TobyAllen

OK, thanks. The leg looks like a sensible alternative, and probably cheaper than the tracks too. I see what you mean about needing to stop it swinging, do you simply rotate the head round and grip the leg?

Thanks, good advice. They do seem like a good idea on a bank rather than slipping down it. I'm in the woods felling so generally on a brash mat and the ground impact isn't as much an issue as getting the job finished. I've got a stroke head on the digger so cant use the bucket to pull me up. Thought about changing pads or welding something on but it seems like a pulaver when I could use bolt ons. They do seem pricey for what they are, but maybe for good reason. I could always get out the cab and start the chainsaw.

There likely is a better machine out there,but not one that I'm going to buy soon or hire in. Steel tracks with aggressive grousers are ok, but welding them on seems a bit silly. I'm not doing anything too extreme it's just that time of year again when I start to think anything to improve traction is a good thing.

Has any one got experience of Track Grips ? trackgrip.co.uk Considering getting a set for the digger, are they worth it? Do you know of any alternatives on the market ? Thanks

I'm in Hereford and always have chestnut if it's any use?? Cleaving oak needs to be pretty bang on and you're better off splitting down a 2' diameter log than thinnings because you get less waste and effort running sap off. If you don't take the sap off the posts go loose in the hole once it's rotted off. Are you going to mortise the posts or nail the rails on?

Timber winch with chain : TIRMAX - Rabaud These look funky.

Have you tried Merryworth estate? They've got some heavy chestnut on their tender.

See you there, stand D5.

See you there, stand d5.

Can you do it without glueing? Or is glue just simpler?

Thanks for that. I've just spent the last 2 hour watching youtube tutorials on bowtie and dutchman joints. They look nice and funky. I'd go for it and post the pictures up here.

To help you plan your day here is the schedule for the Forestry Workers Zone, pop in and say hello. Stand D5 Outside the tent will be free tea and coffee, a classifieds board, somewhere to hang out and the competitions to win the SUGI HARA bars and chain from Chainsawbars.co.uk. There will also be 2 very brave people encouraging you to join in with simple back and neck exercises we should be doing to prevent back strain. In the tent- Thursday 9am Toby Allen- Continuous Improvement and Kaizen 10am NCFED-Opportunities for hazel coppice 11am Peter Harmer- Harvester and horses, the implications of using different machines. 12pm Chris Hughes- Managing risk on site the easy way, practical steps to keep safe. 1pm Dave Rossney- Felling efficiency and ergonomic handling. 2pm Gillian Clark- FISA update 3pm Helen from GIB - How to obtain Grown in Britain licensing. 4pm Steve Fowkes - The new Forestry Apprentice Scheme and how you can help. Friday 9.30 Toby Allen- Continuous Improvement 10am NCFED- News and update from the coppice federation. 11am Dave Rossney- Felling efficiency and ergonomic handling. 12pm Peter Harmer- The dynamics and implications of different harvesting methods 1pm Chris Hughes- Managing risk on site the easy way. 2.30pm Q+A panel - with the theme of 'How we can improve efficiency, profitability and safety' bring along your questions for the panel. 3.30 pm-Competition results, feedback session and suggestions for the future. See you there.

To help you plan your day here is the schedule for the Forestry Workers Zone, pop in and say hello. Stand D5 Outside the tent will be free tea and coffee, a classifieds board, somewhere to hang out and the competitions to win the SUGI HARA bars and chain from Chainsawbars.co.uk. There will also be 2 very brave people encouraging you to join in with simple back and neck exercises we should be doing to prevent back strain. In the tent- Thursday 9am Toby Allen- Continuous Improvement and Kaizen 10am NCFED-Opportunities for hazel coppice 11am Peter Harmer- Harvester and horses, the implications of using different machines. 12pm Chris Hughes- Managing risk on site the easy way, practical steps to keep safe. 1pm Dave Rossney- Felling efficiency and ergonomic handling. 2pm Gillian Clark- FISA update 3pm Helen from GIB - How to obtain Grown in Britain licensing. 4pm Steve Fowkes - The new Forestry Apprentice Scheme and how you can help. Friday 9.30 Toby Allen- Continuous Improvement 10am NCFED- News and update from the coppice federation. 11am Dave Rossney- Felling efficiency and ergonomic handling. 12pm Peter Harmer- The dynamics and implications of different harvesting methods 1pm Chris Hughes- Managing risk on site the easy way. 2.30pm Q+A panel - with the theme of 'How we can improve efficiency, profitability and safety' bring along your questions for the panel. 3.30 pm-Competition results, feedback session and suggestions for the future. See you there.

