codlasher

Thanks for putting this clip on here Arthurbottlesworth. I can offer a tiny piece of information to add to this as Hampden Row was mentioned. The woodland the fellows were working in was Monkton wood and at that time there were probably three gangs of 'Bodgers' working in that area. Each tree at that time averaged 30 cubic foot. In 2011 each tree averaged 75 cubic foot. They bid on a 'fall' of trees which was 50 trees in total. These were marked by the forester at the time, a cousin of the Earl and who was experienced in timber production in India so the trees that remained were always the best as the inferior were marked in the thinning process. If you held a leg from a mechanised copy lathe and one from a 'Bodger' you would not be able to tell the difference between the two, that was the skill level of these gentlemen. The last of the surviving 'Bodgers' emigrated to Canada in 1964 with his family and the process became fully mechanised in High Wycombe. Ercol still produce furniture today but their timber mainly comes from Denmark. In the heyday Monkton wood was a small part of the 30,000 cubic feet of timber processed annually in the locality, all bound for their Latimer sawmill and then into your kitchen/living room. Unfortunately the majority of the furniture makers have disappeared from High Wycombe and unless you visit Specialists like Mr Stewart Linford, your timber will not be from places such as Monkton wood. codlasher

@Maxwell. I love the bit in the ad about coconut de-nutting! Good luck on your travels Simidd. See if you can get to the top of Cape York peninsular, it's quite beautiful up there. codlasher

I see this from a completely different angle. As a 'retired' forester I have been asked to organise several tree related jobs by local folk. These have involved some felling and some surgery to date. Now I have never climbed a tree except as a boy and certainly don't intend to start, particularly wielding a chain-saw! I am much happier on the ground. What I do know a lot about are the mechanics of the job, organising, health and safety and proper use of equipment and this enables me to price jobs accurately with a reasonable profit for all involved. I have a portfolio of qualifications related to this aspect such as a 12D and ground based saw tickets, expedition first aid and etc. (Even a timber harvesting/forwarding selection!) I have started to employ local tree surgeons to help me with these tasks and so far things are working out well. I still have my trusty loader tractor and have added my 360 to the equipment pool which is a very useful machine in the right circumstances. I do the organising, some of the labouring and, as ever, the machine work. I rely on the skills of the chain-saw operator/climber and hired in 'groundies' to move the job along. I really prefer not to use a saw at all but am happy to feed the chipper. I'm in a situation that I don't have to do a seven day week in three days so any job moves forward in a happy relaxed manner with tea and lunch breaks! Perhaps you could look at being someone who organises in this way without attempting to do a difficult and skilful job in an already flooded market? It takes a long time to acquire good safe climbing skills and I feel that is something better left to the younger, keener chaps (and ladies too!) codlasher

A lady friend has a similar dog that she and her partner obtained from the local 'rescue' establishment. Living in a field in a very comfortable mobile home, the animal has found doggie heaven! Here's hoping you find similar. codlasher

Welcome to the wood-burning world and all its complexities! It's a real cut throat world this wood selling.....To the customers advantage mind. By looking here on this forum you will have, by now, worked out the price of a 1.2m3, 1.0m3 or 0.8m3 load of firewood delivered to your door. How it is delivered is the vendors choice and the prices vary by £10 or £20 but you must discover the quantity or you will be paying a little too much. A reputable merchant will advise you and this is where you will have to do your homework as there are a LOT of 'cash' dealers out there. Personally I think you will receive a plethora of messages on here after your Q. A quick google search for 'firewood logs' resulted in ten choices in any one area'. Unfortunately you have omitted to put your location so this won't help focus the replies! Ring a local reputable 'Tree surgeon' and ask them...... As to your hourly stoking there is a simple rule; 1Kg of dry wood produces 3Kw of heat so by the sound of your fire it is around the 5K which is about right for an hours burning, plus the ash mess and the insects and the dust and the bits of bark and the dirt that they bring in and the fact that you have to do this regularly.......And have a good dry store nearby. Good luck! codlasher

Having read all the posts, I think that's brilliant news! And I hope your mum is felling much better too :-) codlasher

