ashman

When i started watching the first video, i was thinking you lot were slating someone off because you are pro's, and his vid is aimed at the general public, so naturally you will know better, i thought, as an idiots guide it aint so bad, but then i see what he did to fell it and he is hopeless, if you cant do a better job then leave it to someone who can, not make a vid showing the world how useless you are. Second vid......priceless, what a tool he is ! 3rd vid, yeah ok, fair play.

Judging purely by the pics (if i was actually been asked to go up i would want to see it first hand before making the decision) I would go up that, i have been up worse looking oaks than that, amazing how they hold together sometimes. Even the straight fellings i do that look like a gust of wind will take down.....they sometimes hang on till the very last few mm. Out of interest, why do they need it climbing, it looks droppable from the pics. Rob.

Nice little job, i am liking the small mill setup you have there, that sort of thing would be perfect for me and my 880, what is it and where do i find one ? Out of interest do you have any problems with the ladder/guide bending giving bowed planks ? Rob.

ditto all the rest of the comments, pity you was not closer. Good luck and best wishes. Rob.

I will need an adittional climber for a week or two in the coming few weeks if thats any help ! If you need any part time work to tide you over give me a shout, sorry cant help on the full time side just yet ! Rob.

Where exactly are you billy, and more importantly, what you willing to pay, i have several that size at the moment, and i am north of bedford, could possibly deliver for the right money.

Thankyou for the advice, Rob, have also been looking at your furniture, and also showing my wife, some lovely pieces there, that is something i would love to be able to do. Found your site very interesting and informative, especialy the kiln info, i happen to have a fridge body in my yard already. What is the drying time when set up as a kiln, and does it provide a lot more wastage as your site suggests. Cheers, Rob.

Hi Thanks, i have an old hay barn that i can store it in, just a roof and all the side are open, that was what i had in mind, stacked up with sticks between each layer. will rain etc hurt it ?? Also what is the best timber to mill, i have green oak and i also have quite a few dead trees down as well, the wood is fine but no sap in it, i understand this will saw harder though . Rob.

I have a few large oak butts, and have use of a wood mizer, out of interest i was thinking of planking one or two of them up, and possibly making some oak posts, more as i enjoy this sort of thing than as a money making venture. But i would love to make a large, 3ft wide by12ft long 2inch thick table for a friends log cabin. I have never milled anything before, my friend who owns the wood mizer has offered to help mill it, but what i want to know is storing the timber, how do i best go about it, i know the planks need to be sticked out to allow air to circulate but thats about it, inside or out ? covered or open etc etc. I have always worried before that the timber will split during drying out and render it useless, what do i need to do to avoid this. Having said all this, if i get on well with it, i may look at doing it as a sideline in the future as i get quite a few oak butts every year, thats if there is a market for the timber ! What do you lot think and have you any tips to help me get started.

Thanks for the offer but not a route i want to go down as i have poss 2500 ton of timber to kindle, i am looking at ways to make it work. Rob.

I will be looking to move some kindling from feb, (poss sooner) am unsure on prices yet but am aiming to be very competitive. I will have a constant supply as soon as i have everything up and running. If you pm me we could have a chat about it if your interested. Rob.

Mark. If you are looking for some oak then when you come see me we can sort something out for you if you wanted. Regards, Rob.

i wish i was a bit more clever when it comes to milling wood, i get loads each year i could play around with, and reckon that saw would be ideal for me, but the fact is i am clueless if it dont involve logs !! Rob.

Right guys. Firstly.... many thanks to all of you who have offered pictures and advice. I have to say some good pics, but nothing that made me think, "i want that one" spent a while trawling the web looking as well and to be honest the pics on here were better and i soon got bored looking at zillions of images of logs ! . So.... i have decided to take some pis in the woods where i work, with my kit and logs in the pic. That way i can say to people, "thems is my logs" but for the right price they could be yours ! This is not been ungratefull in any way as i appreciate some of you took the time to post up your pics, so thankyou to all those who did. Regards, Rob.

Hi Mark. I have recieved your pm mate, check your inbox as i did reply, it is showing as sent in my messages so you should have it. Regards, Rob.

