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Iain H

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Everything posted by Iain H

  1. Iain H
    Vimek 606
  2. Iain H
    Trying to develop a market for 1st thinnings processed in the wood and delivered straight to local firewood merchants. The plus side is we reduce the handling costs and will be using small diameter timber that would be too inefficient for the conventional cut to length at roadside method. The down side is the customer will need space to store the freshly split logs. Hoping to be able to offer the landowner a return for the timber and sell wholesale around the £45-£50 per cube in 25 cube load. Any thoughts on potential demand
  3. Iain H
    Just completed the first thinning job with the Vimek 606 150 ton in 4 days so not to bad. Very impressed with it, very operator friendly and easy to negotiate the wood without having to take out large racks. I managed to get a FFIS grant for the machine which made it worth while getting it. Definitely more efficient and nicer to use than the kubota and trailer combination. Fuel consumption only about 15 litres diesel per day! lots of work stacked up for it now we are out of bird nesting so we will see how it goes long term. I am hoping to have it at the Lincolnshire wood fair at Revesby estate 7th September. Based near Grantham and transport it on 7.5 ton lorry so easy to move about. I will post some pictures once i get them on the computor.
  4. Iain H
    Just bought a Vimek 606 so i will keep you posted
  5. Iain H
    We plant around 250000 per season from November till April, hard work in all weather but i still enjoy it after 9 years. Something about the fact it is just you and a spade so not much to go wrong helps!
  6. Iain H
    They are doing a trial at the moment using some of my logs to see how quickly the moisture content drops. I have used both Bag Supplies and S G Baker bags and both seem to be good for several fills. If you are careful with them they could last up to 20 fills. S G Baker do the true cubic meter bags which help with measuring loads. Make sure you get the ones with tipping loops on.
  7. Iain H
    I had a minimaster 101 for a couple of years, it was quite old but capable machine. Crane was good and drive system to the trailer was good. Gearbox issues was the main problem and the main drive belt was only good for 100 hours of heavy work before it needed changing. Good for small sensitive sites or extracting your own timber. The new ones look better with power steering and other modifications but unless i did a lot of wet or steep or sensitive sites i could not justify the cost. I run a 55hp hydro kubota with farma 6 ton trailer now and its twice as quick plus you have a tractor to do other things with when not forwarding. Bigger vimeks look good for small thinning jobs but at the same price as a bigger second hand forwarder that would do the same job you have to ask would it stack up!
  8. Iain H
    It taken me 5 years to build up my stock of round wood to the point where I have now got 400 ton cut in 2012 and the timber I am using this year was cut summer 2011. The money tied up in the timber is the issue. Once you have kept it for a couple of years it is a bit like having money invested. You need to maximise its return. The only way to do that is process into logs or sell for a premium as round wood. I normally sell odd trailer loads to keep cash flow coming in but I would rather keep all of it to be honest. Picture shows the stack of ash from summer 2012. Only just got it out now because it was to wet last year.
  9. Iain H
    S G Baker in Grantham normally have stock they have developed a new woven bag developed from there potato seed bags that look good as well as mesh bags barrow bags and nets. Find them here. Vented FIBC Big Bags for Wood and Logs or contact 01476 565501
  10. Iain H
    I am looking for self employed staff to add to my team for tree planting, thinning, and firewood production. Starting October and running through until April. Must be prepared for some serious hard work in all elements! Based near Grantham in Lincolnshire. Please PM me with your details and experience thanks.
  11. Iain H
    I have a ryetec 22t 2.5 metre splitter with 4 way wedge, if they are reasonably straight you can quarter them then they will fit through the processor no problem.
  12. Iain H
    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nEUf7Ml6w8]Tree planting machine working in Staffordshire - YouTube[/ame] Hope this link works to my galmor tree planting machine. You might get some more ideas.
  13. Iain H
    Kilworth tractors at Ashby are worth a try, Speak to Mark or Andy they have new and used bcs tractors in stock. Number is 01530412690
  14. Iain H
    I have got a Jensen A530 pto chipper that i have been thinking of selling for a while. It will take 6 inch timber and has adjustable no stress device and variable speed feed rollers. I also have a new set of blades for it. PM me if you might be interested.
  15. Iain H