I posted some pictures of my TB175 with its new timber grapple and rotator, fitted some time ago. I'm very happy with it and the work that it does. I was surprised at the pipework/fittings/couplings costs. This came in at £600 ish with the three port diverters. On the plus side though it has already paid for itself by the work that it has enabled me to do that I wouldn't have been able to do manually or with poking about with a bucket/strop combination. I used to operate a roof mount County forwarder and the 360 is a different machine with its arm set much lower so the lifting height is a little less and there is no extension but I have become used to that. The power is in its ability to dig so I am being very careful when I put a piece down. The TB hydraulics are incremental so the grab facility can be slow or fast but as it is on a thumb switch there's not much 'feel'. The rotate facility is on the joystick and I may reduce the flow with a reduced ported fitting as it has the potential to rotate like a helicopter! This operation is ISO so an operator, used to working a timber crane, would be able to jump in the cab and work the set-up without any problems. I can't comment on a 'thumb' set up as I have no experience with one. I would imagine that once you had purchased the pieces and paid for the bracket to be professionally welded onto the dipper arm you would certainly have a useful tool available. Cost wise, yes it would be considerably cheaper too but perhaps not so versatile, particularly if this is fitted onto anything bigger than a five ton machine. I think a thumb is an alternative for sub five tonners but in my opinion what drives the choice of grapple or thumb is what you need/want it to do in the first place. codlasher.

Sounds painful. Take a pill!:big grin: codlasher

Having been there with the nail/bolt/whatever in a 13Amp plug I just spent a little more time fitting heavier wires from the fuse board out to a waterproof 16Amp socket! I started with a similar set up and still have the welder (with the bolt in the plug) but this new machine is like a Rolls against a Cortina..... If anyone remembers those:001_tt2: This enabled me to use the 16Amp extension lead all round my workshop, and outside, with the little welder. I needed this lead to get round my farm trailer and get the welder nearby to adjust the power needed as I am not quick and nimble anymore so like to get comfortable:001_tongue: (This 16Amp lead also serves to power a jet washer so has several uses. The lead itself is wound onto an old hose reel so winds and un-winds nicely) By all means use the above method, bolt,nail etc, but you will never get the most out of your machine! Being able to draw the amps needed for a good weld is important and why compromise a good machine with not letting is reach its potential? 13Amp wire is just not large enough in diameter and over any distance you will be surprised at the current drop. As to the Q regarding the repair of the item shown in the picture, YES I'd be very happy welding that, as I said; 6mm no probs, just approach the work in a workman like fashion. Cleanliness helps with the metal shined up, the rods warm and dry, likewise the item to be worked. Once the metal is up to temperature you can reduce the amps needed to ensure a good weld without sag or undercutting. This is one of the reasons I like the welder near to me:001_smile: You'll get the feel when the weld is good and when it is very good the flux will start lifting of its own accord too. A bit of anti-splatter spray often helps with the 'professional' look too. Oh and a good instantly darkening mask. Don't forget a leather glove on the hand steadying the rod too.....this helps Oh and be very aware of your fire precautions, both personal......No synthetic clothes, particularly the combination of rigger boots and nylon socks. Dirty diesel covered nylon overalls/synthetic jumper. Cr*p under your workbench and petrol cans nearby. I have a rule that has saved my twice in 30something years; A half hour fire rule. Do something in the work-shop for half an hour AFTER finishing any welding....cleaning, fiddling or just thinking. You may be very surprised one day and put out a smouldering rag you missed under the bench....The leaky acetylene bottle with a little black fire round its neck:blushing: codlasher

I have one of these. I purchased it to do general welding jobs such as re-flooring my 5 ton farm trailer with 4mm sheet steel which took me a whole week last year. Repairing the door catch on my tractor cab and fabricating brackets for various jobs. This is just to highlight its versatility. I have stretched it to join 6mm channel with care and correctness.(Proper root runs and a nice cap on the top) It will also do vertical up with a good hand. I have few defects and if they do occur, and they do happen, it is usually down to me not the machine! I have been welding for 30 years and possess a welding qualification from Maidenhead College, so have experience with a selection of welders including a lovely 3 phase unit that I have but can't use as I don't have 3 phase in my current workshop. I have a 160 amp MIG with similar issues so I'm down to this little unit. I use 2.5mm & 3.4mm rods, the odd stainless and very occasionally black cast iron rods. I have run a 16Amp supply, complete with the blue plugs & sockets, out from the fuse board just to ensure the power is there when needed and can't be confused with 13Amp stuff. If you want an easy simple little stick machine look no further. You will also be pleasantly surprised at the quality of the ancillaries that come with it. codlasher

Ha, ha! Else you will be thieving! codlasher

If you do get a chipper you'll have to take it to bed with you! They seem to be a magnet to thieves! codlasher

I'm liking the pictures of all the Unimogs. My Dad had a pair of 404's in the late 1960's, both with canvas cabs. One had a little hydraulic crane behind the cab like the Hiab's in the pictures but probably quite small by todays standards. There was a Taskers trailer built specially for the mog to take the timber to Latimer Sawmill. It ended up being a diesel tank stand as it was fitted with air brakes because none of the tractors could tow it without brakes. One mog burnt to death and the other was sold. The reason was that they were very expensive to maintain against the 'new' Ford 5000 based County tractor that had just arrived on the market. The only thing that remained from the burnt machine was the rear body with those, peculiar only to Unimog, side catches. Instantly recognisable to anyone 'in the know'! This became a trailer body for the next forty years. codlasher

