Free(ish) labour in Sheffield and surrounding area

[Woody Wood Pecker]

Good morning all, my first post on here so I hope that you're gentle with me.

 

Bit of background first, I am not an arborist or even thinking of moving into that field. For my sins, I do computer programming - or rather, computer program troubleshooting. Also do a bit of web design in my spare time.

 

Anyhow, you may be wondering what I'm doing on here offering my time. As part of my drive to reduce my carbon footprint a little as well as trying to reduce the amount of money that I supply to those Russians for gas, I am looking at fitting a wood gasification boiler in 2012. The only problem that I have is that I do not have a ready supply of wood.

 

So, does anyone need someone to assist them doing whatever and, in return, I could be 'paid' in wood. It doesn't need to be seasoned (I can do that) or chopped (other than into discs) but I do need to know that I am able to get a supply before I commit myself to going ahead with my plans for the new boiler and what not.

 

Anyhow, I am hard working and quite strong (used to throw a few weights around as a youth). Age wise I'm just the wrong side of forty but still very fit.

 

Anyhow, if anyone out there needs a hand doing some of the donkey work, let me know. I get rest days off work every six weeks (as I work shifts) and am available some weekends. Prefer to help out in Sheffield but would consider a small journey.

 

Any questions, just ask. If you want me to contact you, PM me a contact number and I'll give you a bell.

 

Cheers

 

Gordon

[Ty Unnos]

Hi Gordon

 

You could try volunteering with your local wildlife trust or conservation group.

 

They are always doing stuff like hedge laying, coppicing etc and don't usually use all the wood they cut.

 

I have been involved with several groups and they were happy to let volunteers go home with a boot load of wood in return for a days effort.

 

Good luck with it!

[Woody Wood Pecker]

^^

 

Nice one, thanks for the reply. I did see that the council have a parks and countryside department and was going to give them a bell - will get on with that tomorrow.

 

Cheers

 

G

[Big J]

Hi Gordon,

 

I would say that it would perhaps be more economical for you to buy in cordwood (lengths of 3-4m, usually 4-12 inches in diameter) and process it you a saw and axe/splitter. If you are going to be running a wood boiler permanently, you will need to process your own at some point, so a chainsaw is a must.

 

I harvest all my own timber for my heating, and often think that it might just be easier and cheaper to work the extra days, and pay to get the timber delivered instead. 20 tonnes of timber averaging 4 inches in diameter is a huge amount of trees and work!

 

Jonathan

[scbk]

I wouldn't think you'd have much luck phoning the council offices. You might be best off stopping and talking to a gang of parkies and see if they will let you have some wood for beer money

(but you might find at this time of year, a lot of wood is already spoken for)

[Woody Wood Pecker]

Thanks again for the replies

 

...

 

I would say that it would perhaps be more economical for you to buy in cordwood (lengths of 3-4m, usually 4-12 inches in diameter) and process it you a saw and axe/splitter. If you are going to be running a wood boiler permanently, you will need to process your own at some point, so a chainsaw is a must.

 

...

 

This may be a stupid question but, where do you get cordwood from?

 

Second (stupid) question, I keep reading posts on the firewood section about roadside wood per tonne. Does that mean that someone delivers some wood to a destination for that price and then you process it yourself?

 

If that is the case, would someone deliver to a house rather than a yard - we have a long drive that can accept a delivery? Access isn't too bad but you wouldn't get an artic up to and then off our street. I can post pictures to show you what I mean if need be. The builder's merchants lorries with small cranes manage, come to think of it, we had this lorry manage last year to get around the crescent

 

The supplier of the boiler that I'm thinking of buying reckons that for my size of house I'd need about 5 tonnes of seasoned wood a year - not sure what this works out as green but I'm assuming that it's at least 10 tonnes. I have loads of space to store and season the wood so if I did have to go down the buying in of unprocessed wood then I may as well buy in a lot.

 

Sorry for all the novice type questions and I realise now that really this thread should probably be in the Firewood Forum but, the offer is still there that if someone wants a labourer for a day (I have plenty of spare time) in return for unprocessed wood then let me know.

 

Cheers

 

Gordon

[Big J]

Hi Gordon,

 

No apologies required - everyone starts off a novice!

 

There are folk here on Arbtalk selling cordwood - it's finding someone close enough to you to deliver it. With the current surging demand for firewood, hardwood cord seems to be fetching around £50 a tonne delivered (sometimes more!). I would say you would need about 8 tonnes green a year. Cordwood tends to get delivered by articulated lorries carrying 25 tonnes or so. So one load would essentially serve you for three years and cost about £1250. Obviously all the processing would be up to you! You might be able to find someone with a smaller truck who might deliver, who knows!

 

It's what I'll do once I've worked my way through the 25 tonnes I've stacked at home. Marginal timber is more work than it's worth sometimes.

 

Jonathan

[Woody Wood Pecker]

^^

 

Many thanks for the answer.

 

I'll keep an eye on the Firewood Forum for sellers of wood in Sheffield. I'm not planning on getting my boiler until summer 2012 so will likely wait for the winter rush to finish before I look at getting my first load.

 

At the prices that you mentioned, I'll certainly be saving massively on our fuel bills - so long as I don't charge myself for my own labour. Obviously I'll have to buy the relevant equipment plus safety equipment to chop the wood - and learn how to use it!

 

Cheers

 

G

[Big J]

No worries G.

 

I think so long as you are converting the timber from the cordwood, it's a very economical form of heating. I would also say, don't turn your nose up at softwoods. If you can get some larch or scots pine, it does burn very hot, though for a shorter period. Might be a good bit cheaper too.

 

If I were you, setting up for a log boiler, my wish list would be:

 

* Stihl MS261/Husqvarna 346XP (depending on your allegiance).

* All the associated PPE.

* A good light splitting axe (like a Gransfors Brux) and a heavy maul. Aim for 3 1/2lbs and 8lbs respectively.

* A vertical log splitter for those bits that just don't want to go with an axe!

* A reasonable saw horse (build one yourself - stronger than many of the bought ones).

 

Get as much split and stacked as early as possible - it's not possible for wood to be too dry!

[Scottie]

Had a thought about this. If you say you have loads of room to store wood why don't you offer your land as a 'dumping' ground for the local tree companies in regards to wood. You might get all their crap but it all burns.