Big J
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Everything posted by Big J
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I took a smaller (but still about 1.6m DBH) sequoia from a site in Alloa a year or two ago. I say took, I mean uplifted for milling (it became cladding). The reason for removal was it's proximity to a crappy 1970s bungalow. It was probably only 4m from the tree. The tree was obviously there when the house was built and it was such a shame to remove the tree. I'd have demolished the house personally! Point is, people are idiots and bricks and mortar (no matter how distasteful or poorly constructed it is) seem to trump (sometimes historic) trees. I hope your sequoia survives unmolested, but I wouldn't hold your breath.
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Back pack is a non starter really as you only need one for a few seconds usually. I had the Stihl BD86 and it's not great. The on/off button stopped working fairly early on (have to choke to kill it) and it's not an amazing starter either. Just shoddy construction I guess. I use it with the nozzle at half length, as the full 3ft is awkwardly long for getting into the nooks and crannies of the machine.
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I wouldn't worry. I build everything hugely over spec. The sawmill barn, despite really only having a 24ft main span, is built with 12x9 inch spruce beams.
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I've heard that before, and the previous batch that I had it cut beautifully too. Only issue I had was that it did move rather a lot once it was cut. I've specified some of it cut at 7.5m, and I have a mezzanine to install in one of my barns as a band sharpening area, so a fair bit of it will be used for that. Beyond that, it will probably go into the cheap and cheerful pile of low cost timber for folk that just want boards/beams and don't care what it is so long as it's cheap! Thanks for the feedback folks
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It's a bit pricey. It doesn't make much sense to buy anything that has originated in the States at the moment as the Dollar is very strong. That being said, the Pound has taken a tumble against the Euro in recent weeks. Good job I pay for my kit in Zloty
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Thank you for the info! It's from up near Dundee.
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It would appear that I will be taking about 50 tonnes of western balsam poplar later this month. Big stuff too - up to 1.5m diameter, I am told. Question is, what do I do with it? If anyone wanted any, it would be about £175/cubic metre off saw, cut into 4x4s/sleepers/wide boards etc.
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Hardwood in Central Scotland
Big J replied to Mad Ginger's topic in Forestry and Woodland management
I have got quite a bit, but you need to come during the day time. I am trying to avoid doing weekends and it's dark at 1700. -
I will do my best. Beech doesn't have the most visible growth rings, but I will try.
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I'd probably pay £30 to £40 a tonne for it if there was a lorry load. If, as is the case here, there isn't a full load, I'd usually offer to uplift for free but not pay. Sequoia is great for cladding, but that is all really as it has no strength.
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Only thing I've found with Makita/Dolmar saws that is irritating is that they seem to throw the surclip that holds the sprocket on. Both the DCS7901 and the PS6100.
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Right enough! Bang on capacity I think. It's 4ft and a smidge, but slightly eliptical so probably 115cm x 135cm. I shall maybe see about a friend coming and doing a better (than iphone) video....
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You lucky sod! Nice here though - inch of snow and zero celcius. Going inland a bit to go sledging with my daughter, wife and friends.
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Don't get as many large logs as I'd like. Most are in the 1-3 tonne range, so nothing exceptional there. Might be bringing a load of large oak and a load of large elm back to the yard, so potential there. A couple of the elms are oversized even for my mill. I'll perhaps speak to Trak-met about an hydraulic pump upgrade. It's not a major issue at all though - just something I'd have changed if ordering it again.
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I have an old DCS7901 which is outstanding. Fastest saw I have will be sorely missed when it eventually dies. Is the exhaust transferable from the older to the newer models?
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John Kerrs are excellent. They are where I'm getting my telehandler from, and they look after you well. Don't be afraid to haggle a bit though!
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I'm lucky in that I can find out exactly what the big logs weigh. That being said, I quite often have 3 tonne logs, but not often 4 tonne. The reason for that is that there aren't many hauliers that will lift 4 tonnes up here.
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Sounds like they are well respected as a machine - I'm glad! The farm suppliers I'm purchasing it from are very good and the Coventry Climax came from them also (and has been faultless, which for an £1800 machine is saying something). Tom - thanks for the maintenance points. All taken aboard and noted. Unlikely it will ever see anything other than light use with me, but I like preemptive care on machines. Nice grab on your (nice) machine Aspenarb. The grab's a bit longer on mine so that I can get hold of a full grab load (say half a dozen 30cm diameter logs) and only a single grab. Nevertheless has made material handling much more rapid. Billy - I'm cautiously optimistic on a 4t lift. Both my 2.5t plated forklifts lift 3.8t, so I reckon the 2.8t Manitou is good for 4t. The weight centre of a heavy log is very close to the machine so they seem to be able to lift quite a bit more than plated to. I'll get photos once it's in the yard!
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Hi all, I've bought a telehandler for the yard which comes next week, and was wondering if anyone has had experience with this model: That's not my machine but a google image. Mine is 2002, just over 10000hrs, excellent condition £11750 plus VAT. It's coming from the local farm machinery supplier so it's being extensively serviced before coming to me as well as quite a few new bushes and the like. I initially thought that it was quite a large machine for my yard, but was surprised at it's nimbleness. It also went to nearly full extension on 3120kg (plated to lift 2800kg) so it should lift 4 tonnes. It will spend it's life dotting around the yard on unprocessed timber handling with a timber grab on the front. The old Coventry Climax will be demoted to permanent shovel loader. Switching between the grab and the shovel this last year has been a pain. Artic steer telehandlers are an acquired taste, I'm told. Anyone else with one?
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Oak Tree trunk. 10m. Beautiful. Offers invited.
Big J replied to rafeeaster1's topic in General chat
Lovely stem that. Glad it's close to you guys at Copford. -
Hydraulics are extremely quick, but could be stronger. Something I would change if ordering again (which I will - give me a year or two and I'll upgrade again). They will handle logs up to about 2.5t and 40" diameter easily. Beyond that requires some wiggling and practice. Heavier logs are fine if longer (ie lower diameter) and uniform in dimensions. I've not had the chance yet, but I'm sure a 20ft length of 40" softwood would move around fine with the hydraulics.
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No - the hydraulics run out of steam at about 40" diameter. They weren't uprated (though I should have asked, with hindsight). They will rotate it once you've slabbed a half dozen boards off the top.
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Big sawmills don't need much labour really. A big contracting mill I've used in Northamptonshire called Helmdon can turn out up to three lorry loads of sawn hardwoods a day with a total of just three guys. It's mainly to do with automated material handling. The speed of cut is no where near as important. That said, I'm fairly sure I'll have a day this year where I mill a lorry load in a day!
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Huge saving. About £280 a week if I'm on full production (what would have been 5 days on the Logmaster is condensed into 2 and a half). Probably averages out at about £180 a week saved. Any savings I make just goes into new equipment. There is no limit to useful equipment in a sawmill!
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I would say that I'm somewhere around 10-15% of revenue, depending on month. I'm a sawmill though, so different breakdown I imagine. I also have a lot of timber to buy and very high overheads on premises/equipment.
