Rob D

I'll let my surgeon know he may be needed !!

I haven't sanded and treated this lump of holm oak yet but I've found just making a squared off lump nice and smooth and putting it on a couple of 2"by2" can be sold as a bench or a coffee table... Also is a look at the Hudson log debarker which I'll be selling soon... Its a great tool for getting gritty bark off a log and the blades can take a lot of abuse without blunting. Bit of a pain to drill the bar and get set up though and you need a little saw of around 40cc with a 10" bar. Tried it on a larger saw and it was too aggresive and too heavy. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikokjku94es]YouTube - Mini and debarker.wmv[/ame]

Cheers Mozza

That was great

Nothing.... it's just been rained on!

I was thinking maybe if you could suspend a chain saw on something like a pillar drill (ob much more heavy duty) so that it pointed straight down, fire it up and start it spinnning and have a handle to lower it through wood as the whole thing is spinning... That would do it!

I notice the missus has made sure you have a tarp and shovel at the ready for milling in the garden !!! Quite right too!

Looks like a right nice bit of wood there Mark. If you find a big auger to go in say an SDS drill post it up... I've been looking but can't find anything that'll go past 100mm....

This was cut on the Peterson mill and put straight down. No drying planing or anything like that - made and laid by myself. Never done decking before

They are indeed! But hang on as I'll be putting up a list of special offers in the next couple of days one of which will be the mini mill!

I know the AAAC is given a lot of flak for being too expensive and drawn out but at least it's a starting point. Could it perhaps be divided into 2 sections - one for companies that have 3 employees or less where everything is shortened/easier/cheaper. The other one is already in place for larger companies. So maybe you have AAAC class 1 and AAAC class 2? You have to do NPTC as a basic these days could say the first AAAC (class 2?!) be talked about while you're doing these and seen as a natural thing to progress onto... Get the colleges that teach NPTC more involved? Perhaps have a minimum time of practice 'in the field' before you can do the first stage of AAAC? I looked at the AAAC a few years ago but decided there was little in it for me as a small company - I had as much work as I could do and as joe public doesn't have a clue as to who the Arb Association is there seemed little point.... It would be good to have a benchmark in the industry for the profession as a whole to move forward and become recognised by the public. As the AA at least have something already set up it seems natural they should lead the way. Amost like VHS dominated in the end with videos and now Blu Rays, if the AA could get something together that worked for 90% of tree workers it could then banish all the other schemes that crop up (and then die even faster) to become the main one that is recognised.

Cedar I would say is the way to go if you want to put it up green. It's one of the most stable timbers as it dries - even put my money where my mouth is as just finished a decking area from Cedar milled on the Peterson. No drying just milled and put down 4 days later. As it's held in position by all the screws it should dry in situ and stay level. Also lightweight and one of the most durable timbers.

Forgot to congratulate you on your 5000th post there Dave!!

And some more pics.

Looks good and well done for just getting it cut and then putting it in situ... I bet that'll dry fine and stay solid.

:001_tongue:You love getting the big guns out really

I'd agree with the above - I think we'd all be a lot healthier same as if we didn't spend time watching telly and looking at computer screens. We could get up at first light and bed by dark but none of us do. But having electricity gives them the choice I suppose and if they choose to stay up later weaving baskets then fair enough....

Couldn't have put it better myself Tom

No not me! A Dr. Williamson bought some milling equipment to take over to Borneo to work with some of the indigenous people. This is in the heart of Borneo for a project to help local people live independantly now that loggers have wrecked havoc in their homelands. Have a look at the link and website below 'The Problem'. The Problem It gives more of an upfront personal look at the impact of logging in vulnerable parts of the world rather than just another "last year 2 million hectares were lost...." The Problem

Nicely done! Liking all the joins you've done there

Well if it works then in works!! Sounds a good way of doing things.... But I wouldn't have the patience myself

Thanks all But again just to bear in mind when you cut plugs it's best out of green wood or you almost instantly blunt the plug cutter (unless soft wood). You can always leave them to dry if you're worried they shrink in the holes but if they're glued in I haven't had a problem with them coming out.

Phil sent me over this link 8 PIECE WOOD PLUG CUTTER CUTTING SET IN BOX on eBay (end time 01-Mar-10 13:53:44 GMT) may be worth a look...

You want to get some plug cutters... I predrill a 13mm hole, put a large screw in then plug the hole with the same wood plug. You need to buy a set of plug cutters (if you can get the ones that cut tapered plugs). Just use with a drill and you can cut your own plugs. Glue them in and then sand em flat - really is a fast easy process and looks really good. But word of warning - drill the plugs out of wet freshly cut wood - dry wood will dull them very very quickly!

Ruddy perfect! Making stuff to order rather than just making stuff is the way to go.... it means you get it done and finished rather than half done and lying around the place. And also people see it and want it!