arboriculturist

Agree, lots of shards. It seems the larger diameter you go the more inconsistent the end product is. One advantage of buying roundwood that is smaller than the max capacity of your processor is you get clean logs with next to nothing in the way of shards.

As you posted a while ago, if you buy graded timber the processors we all have will be adequate. That's my view also and use semi-skilled labour to deal with Arb. arisings. We have a 360 with grab so are efficient when it comes to timber handling and size grading here. Thanks for your input.

Having seen this machine working the figures stack up if you can buy oversize at a reduced rate and do not have the option of buying size graded roundwood. Production speed is massive of course.

Harvesting profitability is regional - if you are in the South West where small plantations on steep and difficult terrain prevail, the margins are far to small to provide a decent income, so I have every sympathy with those caught up in the business and have no easy exit strategy.

My face would drop if that load arrived here! What processor do you have that will cope with those shapes? Thanks for posting images though, always good to see.

Here we have the Quote for the Rabaud Xylog 420 and the 550 direct from Home Forestry - Take a seat ! Many thanks for your enquiry, please find prices below for the machinery you are interested in. Xylog 420 With integrated hydraulic pump and tank kit, PTO shaft. 2.2m infeed conveyor, 4.6m discharge conveyour with hydraulic side shift and hydraulic folding/ unfolding, 2/4/6 way splitting knife standard, 8 and 12 as optional extra. Offer price £23495.00 plus vat ex works. Delivery TBC Options: 5m long x 3 chain hydraulic log deck £10695.00 plus vat, Delivery TBC Transport trailer with chain feeding log deck 3.00m with hydraulic installation £18495.00 plus vat, Delivery TBC Xylog 550 Xylog 550 with hydraulic PTO pump and tank kit, loading deck platform with 3 chainjs, mobile road axle,(movable machine), 4m feed discharge conveyor, xylometer automated cutting wedge Offer price £74490.00 plus vat delivery TBC Options: Cover for mobile machine £926.50 plus vat Optional 1m long extension for conveyor £1525.75 plus vat Channelling box for sawdust £522.75 plus vat Sawdust vacuum system 400mm, 5.5kw 7.om long £3997.00 plus vat All prices are ex-works France, delivery costs to be confirmed at point of order. All quotations are valid for 30 days, all Rabaud equipment is supplied with a 1 year parts warranty backed by the Factory. If you require any further information, please let me know. Best regards Nathan Home

I think what the bloke meant is: e.g. The 1 summer felled load he processed into logs he got 36 m3. The 1 winter felled load he processed into logs he got 40 m3.

I have heard conflicting views about the difference in the weight between freshly felled Roundwood when the sap has risen compared to when trees are felled when dormant. One bloke said he had 10% less volume on an 8 wheeler load of Sycamore felled in June compared with the same in December. It appears that individual tree species vary a lot also. Would anyone care to comment or put a % on the difference?

It seems that few people consider the conversion rate when buying timber species - makes a huge difference as you already know.

UPDATE - Just had a message from Nathan at Home Foresty. He will have prices ex factory in the next couple of days - happy to post when I recieve them. From what I understand - knowone in the UK as yet has a Rabaud processor.

HMRC now provide an email service to give the definitive answer to these type of queries. I now tend to follow this course and print off a copy of their reply, which we keep with the vehicle concerned. Find this save so much timewasting when they show up! I am only talking about mobile processing on white diesel. i.e. Taking the processor to e.g. the Tree Surgeons work site, yard or an individuals property to convert their wood into logs. I AM NOT talking about Forestry - as we all know that is a completely different area. 'As usual the devil's in the detail' and I prefer to rely on direct contact with HMRC to provide difinitive answers. PS. Nothing wrong with an old JD2130!

Only on the road Jon - that's a fact.

This has been covered in detail on the Forum previously - HMRC will confirm this is a no go for firewood production. They operate around here 7 days a week.

We have a Posch - but need to change due to so much oversize.

I will get back on this one when I hear from Caledonian. The idea of some contract processing appeals - just need to make sure the Tractor is running on white diesel, which will be a pain.

I'm waiting for a price from Caledonian, which I will post when recieved. The build quaility is right there, but I am expecting around the 50K mark. Most of us could keep their existing log deck. I am surprised knowone seems to know of any working in the UK.

That is an affordable machine. Of course if you want better build quality you need to be prepared to pay for it, but if you change your machine regularly this may well suit. I wonder how it would perform on the sort of Oak and Sweet Chestnut that arrives with us!

Hit a dead end on a previous thread - with my question : Has anyone on the Forum got a Rabaud Xylog 550 or a smaller model processor? Still researching how they perform in comparison to a Tajfun or a Posch. The List Price for the Xylog 420 was £ 24,300 + vat when I last saw it advertised. I would expect that price will be discounted? I am more interested in the Xylog 550 due to the difficulties sourcing consistent size roundwood. Any opinions would be appreciated.

Did you mean a Xylog 550 - I didn't think there were any of this model around the UK?

Perhaps you run the T 400 at your yard as do many of the serious producers? I possibly agree on speed comparing the Xylog 420 with the 400 Joy- however I am primarily interested in the Xylog 550, providing it has a service life longer than other machines.

Ah, i'll try Caledonian - thanks. Not keen to invest in equipment that has poor after sales service.

You can see the list of Exhibitors on The AA website. A trip to the APF I'm afraid if you wish to see them.