Stillages or bulk bags

[Tom at Heartwood]

I'm thinking about using stillages/wire crates on pallets for log storage and handling but haven't quite figured out whether its going to work for me.

 

I can see an obvious advantage to logging directly into stillages, moving with a forklift, stacking to season and loading onto a flatbed or trailer for delivery.

 

However, unless there is a forklift at the customers end then it does leave the problem of how to offload.

 

I have a couple of customers who are keen to use stillages and are willing to store around 10 cubic metres at a time. With this sort of volume of sale it will be worth taking a tractor with forks to the site but it wouldn't really be economical for smaller batches unless they are very local to my yard.

 

So, I wonder if anyone has suggestions for off-loading that doesn't involve a pallet grab on a crane or lots of man-handling and tipping with, I guess, inevitable damage to the stiilages.

 

I currently run a 4x4 Iveco 40.10 with a 12'x6'6" tipping trailer so maybe I should stick to loose loads & bulk bags.

 

Your ideas are welcomed!

 

Tom

 

Interested in buying your wood in Cumbria

Edited September 22, 2011 by Tom at Heartwood

[Michael C]

Can these stillages be got at a reasonable price though? You would need a very large quantity.

[posch jon]

Your best option is to store in crates as you said, and get yourself a potato box tipper to go on your tractor/loader. Tip tehm into your truk for delivery, You can deliver loose then no need to cart the crates round the county!

[Gareth Dalzell]

I was wondering if one of those 500kg all terrain pallet fork things in the Northern Tool catalogue and three long ramps would work?

[renewablejohn]

I use IBC cages which I fill direct with the log processor. For short deliveries I use pallet forks on the rear of my tractor. For multiple drops 6 at a time I use my 7.5 tonne curtainside truck with tail lift and a hand pallet truck. I can still do loose loads as my forklift has a pallet rotator but I try to avoid as I have destroyed a lot of pallets whilst rotating. Even when the customer requests a bulk bag rather than a container I always put a pallet underneath as it is easier to handle.