Jump to content

Log in or register to remove this advert

Wood chip drying and business


Tomatin Firewood
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hi Everyone

 

There are a number of large estate houses up my glen all guzzling oil and I know that at least one is planning on changing to woodchip.

 

As I already do the firewood I thought I could expand into this area if I spoke with estates and they showed interest.

 

The only thing is costs! I would need another tractor and timber trailer, a decent chipper. I would of course need somewhere to keep and dry chips.

 

Are the sea containers which blow hot air through any good at drying chips? I could install a log boiler to dry the chips?

 

Has anyone experience on this?

 

I realise there is a big investment on all this new machinery and one of my biggest concerns would be the cost of building a number of large stores, which might make the whole thing unfeasible?

 

Be grateful for thoughts?

 

James

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Log in or register to remove this advert

I got the impression that all the big houses up there had either switched to biomass or were in the process of doing so. I guess I only deal with the ones that are organised enough to sell their timber to sawmills, so they tend to have the biomass side of things nailed as well.

 

The closest estate to you that I know does biomass in a fairly big way is Alvie. If memory serves, they chip and dry (using an RHI accredited kiln) about 2000 tonnes of chip annually. Given the profusion of demand up there, it might well be worth speaking to them about their experiences. If you approach them the right way, they might be happy to show you what they do. Competitors can sometimes work quite cooperatively :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Buying a big chipper for biomass is a risky business, I bought my heizo for site clearance and other big chipping jobs. The few biomass jobs that I have had with it have been welcome, but to be honest the have barely covered the finance let alone the running costs. Unless you have a lot of other work for it I wouldn't bother.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Why don't you air dry your wood first and then chip it. Presumably you do this with firewood

 

This is common practice, but it is tough on chippers, also I do wonder what affect it has on the volume of "fines" in the chip?? I bet it makes a fair old difference.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is common practice, but it is tough on chippers, also I do wonder what affect it has on the volume of "fines" in the chip?? I bet it makes a fair old difference.

 

I agree that wet wood is easier to chip than dry but if you hire a chipper it will almost certainly be a decent machine so it will not be bothered by dry wood. Normally we get a few hundred tonnes before the blades need sharpening. Certainly if you try and chip with blunt blades then you will get excess fines.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

  •  

  • Featured Adverts

About

Arbtalk.co.uk is a hub for the arboriculture industry in the UK.  
If you're just starting out and you need business, equipment, tech or training support you're in the right place.  If you've done it, made it, got a van load of oily t-shirts and have decided to give something back by sharing your knowledge or wisdom,  then you're welcome too.
If you would like to contribute to making this industry more effective and safe then welcome.
Just like a living tree, it'll always be a work in progress.
Please have a look around, sign up, share and contribute the best you have.

See you inside.

The Arbtalk Team

Follow us

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.