ChrisT

What size is it?

This is my thinking, an old roller fed machine could cost far more than it’s purchase price to keep running

That is exactly the sort of thing I was thinking.

I didn't think of it that way, they're not too small either, it is a cheap option and I was debating unbolting it from the trailer chassis and mounting it on wheels to push along. But it might end up unbalanced, the one I am looking at would be a lot less than a CS100.

Thanks, I imagined the diesel offers more torque than the petrol. Quick google and there are some direct replacement engines for around the 1k mark. Loncin for example

Does anyone know if the diesel 18hp yanmar engine provides any benefit over the briggs and stratton 4 stroke? I have seen a TW 18/100 and for sale with the diesel engine.

What is a heat recovery unit? I am new to this an interested in learning something new.

I did think of the idea of surrounding the flue. But our chimney would take 2 6" flue pipes and then vermiculite insulation, but it is an old house with a brick lined chinmey, like I said I know of someone who has done it but not how exactly how he did. He apparently had to close it off because the bedroom got to hot. I did have the idea of somehow surrounding the flue with copper piping to run a central heating system but this would definitely drastically reduce the flue temperature.

I know of someone who did it years ago, but has anyone else heard of running a pipe alongside the flue with an exterior vent low down, then runs up and into the room above you obviously have to be able to shut it off in the upstairs. The idea being that it convects warm air up into the room above? It isn't always practical and could be a lot of work, but would use some of the wasted heat from the chimney.

Where abouts is the smoke coming out, any cracks in the flue? Also is there enough ventilation into the room to allow it to draw?

they do sound like monsters, I have seen a couple of birch approaching 60ft but nothing approaching the sizes you describe. Guelder rose is a cracking bush, but only thrives on wetter sites, I planted a lot last year on a project. The ideal is to buy a semi mature woodland close to your ideal and play with it I guess.

Thanks, I joined a while ago, I've been taking in information. I like birch, some good firewood and quick cover, I have a turner at the minute who has asked me for 4-6" diameter birch with smooth bark. So there is a market for it. I was thinking of giving the venture the chance of selling timber at a later date, taking firewood in the mean time to make it viable. But obviously the returns would just be a holiday for my grand kids lol. If after thinnings you can leave ash or similar at 10x10m spacing's you should be left with coppice with standards and an income of firewood.

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I am looking into this myself. I have around 2 acres I can play with. I did some work measuring experimental university plantings. Ash die back is a worry now, but planting at 1x1m spacings, ash, cherry, birch and sycamore, you have to leave access but has a lot of plus points: Quick first thinning for firewood- if low diameter logs. Straight clear boles, no need for pruning. Potential for high grade timer later on. Continuous firewood and can run the sycamore and ash as coppice when you remove the poorer specimens. My main concerns are quick(ish) growing species.