEM-powered chainsaw and taking down the trees that are in the way. Thankfully, a lot of firewood is the byproduct of all this hard work.
Last Sunday, @vcelier and I took a ride with one of my neighbors to pick up this large drum stump grinder. Removing the stumps that remain after my chainsaw work is a big job, and a big piece of equipment like this will certainly help. Thankfully, I have friends who have friends, since renting a piece of equipment like this would cost a bit. When someone allows you to borrow it for free, it is a huge blessing!
My neighbors also have a big piece of necessary equipment. Without the tractor I would not be able to use the stump grinder. Now, we just have to get them hooked up together, which can be a task in itself.
HOOK IT UP!
For the most part, the hook up is not that terrible. However, every little piece needs to fit together and there are a lot of moving parts to deal with and connections must be made.
A few of the hook ups went together nicely, but more work still needed to be done. One of the main supports needed to be connected, but we did not have the correct end on the proper arm.
This is the end that we needed, but this arm would not work. The idea was to remove the end and mount it on another arm.
Once we got the end removed, we lined it up with a different arm. If we welded them together, it should work.
My neighbor, who is not a welder, got on the job. After a few minutes, we figured that we had done what we could.
The weld looked good enough and the piece mounted fine.
The arm also fit into place nicely, so it looked like we were successful in our efforts.
After a few more adjustment and locking a few more pieces into place, we were ready for action. Now to test the stump grinder with the tractor.
HERE GOES NOTHING!
Yes! So far, so good! The giant, heavy drum was spinning and we could raise and lower the grinder. Now that we knew it was working, it was time to test it out down on the land.
NOW COMES THE REST OF THE WORK
Here we are lining up the grinder with our first victim. Since I can't just have stumps in the middle of our driveway, we will have to remove all of them. To be at this point was very exciting. I also have a shipping container on the way, so I need to get these stumps out soon.
Just look at all those stumps behind the tractor. I've definitely got my work cut out for me, but at least I have this heavy equipment to use. Let's see if it works!
These stumps can take anywhere from a minute to about an hour, depending on their size. Personally, I prefer the quick ones, but the large ones need to come out too. It had been over 20 years since I had been on a tractor, but I got the hang of it again. It is time to either learn or remember skills like that.
Getting rid of the stumps this way is a lot of work, but it can be a bit of fun too. Watching sawdust and then eventually dirt and rock fly through the air is pretty cool. Plus, I do like driving the tractor and adjusting the stump grinder.
Some of the larger stumps take some thinking and readjusting too, but so far I am doing good. I've got a lot more work to get done and was even grinding out in the rain this morning. I'll give you all an update once I get the shipping container, because it is next on the to do list along with some road base.
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-of-stump-grinder
this is the real beauty of yours my dear that you never give up as you told in your post you even grinding out in the rain that shows the real hardwork and real commitment of you with your hard work , i saw your all pics with hooks with grinder and withs tractors and with all heavy machinery and equipments ,
the first thing that i like in this post is the friendship , i mean the real friendship of your friends with you and also the love and affection of your neighbour with you who gave you his tractor for grinding the stumps and the friends of yours are great who gave you their heavy machinery on just free of cost on frienship basis , as you mention in your post that its a blessing for you yes i voted you here yes its a great blessing of God for you that you have such kind of great friend i always reminds a qoutation im my diary that a friend is that person who helps you in the hour of need ( A friend in need is a friend indeed) yes that is the friend for indeed and forever, and you are the luckiest person who fullfils your works that is the grinding stups in your land with the help of your friends equipment and it never costs huge for you,
Secondly i again said all the work is done with your commiment you repair some euipment and done some welding and some other heavy hardwork as i saw in the pictures and make the euipment useable for grinding the stumps , i must say you @papa-pepper yes you are the papa of steemit because the way you hardwork and nthe friends of you clearly showed us the great spirit you have in you because if you do good with people the same people will do with you and this post clearly show that you always do good and your level best with your friends that why they accomodate you in the hour of need , hats of to you my friend , and hats of to your hardwork , congrats for completing your grinding stupms and for completing your task , its all about good things of you and the hardwork of you so that it all completed , steem on dear , thanks for sharing this big post with us
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I have given you a 100% upvote on your comment because it is a real comment. I appreciate that.
I also appreciate your sincere words. We all must interact with others, so why not help, makes friends, and generous? It seems like the best way to me.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
pleasure is all mine my dear friend , the people like you on steemit are the great inspiration for us who didnot just earning rewards on steemit but also make this platform beautiful with their valuable work and great content with some amazing and memorable pictures, it all about you @papa-pepper , pleasure to be here and its my pleasure that you like my comment i just praise your work thats the beauty of this comment that i praise you, thanks again dear
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Great comment! Thoughtful and straight from the heart!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Wow... good job friend!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I'm looking forward to watching the various stages of your house build, over what time period do you expect it will take. Cheers mike
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Wow STEEM-powered chainsaw ? steem power is everywhere indeed!!! upped. Am impressed on your sustainability ethos and wide range of talents. Thanks to @vcelier and @papa-peppe tribe for helping out @papa-peppe , good job guys. Wish you all a blessed week.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yup, whatever I purchase with Steemit funds I call steem-powered!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Good point, I agree. Keep steeming to more success
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Your life seems so much fun...tinkering with the things and getting the job done...awesome feeling...
