richy_B

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.

Hello all, I've been dealing with Japanese Knotweed for a few years and last year began stem injecting. I wanted to ask what concentrations people have been using and which chemical? From doing some research it seems only Roundup Pro Biactive (360 or 450) can 'legally' be used for direct stem injection. I used the 360 version and experimented with 2ml per stem neat and 4ml with 50/50 dilute with water. I've found the dilute easier to work with but of course you need to reload more often. I've also 'heard of someone' using a more common amenity glyphosate (Gallup Biograde Amenity) at similar concentrations with the good results. I've also recently been asked a best practise question in regards cleaning out the gun after use. Obviously in reality it differs but if you were in a demonstration/assessment setting what you say? I said if you wanted to be very safe you could refill the canister with just water then spray it till empty into an used pesticide container which was then disposed of by a authorised waste contractor. Couldn't really come up with a text book answer. Any ideas?

If you've got all those under your belt I'd say you were pretty sorted from most employers perspectives. Maybe PA1/PA6 for pesticides.

Only a mile down the road from me. The country is full of nutters but to be fair London has the lion's share. She must have been a real nutjob, to go away, get a knife and return is full on crazy.

A photo I took last season. There could be some some structural movement involved here as well but I'm confident the knotweed is a strong contributor (a large amounts of the stems have been washed away during high water levels) The worrying thing is this was a support for a two lane road bridge.

I treated about 5 hectares of knotweed last season in West London. All the Thames tributaries and the overground system have it growing in abundance. It only now seems to be getting to a point of real concern and I've seen mention of it on building insurances (similar to the proximity of large trees). The potential for damage is significant in my opinion.

I don't think there is a knack to it really, it just comes with time. In the last 3 years I've had to start regularly presenting to large groups (up to 150) and it took me at least 5-6 meetings till I wasn't panicking and a year of it till I felt confident.

In the last 6 months I've had a ms362 with a 18" bar and I've been very impressed with it. I am sure that with a 25" it would be good for this application.

I looked into this as an option but the idea of buying a site them legally and properly dividing up seemed to be expensive and relatively complicated. The option of buying and working together (gentlemans agreement as opposed to legally binding) obviously avoids these issues but in practise I doubt things would run smoothly (splitting cost/income, usage, management etc). In principle it seems like a good way of doing it though and perhaps a middle ground could be found with the formation of a co-op or similar. I would be interested in talking more about this if anyone else has an interest. In regards the FC sell off its hard to know how it will work out. You would assume lots of land coming onto the market at once would lower the cost but as someone said it could draw a lot of attention from the purely capital focused investors. From the FC perspective I would have though that a staggered sell of over a decade would be far more efficient but time obviously isn't on there side. From talking to some contacts at the EA I've heard are facing major reductions in operating budgets.

Decent size woodlands in the southeast are expensive. I've been looking for years for a good opportunity as can only echo what you have mentioned. I've looked at a few of that size in Kent in the last 2 months and price/size wise for 15-20 acres was between £65,000 and £110,000 guideprice. Several sold for more than the asking. Even at a relatively small size a lot of the woodlands have public rights of way across them which I found a bit off putting. In regards what you intend to do with the land you probably need to narrow it slightly. Coppice work, charcoal burning, firwood suits the more mature or overstood woodlands but would make growing christmas trees in any kind of density impossible. Its hard to find a site offering both. You should consider leisure uses for the woodland as well as a means of get some sort of contribution into the running costs. All sorts of rules and regulations but there is the possibility of using the woodland as an educational site (which attracts grants etc), camping or 'wilderness camping', rent sections as a training site (arb/agriculture), paintball or offroading (although pretty saturated markets), etc, etc. Lots of hoops to jump through but worth investigating. On a less encouraging note I feel that you might be able to find a hobby that contributes towards its own costs but you're unlikely to make much in the ways of profit.

Hello, I do a bit of milling myself and whilst googling for some info earlier I saw this http://timbergreenforestry.com/Sawmilling Big Logs With A Chain Sawmill.html The two saws running on the same bar is something I've not even thought about let alone seen. Anyone seen this sort of thing in action?

I work primarily in watercourse maintenance these days and we work on the basis that all blockages/obstructions are 'owned' by the riparian owner. The riparian owner defined as the person who owns the land the river crosses (its 50/50 with your neighbour if its your border). A spanner I'd throw into the works is the potential damage of pulling wood from a river. If you are pulling out small lengths its not an issue but if you winch out a bit trunk you are going to tear the banks up which can lead to erosion etc.

Hello, read through the 'who owns a woodland' thread and one or two posts got me thinking. Has anyone here got any experience of get planning and building a permanent dwelling in a woodland? I did a bit of research before and its obviously not a straight forward thing to get PP for but it seems if you can justify a need to be on site you can get it. I looked at a productive woodland for sale recently that was 40 hectares (30 corsican pine and the rest mixed broadleaf). I thought something of that size will potentially year round felling you stand a good chance of getting consent. Anyone got any views?

I'm in california at the ned of the month and did contemplate this. I dunno about bring a saw back in the suitcase though.