StephF
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Everything posted by StephF
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Keep All reciepts, and invoices for any business expenses, so you can put them against your profit and pay less tax. Get a system of recording payment and reciepts that you keep up to date,( it is hell trying to do it months later), even a basic account book if no computer account skills. Invoice for all work and keep a copies, remember a % of all you earn(not sure exact amount) is already the tax mans, so keepsome of what you are paid put aside in a bank account and then at year end you wont get a shock when a large sum is required by tax man.
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Snow in Kielder today, loaded up with logs and hoping it melts as sun comes up!
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We've climbed large Beeches this year to dead wood prune in NNP,at Harbottle Castle. They did not ask for any paperwork etc (NOT like FC!!). But it was paid work, Im sure each area has different attitudes, no harm in asking them, as long as no damage to trees is done why would they say no?
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Same up here, was trying to keep Sunday free, but its looking unlikely now. Have inches of snow this morning and that will mean even more phone calls later today
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I used to pander to the 5-6" log demand, ("Why 5", have you got a log burner in a wendy house?," I asked one customer) Have found 8" (smallest we cut) fits all small stoves and tell people that, have not had any complaints for 2 years.
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We do the same as you, understand completely where you are coming from. I just remember the last few years; every Autumn there is a spate of new Log adverts in local papers,(this year seems the same). By Christmas they have gone, either have run out or selling wet logs. We find it does not really make any difference to us, who are in it for the long haul and sell all year round. Sold more through this summer than ever, and regulars are quite happy. Prices are all similar out there, but I've noticed some are starting to undercut, this must mean they are struggling for business, & wont be making much profit, just 'Keep calm and Carry on'!
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Already hearing usual customer talesalong lines of; 'wet load of cheap logs that wont burn' . I then get asked "are yours dry?", once folk know you only sell dry logs, you get them coming back for years, they cant afford to spend on logs that wont burn for a year. Years ago we used to hear tales of travellers knocking on doors and using our company name to get work, (had a fairly good reputation in those days), which caused huge problems when they did crap job! This week a customer phoned another 'new' log supplier by mistake, who pretended to be me, made me laugh! customer soon realised he'd phoned wrong company and cancelled order...
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As long as is dry, a mix is ideal, but dry softwood is better than wet hardwood. I sell slightly more 100% softwood loads (15% moisture content), but could be because it is cheaper!
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After wearing Oregon (not waterproof), I'm on my 2nd pair of lavero, yes very comfy, they did well for a while working in extreme wet, but started leaking eventually, also soles looked like someone had used a planing machine on them and they lost a lace thing after less than 6 months. Got a 'replacement' pair free from lavero, and these have got soles that split away from base, after about 10 months (although not frayed like last pair!l). I do look after boots and use dubbin. My husband has tried all the makes mentioned and none are waterproof, no matter how expensive they are. Chainsaw Wellies get lost/sucked into spagnum bog and are even more useless, you get blisters etc when they fill up with water, so worse than boots.
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Yes, terible news; heard on local TV . I think I delivered some logs on the site this spring, it is near the river?
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Some of the damage on lower trunk looks like classic strimmer / mower damage caused while trees young.
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Me & partner turned over £35k firewood last year,(He cuts & I deliver) more now than the T/W and forestry ops I think. Buy in bulk cordwood, our Tree surgeon waste is a 'drop in ocean' to quanities required, it is definately worth doing if it is done for the long term, marketing ok etc, and a reliable product to back it up, word soon gets around that you sell rubbish if you do. I think the profit margins are ok, and enjoy doing it. Biggest problem is space for storage and time to deliver, we can sell whatever we produce.
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In Vendee (I know its not Normandy) 'chene Sec' , dry oak was 60e a metre (stacked). Our client buys his at a wood yard and stacks into his trailer, the 'seller' measures his trailer to get capacity 1st, I saw cheaper, but it did not state species or wether seasoned etc, (50e).
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Yes, excellent value! we enjoyed the experience a lot. I think the place we got taken too was very good as it was always so busy.
