Big J

I'm just terrible at remembering to post on the site Rob! Plus, these days the timber I have tends to move quite quickly, so no adverts are that current. Posted an advert for a pile of sycamore I have. Jonathan

I'm definitely one for good spelling and grammar. I'm always reminded that these are international forums, and it's only fair that we make an effort for it to be accessible for everyone. Text talk and lazy typing are quite alienating at times.

Oh wow! I hadn't actually seen that - you could spend hours in there!

It's in the fungi guide (thread started by Steve Bullman) on page 2, posted originally by Kat1e. Either way, I'm glad to be able to identify it, and I'll watch it over the next couple of weeks!

Hi David, I just went blind into the directory. My fungi identification is still in the embryonic stages, though I'd like to improve this. With the estate being rather vast, and many trees just being left to their own devices, you see quite a lot of very old trees in advanced stages of decay that wouldn't otherwise be standing in a more urban setting. I think the pictures that I used for reference in the fungi directory were on page 2. Jonathan

According the the fungi guide, I think this is P. squamosus. Huge amounts of it, and still growing, though we've removed some of it's shade, so it might not be quite so happy now. We're working on this site for a couple of weeks, so I'll keep an eye on it.

Passed mine yesterday. Pretty easy though I made two silly minor errors (out of a total of three minors - nerves I guess). Had four hours of tuition before, though that was perhaps more than was required, as I'd been doing quite a lot of towing for the last month. Either way, it's bloody good that I can now tow a reasonable trailer. I've got an excellent 5.5 x 12 Indespension plant trailer lined up, so I'm chuffed.

If you go back 50 or 60 years, employment was much higher and we were still a manufacturing nation. I don't think that a return to that state is impossible. That said, I think the work ethic that once existed in the UK has more or less gone from the young generation. There is a culture or expectancy, that simply by having the good fortune of being born in this country, we are entitled to an easy life. If all else fails, see my earlier abortion/adoption remark, with an addendum for enforced sterilisation of serial reproducers !

I understand your sentiment, but if you are a heavy smoker, drinker, eater or drug user, the only consequence to the considered, systematic and long abuse of your body is that you are going to require medical attention. I don't think that you can compare that to people who have constructive hobbies and suffer accidents, or expect for those people who develop illnesses without fault to have to wait due to the number of 'addicts' on the waiting lists. It is a difficult subject, and a debate that in essence either justifies or undermines the NHS. As a non-smoker, moderate drinker, non-drug using person of average weight and good health, I'd rather pay for medical insurance than have my tax money fund a liver transplant for an alcoholic. Jonathan

BBC News - Inquiry after Russian plane falters during test One suspects that a change of underpants was needed once the plane had landed!

As has already been highlighted on this thread so far, taxation is the main reason that we pay so much at the pump. We have the highest rates of fuel duty and tax in the world. I hold no ill feeling towards the oil companies as a whole - with several friends who work offshore, I know how much work is involved in producing fuel. When you think that a litre of the stuff only costs about 60 pence before tax, it's not that bad. Regarding tax however, the exchequer's enormous need for fuel tax income can be traced to: * Our grossly inefficient bureaucratic system. We have so many jobs that exist for literally no purpose. There should be a huge drive to force every job to be justified. If you don't produce a tangible product, or offer a tangible service, the job shouldn't exist. * Reproduction has become a career choice for the lower classes. Having a kid should not get you a house. If you are up the duff and can't support yourself, you have two options - abortion or adoption. I'm sorry if that offends, but the thought that my bloody hard earned tax money goes to support armies of Kaydens, Kayleighs, Kylies and Kerrys makes me feel a little ill. * The NHS is an unfortunate example of a chronically inefficient tax sink. £111,000,000,000 a year. I'm a strong believer in responsibility for one's actions and I believe that if you smoke, are obese or have wrecked your liver with heavy drinking, you should pay for your treatment yourself. For instance, my wife's best friend died in March from Leukemia. She had numerous complications along the way, including almost complete lung failure. She would however not have qualified for a lung transplant as she had Leukemia, as supply is short. A life long smoker, having wrecked their own lungs, would in many circumstances have been eligible. I could rant on, but I'm finding myself getting increasingly bitter about the state of affairs in the UK. One popularly vilified element of society I have no problem with is immigrants. In all honesty, the vast majority of them work much harder than Joe Average. I'd quite happily trade our 'Jeremy Kyle' class for a plethora of folk from overseas! Jonathan

I did a volume based weight measurement of some Beech in March and got 1045kg per cubic meter. Your log has an approximate volume of 0.415 cubic meters, so approximately 433kg.

The best money could be made from the stem if you can take the main trunk out with the rootball still attached. That's where the big money is for Walnut.