Have a look at the CPET website. As long as you can prove it's legally and sustainably harvested your ok. Which is easy in this country because the felling licence does that.

Longleat Estate has a campsite, I'm not sure if the show has visitor camping. Try contacting them directly and let us know. http://www.confor.org.uk/Upload/Documents/16_CWS2015flyer.pdf

Yes, all are welcome. It's £9 on the gate.

We've decided on the competitions to win the SUGI HARA bars from chainsawbars.co.uk, so start practising. 1/ The favourite classic; take the bar and chain off and on again in the fastest time to win the bar and chain. 2/ Hold the saw at arms length for the longest to win the bar and chain. I'll post more details about the timings for the sessions in the next week or so. We'll be in stand D5.

Hello Tim, Most of the workshops and seminars will be on both days apart from the FISA update and Q+A. I will put the timings for them up here nearer the day, when we have a better idea of what else will be going on at the show. For those of us with back pain we'll be displaying some of the great literature from BCForestsafe with simple exercises for the back and neck. There is also brilliant literature on keeping hydrated and fit to fell, we'll bring this along too.

The Confor woodland show is at Longleat, 10th / 11th September. I'm not sure if they are doing camping this year (the campsite at the APF was very useful) you'll have to contact Confor. Longleat estate does have it's own caravan site and a quick internet search found several in the area. Let us know what you find, as there will be lots of people travelling a fair distance.

An exciting addition to this years show is the Forestry Workers Zone. Kindly supported by Confor, we will be providing a series of workshops and talks for those working on the 'wood face' of the industry, as well as a place to hang out and network with others in the industry, with 3 tea, coffee and biscuits. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from some of the best in the field, and we'll be holding 2 competitions with SUGI HARA bars and chains donated by Chainsawbars.co.uk as prizes. There will be a classifieds board to buy, sell, find work or offer services. The program includes- Dave Rosseny, Felling effiency and ergonomic handling. Chris Hughs, Managing risk on site the easy way. Peter Harmer, Forwarder or Horse- Appropriate extraction methods. Mike Bentley, Export opportunities for Poplar and ash. Gillian Clark, FISA update. Grown in Britain, how to obtain GIB licensing. Toby Allen, how to apply Japanese manufacturing philosophy to a woodland business. NCFED, restoring hazel coppice Steve Faulks, the new forestry apprentice scheme and how you can help. On Friday afternoon there will be a Q+A discussion with the theme of How can we improve efficiency/safety/profitability in a disjointed sector? I think we can all agree this is a great excuse to take a day off work to come to the show. If we can prove this area is useful and popular hopefully we can build on it in the future. Any feedback or suggestions are gladly accepted. Any one is welcome and all the workshops and activities are FREE.

An exciting addition to this years show is the Forestry Workers Zone. Kindly supported by Confor, we will be providing a series of workshops and talks for those working on the 'wood face' of the industry, as well as a place to hang out and network with others in the industry, with 3 tea, coffee and biscuits. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from some of the best in the field, and we'll be holding 2 competitions with SUGI HARA bars and chains donated by Chainsawbars.co.uk as prizes. There will be a classifieds board to buy, sell, find work or offer services. The program includes- Dave Rosseny, Felling effiency and ergonomic handling. Chris Hughs, Managing risk on site the easy way. Peter Harmer, Forwarder or Horse- Appropriate extraction methods. Mike Bentley, Export opportunities for Poplar and ash. Gillian Clark, FISA update. Grown in Britain, how to obtain GIB licensing. Toby Allen, how to apply Japanese manufacturing philosophy to a woodland business. NCFED, restoring hazel coppice Steve Faulks, the new forestry apprentice scheme and how you can help. On Friday afternoon there will be a Q+A discussion with the theme of How can we improve efficiency/safety/profitability in a disjointed sector? I think we can all agree this is a great excuse to take a day off work to come to the show. If we can prove this area is useful and popular hopefully we can build on it in the future. Any feedback or suggestions are gladly accepted. Any one is welcome and all the workshops and activities are FREE.

Ripper 37. Not the cheapest, but in my experience the best ones around. But I'm sure there will be lots of opinions on here.

Did it go to a guy near Craven Arms ?

Have you tried Ranuald Laurie in Craven Arms ? He'll mill most things. If you want to come down this far I have chestnut and WRC sawlogs in for milling, PM me if you can't find Ranauld's number on the internet. Toby