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It was a bit sureal after the normal site in UK of guys hanging around burger vans., everyone stopped at 12 on the dot, the roads emptied, and they ate for an hour! sitting down properly at a table and everything, there were rows and rows of tables, and each one was full, seated with 6 guys all tucking in to a 5 course meal, wine in glasses, not a cup of tea in site, from all kinds of backgrounds, HGV drivers and firemen, road workers, engineers etc. and none of them were overweight, I was taken to eat several times, after mornings work (and had changed and washed), dissapointed not to be wearing all our work gear, we may have fitted better. Our normal work day lunch is grab a soggy sandwhich if you have time, standing in whatever weather and eat in 10 minutes!
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Just enjoyed working in Vendee (WARM & SUN!) for a week, but it sounds difficult to set a business up here from above thread. We just like coming over for a change in scenery, it feels like a holiday, especially as we are normally accomadated in holiday gites etc. and get well looked after, just been taken out to eat a 'huge' lunch in local 'routier' where every table in the building was seated with 'working men' (100's!) eating a 5 course meal with wine, not a site you would ever see in UK...
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Mostly 15" but an 18" used sometimes depending on what is being done..
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Log sales are increasing now, was steady through summer this year & feels like it could get a bit crazy, frosts have arrived, I must NOT panic! did my first 12m3 day this week, as well as several 9m days and had a Sitka regen cutting day in Kershope forest, which was great in the sunshine but very cold, has been a busy week I suppose...
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I am more impressed with 280 than jappa 700, just dissapointed it is not perfect after spending so much! it is much better than a chainsaw / splitter, which we had for many years, or the jappa 700, although that was fast when not having problems. We are only processing 1.5m3 (truck load) in 25-30 minutes so far splitting 6-12" softwood, into 8" logs, thought it would be faster, not tried hardwood yet.
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I am more impressed with 280 than jappa 700, just dissapointed it is not perfect after spending so much! it is much better than a chainsaw / splitter, which we had for many years, or the jappa 700, although that was fast when not having problems. We are only processing 1.5m3 (truck load) in 25-30 minutes so far splitting 6-12" softwood, into 8" logs, thought it would be faster, not tried hardwood yet.
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This course is very good and you learn a lot, it is not a waste of time, really practical and easy to learn/remember tips that can save lives, I know someone in Northumberland who wants to do it soon, but I think you are too far away
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This course is very good and you learn a lot, it is not a waste of time, really practical and easy to learn/remember tips that can save lives, I know someone in Northumberland who wants to do it soon, but I think you are too far away
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I've just bought a 280 instead of a jappa 700, it is cutting a better log,( you can adjust the splitterheight much more accurately) log length is more uniform and great having a conveyor belt feeding cordwood into machine.it is very sturdy, logs still roll sideways after cutting, but ram easier to stop/start so damage not done to ram mechanism(thats what killed the jappa), logs getting stuck on blade a nightmare as the lid does not come up when blade out! not happening a lot, but 2-3 times and has caused damage to machine already, no obvious reason why it happens, perfectly straight small/large logs all stuck at times even when well gripped and blade bought into log steadily. Looked at APF at other machines and still not convinced after 2 days looking & chatting to people there is a perfect machine right now, none seem to live up to claims.
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I've just bought a 280 instead of a jappa 700, it is cutting a better log,( you can adjust the splitterheight much more accurately) log length is more uniform and great having a conveyor belt feeding cordwood into machine.it is very sturdy, logs still roll sideways after cutting, but ram easier to stop/start so damage not done to ram mechanism(thats what killed the jappa), logs getting stuck on blade a nightmare as the lid does not come up when blade out! not happening a lot, but 2-3 times and has caused damage to machine already, no obvious reason why it happens, perfectly straight small/large logs all stuck at times even when well gripped and blade bought into log steadily. Looked at APF at other machines and still not convinced after 2 days looking & chatting to people there is a perfect machine right now, none seem to live up to claims.
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Sorry, I made that mistake, has already been pointed out to me by family today! Yes T.shirt good fit and has been worn.
