csservices

I'd assume so the house is still lived in

Think the poles got most of the weight where its laid on it

Some pictures of a couple of hedges I've done this winter, bit out of practice as hadnt done any for a couple of years

Spotted this yesterday, while we were fencing in the field next door, the guys obviously panicked after his attempt and left it like this

Had one like that from someone down south the other week, reckoned she had a large fallen tree in the garden and did I know someone who would clear it up for the timber

It seems the thread has fallen from sharing gems of experience to one verging of pure pessimism about returns available, or lack thereof. I still think a good product backed by a top level of service will always find it’s niche be it in wood or any other commodity. If too many get into the market then it should be the inconsistent suppliers that fall first. That’s never a bad thing unless it affects you.

 

Anyway, I'm moving forward at a fast pace, I’m all set to roll out and lets see if my new processor, being delivered next week will end up in the classified section next year. I’ve gone for a PTO driven Japa 700 that my vintage Ford tractor will be coupled to. Last weekend, I went out and purchased an ageing but very tidy Manitou MTL 523 that’ll be equally as useful around the homestead as it will be moving the wood around. There are 200 reclaimed pallets arriving tomorrow at a good price. A tip I can share is that I talked with a few bag suppliers for both bulk delivery bags and vented storage bags and have ended up going with Bulkbag Containers Ltd. Gent there is called Hamish (01382 823824) who is very helpful and they don’t have large minimum order quantities that others apply. Pricing is pretty fair too so for anyone buying bags they are well worth talking to if you haven’t already. The bags will be coming week of the 17th along with 4 bulk loads of wood from 2 suppliers for the initial supplies.

 

At least with a years seasoning in the pipeline, I’ve got plenty of time to plan my retail strategy.

Not being pessimistic mate, been in the job long enough to know, less you outlay the quicker you get it back, working on the 40k figure you'd have to sell 500 cubic metre loads at £80 a load just to get the investment on equipment back and that obviously doesnt include outlay on labour and timber, I agree that good stuff will always sell, at one time I was the only person round here dry storing logs before sale, I even knew one lad who was going into the woods and felling as the orders came in and taking it out green and wondered why he didnt get repeat custom

Thats the way to do it I reckon mate.

 

Everyone and his dog seems to have bought a firewood processor recently. The problem with that is they aren't going to be worth anything second hand, as there will be so many about. Investing in machinery is usually good practise to reduce your exposure as its only really the depreciation you will lose. However, if the value of the machinery drops rapidly, your exposure rises rapidly too.

 

Key to selling firewood I reckon is dont spend any money on it, keep it simple, use the kit you have already and get the timber for free.

 

Be very interesting to see how many firewood processors come up for sale after next winter.

I work on the K.I.S.S principle, plus by not having a firewood processor it means I can handle a wider range of timber rather than having to find straight stuff of a certain diameter

Agree with you mate. As so many people are selling wood they have for free, its going to be bloody hard to compete, especially if you have to buy the timber.

 

Again, over spending on equipment is just going to make matters worse.

No chance of that mate, back to basics chain saw and axe

It always used to be said, firewood is a hard way to earn a living and I think to be honest that stands true, unless you get the wood for nowt or you get paid for rmmeoving it as part of a job so its perks, then there is'nt much margin in it, I've just got back into it after a couple of years as a way to maintain turnover over winter, after the another wet winter last year meaning I was struggling for work

If its a price your happy you'll make at then stick to it, you can sit at home and earn nowt without knackering yourself, I've heard people trot out stories like that for years, if a customer tries it now I just say "good luck to them if they think they can do it for that price" and walk away

I must be getting old, 40k! investment to sell logs I started out with an Stihl 028, an axe and ancient landy hicap, granted it was back when timber was still considered as a problem or perks of the job when out fencing and hedgelaying, now if you ask if you can have any timber you've cut out of a hedge or a windblown tree when clearing a fence line, it's either how much will you give me for it or no we want it ourselves only for it to sit rotting where its left for the next few years

Nice one, that will be the one with the gear sticks between your legs then, not the crappy one on the column!

 

If the old girl has a set of pallet forks for the loader, i might be interested when the day comes:sneaky2:

Yep thats the one and its electronic dual power and 4wd, not got any pallet forks for it at the minute, thats one thing I've been looking for, usually slide two bit of scaffold pole on the tines on the fork

Used to have a 4610 LP cab with the late type column gears that was a good tractor, only downside was on the road because by time you'd gone across, up, across, down and back across into 3rd you'd lost your momentum

Looks nice. Very capable tractor. Is it 6610 with LP cab?

Yep 6610 but AP not LP, 24 years old this year and creeping on for 8000 hours, she might be looking for an easier life soon

My old beast at last, hydraulic pumps decided to start leaking since the pic was taken, always when you need em

Had a Stihl hat for years came free along with a fleece and a bag, apparently the dealer couldnt sell them so was giving them away was a comfy hat mind

and last years, got me own personalised ones now with Countryside Services on the front

Hi, all got an email off someone in the Luton area, last night looking for someone to clear a fallen tree in their garden, I assume its a clear it for the wood job, if any ones interested pm me and I'll pass on the email address

Usually buy oregon ones off ebay, though the last two have some how ended up too long there were some cheap australian made bars on there the other year, cant remember the make but my husky 357 ate it in no time so ended up getting a genuine husky bar anyway

Younger brother had it with Hunters in Derby few years back, went in after a disco commercial, as he was only early twenties at time basically told him not to waste thier time as he couldnt afford one, worst dealer service I've had was pentagon vauxhall, wanted a new zapper for the central locking, although we were considering a new car til experienced the level of service, wanted £150 plus programming took over a fortnight to get it in then admitted they had got it within two days but were too busy so didnt bother telling me so told them to shove it, went to Marehay vauxhall, £20 programmed in next day fitted it in on the saturday morning and checked and cleared the engine management light for me for free while there, guess which dealer I'll use in the future!

hi,lots of old farm trailers had 20 inch diameter wheels and tyres, imo 20 inch tyres are hard too get and expensive so look out for trailers with 16 inch wheels and tyres.

Couple of mine were like that changed the wheels for 7.50 x 16 wheels and tyres off ford cargo trucks, although by all accounts thier getting harder to find now too

They've been nicking it straight out the wood behind my house again this winter bold as brass in broad daylight seen em walking out with trunks they've felled! one cheeky tw@t had stockpiled a load behind the wall, spotted him loading his van early one sunday morn, I know who the owner is now so he's on the case

Burns hot but doesnt last too long, I had loads off a few jobs a few years back and nobody wanted it, so mixed it in anyway and told them it was ash never had any complaints and they all came back for more

Once had an argument with a customer because she wanted me to take the logs away again after I told her it had alder in it, turned out she thought I meant elder burns lovely and splits easy if split green

TCP just dab it on neat stings like a b**ch but should draw it out by morning, I get full of thorns reguarly during the winter with hedge laying, either that or pop them out when they go sceptic, worst one I ever had was a 3/4 inch hawthorn thorn when a branch whipped back and stabbed it into me calf muscle took ages to get that one out

As has been said burns well if seasoned properly, but can take some splitting

Pulled one of those out of a hedge bottom a few years back and got paid to take it away, spent two years sat on a trailer at the farm till I got fed up with taking it off every time I wanted to use the trailer ended up weighing it in cos nobody wanted it