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Spruce Pirate

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Everything posted by Spruce Pirate

  1. It's either that or watch Comic Relief!
  2. While I agree with most of the sentiment in this post, I can't help but feel that doing something is still better than doing nothing and that events like comic relief, live aid, etc still raise both money and awareness. Even the political issues you raise wouldn't be being discussed on here if it wasn't for RND. At the risk of ruining my image as a miserable git, I quite enjoy comic relief.
  3. Hi All, I have a couple of large logs available for milling in west Strilingshire. One beech: c. 1m at the butt, relatively little taper, c. 10m length. One oak: c. <1m at the butt, some taper to >60cm, c. 10m length. One beech: c. 60cm at the butt, c. 50cm at the tip, c. 5m length. These are from a clearance / firewood job, but seem far too good to put the saw through (with the exception of the 2nd beech). They are basically free to anyone who wants them (I've had what I need from the job), would probably suit a woodmizer or similar. If anyone's interested, or you think you know someone who might be, pm me through here. I can get some photo's or arrange for you to come and see them.
  4. SS always moves - mostly because there's so much of it. Silver firs (NF, GF) were more what I was thinking of when I said no market for it - I was in full on rant mode by that point in the post. You're right, DF doesn't hang around for long at roadside. I think a workshop / seminar type thing is more what I'd be interested in. It might be interesting to have a trainer there, but only as a participant, not carrying out training. A full NPTC course and assesment would seem OTT. I think a few people who have some expereince could swap a few ideas about and learn from each other. If everyone finds they're lacking in the same area then it may be worth while thinking about more formal training.
  5. Not a chance - seen too many things stand up very quickly when the top's taken off. It would be a great ride though. It shouldn't be that hard to track down a platform.
  6. I think there's definitely more coming into management. I've done two since December, only small scale, mostly firewood, but a few poles left for sale as logs. There's talk of more coming up in the future as well. I'm not sure it's economically viable at the moment, but as this isn't a factor on these jobs its not a problem. While I'd like to see these making money, I'd rather see them thinned than not as they should produce better in the future. Also, as new plantings of commercial sofwood in the last 20 years has been virtually zero, and a lot of commercial re-stock has been done with broadleaf as well, we have a growing resource of hardwood timber. We should be teaching ourselves how to manage this. I know much (or most?) has been planted at fluffy densities (1100 sph in many cases), but we should still be making some effort to bring these woods into management. Forests all over the world suffer when the people cannot make a living from them, if we want to have our hardwood forests and woodlands properly valued we should make more effort to look after them and gain an income from them. This should start from planting and tending and right up to thinning, underplanting etc. This would seem a good oportunity for those of us who are interested to develope and improve our skills. Should also remember that softwood may have a limited shelf life. SW Scotland this year is not planting any pine (DNB), no larch (phytopthora), no market for firs to speak of so that leaves.... spruce - how long before dendroctonus or ips puts that on the no more planting list? I'm not saying this will happen, but we should at least bear it in mind. It is well worth considering that we may have a different species mix to work with in the future and developing skills before we need them rather than being forced to react to circumstances. Rant over - I feel better now. Definitely interested in learning more on this (in case you hadn't noticed).
  7. I'd agree with much of what you say Big J, having just finished a small hardwood thinning (oak) I experienced many of the same problems. It does have to be said that this was the first hardwood thinning I've done in a couple of years, and that's probably about the frequency of them, so we don't get the chance to practice in hardwood. I like to think I'm pretty profficient at getting a tree on the deck, but if you manage to get a course/seminar/training day, whatever you have in mind, put together I'd certainly be interested in it.
  8. I did have a pair of the Oregon Waipoua, but only type A. They were OK, but they didn't stand the test of time very well, outer material ripped quite easily after a short while and the gusset went pretty quick (maybe should've got a bigger size?). I also found them pretty hot for type A's, despite vented material round the back. All in all, its the usual complaints I have about saw trousers. I think the Oregon Fjordlands are better. Can't comment on the SIP's, almost had a pair once, but they weren't in stock in my size. I know a few folk who've used the Hi-Flex and they seem pretty durable.
