BigRedDog

Thanks J. I think the requirement for 3 phase probably puts them beyond me (there is 3 phase on the farm, but it’s not my supply), but thank you for posting up the info. Have you moved to another warm air boiler?

Google isn't helping me on "Ravex", have you got any more info? Are the fans to assist combustion or distribute heat?

I understand the point, but unfortunately that's just not an option I have with the way I'm currently set up. I'm very lucky to be allowed to use one dash of an open sided barn, but that's already at capacity. I have use of a small yard area but I don't own the site, and putting up more sheds isn't really an option for a number of reasons - current site ownership is not straightforward either. Buying or renting another site in my area isn't a realistic option, costs would make the business unviable I think and I'm not really interested in taking on any debt. Basically I run with an absolute minimum of overheads and I'm very lucky to be able to do so but it does mean some compromises. I have a relatively large throughput for a one man outfit, and there are a number of other issues that have pushed to me to this conclusion. Thanks for the input though!

Best heat sources...? I hope this thread is the best place to put this question... if not I can delete and re-post elsewhere. I'm seriously mulling over building my own small scale firewood kiln this summer - similar to some of those that have already been discussed. Basic set up - insulated truck body, heat exchanger & fans. I don't have access to RHI schemes, I’m only small scale (and happy that way) and I don't own the site I'm based on, so heavy investing in an off the shelf set up isn't really an option. As part of the idea I'm thinking of building my own large scale rocket stove type heat source. Question is do I design it to supply warm air, or hot water? The box will be fitted with a false floor so the heat can be introduced below the logs and forced up through - either directly as warm air, or as rads placed below the floor with circulation fans. I'm thinking water will give more control and allow for banking heat in a store, but then again warm air will be more more direct = efficient, and I can still bank it if I use thermal mass? All thoughts welcome. Ta.

That's not a wide tree, this is a wide tree... What do we reckon, on the deck before first brew, bit of stunt felling?!

I didn't know Jimmy had splitters in, I'll have to go for a skeet next time I'm in the Sunset City. The problem with sending an arb trailer is you have to pay for it both ways. I own a little bit of woodland in the UK and I have a plan for the best way to organise a load, but we can discuss that in person some time if you really do fancy splitting a load. I charge £150 for imported kiln dried hardwood, and £100 to £120 for a load of seasoned local ash, beech, oak, syc, etc. All including VAT, Delivery and Stacking as required. No shortage of customers so far. I also do barrow bags. If I get my kiln built in the summer I'll be increasing price for mine next winter. Fantastic afternoon in the rain humping oak beams by hand thanks to a certain freight company once again totally cocking it up despite the most clear and simple instructions. Thats the end of my business with them... All the best. Scampo.

I knew I recognised the tractor. Yes, price fixing, great idea, you set your price, then I'll under cut you by 2p, thats price fixing Manx Style! I'm sure you probably meet as many round here as I do who sound a bit muffled when they talk, like maybe their head is stuck somewhere I've got a 40ft load of building oak arriving this week with some firewood thrown on to fill the box. I'll email you later about maybe splitting a full load of cord. I think the biggest problem now would be finding it in the UK and getting it on a lancashire flat, cause you really don't want to be paying to put a arb artic on the boat! ££ Maybe we can work something out. With regards to pricing its not about balls fella, its about the realities of the market. We live on a very beautiful Island, but there ain't that many trees (that don't belong to the Gov). I sell a product that is dry and guaranteed to go like a rocket every time, and it costs what it costs. The only way to get cheap logs is to do it yourself, then people realise what they're paying for - a whole heap of hard work. I've actually had people ask me for cheaper wet logs, but you can't drive a nail into custard so I don't worry about them, my customers know that what they get from me is the best. I've also had customers try my stuff, rave about it, complain about the cost, then come back later after they've gone back to the wet logs and admit that it is worth the cost. I don't take any pay from the logs, just use the profit to buy more stock and toys for the businesses so I'm busy enough to keep me happy. Where did you buy your splitter local? Slane lhiat! Scamp.

