Building a 6x6 mini-forwarder. In this video I'm cutting and machining steel frame cross members, machining drive shaft flanges for the BMW E39 differential, welding splined shafts to those flanges, making lots of cuts with old trusty angle grinder and welding stuff together. It is taking shape!
Why build a forwarder? As a small forest owner I spend a lot of time maintaining the forest by hand (bush cutter, chainsaw etc). Using this forwarder also as a harvester in the future will reduce the work load tremendously. Not to mention maneuvering between the trees will get much easier with a purpose built vehicle. I still use my homemade 4x4 UTV but a combination of UTV and the timber trailer is a bit bulky and awkward in the tight corners and while reversing into tight spots. So there you go - a mini forwarder build.
My other videos:
https://www.youtube.com/@DonnDIY/videos
My Patreon page:
https://www.patreon.com/DonnDIY
Welding equipment borrowed from Spetselektroodi AS, Estonia:
Fronius TransSteel 2700 welder
Optrel Crystal 2.0 Welding Helmet
Hypertherm Powermax 45 XP plasma cutter