Using Sweet Chestnut Coppice

[Paul73]

I am thinking of learning how to make some shingles, posts and rails because I have a few acres of overstood sweet chestnut coppice. I have had a bash and it seems not too hard to make rails and shingles quite fast but I will do a lot better if I start with some basic guidelines. I would like to learn the ideal range of diameters to start with for these products, so I can work out what to thin and what to grow on. Can anyone give me some ideas of ideal diameters and fairly standard lengths please? Also can anyone point me to a good text book on making these products?

 

Thanks,

 

Paul

[Stere]

Quote

I have a few acres of overstood sweet chestnut coppice.

 

Nice project im jealous. Think you wouldn't thin  but  coppice/clear fell areas in on a  rotation the age being   dependent on the product your making.

 

Normally abuot 20yrs rotation for fencing poles think ive read ....

 

Probably more for shingles?

 

 

Your could count  tree rings to see there current  age  since they were last coppiced now?

[Paul in the woods]

One of Ben Law's books might be useful as he started out with overstood  chestnut coppice iirc. It might be worth trying to contact him via his wife to see which of his books would be best and to see if he could offer advice?

[Beardie]

Coppicing & Coppice crafts, Rebecca Oaks and Edward Mills, Crowood Press, 2010. ISBN 978 1 84797 212 5