Hi Windfall, I assume you're a domestic tree worker selling your arb waste, not one of the lads with the golden ticket government contracts? You mention that you had brought some cord wood, just wondered where from? I priced a 20 tonne load of softwood from St Johns last winter and came to the conclusion that I could buy at the roadside in the U.K. and ship it to IOM for less. But more importantly that the price I was quoted was going to make it very difficult to make a profit, especially at £55 to 75 a cube. There are some other small outlets for cord but as you know the gov and their blood suckers have the lions share. Incidentally I think you are pricing yourself too cheap, there is a rapidly expanding market over here and as you know a very limited supply of trees. I have purchased bits and bobs of hardwood locally but it is very few and far between. I really wouldn’t worry about people who can buy a cube of oak for £65 from a mate of a mate. That is totally unsustainable on the IOM, we just don’t have the stocks. I’m charging a lot more than that now, no shortage of customers and its only going to keep rising as decent reliable supplies run out. The number of stoves fitted means arb waste just isn’t going to keep up. As you know there are plenty of big fish in this little pond, and from what I've heard they're going to be trying to strangle the market since we shook thinks up recently, but as I don't know your name I won't say any more for now. Keep you're overheads low, concentrate on your quality and service and you have nothing to worry about - I'll see you in the field of battle competitor! Are you based in the south? Pics on the tractor thread look familiar. All the best, Scamp.

This street runs both ways me thinks... I've been wokring for my pocket money since before I left primary school, have worked for some very good people from whom I learned a lot, and some absolute *&@%#! from whom I also learned a lot, about how not to do things. At the age of 26 I was in a situation where I made the choice to start my own firm. A few years down the line I'm the worst boss I ever had, regularaly up to 100 hours a week, crap pay, but doing work I'm proud of and having the time of my life. As an employer I wouldn't expect every lump who walked through the door to be a natural. If you think you were at 16 then I think you're wearing rose tints. Eager maybe, but spot on from the get go? Have a look back through the people you knew growing up, how many of them actually graft for a living now? It's a simptom of the non-productive society we've become, which is a product of capitalism, and is the reason countries like India and China will have us all by the curlies in a few years time, but lets not get on to ideologies

In the name of science and fair consumer comparison I've ordered chains from two different websites today. Sorry Jonesie I didn't see your post re-phoning up till just now. I don't want to pee on your bonfire but one of them offerd big discounts for multiples and free delivery on orders over £50, which made them A LOT cheaper than anyone else. Will post the results and a review of the service when the chains turn up. I've also asked them both via email to see if they can find a bar for an old Dolmar saw, which should be a good test of customer service even if they can't find it. Back soon...

There's only a few pence in it for my chains, but I can't seem to find your online shop? Is it not up and running yet? I went to discountchainsawchain (Singular - No S) by mistake, I assume this is a different outfit as the prices are a few pence more again. Will you be using paypal? Ta Scamp.

Anyone used these guys? Chainsaw Chains It looks pretty cheap to me and is all good brand stuff. Anyone tried em? Scamp.

Don't mention those bloody elm, you're welcome to them. I had to go on the radio and smack down our political representative for forestry earlier in the week. Nothing like a good bit of political mud slinging to drum up business though! Kindlett I will get in touch next time I'm in the UK, if there is a weigh bridge near by its probably easier to fix a price and weigh it no? Ta.

Ruthin as in where the Blazers are made? Clifford Jones Timber? Keep me posted, I'm happy to buy it standing if you don't manage to get round to it. Got a rough idea when you're likely to be on it? Ta.

Hallo... Looking to buy some loads of hardwood for processing, preferably in the North West but will consider anything, anywhere depending on price. Isn't going through a processor so size and straightness less important. Standing, roadside, from a yard or delivered, I'm flexible. Looking for full loads, possibly up to 50 ton total or more again depending on price. Absolutely No Elm. PM me and I'll call you back, or send you my number or email. Thank You.

