Handtools for Trail Work

Tools for Lifting and Hauling

Use small rocks or logs for leverage
when prying heavy objects.

Crowbars

Use a crowbar for prying and levering large, heavy objects. These bars are heavy-duty steel and vary in length, weight, and diameter. In general, crowbars have a chisel tip on one end and a rounded handle on the other. They are usually 1 to 1½ inches in diameter and vary between 40 to 62 inches in length.

Crowbars are indispensable for
moving very heavy objects.

Place the chisel tip under an object to be moved, and wedge a log or rock between the bar and the ground to act as a fulcrum for the lever. Press the handle down with your body weight positioned over your palms. Never straddle the bar when prying. When the object raises as much as the bite will allow, block it and use a larger fulcrum or shorter bite on the same fulcrum to raise it further. You will gain proficiency with practice.

Carry crowbars by your side, tip forward, and grip it tightly near the middle to maintain balance. Maintain the factory bevel on the tip with a file or grindstone.

Block and Tackles

A block and tackle is a set of pulley blocks and ropes used for hoisting or hauling. These come in different styles, sizes, and capacities. In general, however, the more ropes that pass between the blocks, the greater mechanical advantage the tool affords. This advantage is called stress strength or lift capacity and is usually stamped somewhere on the tool. Attempting to move objects heavier than the block and tackle can safely support may damage the tool or cause injury. Never overstress block and tackle sets.

Hook the fixed or stationary block to something solid and the moveable block to the load. Pull the free rope end to lift or move the load and tie it off to hold the load in place. Always stand clear of stressed lines and out of the load's path of movement. Never stand under a suspended load.

Regularly examine running gears and hooks for signs of fatigue. Inspect cables or ropes for fraying and replace when necessary. Periodically oil unsealed bearings. Be careful not to spill oil onto areas that might cause it to slip under stress.

Wheelbarrows

Wheelbarrows help carry rocks or dirt to or from the worksite. Most wheelbarrows have a metal box and frame, wood or aluminum handles, and solid rubber or pneumatic tires. We recommend pneumatic-tired wheelbarrows because tire inflation can be changed to roll easily on uneven terrain.

Select a wheelbarrow stout enough for the job. Typically, wheelbarrows hold 4 to 5 cubic feet and weigh 20 or more pounds. Lift a loaded wheelbarrow with your legs, not with your back. Keep your back straight, bend at the knees to get into a lifting position, and grasp the handles firmly.

Bending your knees and lifting with your
legs avoids back strain or injury.

Balancing heavy loads on uneven terrain requires strong arms and legs. To avoid tipping, keep the load's center of gravity low to the ground. Good footing is essential. Learn and work within your physical limits. Several light loads will be easier and safer to manage than one large one. Prevent muscle strains by starting light and working up to heavy loads.

Although wheelbarrows usually require little maintenance, there are some things you can do. Lightly oil the wheel and axle occasionally, unless it has sealed bearings. Check handle bolts often for tightness and carry replacements in the field. Keep the box clean--dirt, water, or debris left standing in wheelbarrows will accelerate rusting. Turn the unit over at the end of the day's work, or if possible, store it out of the weather.

Cant Hooks and Peavies

Cant hooks and Peavies afford leverage for moving or rotating logs. The cant hook was originally used with a jam pike--a long pole with a spiked end. Loggers separated pieces with the hook after using the pike to pry them apart. Later these tools were combined by an American blacksmith, John Peavy, and the new tool bore his name. They weigh from 4 to 6 pounds and have handles from 2½ to 5 feet long. The size of log to be handled will dictate the size of the tool.

To roll a heavy log, use a series of short bites with the hook and maintain your progress by quickly resetting it. Catch the log with the hook hanging down so the point of the spike becomes the fulcrum on top of the log. Rotate the log using the leverage of the handle working the tool like a ratchet. Moving large logs may require several hooks working together. Avoid taking large bites; a heavy log will roll back and pin the handle before the hook can be reset.

Carry the Peavy by your side with the point forward. For balance, grip the handle behind where the hook attaches. Before walking, secure the hook against the handle to prevent injury to the operator or damage to the point of the hook. These tools also need maintenance. Keep hinged parts lightly oiled for proper movement. Spiked ends and hooks are usually bolted to handles, so check these frequently for tightness. Remove the spike ends and hooks when replacing handles. Carry replacements in the field. Sharpen hook ends with a mill bastard file and finish with a whetstone. Maintain factory bevels as much as possible.

Timber Carriers

Timber carriers enable teams of workers to move logs. With one tool the log is dragged. Several carriers could allow four or more persons to carry a large log. Hooks are 3 to 16 inches; handles are typically 4 feet long. Carriers weigh about 7 to 8 pounds.

Maintain the tongs on a timber carrier like cant hooks and Peavies. The tongs attach to the handle with a single bolt that is removed for handle replacement and carrying.

Timber carriers allow several
persons to carry logs.