Further thoughts on my branch logger (Remet CNC R120)

[spandit]

Further to my original post, I'm getting more familiar with the machine and what it can and can't do.

 

Today I fitted a guard for the PTO shaft as the one it came with doesn't fit over the PTO clutch. I bought a flexi tub and just cut holes into it. Does a good job to help stop stuff falling into it. Tractor end still uncovered but that's less exposed:

 

 

 

Had a friend round who wanted a play so winched a willow tree out of the ditch where I'd cut it a few weeks ago. Although it didn't look like much, the branches were quite long and spindly and when we piled it up ready for the branch logger, it took up a lot of space.

 

Turns out putting small stuff through works fine but snarls up the nets so we ended up just dumping it straight onto the ground. When the outlet chute gets blocked, which happens really quickly, it just dumps out of the bottom. If I'd had a spare builders bag, I'd have put it underneath but I didn't so just let it pile up. What is left is so much more compact than brash and should just rot down fairly quickly and condition the soil. The larger stuff fills nets effectively and my friend took a net home to burn (it was pretty dry).

 

 

I'd also spent most of the morning fitting an electric fuel shut off solenoid which is linked to the yellow bar on the logger. Unfortunately, with the vibration of logs going through, it quite often triggers and shuts the tractor down. There is a nut I can tighten to make the bar a little stiffer which could help as it would be a shame to bypass it. Nice that it turns off with the key now (previously needed to pull the manual shut off which was difficult from outside the cab)

 

So in conclusion, still happy with my purchase and reckon I'll be able to make charcoal with the larger bits. The smaller stuff could be used for biochar, I suppose, although how I'd get it into the soil I don't know (or do you just dump it on the surface?)

 

 

[openspaceman]

1 hour ago, spandit said:

 

So in conclusion, still happy with my purchase and reckon I'll be able to make charcoal with the larger bits. The smaller stuff could be used for biochar, I suppose, although how I'd get it into the soil I don't know (or do you just dump it on the surface?)

I'd crush it to 2mm size class and mix it with compost. What you need to avoid is have it wash or blow off.

[GarethM]

20 minutes ago, openspaceman said:

I'd crush it to 2mm size class and mix it with compost. What you need to avoid is have it wash or blow off.

I cut out the charcoal step and just use the wood chippings 😉

[spandit]

On 31/10/2024 at 18:57, GarethM said:

I cut out the charcoal step and just use the wood chippings 😉

Doesn't capture the carbon, though. I think most of mine will just end up on the ground. Been burning some this morning and it's a pain to get out of the nets and although it did make a nice bed for larger logs, I didn't have a lot of time to get those on before the embers started fading. Eucalyptus and willow this morning (stuff we'd cut for wreath making last year that was in the barn to get it out of the way - was so quick to deal with!)

[GarethM]

2 minutes ago, spandit said:

Doesn't capture the carbon, though.

Erm, what.

[spandit]

Just now, GarethM said:

Erm, what.

I think one of the ideas of biochar is that it captures carbon long term whereas woodchip breaks down and releases it again fairly quickly.

[GarethM]

1 minute ago, spandit said:

I think one of the ideas of biochar is that it captures carbon long term whereas woodchip breaks down and releases it again fairly quickly.

Just call it charcoal, personally it just sounds like BS.

 

As you have to burn said wood to create it, using a lot to create a tiny amount of it excluding the processing, screening etc.

 

Maybe all that stuff from drax is now worth a fortune?.

[spandit]

Just now, GarethM said:

Just call it charcoal, personally it just sounds like BS.

 

As you have to burn said wood to create it, using a lot to create a tiny amount of it excluding the processing, screening etc.

 

Maybe all that stuff from drax is now worth a fortune?.

People are interested in improving awful soil and it's one way of improving it. It's supposed to be charged with micronutrients before putting in the soil. Not a bad use of otherwise waste stuff

[GarethM]

Just now, spandit said:

People are interested in improving awful soil and it's one way of improving it. It's supposed to be charged with micronutrients before putting in the soil. Not a bad use of otherwise waste stuff

It can't be charged with micronutrients, it's just carbon maybe popped like popcorn but it's devoid of much else.

 

Nothing wrong with woodchip, works perfectly well.

[spandit]

They soak it in compost tea. Check out the prices in a garden centre - not the worst product to sell, especially if it's just the bits you sieve out of bigger charcoal