Float

I agree, I am sure they look at price above all else, (at least until they buy a load of rubbish that they get stuck with). We are £60 cube, for hardwood, but have decided that if the next stock costs me more, and reduces the profit margin, I will be looking at increasing the price to maintain it. Lots of competition around here, and only one other selling by volume...but that has been on another thread...don't get us started on that one!

When you buy your timber standing - usually by volume, you cut as much as you can to get the most out of the parcel. I go down to 2.5-3" roughly, unless it's really bent, and cocks up the stacking and extraction. We have always done this, and although you do get a significant number of small singles in the finished product load, I would be confident to say that it never exceeds 15%. I appreciate if you are paying top dollar for cordwood delivered in, you will not want to be getting too much small stuff on the load.

Still going strong - using next years stock already. I thought it may start to slow up now, but this cold spell is keeping us busy.

I can only speak of the later model (57 plate), and it is a cracking truck. My only gripe is it is too high geared, and the clutch gets some stick with a load on when reversing, and I've had a new L200, and a new Hi-lux. I think that the ranger is the best of the lot for comfort, economy and as a work horse. Not too sure how the bodywork will fare - a couple of spots showing - but then Ford have never been generous with the paint on their commercials.

Now that I have just seen this opportunity, I wish I hadn't restocked the yard! Oh well, maybe next time..

We had a bloke pull into the yard a couple of weeks ago in a Isuzu trooper. Tried to sell us some "Stihls" left over from an exhibition! which were clearly nasty looking fakes. I told him that we weren't interested, and he eventually dropped from £180 each to £60 for a saw. I said no thanks, and sent him on his way. Then blow me, a week later out on a delivery I was flagged down by a bloke in a blue van selling the same type of saws. First time for a long time around here..

Over 300 tonne out the yard since September, and still going strong. Makes up for last year

Just got our second Hakki Pilke processor off MLarge. Can't fault them - dood deal, good back-up, no hassle, good reliable machines

Dear all - Interested to know what format the kiln dried firewood suppliers deliver in? Specifically, volume of load, wrapped on a pallet, in a bulk bag, vented bulk bag, loose loads etc etc?? As a customer what is the prefered format? Pricing always varies regionally, but always interesting to see. Cheers

About 18 months ago, I extracted about 240 tonnes of seasoned beech for a mate. All stacked roadside, about 40mtrs up a track from the pole to the main road. We kept an eye on it, because we knew it was in a "handy" location, then one Saturday, my mate the cutter was walking his dog, and found a bloke filling up his trailer in broad daylight - as bold as you like. He asked him what he thought he was doing, and the bloke replied by saying he had been given permission by the FC. He then asked him how he got access, and he said he had been given a key! My mate told him to put the wood back, as it was stealing, and the owner would not be happy...he unloaded his trailer, and left with his tail between his legs. My mate the cutter then reported him to the police. They paid him a visit, and he was made to pay the owner £50. Probably an isolated case, but it might cheer up the thread a bit! Peed me off at the time cos I was being paid on volume extracted - so he was pinching from me as well!

Sam It was me - you are welcome to have a look and try ours out if it helps, Cheers

Sycamore- Stacked in our yard in the round (2mtr lengths), after 12 months its perfect, suggesting cut and split with decent air flow would give good results much quicker. Great firewood, and a joy to run through the processor - is "pops" wide open as soon as it hits the knife.

I recall a picture in FC (I think it was), a few years ago where some poor sod found a horseshoe in the middle of a tree with his saw..I think it took a bit more than a quick lick with the file to sort it out after!

Interesting, thanks for the response. Clearly life in the firewood game on the IOM is not as straightforward as here. What are the gas and oil supply chains like? Is firewood considered to be a nice to have luxury? Cheers

Fair play - £140 per 0.7 cube - I wish people around here would pay those kind of prices...where are you based?