richy_B

Cheers guys. I like to 'try' and understand a topic/process rather than just go on bits and pieces I've read so please excuse any assumptions I've made that are inaccurate. Openspaceman, in regards your reply - most of this info is based on my own reading up on the subject. I'n obviously no expert! In reply: 14m3 sounds more realistic. So assuming this would be a total weight of around 7 tons. Sound about right? Temperature. I read a US study that advised 82C was an optimum temperature and keeping below 100C was advisable as 'steam' was going to create issues with pressure and new h&s issues. About 80C is what I have from my heating source so I figured on losing 5-10C in the kiln. What do you suggest here? What's an ideal temp in your mind? I only considered a heat exchanger as I thought some heat could be captured. If, in practise, it is not worthwhile I would just vent it. I did consider a secondary chamber where the heat was sent to via a heat exchanger. Perhaps to heat a storage area where nets were kept etc. I don't know the best option here I just felt it would be better to try and use all the energy. Target time is just what I'd like to achieve. In regards your equation how do you arrive at 4500kg? I don't doubt it but I am not clear. Based on what you are saying though if you needed 5850KWH at 75C and you had a theoretical input of 50KW per hour from your heat source this would equate to around 117 hours or just under 5 days. Of courses losses would occur and this time scale would increase but it seems possible in the 7 day turnaround. Have I understood that correctly? Thanks for the input, this is exactly what I wanted. I've done quite a bit of searching on the forum as well as google but there is really contrasting information. I assume commercial operators keep this info to themselves.

Appreciate the info. I'll see if I can PM BigJ.

Hello all, is there any on here who knows their stuff in regards using/building firewood kilns? I want to run some thoughts by someone but its a bit of a niche subject. I know the use of kilns for firewood is a debated topic when compared to air drying because of energy use etc but I am hoping to focus on kilns rather than the bigger debate. What I am considering is the fairly common - insulated 20ft lorry container with several fans for air movement, a large vent and extractor/exhaust fan to remove/replace moist air. Track system for wheeling cages in and out. External heat source to produce hot water for heating. Moisture and temp meters for monitoring. -Target of around 24 cubes capacity of split, rough filled hardwood logs. -Temperature in mind of around 70-75C. Ideally keep it around that for the majority of the time. -Method of heating is via hot water pump around the kiln. Energy for the heater is waste from another industrial process. The KW output should be enough to maintain the target temp. -Use the exhaust fan to extract moist air and channel it via a heat exchanger to recapture of the energy. -Target time of 5-7 days. -Haven't included a dehumidifier. -Series of fans working continuously to keep air moving. My thoughts on the subject are that if we have 24 cubes of green firewood that equates to approximately 12t. Mix of hardwood but mainly ash, syc & oak. I am estimating a green moisture content of 50%. Our target MC is just under 20% so we need to reduce the moisture by 30%. This means we need to remove around 3.6t of water or 3600 litres. This is obviously a lot per day when look at over a 5-7 day cycle. Some reading from various sources suggest this is quite possible but I want to get some peoples opinions. Any thoughts?

PM sent.

That is a scary looking chipper.

I did mine at Land Based Training near Reading. -http://www.landbasedtraining.co.uk/

Thanks very much guys. I'm going to investigate a few of the links.

Hello, are there any chainsaw boots than either have or can have studs attached to the sole? I know you get the stud kits for wellies but these don't seem compatible with the regular boots. I find the wellies uncomfortable and hard to get on and off. I've tried all the regular sites and googling hasn't turn anything up. Any ideas?

I had a toiletry bag stolen off my back seat. Had fallen out of an overnight bag after a weekend away. I assume the tw*ts thought it might be a sat nav. Partially my fault, it shouldn't have been left on show. The bit that really got me though was they nicked a loose roll on deodorant that was sitting next to it. Who steals a used roll on deodorant???

Is that an angle grinder?

Thanks for the input, I was just trying to be cheap!

Hello all, I am going to be acquiring 4-5 20' shipping containers over the next few months for storage use. I was looking around at transporting them and obviously the general approach is lorry and hiab. Pricewise around £50-£60 an hour. Then I saw a company who said they could tow one on a 3.5t flatbed trailer behind a 4X4. I thought this sounded crazy at first but on reflection I guess a 20' container could sit on a say 16' flat bed (perhaps on a few sleepers). Weightwise an empty container is about 2ton so it would be inside the trailer capacity. Pulled by a defender or trooper guess this all seemsto add up. Distance would be around 50-70 miles. I have access to a 3.5t flatbed so I am curious. I feel sure you'd get some Traffic Police attention is you passed them! Any views?

Found this is an interesting thread as I am looking for an excavator with a grab. From my time in the USA, where 'thumbs' seem to be standard issue I know they are useful additions. For my particular applications, where I intend to use the excavator 99% of the time to handle logs I am planning on spending the extra and getting a grab and rotor. Something I am wondering about it how it all gets plumbed in? I assume you need two extra lines, one for the rotor movement, one for the grab closure. Of the excavators I've looked at they only seem to offer a single additional line. What's the best way of achieving this? or are there are particular machines that offer a particular advantage? I'm looking at the 5-7t range. Any thoughts?

