agg221
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Everything posted by agg221
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I know someone posted up a link for a supplier, but I can't find it. Please could someone put it back up. Also, anyone ever bought any without supplying a business name and address? Is the lack of one likely to cause me a problem? Cheers Alec
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You managed to extract yours yet Big J? Alec
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Have you considered flat bits? They're easily available in that size and don't need too much drill power. If they're not long enough you can either buy an extension bar or weld a bit on the back. Alec
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The problem you've got is that it isn't worth the haulage for a fixed mill for a single log. If you can get it to the mill, you might get a fair price, or if you can find any takers with portable mills - oak is at least saleable and although 10ft is a bit short you can get some decent boards out of something that size. Alec
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Would short-term contract hire of a 3yr old arb-daughter be any good to you? Very good at buttering bread and a full grasp of appropriate PPE. Limited carrying capacity but excellent for getting into all those tricky spaces. Alec
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Firstly on the arsenic thing - this was copper chrome arsenic and was banned over a decade ago, so very little risk these days. They are still sometimes chemically treated, but usually with organic treatments which simply burn - pallets are the cheapest of the cheap so they don't use anything that costs much! If in doubt, burn a bit and see if you get a greenish flame (copper) which is the only remaining 'fixed' inorganic treatment. On splitting up kindling - some children are perfectly safe to be left working with an axe aged 12 - look at the Scouts. Some are a bit more forgetful of things like fingers. If you want to add safety, a froe and beetle is a very effective alternative, and better for twisting bits apart anyway. Alec
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I'd be slightly suspicious here. When you get it, measure the cable and check that it has a formed tapered end on it to see whether it's the right one. I suspect it will be - after all, who gets a cable for a Tirfor and then gives up on it? If it is the right one, check whether there is general wear on the outer wires - no longer round. I suspect that when you open up the case you'll find either wear on the jaws or some cracked rivets in the jaw blocks are the problem. Either way, the parts are easily available, it will pull about 3 tons (although it has been severely down rated so they no longer do this officially and you would need one of the old sheer pins) and at that price it's still a good buy. Alec
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The T35 used to be rated at 5tons. There are some slight differences in parts between Mark 1,2 and 3 (not sure how many more recent ones there are) but all parts are available. Tractel still make them, Speedy are agents. You can sometimes get hold of Tractel directly, who are also very helpful if you manage to make contact and can supply a parts diagram and help you identify model from the serial number stamped into the edge of the aluminium casing. Alec
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I've got some oak ones about that size. Any good? Not sure how I'd get them to you though? Alec
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Most journals are subscription only, however this is an interesting study in the public domain. http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/145/5/449.full.pdf Notes: 1. It's peer reviewed, in a high level journal. 2. The affiliations of the authors are broad, and not to institutions with vested interests. 3. The study group is reasonably large (19,000 people) 4. The study was funded by a group which, so far as I can establish, is not particularly politically motivated. The concentration of benzene is comparable to the lower end of UK unleaded. The exposure levels are based on 8hr days, probably more incidence of exposure but lower peak concentrations (you can't taste the fumes at a petrol station like you can in 2-stroke exhaust). Hard to say what impact this may have. Also worth noting the points in the discussion section relating to skin exposure and mouth-siphoning. Alec
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I can see why you would want a log arch if you have a number of butts to extract on different sites, but it's going to have to be really heavy duty for that size. If most of what you obtain is considerably smaller, could it be worth extracting the three very large butts with a winch, either over rollers (telegraph poles) or just dragged, with the bark on and then de-barking roadside to remove the grit? Does the landy have a front winch? Otherwise, a day's hire of a 5ton dumper may work out worthwhile - I used one to drag out a 2'6" x 20' butt with no problems earlier this year. Alec
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Your old Allen Scythe runs quite happily on it too. I will shortly be trying it out in my 'new' chainsaw of similar vintage... Alec
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Beyond access, a related factor is the plant you need to move things. Over and above the issue of the maximum size you can get through the throat of a bandmill, you also don't have to move the butt. If you're having butts delivered, or doing a reasonable amount of forestry, you have kit on hand, but if you don't then moving large logs on and off mills requires additional plant so cost/space/maintenance. We once rolled a 3ft dia x 7ft length oak butt onto the hydraulic forks of a band mill, but that took two of us and I don't want to do it again! I think anything where you have to roll it up ramps would be impossible. Alec