Not so much a big'un, but an old'un still doing the job well. This was our corporate bonding and team building trip the other week, me and the pooch spending a few days camped out enjoying what men and dogs do best...

High altitude tractors... getting down off that hill with just under 20 tonne gross and very old brakes gave the old buttocks a good work out!

I've got given an old Husky 480CD which had literally sat in someones garden shed its whole life. New bar and a bit of a spring clean and she's like new, but the Dolmar still blows it into the weeds for power, and it has been well used its whole life I'd say. Its a 36" bar for the Alaskan but I've only ever needed about 20" at the most, so its got enough power for that. I don't do a lot of milling really, bit of Elm last summer was the last. Top kit you got there, good stuff:thumbup:

Hey, Sorry for not getting back to these questions sooner, only just figured out how to search through the threads I've posted in. In answer to the Q's. I forgot to mention one hidden part of the "Brace-O-Mactic 9000", on the inside of the bits of 4x2 are two little pads of 3mm hard board screwed on and sized so that the timber blocks are held ever so slightly off the bar and won't foul the chain. Similar in design to the blocks on the Alaskan mill. I was thinking of replacing them with little strips of Lead as once the get chain oil gets on them they do get a bit slippy to grip the bar. Not usually a problem as you tend to be keeping the pressure in one direction, but if it gets a bit technical it can require a bit of adjustment as you're going along. But I forgive it as it has the all important free factor. The blocks are also shaped on the front side so that you can follow a pen line all the way to the chain. This saw runs the tiny pico chain, which is good for this type of curved work, would be even more manouverable with a carving bar. Thanks for your comments Doug, I am very lucky indeed to work in such a beautiful spot, its not even my farm or anything to do with my family, but the guys who own it just like having someone around the place who's up to something all the time. So I'm very lucky indeed, keeping all my junk there and running two businesses from their buildings. Don't worry the little holes are 10mm dowel holes, no screws in our work! The lad who made that bench (Mike in the first picture) is even more wood fundamentalist than me! The sad thing is I can actually sell this sort of stuff at quite a good price, I just don't have enough time to make any myself, and there's nobody else locally doing the type of work I do. I've got to go and get some pics of a desk I made last year from beech I felled 5 yr ago, spalted in my yard (the most incredible colours!), then milled and machined up. I'll keep you posted. Thanks Again. Scampi.

Don't worry, its not my 100k! Obsolete, mechanical extrusion briquetters are 60 yr old technology already, how is it going to get any more obsolete? Are you bringing new methods to the table that are as reliable and cheaper?

Nice.

My thoughts exactly. My just fell it and see if it'll come back in the spring. Case closed I'd say, thanks for your thoughts all.

I saw I think two of these (maybe only one - bit fuzzy the old noodle) at a dispersal auction down past chichester a few years ago. Can't remember the name of the firm that was being retired, big outfit though, actually where I bought the Dolmar saw mentioned in your other thread. The Massey(s) were bought by a dealer for big money, very clean machines. Tractor Porn:thumbup:

Is the Dolmar a 165, I can't quite pic out the number? I've got a 133 "Super" thats probably older than me and certainly gives the old stumps a good work out! More power than you can shake a stick at though, use it with a 36" bar on the mill, love it! Love the old saws, I'll dig out some pics of mine...

No need to PM me, just put the prices up on here, I'm sure everyone will be interested. Mines a 95 Chevy 1500 CK extended cab. It's the watertight lockers that'd really sell it to me, better than stuff all sloshing around. I was thinking if you had the tray deck raised up to clear the wheels you could have some sizable storage space running across the back under the tray? I like neat and organised, I've got everything sorted into fish boxes in the van at the moment, bit OCDC like that:lol: Put the HIAB on rear mounted as an option just in case I can't afford it:blushing: It'd be nice to lift a tonne but no more, and only from close by. I know full box conversions for these trucks are quite common in the states, so guess its pretty straight forward. Filler neck is in the tub as you can see, and anoyingly set into the step side.