    Log nets

    Iain H posted a topic in Firewood forum

    My local bag supplier has asked me to comment on these 52cm x 82cm nets with printed bands. Just want some feedback and an idea how much you would expect to pay for them. Thanks
  16. Iain H
    For a small job you have to charge more per tree so for example on a large site you might be £0.50 to plant and fit guard but for a small site you probably need to be £0.60 depending on travelling and site conditions. On top of that you will have a marking out charge of £0.04. tree guard and stake price depending on specification and loss liability?
  17. Iain H
    Yes i have decided i can't drive them all at once and something has to go! I am using the 6 ton trailer most of the time so i am struggling to justify having the smaller rig sitting in the yard for a few one off low impact jobs. I used the unit as the complete Vimek mini forwarder a lot as it was my first forwarding rig, i guess its probably moved around 400 tons for me. Will be sorry to see it go but the bank account won't!!
  18. Iain H
    Your ferrari would handle the 6 ton farma no problem, no need for steering drawbar because the bed is quite short and you can adjust the axle placement on the trailer to suit your needs. If you were in really soft ground or banks drive to the trailer would be an advantage but can be overcome by half loading the trailer? depends how much you might need it. Don't go for any of the cheaper options as i have heard horror stories of frames cracking and cranes mounting plates cracking. Stick to farma, botex, palms etc. Selling the smaller unit as i just don't use it enough and as much as its nice to have lots of machines in the yard if they don't pay then they have to go! I get on really well with my Kubota and 6 ton farma, its 57hp hydrostatic which is great in the woods shunting about. It handles the trailer no problem and being hydro it has a high flow hydraulic system that works the crane fast. catch up soon
  19. Iain H
    The last job i did with it was a long cart but with fairly large hardwood timber. I was averaging about 8-10 loads a day with about 2 cube of solid timber per load. That was with the vimek drive unit, i am expecting a bit more form the alpine tractor as its got faster travelling speed and hydraulics. youtube video at [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlCQEsce0-U]Vimek minimaster - YouTube[/ame] to see old vimek unit in action
  20. Iain H
    Parts to repair Vimek came to £4000 not including labour to fit!! A new gearbox was £12000!!!! alpine was £6500 with the stump guards and extra spool valve. Decided to go for the tractor as it can be used for other jobs, and the Vimek always felt like you had to nurse it a bit.
  21. Iain H
    I think the tractor will actually be better for the following reasons, it is diesel not petrol like the vimek so running costs are less. It has manual gearbox not variator pulley like the vimek. It has better oil flow and true diff lock. I can use the tractor on the winch and flail mowers, the vimek was a one trick pony. Parts are readily available from Kilworths at a acceptable price, Vimek is horrendous! Down sides are despite fitting stump gaurd it is more vulnerable underneath and it doesn't have quite the same ground clearance. Vimek has a handy 600kg winch for pulling down hung up trees. Time will tell, i have used the bcs on the 6 ton trailer for a few days and it performed very well considering its size. Not all that comfortable kneeling on the seat to operate controls but nothing that a pair of knee pads didn't fix. Thats where the alstor comes in with its swivel seat.
  22. Iain H
    Seems to be a lot of interest in small forwarders and low impact extraction machinery, i have just modified my Vimek forwarder as the front drive unit requires ££££ to repair the gearbox. For the same sort of money i have got a second hand bcs vangaurd 45hp with ground speed pto to drive the trailer if conditions get tricky. I have also duelled the trailer up to give better floatation on sensitive sites. Also attached pictures of my slightly bigger farma 6 ton trailer with Kubota 5740 hst. Unfortunately Vimek tractor unit will be parked up until i either win the lottery or put it on ebay!
  23. Iain H
    Depends on size of trees and density. It it is first thinning then probably £600 - £800 per hectare for felling and clearing. Then if you can get a tractor with heavy duty flail in the wood you want another £100 hectare for mulching brash and bramble. We have done pruning/brashing work in 15-18 year old hardwood stands planted at 2.1m and charge £600 per hectare. You have to crack on with it but you can make £150 a day. Hope this helps.
  24. Iain H
    Hakki pilki 1x42 with woodran 422 log deck + sawdust extractor. Load it with a palms 112 trailer with 662 crane.
  25. Iain H
    Chainsaw Parts, Spares and Accessories have very reasonable prices on oil and free delivery. 20litres for £39.50 inc vat and delivery

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