County4x4

Yep - acreolin is the stuff - not a very pleasant thing to be chucking out of a chimney for the kids next door to be breathing in! Probably better making hand cleaner or something out of the glycerol instead and making proper briquettes that don't need any glues or binders to stick 'em together.

A pallet will do us all winter easily, in a Morso Squirrel used afternoons/evenings and most weekends.

There was quite a long discussion about this on the chimney sweeps forum, and one guy who was extremely sceptical to put it mildly actually bought one to try for himself. He posted back soon afterwards to say it had actually made a hell of a difference - but he had no idea how it worked - or even how it could work - just that it did! Not a big fan of rotorvent cowls personally - the bearings usually go in the cheap ones and start making a racket that gets transferred down the flue - and of course, like most ADD cowls, they actually reduce draught in calm conditions. I think the H-Pot is probably the most reliable option - usually works where everything else has failed.

This chimney sweep isn't!! And of course I've been asked the question so many times - I feel like a stuck record sometimes! I tell all my customers that there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with softwood at all as long as it's dry - and ask them to have a think about what all those Scandinavians burn up near the Arctic Circle - there aren't a lot of hardwood deliveries up there apart from a bit of birch mixed in - and they are way ahead of us in woodburning terms. And I think you're right too - people ARE going to have to get used to it. I think wood will be fairly hard to get hold of for a good few years until the hundreds of neglected woodlands we have are put back into proper managed production. I actually think the big increase in demand will be good for our woodlands long term rather than signalling the end of them personally. Andy

That's pretty much what I'm concerned about mate. Given the somewhat shady past of the site, there may be one or two locals making it their business to notice!

Thank you Catweazel. Hmmm. I wonder if this could be sticky territory. We've heard that apparently the site is considered a bit sensitive, as originally, it seems that the glasshouses etc were built mainly in order that a house could also be built on the land. The chap behind this was apparently growing plants on contract to one of the big DIY chains - and eventually they decided to only pay half as much, or simply cancelled the order - so he went bust, which is when the current owner picked it up as a liquidation sale. The site has been empty more or less ever since, and has now been offered as a range of packages or for sale as a whole. The house and some of the polytunnels are currently being rented and the tunnels are being used as sheep housing. Apart from the scallies growing weed, the only other thing going on was an abortive attempt to grow ready to go hanging baskets in one of the glasshouses. This may be one of those things where one or two "concerned local residents" are not happy about anything that goes on there whether it may be to their benefit or not. I guess at the end of the day if we can't do firewood from there then we'll just have to concentrate on the other stuff instead until we find somewhere suitable. But out of interest - do all the farms that store and season wood in barns and so on have to get planning permission, or should they? Or are things a bit different if it's your own farm? Thanks again, Andy

Hi all, I'm sure I've seen this mentioned here before but not sure of the correct term to search for to be honest - tried the title of the thread with no luck so thought I'd just ask! My mate is currently getting the legal stuff done to take on the rental of some commercial glasshouses. He had a meeting with the owner of the site a couple of days ago, and had a chat about his various plans - one of which involved storing firewood for onward sale in one of the glasshouses, or possibly one of the polytunnels if we re-covered it and added it to the agreement. The owner was a bit concerned about the firewood bit as he thought it might land him in bother with the council. There's a bit in the property details that says: "The property will be available To Let on a full repairing and insuring basis, “Farm Business Tenancy”, the length of term etc. is open to negotiation." So I guess the question is - "would firewood sales qualify as part of a farm business tenancy?" Or would it constitute a change of use or something equally expensive and complicated? Funnily enough I asked a farmer about it today while I was doing his chimneys and his advice was "I'd just do it and say nowt"!! Any ideas? Cheers, Andy

Cheers Dave - I've had a quick word with Johnny at Lakeland already - they originally called me wanting me to promote their logs locally to my customers and in return they'd promote my business to any customers they got in my area. Seemed like a decent fella - need to arrange to nip up there and see him when I get a minute. Cheers for the heads up mate, Andy

Cheers Dave - I've had a quick word with Johnny at Lakeland already - they originally called me wanting me to promote their logs locally to my customers and in return they'd promote my business to any customers they got in my area. Seemed like a decent fella - need to arrange to nip up there and see him when I get a minute. Cheers for the heads up mate, Andy

Cheers Dave - I've had a quick word with Johnny at Lakeland already - they originally called me wanting me to promote their logs locally to my customers and in return they'd promote my business to any customers they got in my area. Seemed like a decent fella - need to arrange to nip up there and see him when I get a minute. Cheers for the heads up mate, Andy

Thanks for the responses guys - just got in from a day that started at half three this morning - so probably won't get round to replying to everyone tonight! But I will do before the week is out. Darius - is that UK wood or imported mate? I don't deal with any imported wood fuels at all I'm afraid. Is anyone else finding that a few of the Eastern European and Russian suppliers are now follwing up their emails with phone calls a couple of days later?!! Cheers for now - and thanks again - will be in touch with all of you shortly. Andy

Thanks for the responses guys - just got in from a day that started at half three this morning - so probably won't get round to replying to everyone tonight! But I will do before the week is out. Darius - is that UK wood or imported mate? I don't deal with any imported wood fuels at all I'm afraid. Is anyone else finding that a few of the Eastern European and Russian suppliers are now follwing up their emails with phone calls a couple of days later?!! Cheers for now - and thanks again - will be in touch with all of you shortly. Andy