  9. Not very good with links, hope this works, its the best I could find. Set up of sling isn't very clear. To roll tree to right, pass sling around the back of the tree, pass right end through left and choke back on itself, the further round the tree it is choked the more turn you'll get, if you've got the length in the sling then wrap it a couple of times. To roll to left pass left through right and wrap. Hope this makes sense.
  10. Yeah, they're great. Just need a bit of respect when starting, if you're used to new saws with a decompressor they've got a real kick.
  11. Turning a hung up tree out, or winching the butt back?
  12. Bloke I did a bit of work for years ago told us a story of his brother doing a bit of fencing somewhere up the hill around about Dalwhinie (middle of nowhere to those of you who don't know), anyway they'd stopped for lunch and taken shelter in the back of a peat hag, they were doing a fence next to a path at the time, and left all the tools (saw, hammers, pliers, etc) lying on or next to the path. Two walkers came up, saw the stuff, one turns to the other and says, "isn't it amazing, anyone could just lift that saw and be off with it". At this point a voice booms out from the peat hag, "no they (expletive) couldn't". Walkers apparently had a brown trouser moment. Point being, just because you see something that looks unattended, doesn't mean that it actually is.
  13. Always local if possible, especially for saws and the like, but I'm quite lucky with local dealers. I can walk in with a saw and pretty much get a problem fixed there and then unless its major. Yes they're slightly more expensive than the online boys, but money in their pocket puts money into the local pubs keeps one of the local rugby team in the area and so on. If I get a saw from 400 miles away I can't walk in and get instant service like that, and, frankly, I don't really care about their local pub or rugby/football team. That said, if service locally was p*ss poor, I might look on-line.
  14. I couldn't agree more. There now seems to be a lot of duplication and I'm unsure whether my old units cover some of the new ones. If anyone can help clear this up I'd be grateful.
  15. Hazel? I remember collecting nuts for seed years ago from what was basically a scree slope. It wasn't solid rock, but there wasn't much soil around, more or less loose rock. I've seen Scots pine and aspen growing out of rock faces before now. Any indicators to tell you what woodland type it should be if its ecologically important?
  16. I suppose somebody has to like it! It's made me a fair bit of dosh over the years, but I still hate it.
  17. Surely its still more important to get the cuts and practical aspects like sharpening right. So long as you know that TPO's, felling licenses, Conservation Areas, etc exist and you need to ask about them you should be OK. You're being assessed on your competence to fell trees and work a chainsaw, not apply for all the relevant licenses and permissions. Be aware of the legal stuff, but make sure your cuts are right. Oh, and good luck, hope it goes well.
  18. This may be a silly question, but what type of solic rock? Rowan, for example, seem to be able to grow quite well on a cliff face, but if you're talking about a severly compacted site, like an ex quarry, I wouldn't be sure what could get a root down. Willow perhaps? Pretty sure (if you really need to plant something, rhododendron will grow anywhere but please don't do it!
  19. I get all my hi-vis stuff from HVW (Hi-Vis Workwear) on-line. I think they do a full range of railways compliant stuff. Google HVW and have a look on their site.
  20. If your winch is powerful enough you shouldn't need to climb or mess around with throw lines. The trees don't look that big, tied at head height should do the job with a decent winch. It does look much more fun dropping them into the river though.
  21. If the diff lock isn't working it could be as simple as the linkage having come apart. I had that happen on the last land-rover trying to pull beech timber out of a field in the snow. The clevis pin at the bottom of the transfer/diff lock lever came out, 30 second fix, about an hour to take the floor etc out to get at the, er, blighter. Sounds like 300 tdi, don't know why you'd retro-fit a 200 tdi to an S plate?
  22. THis has always served me well: Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap.
  23. I think if its part of a WGS you're covered as it would be integral to the grant application. I think they used to call it a WFL (WGS with Felling License). Others might know better.
  24. If your a subby just now, where's the harm in your current company finding out? Are they going to stop using you as a subby because you're doing a bit for yourself as well? If they are then I'd be wanting to look for something else anyway. I agree, get tools and kit as and when you need it, that's the way I've always done it too. DRS is right, it is difficult to judge how you're going to do without jumping in two-footed, but it is a big step to take, especially if you don't have work rolling in to begin with. If you're right and you can get 2-3 days a week subbying (I forgot about that in my first reply) then at least that gives you some income. Start small would be my advice and get kit when you need it, no sense in laying out a lot of money only for it to sit in a shed not earning for you.

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