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As have I - didn't work though sadly. Alec
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You can get most species to take from cuttings, but you need to use semi-ripe wood in about June, poke it into sharp sand/compost about 50/50 mix, and to give it some bottom heat. Success rates vary from about 30% to about 80%, depending on species. The other option if you're doing a lot is that some species work well from stools. This is like annual coppicing, earthing up to promote rooting. This is how commercial rootstocks for fruit trees are produced, along with hazel, chestnut etc. Alec -
How wide is the path? If it's narrow, you're probably restricted to a swing mill that can be built around the log, or a chainsaw mill. Are you planning to use most of the timber? If not, be aware that you may well not get your money back on beech just by selling it. I do have a chainsaw mill that would do it, but it would be very slow unless you're wanting big slabs rather than thin planks. Alec
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Stihl 076 - 3ft bar, full chisel chain felling 3ft dead oak. Swap to 4ft bar and alaskan for milling. No emissions or noise considerations when that was built! Alec
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In the 'old days' Stihl and Husquvarna were reckoned to be the best - which realistically meant they had the best power to weight ratio and squeezed more power per .cc. Jonsered, Sachs Dolmar, Homelite etc were reckoned to be a close second. Probably just as solidly built, just not quite as high performance for the weight/cc. The closest Stihl equivalent of the time would be the 051, which was an aging design by then, so probably get equivalent performance. Probably struggle to find an official max. length of bar, but I would say you could get away with 32in if you're not cutting hard, dry stuff, drop down to 28in if you are. Alec
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This is the best representation of Worcester I can find: Buy apple apple 'Worcester Pearmain': Delivery by Crocus.co.uk In my view Discovery has all the good points of both its parents. Where I grew up (and Mum still lives) we had both Beauty of Bath and Worcester Pearmain - trees date to 1919 on Paradise stock (some of them are still going). Worcester is great when it's really ripe, but can taste 'muddy' or slightly woody. The acidity from Beauty of Bath counters this, but BoB is a bit lacking in complexity of flavour and you get a big improvement in this. It's about the only modern variety (post 1920) that I rate as a significant improvement in flavour for its season. Tree habit is good too! I understand it can be a little slow to come into bearing, but I've never had a problem with this. Alec
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I agree with Gollum too. If it's Discovery, the fruit will be early/mid August, round and slightly flattened top to bottom, with a really strong strawberry red flush, with small white spots. When the fruit get really ripe they will turn red all over and the flesh will go pink. This comes from one of its parents (Beauty of Bath), which also adds the slight tartness. The rest of the flavour comes from its other parent, Worcester Pearmain. The pure red colour is between the two, as Beauty of Bath is slightly more orange and Worcester slightly more pink. Overall you've scored an excellent variety there, the root system looks good (don't let it dry out) and it should be possible to keep it comfortably pruned down to a height where you can pick the fruit from the ground, say 6-8ft height and spread, depending on the shape you choose to form it to. Alec Alec
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Hi Tom, it's not the big alaskan I was thinking of - rather the vertical mini-mill. I agree that a bandsaw will be far more efficient on kerf, but it's dependent on being able to lift the log, and keep it straight fixed to a runner, against the saw fence. 8" stuff x 8' length can be a bit difficult to do this with on your own. My thought was to use the mini-mill to break it down. The older mills were adjustable sideways I believe and this can be retro-fitted, which would give either planks and a lot of sawdust, or something square enough to run through a bandsaw more easily. Alec
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Alaskan mini-mill via Rob D would be my suggestion if you've got plenty and don't mind wasting the kerf. Alec
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Heavy, yes, very. Shouldn't be slow though - compared with a 660 which is about the same .cc yes, but mine is significantly faster than my 044 (and no, the 044 isn't knackered:001_smile:) Alec
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I agree, in a good way. I always think these things work best when everyone is getting what they really want, and walks away happy. Alec
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If your preference is Stihl, a later model 051 (with chainbrake) might suit. You wouldn't want to lug it far but they're pretty bombproof and parts availability is good. There is an Oregon sprocket to convert to 3/8 chain and they'll pull something pretty aggressive due to high torque, so cut fairly fast on a 25" bar (they're OK with 30"). I reckon you can be up and running for under £100 on a good day. Watch for cracks in the back handle though. Alec
