what logs have you been chopping today!

[arboriculturist]

Interesting point about larger logs v quality. I actually prefer the logs you get from a 12 way as they're more uniform but we don't use the 12 way much because if you put medium logs through it you get a lot of kindling. Most the time we just re split with the 8 way.

 

Graded through 12 way can be great if consistent size and not oval with few removed primary limbs - generally our timber comes as delivered.

[peatff]

No, not all deciduous trees are hardwood, and not all evergreens are softwood.

 

Please elaborate, I'm sure the original poster will be pleased to hear your explanation. I will continue in my disillusioned state along with a lot of other people.

 

 

Just read my post and it should say coniferous evergreens not conifers or evergreens, sorry for any confusion. Holly is an evergreen and a hardwood of course but not coniferous.

Edited July 5, 2017 by peatff

[ash_smith123]

It's interesting to see the range of scale producers you see posting. Some are processing just a few metres others 1000 + like yourself. Like many lines of business, if you are in it for the long term you need accept you will be relatively poor for several years, but think big. The rewards will be reaped in due course.

 

 

 

Are you able to specify a top end size to suit your 350 or are you still forced to get the saws out?!

 

 

 

As you see there are plenty of producers out there who seem to be for ever looking a larger capacity machines. My experience is the larger the timber , the lower quality product is produced. Larger primary limbs equals larger wood tissue changes and once you start to use a 12 way knife, the effects of oval roundwood is exagerated. Like yourself we only look to produce top qualility, consistent firewood.

 

 

[emoji23] you are very right! Unless you've got a mattress with £100k to blow on setting up your doing it the hard way!

Yes our suppliers are very good, out of most of the loads we would be lucky to see anymore than 3-4 logs that don't go through. I've always toyed with the idea of getting a cone splitter and a digger but it's just not worth it for what we get in. I would rather pay £3-5 a ton more and get quality straight stuff that will all go through!

Anything 30/36cm is perfect with the 8 way. I can imagine 12 way you would need to go 40-45cm to make it work. We only use the 4 and 8 way, the 6 is useless! You get 2 huge logs on the side and slithers top and bottom [emoji849]

We've imported a lot in the past but hopefully this year we can do it all in house.... touch wood!

[SbTVF]

How do you all deal with smaller diameter stuff if you get any?

We normally get 4-16" delivered but this load of thinnings was available.

95% won't be over 5" I guess and then maybe half of that won't even need splitting at all. If I could fully take out the splitter from the tajfun400 it'd be easy enough to do that way but I can't. Any suggestions?

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[arboriculturist]

I think most of us over a number of years have spent that 100k - just to chop logs today - if you are a larger scale operation.

 

We pay a premium for our timber to get what we want, never perfect but worth the extra.

 

We missed our on the RHI opportunity so when air drying just the stillage is 1000's.

 

No turning back now though.

[arboriculturist]

Nightmare ! These days you have to pay more for the size you want and make sure the actual Haulier is well looked after. We have loads like that and literally takes for ever to process, lucky to 1m3 / hr !

 

No easy answer - sorry

[fonzy]

How do you all deal with smaller diameter stuff if you get any?

We normally get 4-16" delivered but this load of thinnings was available.

95% won't be over 5" I guess and then maybe half of that won't even need splitting at all. If I could fully take out the splitter from the tajfun400 it'd be easy enough to do that way but I can't. Any suggestions?

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I'd say look to get a Farmi WP36 in or similar where it's easy to get access to the splitting chamber and lift them onto the conveyor or as you say remove the axe altogether.

[arboriculturist]

Any 'decent' engineer will modify your processor. Good luck.

[gdh]

How do you all deal with smaller diameter stuff if you get any?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

We've managed to get a few special orders so we cut it into 18inch or 3ft lengths for them to use in biomass boilers. Also chip a lot of it.

 

 

I think the biggest set up cost most people don't take into account is buying the wood and having it stacked for a year. I know the 1200 ton here is making our overdraft look bad. ;-)

 

Other than that I reckon you could start up with a new top of the range processor but with used machinery for about 40k. All new with a timber trailer etc and you could easily hit 200k though just depends how big you want to go and how many years you want to go before you pay it all off.

[SbTVF]

I'd say look to get a Farmi WP36 in or similar where it's easy to get access to the splitting chamber and lift them onto the conveyor or as you say remove the axe altogether.

 

 

 

It's far easier with the 400. Have had a Farmi in before we got it and this is quicker for certain. May try putting 3 or more lengths in at a time as long as the log holder can get sufficient purchase so it doesn't snag the chain up.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk