firewood

Perhaps oil is not the direct competitor / comparison for us all. 5 customers this week have told me that they are switcing from coal to logs as the price of coal has gone up by at least 20%. this is in north east scotland .....not sure what other areas are like.

How true! We do not make anthing in this country anymore as there is an army of state sponsored busybodies trying to stamp on anyone with any entrepreneurial gumption. If it was me I would give the appearance of compliance but delay, dither and ignore them . You could also try a counter attack with a story in the local press along the lines of "council snoopers destroy jobs in the timber industry" etc etc. They do not like this sort of publicity as the matter then becomes "political". Anyway, good luck and don't let the b*******s grind you down!

Have a look at the Nissan Patrol. I bought one from nearly new back in 1999 (new shape) and ran it for 8 years and never had to put a spanner to it. It did take a lot of abuse as well. The newer models now have a bigger engine than the one i bought (3 litre in the diesel?) I found it good off road and it had plenty of grunt. The problem with them is one of brand image i.e. they are not a Landcruiser or a Range Rover but if snob value doesn't worry you then look for a 2nd hand one with less than 15k on the clock and under two years old for best value. You will get a lot of bang for your buck! good luck.

many a true word is spoken in jest! see the exchange of letters below between a planning official and a resident of Michigan USA: This is an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, State of Michigan. Wait till you read this guy's response but read the State's letter before you get to the response letter. Dear Mr. DeVries: It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity: Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond. A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws,annotated. The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2003. Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action. We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions. Sincerely, David L. Price District Representative Land and Water Management Division --------- This is the actual response he sent back: Dear Mr. Price, Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County. Your certified letter dated 10/17/02 has been handed to me to respond to... I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan. A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials "debris." I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic. As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity. My first dam question to you is: (1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers or (2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request? If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated. I have several concerns. My first concern is -- aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation, so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event causing flooding is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling their dam names. If you want the stream 'restored" to a dam free-flow condition please contact the Beavers. But if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter they being unable to read English. In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams). So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2003? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then. In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality (health) problem in the area. It is the bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful where they dump!) Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office. Ryan DeVries

that will work very well and will not damage the land surface. but a bit of a faff working the rollers from the rear to the front over and over. If you you not worried about ploughing up the field and the tractor is man enough why not just chain one end of the container to the rear hitch, lift the hitch and drag it off the field. Alternatively, use the tractor to slightly tilt the container (each side in turn) to gain access to the underside . Then bolt two 4"x4" skids to the floor length wise like a sledge. Then drag it out with the tractor

Yes we all would!!! A chimp with a pin and a copy of the Financial Times share prices can match the investment performance of 95% of investment managers: see here: Of astrologers, experts and random stock picks

you have to be flexible and keep your options open

there is a forestry trailer with grab advertised in last saturday's Scot Ads. inverness area tel 07763 645233. i think the ad has been running for a few weeks and the guy is looking for offers. i have no connection with the seller

currently working my way thru a pile of old fence posts in both the stove and the range. they do not look pretty (all green and dressed in a little sheeps wool) but you will not get better seasoned softwood given that they have been standing in a field for up to 10 years!

i have an atlas , bought new a month ago. it was about £1k cheaper than the equivalent ifor and imo the build quality is better than an ifor. if you do go for the atlas get the mesh kit and ramps but don't bother with the winch (fit your own instead if you need it). you then have a tipper, plant transporter and ordinary box trailer all in one However be aware that atlas only do one size (10 x 5). so if you regularly need to carry plant be sure that it will fit!

what size are the nets?

Another thing to consider..... if he is directing you to the "paypal" site ( to create an account) via a link in his email the site is almost certainly FAKE. It's only purpose being to harvest your card details. with regards to getting paid in cash for these sorts of high value transactions i.e. bikes, cars, boats etc I would always make the transaction during weekday working hours and would do the deal in my local bank branch where i could deposit the cash immediately and the cashier could confirm the notes were not counterfeit! Remember that the "buyer" knows you have the cash! If you do the deal out of bank hours the "buyer" knows that the cash is likely to be on your person or somewhere in your house......an open invitation to burgle or mug you, rob you of your goods and get their cash back! A friend of mine was a victim of just such a theft... they broke into his house and stole their cash back with nothing else taken. the "buyers" girlfriend had seen him hide the payment! These days a little paranoia is no bad thing!!

When I worked as a transport manager for a tipper firm we often provided services or materials by the load (in this case 8 wheeler loads) We always stipulated "1 load as measured by the customer" on all our conveyance notes. This meant that once the customer had signed the ticket for delivery there was no quibbling about weight or volume and no arguments.

Slightly off topic but how does the log stove work? I've never seen them before. Do you cut a cross in one end and pour a bit of cherry on to get it going?

Any idea how much the Posch version is selling for?

Were the mouldy ones hardwood or softwood? I've had a few go mouldy stored in a barn on a concrete floor. They were softwood and had been split whilst wet from rain on the outside of the log I've not had this problem with hardwoods I found that you can clean up mouldy logs by leaving them outside exposed to sunlight and a draft. Direct sunlight (and drying) kills the mould quickly and it soon weathers off the log

For those that are interested: advertised in latest Truck & Plant Trader (8-14Oct, page238) "UNIMOG U1000 3 way tipper £6.k plus vat, Tel 07831654727" I have absolutely no connection with the truck or the seller.

Rob are you making pieces first and then selling them or are you getting requests for pieces and them milling and making them? I guess the nub of it is that you have to add value to your milled wood by making something. I bunked of from woodworking class at school so I await your up coming pics and vids with interest! A mill is going to be my xmas present to myself this year so will be in touch with you soon about a purchase.

Thanks for the advice Tommer. I suspected there was no easy answer, hence the question! BTW, what happens to sycamore if not stood on its end after milling?

THe good thing about ebay is that there is a clear electronic paper trail to back your assertions. If it were me I would tell him that unless he produces the trailer for your winning bid price you will action the matter in the county court. My experience is that a letter from a solicitor along these lines nearly always produces results without the need to actually go to court. Depends how badly you want the trailer.

So, you have various lengths of Oak, Beech and Sycamore suitable for milling but you currently have no customers. What would be the best dimensions / thicknesses to cut out of each type of wood now, with the aim of selling the milled timber on at a later date? what sizes will maximises your chances of selling and at a decent price?

It is a Franco Belge range with two big square hot plates and an oven (light brown in colour, I think they mostly came in brown). also does the hot water and central heating. probably about 12 years old and it came with the house. As long as you are using dry wood it works a treat for the hot plates, hot water and heating but the oven is slow. If you use coal you can smelt metal in the oven and send the pipework into a frenzy of knocking and venting steam! (as i found out when we first moved in, and, due to inexperience, I overloaded the firebox).

has anyone got any idea of the costs of operating equipment powered via a 3 phase supply rather than being PTO driven? I know the costs of getting a 3 phase supply installed are often exhorbitant but what about using a diesel generator to supply the current? currently Machinemart are offering a 17kva diesel genny for £4160 exc. VAT see here: Clarke Heavy Duty Diesel Powered Generator 3-phase - TX3/ES3 - Machine Mart. I know a tractor can be used for other things but if you want a fixed setup in a barn without fumes and excessive noise inside the building it must be an option. I suppose the nub of the question is which is more fuel / cost efficient: a tractor driven pto, a diesel genny or a 3 phase grid supply?

I will give it a go tonight. thanks for the tip!

How big is the firebox in your stove and roughly how many 16" lengths can you load it up with in one go? I have a wood fired range that also provides hot water and central heating. The fire box is approx 15" x 15" x 12" and try as I might i cannot get it to last the night without having to re light in the morning if i'm burning wood of any sort even when damped right down. It will just about go 7 hours if i use coal. I'm thinking that the size of firebox / quantity of fuel loaded last thing at night is the critical factor