sandbach-sticks

I am new to processing and first attempt did 4 tonnes in a day. However, i got organised, sorted the wood into similar diameters and tidied lengths up. Big rings i saved and just used the processor as a splitter, and can now fill 5 1.5 tonne potato crates in a day with logs at 10 inch. I have considered just using the processor to produce billets as the 10 inch logs tend to twist in the splitting trough and the last log is always hard to cut. I got depressed at the initial slow process as it didn't seems much quicker than the old method, however, I can get up the next morning and do the same again instead of lying there thinking someone had battered me the night before I deal in Arb waste and i really do get all sorts, i presume if i got top notch cord wood then i would be much quicker.

Just started doing mixed loads 1m3 unseasoned £50, not going to be selling just oak etc this year, as i am getting more and more soft wood, and most of my customers have log burners. I will be selling mixed wood seasoned 1m3 for £70 from August 2011 incl delivery

I am insured with NFU and they will not insure my stock outside, so i too will be interested in any information!

Interesting Clada and thank you, as at least 50% of my customers are on wood burners.

We looked into planting these on some wet farm land as they grow quickly, however, a friend said they were expensive to buy samplings and the trees are prone to snap in high winds. I was given four massive eucalyptus trees two years ago and have just finished burning this and selling it. I thought the wood was great the flame hot and seemed to roll off the wood in my stove. It was the cost and risk of wind damage that put us off, if you do grow it please keep us informed of your progress.

I have found that i am not getting the hardwood i was two years ago, but softwood I am being offered is on the increase. There seems to be a lot of wood turners contacting me at the minute after Cherry. I think a lot of people who have recently bought wood burners have been told that oak is best so i do think oak and ash will be more scarce next year?

I have a surplus of wood this year, so looking to shift unseasoned logs by the m3 over the summer. I should be grateful if you could let me know what you lot are asking for m3 of unseasoned mixed wood?

I will be advertising prices for kindling and bagged logs shortly for 2011/2012. With the increase in fuel what prices are you going to be setting for next year?

I was asked to do kindling in plastic bags for a coal merchant, ours are hardwood kiln dried and were okay. However, i have seen kindling that has had a lot of mold on it, think it was B & Q. If the kindling is going to be used relatively quickly then i think you should be okay!

Was given a load of chestnut two years ago sold it this year as bagged logs, and got nothing but positive feedback! I was worried about it spitting, but most of my customers are on log burners so makes no difference! Mix it and you will have no problem, splits really weird when dry you get the middle of a ring drop out, as a perfect log????

Thanks for all the advice and p*&s taking, ended up with one of these Suresharp Sharpener - Husqvarna Chainsaw Specialists works a treat when used every time you refuel and does keep the chain sharp. However, still sticking to the file if a lot needs to be take off i.e i've hit a nail!- and i will wear gloves - as too much pressure and the motor struggles. Reckon the fact that it uses a small grinding stone doesn't weaken the chain blade as some commented on other electric grinders. Anyway i have used it for a week now and it is a handy addition to my tool box.

I borrowed a potato conveyor, loads of them for sale in farmers weekly, work well enough if gradient isn't too steep?

Cheers for all the comments I will buy another pack of files until opinion changes, and a machine recommended.

Cheers Stevie, point taken I should have said i have got reasonable at sharpening the chain!

Cheers S.Gal thought everyone on here was old school for a minute! Everyone i know uses a file, but had actually looked on mower magics website and was wondering how good they are. Take your point about life of chain. Anyone on here actually have a sharpener, and what do they think to them?

Looking to buy a chainsaw sharpener, got reasonably good at doing it myself with a file but fed-up of slicing my finger !! Anyone know of a good one? Got several saws, and seem to be spending longer and longer sharpening chains when time could be used more profitably. Advice please?

We have now got as efficient as we ever have been. split everything into 0.8m lengths, then someone next to you on circular saw (similar to the one on Alpine tractors website), drops onto conveyor straight into potato crate ready for next year. Doing it this way you don't have to stack the billets neatly, which is what we did last year and took too long and reduced profit. I agree handling the wood several times is the biggest problem we faced, and time (hrs in a day etc etc) mean that you have to be well organised in winter to stick to the method we use, but when we have stuck to it, it really has proved to be the best way for us. We have really reduced the amount of work done with chainsaws. If you find any quicker method please please let me know

I store logs in potato crates and if i sell half a crate then i count 300, as i know that potato crate holds 500 of our 10 inch logs, and have found that is pretty accurate. Although i try to sell full boxes.

I have burnt poplar no problem, having cut it into 10 inch lengths, and then split it, as soon as possible. The stuff i have burnt was left for 18 months, get plenty of air around it! If you can in the summer, take the covers off on those few really dry hot days we have. I have a box of oak and box of poplar, the oak is 20-25% moisture content and the poplar 35%, so it does need some seasoning I do think cutting it up getting it off the ground and air around it is the your answer.

I soured a Ram and had a mate build one for me, meter RAM with splitting head will take wood up to 700mm 27-28 inches. Machine has had some right hammer and is going strong, cost £980 in total, so would agree with one of the other posts get one made. We split wood as long as we can then use circular saws to log it, work a treat. £200 a day splitter saw and two operators The lad who made mine is keen to make more, but for piece of mind i would go to Alpine tractors and look at their splitters, have really good RAMS i am told!

Enough! my prices are going up next year, have been as low as £45 for mixed wood and £65-70 for m3 of Oak and Ash. Really good info on here and i can't believe some of my customers have moaned at my prices lol. Can you tell me if you vary your prices drastically depending on type of wood?

Cheers for information, will save me a lot of wasted time researching it further. What is the best way to store and dry saw dust John? We have a wood processor in a dry/clean shed so it is easy for us to collect the sawdust, should we leave it in heap and turn it?

I take it your advice would be to put it in fine mesh nets and continue selling it as hmster bedding then?

Does that mean there not easy to produce John?

I am looking at producing wood pellets, as the amount of sawdust we produce is increasing, does anyone have any info regarding machinery etc. I understand that some cheap machines are useless specially if the sawdust isn't really dry?

Done