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arboriculturist

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Everything posted by arboriculturist

  1. arboriculturist
    Having been registered for VAT for Firewood sales for a few years now, I am finally looking at the pros and cons of being registered. It's always good good to seek the wisdom of others but here are few of the pros and cons I have encountered. Con's If you have more than 1 business then one of the businesses has to be a partnership or Ltd. This means additional overheads e.g. Seperate accounts for each business, can't share equipment / vehicles between businesses, can't use staff common to both businesses etc. Pro's Vat can be reclaimed on purchases. Roundwood is purchased @20% vat and Firewood is sold @5% to consumers. I'll be interested in other's views.
  2. arboriculturist
    Farmi screen is a waste of time - far too short. Buy a decent inverter welded and make one based on the Posch bar screener but make it a foot longer - will be perfect for your needs. The gap between the round tube screen bars is critical if you wish to minimise blockages. I'll have a measure for you if I get a minute. Tromells are great if you can justify investment by producing 1000m3 +. Good luck.
  3. arboriculturist
    Any 'decent' engineer will modify your processor. Good luck.
  4. 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
  5. 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.
  6. arboriculturist
    Graded through 12 way can be great if consistent size and not oval with few removed primary limbs - generally our timber comes as delivered.
  7. arboriculturist
    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.
  8. arboriculturist
    Yes approx 3.5m3 / hr 2 people. We used to think we could do more but when delivered roundwood is between 100mm and 350mm dia. this is also the max we can produce with the same setup as you - 360 - Forklift - loader. I did consider changing to a Tajfun 480 as they are a lower price than ours, but I am not sure if I could bear the bar and chain! Splitting 12 way need to be on top of size grading timber to keep quality up. We can easily get 600 m3 before sharpening with the TCT blade.
  9. arboriculturist
    Full stripdown most likely required - Like most of us you are keen to do it yourself as you think you will be saving money, but it wont be cost effective to touch it yourself, so get it to a decent garage and get yourself to work to pay for it. Good luck.
  10. arboriculturist
    Thanks for taking the time on such a comprehensive post. We are the same in looking only to produce a quality product, which is one reason we only specify max. timber diameter of 300mm even though 360mm is near the maximum. Also spend time grading before processing. Anything above 8 way would not give the results we need. 480 mm diameter would give wedges 240mm long - totally unacceptable.
  11. arboriculturist
    Nothing against a 480 except I would hate the chainsaw bar aspect - never say never though! Saying that, do you know the 480 new price at the moment? I recall you have had a couple and I am thinking they compare in price to our 360. In softwood our output is up to 6 m3 /hr, with loading deck and using forklift - just the 1 person. Margins will always be slim in Firewood as you say - that's a certainty!
  12. arboriculturist
    Some of the output claims posted are ridiculous, unless they are quoting processing softwood. We have a new high spec. processor, 360 grab to load deck and with 1 person and no time spent on housekeeping, we can only throughput approx. 2-3 m3 / hr with hardwood 100 - 350mm diameter - so 16 - 24m3 in an 8 hour working time day. I was also be interested in what others achieve in output.
  13. arboriculturist
    Planning consent often depends on your approach. I would certainly explore my options. Plenty of planning consultants will have an informal chat with no fee or pehaps you hve previously hit a brich wall with the LPA, which has put you off. Good luck anyway.
  14. arboriculturist
    The lowest cost pole barn is the most viable solution every time - stack 4 high.
  15. arboriculturist
    I agree! - Looked at spud boxes, but: they hold irregular amount and our whole setup is based on multiples of m3, don't dry processed timber well, cost of adaption to hold 2m / change slatting to enable even drying and shorter lifespan, sort of made the decision for us. As they say - too late to turn back now.
  16. arboriculturist
    This skip has sockets. They work well on IBC's but are cost prohibitive when you factor in the cost of the lengths of box and labour. Maybe fine if you can operate with 50 but with 500 its a non starter.
  17. arboriculturist
    Sure, ratchet strap ok if not tipping 100's of m3. Bond some rubber belting to the side support to save destroying the galvanising over time, and an 18" square side support is far better at spreading the load than just a straight bar. We fabricated ours from 4x2 box. 5ft forks best modified with backstop, so the forklift stands clear of vehicle when tipping. Hope all goes to plan.
  18. arboriculturist
    Palax setup ok for bags but with full IBC's the base bars would soon start to break apart. The top bar is arguably the most important element when emptying IBC's. If you live in the South, transport alone costs £10 each, add to that stripping out the tanks, fitting HT mesh, handling and we are looking at £ 50 each. We still want to be using them in 20 years time so we treat them with a lot of respect! Once you get a Rotator with hydraulics you will never ever go back.
  19. arboriculturist
    Provided the attachment contains the IBC before rotation, there are no issues at all. Having a full IBC sliding or lurching and coming to an abrupt stop is when damage occurs. If you have the required skills I would buy a basic used rotator and fabricate a side support and a manual hinged top support. If you handle large quantities the top support needs to be hydraulic. Good luck.
  20. arboriculturist
    This is a Wild Damson (Prunus domestica subsp. insititia) Great fruit for Jam or Winemaking.
  21. arboriculturist
    Looking for something to last and a pleasure to use even off 2 x 50m cable reels joined - here you are: Kemppi Minarc Evo 180 MMA Arc Welder, 230v Buy Kemppi Minarc Evo 180 MMA Arc Welder, 230v Including Arc Cable, Earth Clamp & Shoulder Strap - Welding Supplies from Rapid Welding
  22. arboriculturist
    I am surprised you will pay that to use some for Chip or Firewood! How do the costings allow you to pay a high premium? Thanks
  23. arboriculturist
    In the South of England Hardwood bars of that size are around £ 70/T delivered. What sort of price do you have to pay in your region?
  24. arboriculturist
    It is not easy to source Hardwood Bars of this spec. Just curious, but what products do you make from Beech Lewis?
  25. arboriculturist
    What use do you have for that size Beech Bars?

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