Tom D

This was when I got them:001_smile: http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/firewood-forum/3273-vented-bulk-bags-co-operative.html

The bags that I am using are vented .8m3 so no problems with mould, in fact they're working really well.

Anyone know the going rate ? I have around 90 0.8 cube bags already filled and enough split wood to fill another 120 but I was thinking of selling the rest wholesale in small bags. What are the small bags wholesale / retail prices like round your way, up here a 90x50 cm bag sells for between £4.50 and 6.50 retail.

The best way to prepare for treework in scotland is to jog on the spot whilst burning fivers in a cold shower while an assistant slaps you about the face with a thorny branch and shouts at you for making sawdust or taking their parking space.

My point is Kev, the AA have said nothing that I have heard in the defence of rope access methods in tree work, they have produced a guide to working with MEWPs but have not told us when we can or should use one. At best they are sitting on the fence on this issue, at worst they are undermining the injdustry they supposedly represent. I want to know if i am breaking H+S law by not using a MEWP where it would be possible to do so? If I am then the AA has totaly failed in its duty to this industry. The AA is drifting further and further away from the average contractor and only representing and supporting a vocal minority of generaly larger contractors who target a "high end" customer who will pay a premium for their services. Look in any yellow pages, the majority of the contractors advertising will not be AAAC, they will be everything from complete cowboys to quality firms who work to the same exacting standards as the AAACs but who haven't signed up for the self congratulatory pat on the back of joining the scheme. A GOOD scheme would be inclusive NOT exclusive ie bring the less well trained less well run companies on board and help them to improve, not set the bar so high that many in the industry see the AAAC scheme as totaly un attainable. If necessary keep the sceme as it is and introduce an entry level scheme for the aspiring smaller firms. This is not sour grapes on my part, I nearly became AAAC 2 Years ago but decided that it would do little to help my business prosper as it is so poorly advertised, like many others on this forum I am confident that my professional standards are every bit as good as any one operating within the scheme, I just feel why pay for a pat on the back that will do nothing for my profits? I can't imagine there is another industry in Britain where the trade organisation has such a poor reputation within its industry. There are plenty of companys out there whose standards are well below what our industry should expect and dare I say it some on this forum too. This is no reason to bury your head in the sand and pretend they don't exist, help them improve, and if they won't improve give your sceme some clout and publicity and shame them into shaping up and joining in. When every other customer asks "are you AAAC?" people like me will start taking an interest, untill then I'm alright Jack.

I can see what you mean Steve, I only sell waste, and wouldn't buy in. I probably average 100 - 150 ton a year, but with the site clearence jobs thin on the ground and more and more domestic customers asking to keep the wood there's less to go around. There's still going to be a good market for it though as so many more people are burning it these days. How do you sell it? by the bag or load etc?

The fungi are breaking down the wood in the soil, they will come up every year untill their food supply is exhausted, burying the chip will make little difference. I'd get them identified if you can, most of the guys on here can only confidently identify fungi which are harmfull to trees, the ones you have are probably not harmful to your veg or to you, just wash your veg and your hands before eating. Why not get a fungi kit and grow edible mushrooms? Shitake and oyster can be bought as plugs or inocculated straw.

I have tried the 8mm OP on tachyon and found it needs a while to bed in, so give it a good workout at low level and keep am eye on it. Having said that I found the softer cords like tenex, ice tail, and probably armor prus better suited to the vt. I prefer the martin hitch for stiffer cords like OP, bail out and bee line.

Not wanting to turn this thread into an anti AA rant BUT... I find the AA's boast that thanks to them we can still use a chainsaw a bit rich when they have done nothing to defend the use of roped access in favour of MEWP's. Here are a few points on that front, there are far more accidents involving MEWP's each year than in conventional tree work, ok there are far more MEWP hours worked in a year.. But if you only count accidents where the guide to good climbing practice was being followed there are none that I can find. All the roped tree access accidents involved a breach of the guide in some way. So the AA should be saying " there are accidents in tree work, we need to make sure people follow the proper proceedures." whereas what they are actually saying is "there are accidents in tree work we need to completely abandon our tried and tested proceedures and use equipment not designed for the job which is ultimately less safe. Which is however testable and certifiable therefore better (but worse)"

Liked that Mike, now hurry up and get that Mog finished so we can see that in action.

This tree is in England although I can't say exactly where as it was a "ninja climb". Its part of a large woodland and may not have been the tallest tree there. We taped it at 60 metres although I only climbed to 55.3 and we estimated the last bit so it could easily have been over your 60.2. I may be prepared to PM you its location:001_smile: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DlMeIHejZk]YouTube - big firs 0003[/ame]

Been meaning to post these holiday snaps from a couple weeks ago. Can anyone tell whats going on in the last one?

You guys are amateurs, I once sold a transit load of poplar brash for £350:001_cool:

Sad though it is I'd rather young radical muslims from the UK went to afganistan to fight "our boys" (as many of them do) on our terms than attack civilians here as on 7/7. At least over there we get to fight back and there are no hotshot human rights lawyers standing up for the terorists. The real scandal is the way they are crying out for helicopters out there and we have a hanger full of brand new chinooks that cant be used because of software problems, they have been there for 8 years!!!

Sent you an email Dean.

The ldv I have now appears to have 76 Hp where as the transit that I am getting will have 115Hp, this should make a big difference. I cant vouch for the newer LDV's as I haven't tried them but when I had the 6" chipper which weighed less then a ton it towed a lot better.

I'm just geting rid of mine, and going over to a transit, Its just too gutless to tow a 1.5 ton chipper and a load. Not been a bad truck though.

I have had a couple of locals interested but neither are perfect and a couple of gugs from on here who live miles away. I don't have accomodation myself but could ask around, I just hate the idea of someone coming a long way only to find they dont like the job or me or whatever. Not that I'm a **** to work for or anything but you know what I mean. I'm not saying I'm not interested just cautious. Pm me your number and I'll give you a ring tomorrow.

I quite often pick up bundles with my Igland winch, although if you are moving big stuff a winch with a high pulley is good as you can get the butts off the floor as ploughing them through the mud saps power. Mine only has a low position which can be a pain at times.

My grandad used to say (about a blunt knife or tool) " you could ride bare arsed to london on that"

Been looking at vans today, options are a ldv 03 plate with a 90hp engine and 40k on clock for around £2500 or a trensit 54plate with 31K on clock and a 115 hp engine costing 5k. The transit is the better drive and will hold more value, the ldv may be trouble if I need parts for it since they have gone bust, but its half the price?? Happy to hear any thoughts on the subject, and no I don't want a cabstar:001_tongue:

If everything is all stacked handy by and ready to go through, my 8" greenmech will do 3.5 cube in around 30 mins. I have never actualy timed it, but we were taking down a big lawsons hedge last week and took 20 cube of it so I reckon I'll not be far off.

One lad's worth a lad, two lad's are worth half a lad.

Sometimes Polyporus can feed on the redundant wood left after a breakout or pruning wound and leave the live timber intact, especially if the wound eventually closes. But the gano is definately bad news.

Thanks mate, maybe 90 would be ok then.