@Stihlben. Shame that the house is in an abandoned state. I did quite a lot of work there with my business partner. Lewis had a one eyed Alsation that took a very big dislike to my mate one morning. We were just getting ready for the day and the dog came around the corner and leaped up at R who turned away, as you would with a big dog fully airborne heading in your direction. The result was a big rip in his RTR sweaty and similar to his back. after administering first aid to R, we discussed the situation with Lewis and his brother-in-law and decided that perhaps we should stop working for a while 'til they made a decision about the dog. We never went back as we never heard any more. Shame really. That was probably 20 years ago now. codlasher

I'm not sure if a Cundey will do the range you require but there's one for sale here; CUNDEY TECH-NORTON AUTO-FEED PEELER | eBay codlasher

I'm sorry to suggest that this is probably in a million pieces by now. Unless you are very lucky and it's discovered nearby. codlasher.

If you want forestry hand tools look here; Home | Forestry Tools | Bathgate | Chieftain Forge UK They were the originators of the roof-mount crane on Ford County tractors! codlasher

I have had pleasant dealings with Foley's going back 30something years. codlasher

I believe this is quite true. Folk buy carp and then complain. The biggest trouble is that most have no idea that what they are buying is rubbish until it is broken! There's no awareness of bad products until too late. I've watched this company quietly turn into a leader in the 'outdoor pursuit' industry; Sleeping bags, down jackets, tents and camping equipment with free UK delivery from Alpkit With determination and careful management they manufacture and ship quality goods from China into the UK using ethical transport wherever possible. I'm sure there are many on this forum with an Alpkit item in their backpack. No I'm not a shareholder just a fan:001_tongue: codlasher

12 men with arms stretched out went around the biggest! They really are a WOW when you are right next to them. codlasher

Never any seed regen but there was direct growth from the roots, quite a lot too. We tried seed picked from the tree, the 'chequers' but never had any luck. Even trying to set the seeds by putting them in the freezer. The best success was from gently persuading a piece of bark from a root complete with its attached youngsters and potting up these. The area where this one stood was occasionally grazed until Christmas by sheep to ensure the grass was kept in good condition so the years that the youngsters appeared was sporadic! Its site in the meadow meant that modern farm vehicle traffic never got too close to compact the roots which in my eyes is always a plus. Of the two other veterans, one is amongst big beech monoculture so any seedlings probably won't get a chance. The other may seed, as a big spanish chestnut came over and I cleared all around it for interests sake.....Having only 'discovered' the WST in amongst the oak and chestnut. That was a very good feeling! This area was full of very big veterans and off the beaten track of the forestry so not often visited, except from field walking/fence checking. Several are now 'stealth planted', as I wrote in my earlier post and guarded in the area using older guards that don't break down with UV. In this way I hope to visit when I'm really old and see the fruits of my labour! A friend who lives over Cheltenham way and involved with trees commercially was giving young WST's away last year to folk who were interested in them which was good. I was given a cedar of lebanon from her quite some years back which came from Westonbirt arboretum. This is living in the grounds of a manor house nearby and about 30' tall now. codlasher

I was always pondering this too. There are a lot of hedgerow wild service trees in the surrounding area, right down the valley to Great Missenden. The oldest one that I know of is nearby and my father and I both think it was planted around 1704 when there was a celebration of tree planting/avenue planting to celebrate the ascension to the throne by Queen Anne. There are others of that age scattered about in amongst the older stands of beech. They are all of a similar size to the one in your pictures. There is a history of Royal 'stories' relating to tree work in that close area so I swing in the chequers name being related to the tree rather than any other story! There are also many 'stealth planted' youngsters around and I can only hope that they remain undiscovered except by those who recognise them as being interesting:001_tongue: Providing the guards last too which will keep the muntjac at bay. codlasher

Like your little seedling IanW. I like stealth planting unusual species. Douglas being one, wild service too. Capturing oak was another past time on the quad with a handful of guards and stakes. See some natural regen and get a tube around them to stop the muntjacs damage. codlasher

Take it off if you are in a hot zone and fit a standard piece of pipe in its place? Only fit it on for the MOT codlasher

Ha, ha difflock! The Victorians were great believers in a room for everything so our old place is well set up with a little courtyard and wood-shed right opposite the back door. Next is the outside dunnie, now a 'water closet' followed by the wash house, minus the copper now though. We use it as a cold store and there is often feathered food hanging awaiting dressing. The dogs make as much mess as the fires and possibly the plaster falling off the walls so there is always hoovering to be done! codlasher.