Tom at Heartwood

Hi Chris. Thanks for that. What sort of tensioning system were you using? Cheers, Tom.

I've been spending a dark evening or two looking at different approaches to bundling firewood billets in 1m lengths (mostly via YouTube). There are plenty of examples of this approach in Germany (der bündler) and France (fagoteuse) but I wonder if people have adopted this system in the UK - I have only heard of one or two. It does appear to be a good way of neatly binding and storing firewood that allows efficient handling by timber crane or forklift as well as promoting quick drying of split lengths. I see that Riko sell one version that is three point linkage mounted and manually tipping however there are many variations available in Europe from low to high tech, stand alone and tractor mounted. Some with hydraulic rams for turning out bundles and even some coupled with log splitters on a single three point linkage mounting. Some that have caught my eye in particular are a light-weight non-tractor mounted model (Metallbau Zillner) and a range from the French company Rabaud (Rabaud - Bundling machine for branches or logs*-*Créateur d'équipements agricoles, BTP, Espaces verts, Traitement de sol - Vendée 85 - France). I would be interested to hear of any experiences of using bundlers - perhaps you have bought one or fabricated your own. Cheers, Tom.

Good point about shrinkage and use of re-tensionable ratchet straps and Cordstrap. I'll price up a Cordstrap system. Thanks, Tom.

Thanks - will do. It threw me a bit that it carried on running even when the stop switch as in the stop position but the switch does seem fine now.

I'm putting my planked and sticked logs onto pallets for air drying and thinking that a pallet strapping kit will be handy to keep them in place so that I can move the whole lot with a forklift. Any advice on a good pallet strapping kit? There are plenty on ebay with 12 or 16mm strapping. Cheers, Tom.

Thanks for that. I've just cleaned filter and reset jets and it seems OK for now.

My 242XP started running at high revs today, not responding to the throttle and not switching off. Your advice please. Cheers, Tom.

I am about to take on a barn and yard on a farm and have been looking into the legal aspects of property rental agreements. There is useful and straightforward information on the Business Link website (Types of property rental agreement | Business Link). I expect to enter into a Leasing Agreement rather than a License but will aim to include a Break Clause so that I am not committed indefinitely, in case I find somewhere better, move away or buy my own yard and buildings. I expect to have to engage the services of a Solicitor at some point but intend do as much of the preparation as I can first in order to keep legal costs down. If anyone can point me to a sample lease agreement that I could adapt to my needs then I would be glad to hear. Cheers, Tom.

Hi Chris. I was just looking on ebay at stub axles designed for ATV/quad wheels and wondering if that is the way to go. I guess that it shouldn't be too hard to find a set of stub axles rated to carry a couple of tonnes. I don't quite get your point about adjusting out any play - could you please elaborate? Do you mean using a stub axle as the central pivot point for the beam as well as having a stub axle at each end of each beam (to attach the wheels to obviously)? Cheers, Tom.

Hi, I'm interested to see different approaches to fabricating your own forwarding trailer - particularly smaller scale kit. Any photos and top tips would be appreciated particularly on rocking beam axle construction and fitting. If there are already threads on this then any pointers would be good. Cheers Tom.

I'm thinking about using stillages/wire crates on pallets for log storage and handling but haven't quite figured out whether its going to work for me. I can see an obvious advantage to logging directly into stillages, moving with a forklift, stacking to season and loading onto a flatbed or trailer for delivery. However, unless there is a forklift at the customers end then it does leave the problem of how to offload. I have a couple of customers who are keen to use stillages and are willing to store around 10 cubic metres at a time. With this sort of volume of sale it will be worth taking a tractor with forks to the site but it wouldn't really be economical for smaller batches unless they are very local to my yard. So, I wonder if anyone has suggestions for off-loading that doesn't involve a pallet grab on a crane or lots of man-handling and tipping with, I guess, inevitable damage to the stiilages. I currently run a 4x4 Iveco 40.10 with a 12'x6'6" tipping trailer so maybe I should stick to loose loads & bulk bags. Your ideas are welcomed! Tom Interested in buying your wood in Cumbria

Only just read your message re. the auction so have missed it but I will look out for that one in future. It's only just up the road. Cheers.

I'm glad that your persuasion didn't work otherwise I'd still be searching for a tractor! I have yet to get the tractor in the woods but will do once I've bought a winch for it. I've been thinking along similar lines looking out for a loader to adapt as even Ferrari don't know which model the mountings were made for.

Thanks for that - it looks to be well in proportion to the size of the tractor.

Thanks for that. I would like to see a photo of the Igland fitted to your tractor if you happen to have one handy. Cheers, Tom.

That's the one!

I'm looking for a decent used three point linkage mounted timber winch for my Ferrari 86 51HP articulated tractor. Something in the 3 to 4 tonne range such as a Uniforest, Tajfun, Fransgard etc. If anyone has one available then please let me know. I am based in Cumbria but am willing to travel to collect. Cheers, Tom. 07769 676536.

Is this the set-up that you have Tom? I would be interested to see some pictures. I've just bought a 50hp Alpine tractor and am thinking of how best to set it up. Cheers, Tom.

Hi jph, I like the look of your Zetor compact. Which model and year is this one? Did you find it in the UK or did you import it yourself? Are there many about? Cheers, Tom.

Think I've worked out that they are M-grips. http://www.ultimateindustrial.co.uk/datasheets/M_Grip.pdf

What make of gloves are those then? They look handy (!).

Yes, that's a neat solution - compact to store, hardly any set up time and it could be put on any level surface without driving posts into the ground.

The bags are 1m x 1m x 1m and when filled will weigh about half a ton but the frame does not need to be weight bearing. It's just to hold the shape of the bag whilst filling.

Any suggestions for a neat way of holding a bulk bag in position for filling that doesn't involve a fork lift, purpose built hopper, heavyweight frame or rigid cage? It would be handy to have a lightweight frame that could be carried in a van, quickly assembled on site and then logs could be filled directly as they are cut and split. Ideally something that does not take up a lot of space in the back of the van when not assembled. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Cheers, Tom.

Thanks for the useful advice based on your experiences. It looks then as though a portable hydraulic power pack is suitable to power a smallish log splitter. Diesel rather than petrol engined would be preferable to keep fuel costs down but they seem to be more of a rarity to buy secondhand. Petrol engined Panther Midi or JCB Beaver look to be available secondhand for around £300 (possibly less). My thinking on having a separate power pack to splitter is that I could transport both in a van onto site and split logs without having to drive or transport a tractor. But also, a 3PL mounted splitter could obviously be used on a tractor back in the yard and the power pack could be used to drive a conveyor for loading and filling bulk bags (a neat stowable one of those would be handy). The Lawnflight petrol engined splitter does look a useful package for the price. Certainly an option. Would it be liftable from that top loop in and out of a van with a swing lift? Thanks again. Tom.