StephF

Yes, I mean the log NETS! I think they are new, and it seemed a good idea for using them to season logs outdoors in. Then move indooors later, for the winter, did not expect a 2nd use from them, I had not planned to deliver the logs in them. Just wondered how easy they were to use, what kit was used etc, You seem to have pretty well answered the question. The guy who used the sheep netting idea(or deer) that he saw in scandanavia looked good idea, and cant decide which to use. The lambing tunnels used round here looked good, you could put netting around the sides of a tunnel frame, fill up using the conveyor off processor, then cover with a big tarp?

Did you buy the frame? I cant believe they last more than 1 use!

Makes me feel a bit more normal reading all this, should'nt laugh as it is misery sometimes coping with all the strains and pains, but if you did'nt laugh then you would cry. I would love be able to pay for all the tree surgeons out there to have a months holiday and get mended and rested, I know that we certainly are ready for one now, have been manic for weeks!

Looking at these 1 tonne log nets to use for seasoning hardwood in this summer. (from 'BAG supplies Ltd- see eb site). Any feed back on them appreciated, how easy to move around, do they break easily etc, how high have you stacked them???

I know the quote was high, and I dont think they were that impressed with them!

Yes, we have not decided yet what to add on for labour, but wanted an idea what others are charging as we have not quoted for a planting job for a while. Trees are going into rough pasture, some fairly steep, some rock/bracken. We have to stake the trees and use a shelter.

I have supplied someone who has a wood Rayburn all his logs for the past 3 years. He buys a 1.5 metre load of Softwood logs 8-10 " length every 4 weeks. He does not seem to use it during the summer. He does not get any of his own firewood or buy from anyone else.

Its for next season. As long as we are reasonable, we have got the job, but that does not mean we would rip the customer off on the quote. They had a quote from Tillhill but did not give them the work- not sure why?

Thanks for that, so no advance on £1 then?

Sounds too much like a mental arithmatic test which I hate, but 85cm bags hold 0.6 metres, (0.85 * 0.85 * 0.85 = 0.6cubic metres) 25 tonnes cordwood as logs = 25 multiplied by 0.45 = 36.25 cubes 36.25 divided by 0.6 = 60 bags??

There are always people who will buy it as they know the 'poem', but I would never sell it green, does'nt take long to dry and be worth more.

Tailing off right now, just over 2 full days/week. Still getting new orders/querys every week from new stove owners, and people looking for dry logs. Selling a lot of softwood which Im happy about as the hardwood stocks have got very low.

What is the going rate to plant broadleaf whips in tree shelters? pricing up 4000 trees to be planted in tubex shelters, got the tree prices /shelters etc, but not sure about the labour costs as we have not done this for a while. This is for a private client, not contract work.

Just picked up a very good 2nd hand one, self propelled and been well looked after for a bargain, but it is only really going to go round small areas, not a commercial mower.

Someone advertises at the back of the Forestry Journal, 'Lime urgently wanted', I often wonder what for!

Point taken Mat, I will reconsider getting some more!

We've done ABC forestry based first aid courses, and on last one was told not to use Cellox. (didnt say I always had a packet stuffed in my chainsaw trouser pocket). was not given clear reason why, but instructor indicated it could cause more problems than help. Anyway I took the packet out of my pocket and threw it away. I have recently added to our kits some scissors that cut off chainsaw trousers and a very large bottle of eyewash(FC require this in first aid kits), the little sachets of eyewashes are no good for real eye injurys.

I have worked hard to build up the firewood business, as tree surgery in Northumbeland winters is not much fun (or often possible!). Costs as mentioned by 'Hodge' are going to continue to increase, if fuel prices etc rise and demand on firewood grows as it has done over past 4 years. I sell around 500 tonnes per year, and dont pay a tax bill, which goes to show how much profit there is in it! I employ 1 part timer, and 2 of us work at processing and delivering. After investing in machines etc to 'mechanise' things, we spend a lot of the year just cutting logs, (which means you cant go out and earn,) it is definately not an easy life, or a way to get rich quick. There is no point building up 2-300 customers and then running out of logs, they just go somewhere else. Buy in kiln dried wood from Lithuania rent a factory unit, buy a lorry with crane to load on log bags, and set up near a big town if you have the money to spend, it would be the easiest way to start.

I have a french friend who makes genuine log cabins, the last one I saw him work on was in France a couple of years ago, out of Douglas fir, which he said was his best wood to use. Would love him to build us one, it was the real thing, and a lot of skill involved.

Thanks for the 'essay', could not have put it better, thanks! Life has been ups and downs, but whenever we have turned back to Jesus, life gets better, the peace is like nothing else, it is so cool to be 50 ft up a tree and KNOW he is with you and LOVES you for real!

We all have free will, but I think the statement 'christian country' means more that our government /law system was originally supposed to be based on biblical principals, justice, looking after the poor and aged and sick. Wether that is still true is debatable.

I am and my husband, so that makes 5? (tried to follow the thread to page 17) Know a few others locally, but we are thin on the ground!

Like it! Know just what you mean, and then there are the sane and sensible who go to the trouble of filling log stores in late summer with seasoned logs so they are 'ready' for winter! We deliver all year, but generally the regular log store fillers, buy a lot of logs from August onwards through to late September.

Its really hard to tell from photos! I would not even like to guess, you have a good pile though, plenty of good stuff for a processor.

We have the same Esse as you, and yes a good wheel barrow is about right, we get loads of boiling hot water and extra heat goes into a heating system (23 rads) but a large Arrow pumps most of the heat into the rads, althogether we use around 1.5 m3 per week to cook, heat and do hot water. Being a Firewood merchant this is not a big deal, there is always masses of logs here, and I'm getting them at cost price + our labour, and it is often the rubbish I would'nt sell!