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
It is a lot of fun, or at least I am enjoying it.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
good job @papa-pepper...thank you for sharing.
vote to me @zacly
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Very cool beetle, and it is my favorite color too!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
very good construction idea. thumbs up boss👍
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Nice that's alot of work just for some stumps
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
If you have an easier way I am all ears, though I do not have dynamite...
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
You are one multitalented man , I see you doing something new everyday with your kids!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Followed you man! Probably the best post I have ever seen on steemit no lies! Have a great week!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
really i appreciate what you did , so amazing
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
good job papa,,
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Get R Done Papa!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
There is not a better feeling in the world @papa-pepper than working your own land and making a legacy to be passed down to your children. The world needs more men like you sir. Keep up the good work and let me know if you ever need help on a Sunday.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I agree, and we are 40 minutes away from you right now.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I love the welding effect :)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thank you. I thought it sparked the post up a little bit and added a great effect. I am glad that you appreciate it!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Great job putting the tools together and making the whole process work @papa-pepper.
Both challenging and rewarding is the homesteading life.
Figuratively and literally 'the daily grind'. lol
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
@papa-pepper, enjoyed reading about the grinding, all the effort you put in to get it working and your photographs! Especially the dynamic gifs! They are a thoughtful touch! :)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I think that they look nice and add a little action to the post. They liven it up a little more than just text or photos!
Thanks.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Now that is some red neck ingenuity happening! Yup stumps in a driveway do not work well together and can take out a whole lot of things needed for a car to work! How far did the rocks fly? Sharing to show it happening!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Haha! Looks like a fun day! That red old tractor reminds me of my grandfathers and days with him on the old family farm.......... nice. Love the hat by the way!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Hard work is the best investments in life. You need to work hard for your family and for yourself.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Might be time to take some of that hard earned STEEM and get yourself a good tractor! That's the best investment we ever made out here on our place.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
That looks super fun! 😃
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
You maid something cool and it works :)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Cooolll
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
We used to just leave the stumps in the back yard to trip over!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
That looks like fun though like a lot of work too. I am sure it is more fun that cutting down the trees that is exhausting work.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Cool project. What's the plan for the shipping container? Are you building the house from containers, or just storage?
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Need to get me one of those puppies! Paid to have 3 apples ground but have about 20 pines to grind yet. Great post.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I never seen a stump grinder before it's a pretty cool piece of equipment to have. It must be nice to have neighbors to help you out by lending you the tractor and stump grinder. Its been 40 years since I have driven a tractor myself. You also got the bonus of sawdust for your garden.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I've seen those stump grinders up close and they are some powerful machines. Love your animated images - nice job.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
That is seriously cool, I have been wanting a wood chipper for sooo long, this is a whole nother level! Is it just me or does everyone else want an unboxing video of the shipping container that has you so motivated to grind through tree stumps to get it... LOL
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I didn't even know there was such a thing as a stump grinder...we could use one of those here...my hubby and son have been clearing some of our land to turn into pasture land here and we have loads of stumps.
Great post, thanks so much for sharing. :D
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I'd never even heard of a stump grinder before today.
Down our way, we use a stick of jelly (gelignite). And that's a BUNCH of fun ;-)
[no bots were used in the making of this comment]
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
LOL! No bots!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Well personally I wasn't much interested in this post, I have to admit. But I showed it to my non=steemian son and he was THRILLED with it. SO here I am upvoting you and it looks as if you've converted another fellow human being to steemit!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Hey @papa-pepper! Wish we had your stump removal machine a while back. We had quite a few very large stumps to remove in order to build our security wall. We ended up removing them manually (ie digging, chopping, cussing under our breath etc). It took a lot of time and many workers hands to accomplish the job. Good thing labour is easy to comeby in 3rd world countries! You are blessed to have so many good friends close by.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
What a difference mechanization has made. As a little kid, the neighbours were removing some stumps with the " black powder man" . He would hand drill a couple of holes, fill them with gunpowder, light the fuse, grab us kids and go around a fold in the ground. A big bang and when we got back there was a bit of smoke and a couple of bits for the horse to pull out,
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Really it's amazing post.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
It's always cool to have your own machine shop and stuff. You can DIY almost anything. Thanks for sharing.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
This post has been ranked within the top 10 most undervalued posts in the second half of Aug 06. We estimate that this post is undervalued by $49.14 as compared to a scenario in which every voter had an equal say.
See the full rankings and details in The Daily Tribune: Aug 06 - Part II. You can also read about some of our methodology, data analysis and technical details in our initial post.
If you are the author and would prefer not to receive these comments, simply reply "Stop" to this comment.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Gotta love stump grinding. Nice to see you had the tractor to haul that bad boy around. We had to grind stumps a few summers ago and had to "walk it". Sounds a lot easier than it really is. Thank God there is a dead man's switch on there because it could be a bad day if it got away from you.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
@papa-pepper the Jack of all trades! I remembered watching my uncle doing some welding work naked eyes...man I could not sleep at night! So much pain in the eyes!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Congratulations @papa-pepper!
Your post was mentioned in the hit parade in the following category:
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit