LOG HANDLING TOOLS | TIMBERJACKS, CANT HOOKS & SKIDDING TONGS GUIDE
Purpose-Built Equipment for Firewood Prep & Property Timber Clearing
Managing fallen timber on a rural acreage, bush block, or suburban yard requires purpose-built tools. Standard ropes, chains, and manual lifting often result in slipped grips, dulled chainsaw blades, and severe physical fatigue. Adding the right log handling tools to your setup eliminates manual strain while speeding up firewood prep and property clearing.
Which Log Handling Tool Do You Need?
- Timberjacks & Cant Hooks (Manual, One-Person Use): Perfect for solo operations. A timberjack uses a long lever handle and a hinged hook to lift a log clear of the ground so you can cut it without striking dirt or rocks — protecting your chainsaw chain from dulling. A cant hook uses the same lever action to roll and reposition heavier logs (up to 32" diameter) for stacking or repositioning.
- Log Lifting Tongs & Log Grapple (Heavy Lifting): Four-claw eagle-grip design for lifting and transporting logs with a tractor, ATV, or forklift. Log lifting tongs handle up to 1200kg; the heavier-duty log grapple is rated to 1500kg. Both feature a 360-degree rotating suspension ring to prevent chain tangling.
- Log Skidding Tongs (Vehicle & Tractor Dragging): Built for dragging timber over distance rather than lifting. Self-tightening claw hooks and a rotating swivel ring let you hook onto logs up to 32.7" in diameter. Attached to a tractor, ATV, or winch cable, the scissor mechanism digs deeper into the bark as you pull, letting your vehicle drag up to 700kg of timber without manual lifting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a timberjack and a cant hook?
Both use the same lever mechanism, but a timberjack is designed to lift a log off the ground for cutting, while a cant hook is primarily used to roll and reposition logs already on the ground — some units convert between both functions.
How does a timberjack protect my chainsaw chain?
By lifting the log clear of the ground, a timberjack keeps your chainsaw guide bar away from soil, gravel, and rocks. Striking the ground is one of the fastest ways to dull or damage a chainsaw chain, so elevating the log before cutting helps keep your chain sharp for longer.
What's the difference between log skidding tongs and log lifting tongs?
Log skidding tongs are designed to drag logs along the ground behind a vehicle and are rated to 700kg. Log lifting tongs are designed to lift and carry logs clear of the ground using a tractor, ATV, or forklift, and are rated to a higher 1200kg capacity.
Can log skidding tongs be used behind an ATV or tractor?
Yes. Skidding tongs feature a rotating top suspension ring that connects to tow hitches, D-shackles, winch lines, or tractor linkages. The swivelling ring helps prevent tow chains and cables from kinking or twisting as you navigate uneven ground.
Will these tools hold dense Australian hardwoods like Red Gum and Ironbark?
Yes. Our timberjacks, cant hooks, lifting tongs, and skidding tongs are all constructed from heavy-duty carbon steel with sharp, angled claws or hooks, designed to bite securely into thick or wet native bark for a slip-free grip under load.