I found parts of that very hard to watch. You can say what you like about that chap's quality of work, precaution regarding PPE and lack of basic arboricultural knowledge, but what it effectively boils down to is that he is a conman. How he can possibly sleep at night knowing he has fleeced a pensioner for £3000 is beyond me. Is anyone in the Banbury area that can go finish that hedge off for her?

Saw the vibration figures - very impressive indeed if they work out to be correct! I spend most of my time in small diameter stands, and 3hp versus the 3.5hp of the MS260 doesn't seem like much of a drop when you consider the slightly lighter weight, lower fuel consumption, lower emissions and much lower vibes.

Wondering if anyone has had chance to try the new MS241? I do really like the MS261, but it's a bit of a porker compared to the 260. The low weight is appealing with the MS241.

It's a shame when it gets to that point. Sawn timber is worth a lot more than firewood - it's just a case of having the means to saw it, dry it and move it on. I am starting to think though that much of the pricing for dried timber is dictated by the perceived market rates, rather than the actual cost of producing furniture grade timber. I say this as I realise that for most hardwoods, I'm a good bit cheaper than many of my peers (realising of course that I don't have anywhere near the amount of stock - when it's gone it's gone!) but still make a reasonable profit on the timber I produce. Consequently, the most recent kiln has been open for less than 11 days and 40% of it has sold. Perhaps marketing, including some focus on bringing makers around to the idea of using locally sourced timbers (rather than imported stuff), is the key to getting the best out of the market. I hate to see a saw log firewooded, I really do!

Graham, have you informed the landowner to expect an arboricultural looking chap, with a slight whiff of Fungi, excitedly cataloguing every nook and cranny of the tree tomorrow? Looking forward to your report Hama!

I had a shot on an MS261 the other day and was much impressed. Feels like a scaled down MS361, but with a raft of useful features. Used the 346XP as well in the past, but not a fan. Buzzy little plasticy saw. Hate the choke pull too - it's just something to break off (as has happened to a colleague). Jonathan

I've got my test next Thursday preceded by 4 hours of training, using my own truck. The test centre is in Livingston, 15 miles west of Edinburgh. These are my costs: £113 - test fee £100 - 4 hours tuition (discount for using own vehicle) £22 - box trailer hire £235 for something that I can already do, but I need a piece of bloody paper for

Thanks for the very considered and informative reply Alycidon. I the main problem up here is just the humidity. If you compare Edinburgh's climate to London's for example, we have a relative humidity of at least 20% higher. Kiln dried wood just sucks up the moisture again until it settles at around 18-20. Even in furniture maker's workshops, that are partially heated, equilibrium point is around 15%. I am lucky in my storage capacity here. I've got about 35 tonnes stacked for the fire at home, and it's all getting at least 18 months split and seasoned before it goes on the stove. Jonathan

I've just got a new Navara, and it seems pretty good so far. It's huge inside (I'm 6ft 8" and it's spacious), very well equipped as standard, very powerful (188bhp) and seems to be the cheapest. My only gripe so far is a few bits of trim rattling, but they are going to sort that next week. Recommended!

I will be 27 in July.

Alycidon, I think your view of burning wood is a little bit narrow minded to actually have any success in using it as a primary fuel. Firstly, kilning is expensive (I run a sawn timber drying kiln). There is a lot of handling, a lot of energy input and a lot of expense in setting up. Secondly, kiln dried firewood is mostly pointless, because as soon as it leaves the kiln, it will begin to take on moisture from the air. Here in South East Scotland, the equilibrium moisture content of timber is 14-22% (depending on month of year, according to relative humidity). Timber stored outside in winter will attain a moisture content of 20%, or more. If you are wanting to burn the kind of quantity that actually produces a reasonable amount of heat, you aren't going to be able to store it in a warm room. Thirdly, I disagree with the idea that 25% MC logs produce a bad fire. I put 15 cubic meters of good, dry, 20-30% MC hardwood through my stove over winter. I had it cleaned last week and the chimney sweep was very complimentary about the state of the flue. I have a flue thermometer too, and maintaining the fire within the healthy zone is very straightforward. I am not wishing to have a go, but I do think that this kind of misinformation regarding firewood is quite destructive to the numerous firewood producers (I'm not one, I should point out) who strive to produce a good log at a fair price. If customers were more willing to store and season their own wood, rather than wanting it 20 minutes after calling you, we would all be in a better situation too. Jonathan

I think that the problem with cheaper splitters is that they are very limited in what they can do. I'm getting a vertical electric splitter just to get me through the toughest rounds that don't want to go with an axe, but I am not kidding myself that it will be quick. I think until you spend quite a lot of money, a reasonably well practised chap with an axe is always quicker than someone on a splitter. Even if I'm only plodding, I can easily get through 1 to 1.5 cubic metres an hour with an axe.