Cheers for the comments, seems to be a mixed though. I like the idea of a 6X6 (or 8X8) hook loader with a hiab and grab. Hadn't even considered that and I've never seen that combo about/for sale. Anyone got any pics/links? Also as mentioned the advantage that if one breaks down you can still limp on with the other. In regards the MOG, I am unsure about the feasibility of an AGRI status but didn't intend to use red in it. I'd, of course, like to but VOSA are pretty hot on it around West London and regularly do commercial 'check points' on the major roads. I just wouldn't want the headache/anxiety of it all the time.

Hello guys, a slight conundrum. I am moving into a new line of business focussing more on biofuels/recycling. Acquisition of arisings then processing to a range of final products. This entails bulk collection of chip and the moving of logs/trunk sections. A month or so back I posted about possible log vehicles and got some very useful replies (Thanks guys). Having looked into those further I stumbled on a new issue. Is it better or worse, more or less economical, etc to have one vehicle that does it all or two vehicles do 50/50? The two options I've come up with are: 1. Hook loader rigid lorry with a few bulk 30cube skips and another rigid lorry with a brick grab that would be converted to a timber grab. Advantages would be quite good availability purchase wise, lots of mechanics available around London, decent speed (could be doing 40 mile round trips). Disadvantages being two sets of insurance, MOT, etc. For London need to be LEZ compliant and also space. From some looking around I reckon both could be bought for around £40k total. 2. Unimog (probably 1600). Forestry grab mounted on the back. Pulling a hook loading trailer. Something like this but an older model: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ab2JfP_LuDw/Td0fYImnQsI/AAAAAAAAIBk/Z2ZRw5_sXj8/s1600/Mercedes-Benz+Unimog+timber+2.jpg Advantages being offroad ability (fields, grass, nothing serious), LEZ exempt if AGRI registered, one set of repairs/insurance/etc, less yard space and of course very cool! Disadvantages being higher initial cost, lower travel speed, lower payload for trailer (although would be sufficient for 90% of the time), less mechanics around London. Not got an accurate price but I am figuring around £40K for a decent mog then £10k for crane set up and £15K for the hook loader trailer so around £65K in total. I suppose this could be applied to a normal tractor but I'd worry the speed might be an issue on longer runs. What would you opt for? I worry the 'big boys toys' perspective clouds my judgement here! Any comments welcomed. EDIT - Maintenance. Assume a MOG can be an expensive item to maintain, although two lorries could as well i guess.

Peter, had a look at your thread. Your Iveco is exactly the kind of thing I'm after. Going to check the classifieds. Thanks for the pointers.

Would it be possible to mount a grab and rotor on the crane? I wonder if a vehicle of this age would suffer terribly in terms of MPG.

Hadn't considered the LEZ, good call. I'll check out your thread, cheers.

Hello all, wondering if the arbtalk collective might have a few suggestions on my query. Whats the best (of a good way) of shifting logs about? In detail: -collecting logs from arb work, potentially thinnings from woodlands (not going offroad though), butts. Looking to carry between 5-10 tons a go. -60-70 mile round trip covering all roads so decent cruise speed and if possible reasonable mpg. 3 or so journeys like this per week, 50 weeks of the year. -One man operation. -budget is up to £15k. -I've got a C1, but could get my c+e sorted if required. I don't know enough about cranes/hiabs/things of that nature but I did wonder how easy it was to change something from just a hook grab you can attach a strop to a grab and rotor? I wonder if something like this, with a bit of modification, could work? 2005 VOLVO FL220 ALI BODY HIAB CRANE XS 122 CL BRICK GRAB in Rotherham | Truck Trader Any thoughts?

Hello, anyone got any experience of day rates for 13T excavator with operator? London location, 3 days-4 days, working alongside 2 dumpers. Straight forward job. I've been getting a few prices but nearly fell off my chair when I read the amounts.

My experience is that tenders (arb, building and GM) have weightings covering things like sustainability, staff training and development, H&S, quality control but of course the biggest weighted item is price (65% is the lowest I've seen). They do dress it up as 'value for money' and 'best value over the life of the contract' but it generally comes down to the cheapest quote. That said the few percent gained from the lesser categories could be what wins it if you tie or come close on price. As has been mentioned though some companies, even well established & experienced ones can lose the run of themselves and come in ridiculously low just to win it. I am aware of a large LA tree contract that was won and then the term contractors had to novate after 12 months as it was pretty much going to bankrupt them. Even the most efficient teams never running into an problems or delays couldn't do it and cover costs. Was never going to happen, I think the bosses were blinded by the £4m over 4 years. My overwhelming experience of LA tenders is they tend to be fairly exclusive of small operators regardless of how good you are. I think this is a real shame as the quality of the work and the reliability of the service often surpass larger companies.

Far too Triffid like!

I use a Grillo GF4 and its certainly a work out. The most annoying thing is when you are working on site everyone thinks you've got it easy compared to guys using a brushcutter as you're 'just walking behind it'.

Well I survived the night! I had some involvement with the council clean up work in Ealing today and I think there was about 50 shop fronts put in, 7 cars burnt and just one building burnt. The scary thing has been that there have been confirmed reports of these scum bags attacking and mugging people on their way homes etc. Mixed reviews of the initial police response but I give credit to the council this morning. By 10 am all the burnt vehicles and debris removed. The bits of road that had been burnt were being resurfaced by 11.

Thought I may log on whilst I am sitting here in Ealing. My bit of the area is pretty quiet but I am, as you can surely appreciate, a little on edge. The horizon is orange, the air smells of smoke and the sound of sirens is coming from multiple directions. I've decided to get my largest silky out should I need to do some late night pruning. Hope everyone else is doing alright.