agg221

How big (diameter and the length you are cutting to) and how many? The size will determine the weight, which will allow you to work out the lift. For up to about half a dozen or so 8' lengths of up to 3' diameter then parbuckling up a ramp with a small boat winch, or using an engine hoist are both pretty efficient. For something fairly straight and up to about 8-10' lengths under 2' dia a couple of people can roll them up with cant hooks (use chocks!). You can still do it with longer lengths but have to use two winches or work one end up and then the other, both of which make it slower. If it gets much about 3' then the point loading gets high enough that you have to seriously uprate ramps, or use a hoist on a very shortened jib, which makes it very slow and fiddly. If there are enough lengths that manual handling would mean working over an extra day then I would hire in an appropriately sized digger, or see if there is a local farmer who will hire you his teleporter for the day - I've done this and it has worked out very well for all parties, particularly if the deal includes firewood. Alec

Yep, woolly aphid. If there aren't many then meths on a swab is good. Soft soap and water is technically not allowed as a pesticide but if you feel like giving your trees a clean then coincidentally the aphids will die... Alec

I can't figure the logistics of getting it here at a reasonable price. Otherwise I would be very keen! Alec

You may be able to reach a mutually beneficial arrangement with the farmer. There is a tight limit on composting, but if the farmer is prepared to spread for mulching as a water retention measure then with the appropriate exemption they can keep a stack of up to 60tons, so long as it is away from a watercourse. Basically, build it up, spread it, repeat indefinitely. Good for the soil and good for you. It's why I am open to any chip that anyone ever wants to tip - I can lose 60tons a year with no problem and if I ever got more (I wish!) my neighbour would take it for the same thing. Alec

I use them on the chainsaw mounted bandsaw. In a clean bit of green oak I can get slightly faster cutting from a fresh standard thin band, but the M42 just goes on and on, never snaps and sharpens back up if it gets a bit dull. I have three of them running in rotation and am very pleased. Alec

Mum's place is in Hartley (near Longfield). She is usually happy to take a few loads. Drop me a PM if you need details. Alec

What is access like? If you can drive up to it, a portable bandsaw mill would be the best option as it it is quick. If not, you will need a chainsaw driven mill, or a Lucas. There will be a lot of timber in there and unless you can get access to a kiln you won't get timber of the section needed for doors (probably mill at 50mm) dry in 12 months. You could probably get enough boards to do a fair area of flooring out of that lot, assuming you don't need any for the structural parts of the house. I suggest not milling until late September to avoid rapid surface drying causing cracks. You will then need to stack it all until around April in an open sided stack to get air through it, and then kiln it if you can, or leave it air drying over the summer if not. It would then be reasonably dry if you are using planks. If the site means that you need to use a chainsaw mill, I can probably help. Alec

I think I worked on that lock, putting in some of the stonework on the left hand side. Canal restoration by volunteers is a long, slow process but they eventually get done. There are some reasonable lengths of the Wey and Arun which are now back in water. Alec

Are the dimensions you have given for the smallest you have or the smallest he has picked? Are the ones he has rejected mostly smaller or just lower quality? What is the size range like (how big are the biggest ones and what sort of proportions of the total are large like this or at the smaller end of the range, ie are there one or two big ones and a lot like the one you describe, or a fairly even spread, or everything no bigger than say 24" x 20'? This will give an idea on what you are likely to get for the whole load vs. the split load and allow a fair price to be estimated. Alec

Glad to hear it has been sorted. Speaking from personal experience, the examination isn't a lot of fun (I had it done when I was 35 as I got a prostate infection and they wanted to check it was nothing worse) but pretty quick and well worth doing if there are any reasons for concern. Alec

Well worth milling. Elm is now quite uncommon and there is demand for the timber. If nothing else, the effort in ringing it up for firewood would be enormous! Alec

What's your maximum lift capacity? Alec

Hi Jez, I believe the smaller stuff already has a home. I've been offered the big sections if I can shift them. Alec

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll send a couple of PMs. Big. It's about 1.5m dbh - not sure on absolute length but I'll get it cut down to lengths someone can lift, so long as that isn't stupidly short (8ft is minimum useful). Alec

Hi All, I've been offered a decent sized oak in Felsted which is coming down on Tuesday. It needs to be moved on the day, to Haverhill. Anyone able to do it, or know anyone I could try? Cheers Alec

It's pretty durable so I would have thought someone would want it (I would if it was my side of the country). Can you give any indication on size? Alec

I've had better. Special handmade slimline heritage glass double glazed panels which were the only way to keep both listed buildings and building control happy finally showed up from Germany after 12wk wait. Tried them and realised that they are the wrong size. It's my fault - I measured twice, checked that the order matched my measurements and they have been made exactly as I ordered them, only somehow I have written the heights down as 100mm less than they need to be on all 8 panels. They will eventually get used as I have two more windows I will need to do in a couple of years and I can size them to fit, but it's an extra 4 figure sum now and a further delay. Oh and the compression mechanism on the air rifle broke. Alec

Thanks for that, I'll give it a try. I agree it wouldn't be too difficult to weld new pulleys to the hub, were it not for the fact that I gave the hub to someone who was going to turn up a replacement for me and has now lost it instead. I did have a quick look on Ebay and amazingly there is one on there, but it's brand new, in the US and including shipping and tax will be around £120 delivered so I will see if I can find an alternative first. Alec

Missed that one on the iPhone I usually don't bother, but when I do I agree, anything to slow down the drying so old paint usually gets used. Alec

In order: The separating sticks are called stickers - I make my stickers from old pallets. I don't dismantle them, just cut down the line of slats at each end and rip to about 1" width. You can fit any mill to any saw, you just end up with more overhang. While Rob's away if you email [email protected] you will get me :-) Alec

Ultimately, does it matter if it goes further in, so long as it is free turning and will come back out just as easily? If you can bottom it out then it will give you something to stop it turning, but actually if you can get a drill to it and push fairly hard then it may well be enough to stop it turning anyway. If it's fairly loose then you won't need a very big hole. Alec

Do you reckon the other end is tight in there, or is it just a case of getting to it to make it turn? If you can centre drill it then banging in a long Torx driver can give you something turn. This is easier than a hex bar (Allen key). Alec

I have continued buying Bird Brand genuine creosote, which has remained available locally in 25l drums, no questions asked. Alec

I've got one which you are welcome to borrow if you want to have a play before deciding. Alec