Thanks for the responses guys - just got in from a day that started at half three this morning - so probably won't get round to replying to everyone tonight! But I will do before the week is out. Darius - is that UK wood or imported mate? I don't deal with any imported wood fuels at all I'm afraid. Is anyone else finding that a few of the Eastern European and Russian suppliers are now follwing up their emails with phone calls a couple of days later?!! Cheers for now - and thanks again - will be in touch with all of you shortly. Andy

Any news on those prices John and Nick? Cheers, Andy

Any news on those prices John and Nick? Cheers, Andy

Come on then John - give it to us straight!! Obviously the price is going to be the biggest factor - as if the local market won't stand the price then it's just not worth bothering with - at least not buying in processed. If not then we may look at buying a processor - or leave it altogether as we have enough other stuff to be getting on with. The glasshouses seem pretty sturdy to be honest - they've been out of use for quite a while - apart from when some scallies started up their own little enterprise growing weed - but I think there are only one or two broken panes in the whole lot. The polytunnels by comparison have had it - and the whole lot would need re-covering if we took them on as well. I think if we took them we'd probably never sleep if it got windy as it's quite an exposed spot!

Come on then John - give it to us straight!! Obviously the price is going to be the biggest factor - as if the local market won't stand the price then it's just not worth bothering with - at least not buying in processed. If not then we may look at buying a processor - or leave it altogether as we have enough other stuff to be getting on with. The glasshouses seem pretty sturdy to be honest - they've been out of use for quite a while - apart from when some scallies started up their own little enterprise growing weed - but I think there are only one or two broken panes in the whole lot. The polytunnels by comparison have had it - and the whole lot would need re-covering if we took them on as well. I think if we took them we'd probably never sleep if it got windy as it's quite an exposed spot!

Hi Nick, Thanks for your reply mate. Don't know the exact postcode of the property yet as my mate is still working out the details with the agents - but LA2 7AG is pretty nearby and should be close enough to figure out a cost. I'm guessing the distance involved is going to put a fair dent in any profits though - we're a fair hike from your neck of the woods. But thanks for looking in any case - appreciated! Andy

Hi Nick, Thanks for your reply mate. Don't know the exact postcode of the property yet as my mate is still working out the details with the agents - but LA2 7AG is pretty nearby and should be close enough to figure out a cost. I'm guessing the distance involved is going to put a fair dent in any profits though - we're a fair hike from your neck of the woods. But thanks for looking in any case - appreciated! Andy

Hi all, I'm getting asked by more and more chimney customers all the time if I can supply them with decent firewood, and I'm forever hearing the story of "we had a couple of good loads off this guy, but the last lot he bought us were rubbish" My basic feeling is that if I recommend someone and they deliver a bad load, then it kind of reflects on me even if we're entirely unconnected. So I'm figuring the best way forward is to try and look after them myself. I'm going in to some commercial glasshouses with a good buddy and so I'm thinking that buying in by the artic load, and then completing the drying process if necessary under glass, or one of the polytunnels on site, might be the best way forward. Is there anyone close to the Lancs/Cumbria/N.Yorks border who could possibly supply processed wood in bulk, either loose or bagged? We'd be looking for artic loads and hopefully from not too far away to keep the transport costs down. Cheers for any help! Andy

I'd suggest Ian Taylor at Lakeland Coppice Products - his charcoal is made in the Lakes and will blow you away! lakeland coppice products , Cleft oak specialists,charcoal and firewood in the Lake District Andy

Same here - I've used them for years - driver just lets himself in and collects the stuff - never missed a collection and often delivered the next day even on the economy service. Sorry the OP has had such a nightmare but personally I can't fault them. Andy

Mate of mine has a place on some land by a river in Ireland - and invented his own trap with an extractor fan, some ducting and a light. Not sure of the ins and outs of construction - but he'd found a scientific research paper online which revealed how much your average mozzy weighs - and going on that - he caught well over a million on the first night of operation - which I thought was pretty good going!

Hello mate - another one from the UCS forum! I wouldn't worry too much about Fahrenheit mate - I know he does a top job and he has an awful lot of customers who have been with him for years. A well fitted and well fed stove is a doddle to sweep compared to others and Chris always makes sure he educates his customers about using the stove properly, so there's very rarely a problem of any sort. As he said, most of the stuff he sweeps these days is his own installation work so he knows it's been done right in the first place. I've seen a lot of his work, and to be honest - I just wish he was MY local stove fitter! He also spends a lot of time taking out existing installations and doing them properly instead after the clients have had problems - and has a list of stories as long as your arm! He's been in this game for a long time now, and has a fantastic reputation in his area - and picks up a lot more work than his cheapo competition locally - so I reckon he must be doing a pretty good job! Cheers, Andy

This from wikipedia: The juice from many species of agave can cause acute contact dermatitis.[12] It will produce reddening and blistering lasting one to two weeks. Episodes of itching may recur up to a year thereafter, even though there is no longer a visible rash. Irritation is, in part, caused by calcium oxalate raphides. Dried parts of the plants can be handled with bare hands with little or no effect. If the skin is pierced deeply enough by the needle-like ends of the leaf from a vigorously growing plant, this can also cause blood vessels in the surrounding area to erupt and an area some 6–7 cm across appear to be bruised. This may last up to three weeks