windfall

Jesus you lot really need to get out more. Am i really going to spend all day playing scrap heap challenge building a tower too big for the available equipment. Ill keep my questions to myself from now on.

I have not processed these logs other wise i would not have this problem!

One large 25 tonne pile of split logs sitting concrete + one very large 360 digger, or v large tractor & loader, one 'funnel' = full bags and happy elbows. This is only the first incarnation... The legs could also be 'trimmed' so i could use a skid steer to load if necessary.

I have asked for cunning ideas and suggestions as to how i am going to deal with the bag while filling. I recon seeing that Bedford meant you didnt read the post ;-) i do think that using the pallet forks on the the skid steer to hold the bag and a digger or tractor with loader to fill the funnel is going to be the only way to go really. edit: Could also extend the funnel down from the hole so that the bag is able to be rested on the floor.

Forgot i took a pic on my phone. The boards are just in there so i could see if it would work... Builders bag is for mock up purposes, didnt want to burn a vented bag ;-)

Hi All, Having filled 50 m3 bags by hand a few weeks back i now have a knackered left elbow, the right one seems ok... must be used to repetative strain... . Anyway i have spent the day building what can only be described as a massive funnel! I started with 4 scaffold up rights and cross bars, i have then welded in bars so i have a bag sized hole. Finally i have welded in bars on angles that i will put inch ply onto tommorow. There is plenty of space under the tower but i am still at a bit of a loss as to what to do with the bags. Best suggestion so far is to simply tie the bags with bailing twine to the 4 corners of the hole. Then when its full just cut the twine and hook the bag to my hiab and drag it out. Other way would be more machine heavy but its really what i want to do, use the skid steer to hold the bag under the hole and a digger to fill the 'hopper'. When full drive the skid steer out and stack the bag for transport. Again this will proabably need me to get help in for a day and pay for the diggers use. Any cunning suggestions? Ill post some pictures tomorrow, forgot my camera today.

I have just spent the whole morning fitting a set of 6 LED hazard lights, every wire needed to be cut with 2 core ran in to extend them. It was a right pain in the bottom but its a proper job and looks the business. How long they will last is somthing i dont want to consider at the moment. Having a cuppa and some lunch then back out to fit work lights for the back deck. As my old grany used to say "the nights are drawing in now"... oh and i am going to run a cable into the cab so there is an independant charging point for my toys and power for my fridge in case the weather gets hot again. I fitted the split charge system yesterday, went with a 100amp jobbie from ebay, its basically just a phat relay, it was very easy to install and it appears to be working well. Still not got back to the sign writer but i have at least prepared my copy for the sides etc.

As a rough guide NI is around 9% of the hourly rate and holiday pay based on 25days holiday a year is another 10.5%. So as a guide your £440 wage would attract the following approx costs: Holiday pay £46.20 /50 hours = 92p per hour £39.60 NI /50hours = 79p per hour I ran a recruitment consultancy until a year ago so had to deal with temps hourly rates every day, however the NI % calculation is based on the isle of man which i think is the same. Our holiday pay is 20days which is 8.33% so i have worked out 25days which i think you guys have. Hope this helps.

Windfall Logging | Facebook heres mine :-)

I am going to be pushing a mixed m3 load 50:50 split.

I am 'hoping' that 2m3 stacked will make 4 builders bags, the return for selling Kiln dried Ash is very good. Let you know next week! :-)

Weight is relevant because this is how most comercial suppliers sell thier product. It is recognised that arctic bulk tippers are around 60m3 but how do you know that its full. There will also be ALOT of settling as the product is transported. I understand that weight of logs is dependant on the products MC.

18.5 tonnes of split 8inch long logs is equivelent to 45 m3. The logs were at around 35%mc, obviously the wetter the log the less you get. I will be testing how many loose m3 bags a perfectly stacked 2m3 crate of kiln dried Ash makes next week. I am also going to see how many builders bags the same quantity makes. Instead of moaning about the competition selling builders bags of logs why not work out how many logs it takes to fill one, work out your price and try offering the same product along side your m3 bags. This way you can compete on a level playing field with those around you and then you can educate your clients into buying the m3 bags. 'Builders bags' or 'maxi bags' in my case are also a good way of making a premium product appear cheaper... its just about how you market them.

wooohaaaa 11kw i am not surprised your client is happy i bet that is a powerful splitter!

I am gutted, i had planned on setting up a small gold mine operation in Alaska (like Gold Rush on discovery at the mo) and buying a huge forest oooh and a HUGE boat. Good luck to them and as the lady said "its going to be so much fun!"

my nets are bigger than that, i have found you have to sellt he same size as other local suppliers.

think i get around 30 nets to a m3

The eco lighters burn for 10 minutes, which is long enough to start a fire, if not then i recon you need to season your wood more ;-)

Yeah i have some smelly ones as well, i am able to get a margin of 50p if i sell them for a £1. They are better than Zip ones as well. I am curious to see if i can get the suggested £3.20 a pack for the Eco Lighters. Which is around a £1.50 margin. I have already had some of my customers gagging for them at any cost as normal fire lighters dont get on with thier skin. Didnt want to suggest the Zip lighters in a bag! lol Time will tell i suppose.

I am lovng the crane, i am taking the ticket next month, but for a crane of this size its not actually needed. But if i have an accident then if i have the ticket H&S are going to be more understanding! Its a Palfinger PC1300 and on maximum extension it will lift a very very ful 1m3 vented bag. So i could not ask any more from it! I have 2 hydraulic boom extensions on mine, i could see that if i only had one extension and a manual one it would be a proper pain in the arse. I am already wanting to upgrade to hydraulic legs as its so much of a faff letting the manual legs down and winding them up etc! I can see me getting fat again! lol

A firm i am dealing with is selling these Eco lighters. Here is the blurb i have on my stock list Completely non toxic and odourless! They are produced from several wood varieties, contain all natural resins and are wax coated. Think they are £1.80 for a box of 12, they burn for 10 mins though. I have been using them for a while and they are great! My clients love them and they are something new and different. I have been tempted to market them as "Hand rolled on the thighs of busty virgin Latvian ladies". But everyone i have said this too has wanted photographic evidence. PM me and ill give you the firms details. They pallet UK wide.

Processing into vented bags and stacking with my new (to me) palfinger crane. It seems to be a good system.

I have progressed quite well over the last few weeks, hopefully this will continue over the next few months! Pics of my stacks attached :-)

I am going to try for £120 a cube this winter, other guys over here seem to be £110 - £130. We can but try, i sure dont want to be starting a price war! I have to much experience of these and they do not do anyone any good! Also doing builders bags as well as a huge range of other products.

I am paying 1.47 inc vat for my kindling nets so it sounds fair to me. But thats bulk buying by the pallet, i am retailing the said net for £4.