Can you be a bit more specific please, are you looking for logs !! as in seasoned ready to burn, as in willing to pay the going rate ? I have enough timber to be able to supply you but i will obviously be looking for the going rate for them. If you want to pm me then feel free. Rob.

i may have a petter 4stroke diesel engine, currently on a generator pack but i am thinking of splitting them. Good engines that plod on for evermore. I was thinking about putting it on a splitter myself. Would be open to offers ! Rob.

Let me know what you think of the kindlett machine, i have been looking around for a suitable bit of kit for processing kindling and would be interested to hear your views on it. I think it may be a step to far for me though. Rob.

I look forward to hearing about the new site, something i have often wondered about myself, i get lots of green oak as well as dead trees., some lovely butts and it always seems a shame to put the chainsaw through them. Rob.

15 days to clear just over 2 acres sounds a long while to me. what size timber is it ?

I think you have a huge respect for him BUT you do not seem confident in him. If you did you wouldnt be concerned about another contractor taking your work. If you had a contract in place then this would be addressed. Assumptions are fine for some things, like in a scary situation. for eg, If you are climbing a tree and you here thunder, you assume you are going to get zapped by lightening so go home, safety first. In business assuming a contract and terms and conditions will only lead to problems. You make a fair point. What my concern is, i know what i am doing with the oak/ask pricces and agreements. But when it comes to getting a deal on the table with this poplar i have no idea. I have to bear in mind he is also running a business. I dont want to make a deal that is stupidly low, he will think i am taking the p**s if it came to light it was worth a lot more. On the other hand i dont want to make a stupidly high offer and find i am working my n**s off for no profit or a loss ! I know what a good estate it is to work on, qaulity and quantity of timber available, as well as lots of other things, any contractor worth there salt would try and get in there, (several already have) and i couldnt blame them. Going on past performance the owner would approach me and explain any offers or deals been put forward. My point is.... this could be avoided if i get the right deal on the table from the off, also i like to know what i am getting myself involved in. I would be lying if i said i did not want the work, in fact i am very keen to get it. It will keep me busy for a good part of the year coming, have to remember it will also lead to grubbing out the roots, levelling the site and replanting ! not to mention the amount of timber that will be harvested. I have a good few ideas now, mainly from leads gained off here, it is all coming into place so hopefully in the next week or so i will be in a position to put a decent offer in. Thankyou to everyone for the input and pm's recieved. Regards, Rob.

i am in the process of designing some business cards. I need a picture of a heap of split logs, a nice looking pile, doesnt need to be stacked, not on a vehicle and without anyone or any identifying things in it Something like an axe in a splitting block with a heap of wood around it is perfect. Obviously i need your permission to use the pic to put on my cards. This is cheeky i know but i do not have a single picture of logs, thousands of trees been felled, but i dont think these give the right impression. If you have a pic you dont mind me using it would be appreciated, saves me going and splitting a load and taking pics. Regards, Rob.

Yes i see what your saying.... At those prices my load is worth £312. I cannot imagine anyone paying that when they see a transit tipper going round doing loads for £100, yes i think my logs are better, in fact a couple of my new customers are ex transit customers, and they have said his wood is crap, but i have also spoke to people who say it is good ! i have seen some of his wood and i think it is ok, i wouldnt complain about it, not as good as mine obviously, but at 3x the cost ??????????? What i cannot afford to do is loose the customers i have, they have all been with me some time, are all good, (have weedled out the bad ones) buy multiple loads per year, never complain and pay on the nose. On the last price increase i recieved a few negative comments but never lost an order, so....food for thought i guess. I watch other prices closely to gauge what is going on, to be honest i have 3 suppliers locally and i think they are all too cheap. they are all between 40 and 60 quid a cube.

Appologies for my short sight ! found your link and presumed that was what you meant. Still cant find the vid you mean though lol Found it, thats exactly the sort of thing i mean but more multiple splits than a four way !

In an ideal world..................... I am looking for a solution that doesnt involve re-mortgaging the farm though.