Cosmiccrofter

Processor it is then, cheers lads. I might do some "contacting" for family and friends to help defray the cost:001_smile:

OK, the big 6 oh comes around in January, and the bones are beginning to creak a bit. I have been cutting firewood for, I suppose, 45 years, starting with cutting old fence posts with the Fergie saw behind the 35, graduating to backs and cutting softwood with the old McCulloch at the sawmills (yes they did allow you to do that back in the day). Don't get me wrong, I like the whole firewood process, from scavenging (well you used to) or buying from FC, splitting and stacking. BUT, I have to admit I am not as fit as I used to be. I have a collection of old tractors, so a power source is not a problem. I have thought about getting a processor, and maybe trying to offset the cost by processing for friends, but that's a lot of moolah. At present I have a 455 rancher, a 288xp, a Hycrack and one of the tractors has a loader.. I don't mind spending a few quid (say £5,000/6000), so, if you were my age, what would you do? I need to keep bending and lifting to an absolute bloody minimum. How would you try to keep the firewood process going? Or should I just accept that tempus fugits and buy firewood? When would you guys give up? No, not an option.!!! I need to keep active.

The only benefit of billets that I can see is that the billets are easier to stack and store. Otherwise there is too much double handling for me. Block, split into crate, stack crate with tractor/loader. Job done.

I agree with that. I've used one for 30 years and never trapped a finger yet, the doom merchants don't know how to operate a Hycrack properly, they are perfectly safe in the right hands. Oh, and much quicker than an hydraulic one.

Here ya go......... Fordson Dexta,Super Dexta & Major, Super Major Ignition Key | eBay If it's too thick, just file it down a bit.

I don't think it's FWD, just has some lugged front tyres. If the back wheels are cream as well, then it's a New Performance Super Major.

I'm not convinced about the billeting system either, but what about using cheap ratchet straps, some thing like this [ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/DOWN-RATCHET-STRAPS-15FT-PACK/dp/B004SH2GE4]TIE DOWN RATCHET STRAPS 1" X 15FT 4 PACK: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike[/ame] That would cost around £4 per billet, say £200 for your 50 billets, AND totally re-useable!

The Hycrack is the best splitter on the market, and I have owned a hydraulic as well in the past. At the end of a full days splitting, I know which type will tire you out. And it's not a Hycrack.

You certainly won't get a 35X for £2K, they very rarely go under £3K unless they are a complete shed. I know, because I collect MF's.

You're doing a wee bit of a disservice to the 135, it is actually 45hp, later increased to 47.

My Hycrack

As sure as I can be from the photo. Are you sure it's not a replaceable tip? The "join" is hard to spot sometimes, but if you look between the 8th and 9th thread from the tip of your second photo, I think I can see the "join".

Sharkbait, your tip is broken, you will never get it to work properly no matter what you do. Bite the bullet and buy a new tip, you will see a massive difference in performance.

That's a Cameron Gardner Rearloda, I used to have one years ago. Gives you a right pain in the neck when loading FYM!

That looks like the mutts danglies, but I suspect mucho dinero. I was thinking along the lines of a simple A-frame with teeth along the bottom, a 2' to 3' straight bar out from the top with a log tongs at the end and lifted by a ram anchored at the bottom of the A-frame. I just wondered if anyone had made something similar and a rough idea of sizes. John do you mean something like a McConnell backactor?

I have quite a few old tractors so that I don't have to put on/take off the McConnell saw, forklift, splitter etc, each can just stay on the tractor. What I would like is a 3PL log lifter/holder so that I can ring larger logs with the chainsaw at waist height right down to the last 8" or so. The back's not as good as it used to be, so bending down with the saw is taking it's toll. Has anyone built one or seen anything that would fit the bill?

There's some confusion here regarding depreciation and capital allowances. Depreciation is just a book entry to write down the value of the assets over their expected useful life in your accounts. These are usually calculated at 15/20% reducing balance on plant and 25% on vehicles. Depreciation is added back to your profit to calculate your taxable profit, and you then reduce it by claiming capital allowances on plant/commercial vehicles etc, which at present comprises the Annual Investment Allowance (100% up to a maximum of £25,000 in 2012/13), and a writing down allowance on the balance of 18%. It doesn't matter whether the asset is bought on credit or not, the full AIA is claimed. For example, a new van costing £20,000 bought on HP with a desposit of £5,000 would still be available for the 100% AIA of £20,000 in the year it is bought. Obviously there are no further allowances claimable on the van in subsequent years as it's tax written down value is zero. To claim the 100% AIA, it doesn't matter if it is one item or several. You cannot claim capital allowances on leased assets however.

This is a perfect example, if you are thinking of incorporating your business, of why you should have an initial conversation (usually free) with a qualified accountant to take you through the pros and cons of incorporation, and of the minefield if you get it wrong.

I'm afraid that I have to disagree, I got rid of a hydraulic one for a Hycrack quite a few years ago, and I think it's a far better machine. For a start, you can use an old tractor, anything from 25hp upwards as you are not relying on hydraulics. It might not be as quick as a hydraulic overall, but in certain woods it is actually quicker. One benefit is that, because your arms are not flailing about like a whirling dervish pushing and pulling levers, it is much less tiring. There is no ring that it will not split, and if it does not get through, it's because you need a new tip. I have only had to replace one so far.

Nope, I’ve quite a few tractors, but no JCB’s. I think you must have imagined seeing one the mythical loch-dwelling tractors. Usually found in putrid, fetid waters, they are characterised by having a Scots pine canoe, (with an empty Irish spirit bottle as it’s maidenhead), firmly attached to the steering column. And they never, ever, have a visible means of propulsion.

Yeah, right. When in a hole................

Not at all, I thought your answer was very funny.

I have been a member of the forum for just under a year now and have picked up a few good ideas, because, although I have been cutting firewood for myself and family for over 45 years, (God, is it really that long?) you are never too old to learn something new, especially about handling and storage. I started with the Fergie saw, moved on to the chainsaw and axe, and now have the tractors and logsplitter, evolution you might say. I have never posted anything before, mainly because I've never had anything useful to contribute to the firewood forum. Until now. I have never, for a long, long time read such utter racist rubbish as the following: For a start, I have been a Scottish Nationalist all my life. So that makes me a "whiskey drenched racist Dinosaur bawbags who wanna splurt nationalism"[/I]? Scottish Nationalists believe that Scots should determine their own fate. Simples. Now, we may make a mistake or two along the way, but they will our mistakes and up to us to rectify. When we do make mistakes, you can laugh by all means. But we will learn from those mistakes and move on. Even if he could actually change his nationality, he never will be Scottish. Why on earth would he want to change his nationality? Ashamed of your own nationality? Residence does not determine your nationality. I could live in England for 30 years, but I would never become English, I would always be a Scot. "some pockets of ancient Caledonian (non crap) forest I could show you if you don't mind spending a day getting there in a canoe" Well, I can take him in my car a few miles, open the door, walk a couple of paces and touch a Scots pine. Why would he get into a canoe? Maybe we are so backward that's the only mode of transport we can use? "A fair portion of the Highlands remains "Frontier country" even in this day and age. You can still stub your ribs on a dumped tractors steering column diving into a Loch." By the way, no crofter dumps a tractor in a loch. If it can be driven to a loch, then it can still be used. You will find them rusting away in fields, usually because they have been used as a donor tractor for spares. It's called recycling, yes, even in the "Frontier country". I'm sure the locals would love the description. Oh, and if you really want to be Scots, Mr Baker, then do try to spell whisky properly. And one further thing, I am a Campbell, and very proud of it. Sorry for taking the post off track.