Michael C

I think there is a lot of OTT and back clapping stuff in this thread TBH.

The customer wasnt happy with the amount of firewood that was delivered to him. This cant be THAT unusual. He chose to complain to the supplier (in some ways this is better and more honest than bad mouthing him to others behind his back)

The supplier offered a full refund and the customer availed of this.

The customer got what he wanted, and has more than likely ordered a load from his old supplier. He is happy, the OP is happy, everyone's a winner.

I had a email from one of the baltics could have been a scam but may be worth looking at 10kg nets of hardwood 2.40 euro landed in ireland in container 2600 bags.

Any chance you could pm me their details? I might check them out!

The last thing I would do is go and pick them up, that's just more work for nothing and he will still complain to his neighbours about it.

 

As long as you supplied exactly what you said you would then I wouldn't worry about it whatsoever.

 

This is probably one in a million compared to all of the satisfied customers you have.

Couldnt agree more. The guy was getting 'cheap' logs all along and thought he was getting the same this time.

He may well be be discussing with his wife this morning that the logs burned very well last night, and werent bad value after all. Going around knocking on his door this morning and taking the firewood back is certainly not the answer. The time to offer a refund was when he rang to 'complain'

If Ben is happy with the service he offers, thats what matters. There will always be oddball customers along the way, just grow a thick skin and move on.

£30 - approx 46 litres seems very low for a tractor running 'flat out' all day.

When I was examining buying in containers of KD product from abroad this spring the average MC I was quoted was 20/22, one guy in the Ukraine claimed 17%. Most of the companies I spoke to claimed to be CW suppliers !!. Looking at CWs set up I doubt that. In fairness to CW I have never knowingly measured any of their product. My own softwood that I processed this spring and early summer is now going out at 7-12%, thats air dried under cover. I can see no benefit in me selling KD product unless I kiln it myself for a few hours.

 

I posted elsewhere here that I processed some ash earlier this week for winter 12-13, fresh felled it was 27%. If you sell stoves you know that 24% is far to wet to burn efficiently and cleanly. I recon that ash would be 24% in maybe a month !!.

 

A

Kiln Dried Logs and Seasoned Logs - Certainly Wood

CW do say that they buy in 'minimal' imported firewood.

On kiln drying, for me the big advantage would have to be the fast turnaround. To be able to go from green wet timber to nice dry firewood in a few days would be brilliant.

A lot less money tied up, no need for massive yards, hundreds of pallets etc etc.

And surely the cost of running the Kiln could be recouped in the sale price of the logs?

We certainly do not pay £50 per tonne - it is free to us

 

Not really free though, its actually 'costing' you whatever you could sell it in cord form for.

Wouldnt mind this set up

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfUYulmP91U]The Woodfuel Cycle - YouTube[/ame]

I'll guess £12k

Best of luck with it, it all looks to be in great condition

Thats got to make for interesting loading. Post the pics of a 200kg trunk going onboard. Hope theres no hernias to follow.

3300kg load in a (presumably) 3500kg trailer might be a tad overweight too!

Have you talked to the hire company? Will they not have it insured anyway?

Fuelwood have a couple S/H for the £4.5k + vat mark

Fuelwood Specials Page

Looking at the vid, you are pushing a fair old lump in every time compared to just pulling a chainsaw bar down.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O0nLKg-oKU]JAPA 700 TR 2010 - YouTube[/ame]

I bought a Kamasa recently (looks very like the Stihl) and I find even on a just cut log, the more you press it in the higher the % reading. It can go from 16% to 30% depending on how 'deep' it is. I think I will just stick to pressing lightly against the log - it makes for better reading!

Do the 'spikes' have to pushed into the wood for a true reading, or does lightly pushed against it do?

This had occurred to me as you seem to pay a lot more for an engine. Even a beat up old tractor (as long as the engine and pto are good would do...

If you have other use for the tractor, yes, but if its solely for the processor, you might be better off with an engine driven one than a tractor thats going to cost a grand or two to buy anyway and could if your unlucky be a money pit..

Can these stillages be got at a reasonable price though? You would need a very large quantity.

A few pics of that hitch...

did you also make the quick hitch for the jcb as iam thinking of making one could you post some pitchers of it ps the trailer is good looking

No, I bought that a few years ago from a mate that was selling his machine. I'll take a few pics of it today

3.2 rods good choice on 5mm steel' i much prefer stick welding to mig welding, harder to do but a better weld i think

Easy decision for me because I dont own a mig welder! I have an inverter stick welder which is a gift for welding out and about but I think the ancient air cooled one I have gives a slightly better weld.

Nice trailer, was it all stick welded? which rods did you use?, you could get plastic end caps for the box section if you wanted or just plate them, nice job im impressed

Yes, with 3.2 rods.

Yes, I must pick up a few of those caps.

Nice trailer, how much in materials did it cost?

Didnt actually make it up yet, but the wheels and axle stubs were the dearest of it. The steel wasnt too bad.

Nice trailer

Would it have been 'do-able' to make a rocking beam style axle configuration?

what size is the steel box? 3mm x 100mm x50mm?

Yes, it was an option but I didnt think it was needed for a small trailer, especially when its just for my own use. It would also add more weight, lower the ground clearance and be prone to wear. As it is, it follows the tractor lovely, and I bolted the hitch on so it could be easily adjusted to suit a different tractor etc.

I used 100 x 50 x 5mm. I though the 3mm would be too light, i was going to order 4mm but when I asked, the 5mm was only a few quid dearer.

I also plated the 2 middle crossmembers (and drawbar) with 4 x 1/4 inch flat as they are also the 'axles'

It may sound heavy but its very light, even to move by hand.

I put the timber in (easily removed) so I would have room to slip the forks in to unload it but it didnt work well- the logs just went in all directions, so until I think of a better way, a ratchet strap saves a lot of torture!

Log people, if you dont mind me asking, what kind of crates are you using?

Not yet as it happens! More than likely will though.

Thanks guys, it came out okay and does the job fine

These are the wheels/ stubs I used...

Tyres Wheels Stub Axle for 2.5 ton DIY Trailer Kit | eBay