leotandoh12

Looking for handcutters on a self employed basis for forestry operations. Work based in the North Dorset and South Wiltshire areas. Applicant ideally needs CS30, CS31 and ideally CS32, plsu a current First Aid Cert. Rates dependent on experience and equipement to be paid weekly. Thanks Leo 07881434440

I used to have one. Chainsdirect do oregon bars to fit the machine.

We have had a great start, up about 150 loads so far. We had 2 frost last week, one was pretty good, so that has brought extras through the door. My only issue is time to deliver, we already have a 2 week wait now, due to other work.

HI Guys, Was at the APF today and was looking for new processors. Loved the new 375, but alittle to pricey, so looking at a 360. Just wondering if someone had one in the area, Shaftesbury/Blandford, or close ish (1 hour on the motorbike etc) I could come and have a look at ? TIA Leo

I buy and sell by the cubic metre. I normally buy complete stacks whihc can sit around for a while so tonnage sometimes means that the seller will be out of pocket, lets say with sycamore. My man driver knows how much he gets on a lorry and im happy with what he brings. I think' alot of buying anad selling is down to trust and good relationships!

Horse Chestnut limb removal in Child Okeford Dorset. I am looking for the contractor who carried out work using a MEWP to remove the remaining damaged limb of a Horse Chestnut possibly on a Saturday for a client in Child Okeford. I completed the tidy up of a failed limb from the same tree a week or so before and need to contact them regarding an issue that has arisen with the client regarding payment. Hopefully someone on here has completed the works or know whose has. I am concerned that this contractor along with myself are being potentially being taken advantage of and will be out of pocket. Many thanks PS. There work was was tip top and left tidy as was ours!

We use a tipping tranist with caged sides. We can hold up to 5 cube, split in eithert 1, 1.5, 2 or 3 m3 sizes. Did look at a trailer, but with small drives and lanes its easier to get a transit in and my wife can drivew!

Okay, well let me know if they are good and id be interested.

HOw mcuh you looking for them Mortimer?

How much are the bags please?

Thank you Barnsley Bob, enlighting input. With sales to date this season, we have had a 1.2% complaint rate mainly due to poor storage by end user or poor knowledge of using a wood burner. With 0.3% of that coming from issues with the size of log, with both clients happy to order small logs at 9" only to then say they were to small. The potential card process is to try and elimate complaints by reminding my customers of good storage methods with some basic burner usage tips. I feel we do not sell crap and we are doing a professional job as a air-dried firewood merchant. Im looking to push 1000 cube next season so would like to give my new and existing customers the best service I can. With regards to my friends burner, on closer inspection he had a rear damper, he was not aware of, that when opened has rectified all problems. Alycidon - I completey agree that the overall split size is oftern over looked. I have a fairly small burner myself so know the joys of trying to get a large log in it and burnt. I would normaly split 4-6 inch in half, 6-10 in quaters and so on and so fourth. I do throw some chunky logs in the loads as something to last if the customer goes out too. Thanks for all the continued comments, will be designing the cards this week hopefully. Leo

Yeah this seems to be the main problem, poor storage. Although having just spoken to my friend on the phone he still ahving issues even with my super dry logs from my own store. We have now sourced it to either poor operating of burner or tht theres a fault with it (only a few months old)

Cheers for the replies guys. I popped by to see my friend this evening and the bins are most definitly the issue. I would probably say barnstored air dried wood would be between 24% and 30% at this time of the year. Depending on weather and humindity the moisture content will raise and lower. What was measured at 20% in the summer will be around 28% now, especailly with the rain we have had resently.

HI People Im having a few issues with new customers and some existing with regards to the quailty of our logs. In reality its about 2- 3 cube every hundred, but its always seems to start happening at this time of the year and mostly is down to wet/damp as apossed to unseasoned. Most of it I have resolved and is nearly always down to poor knowledge of the customer or poor storage. One of my good friends now has an issue, but it is simply down to storage ( wheelie bins) and he collected in the rain, so complaining the logs are wet. He wants to swap but I said its a refund or nothing as im 100% sure its not my logs. I have been toying with the idea of info cards for every customer, new and old, no matter if they have 1 cube or 15. Im thinking basic info regarding storage, maximising airflow, keeping off the ground etc and also T's + C's. I have been running the system of refund over replace, unless its a genuine problem, ie 15inch logs instead of 8inch, but need to have a solid way to enforce it. Also they need to be returned to the delivered location if they want a refund and that there is a cut off of 1 week if they are unhappy. They also have to keep the card if they wat a refund. Im also thinking of testing 3 randoms logs per load and measuring the moisture content and recording it on the card. However Im not sure that this wouldnt be a way of shooting myself in the foot if the moisture is higher than the recommended mositure for the burner. What do you guys think do any of you do this already. Although its only a few but its weaing me down alittle. Thanks.

I would say loose loads tipped opn the drive would be best. The issue my customers have had with crates and bags is that you can easliy get lots waste in the bags and the crates can have hidden surprises in the middle. I have also found that the majority of my customers want a local product from local woods, not crates made in Poland, but this is depends on your area I would say. I would say loose loads on a trailer would be best although as firewood comes under forestry and therefore agriculture you wouldnt need a taco if you stayed localish (belive its under 50km.) As has been said above, you want to keep cost down to start with, especially if you have a business partner, you dont want to buy loads of timber, an expensive loader and trailer and only sell a few loads that you then have to divvy the money up. I would also personally sdtay clear of putting logs in containers unless they are very well vented. All the containers that I ahve been in have always been full of mositure, Im guessing due to getting hot and cold so easily. As long as they are off the floor and covered they shoudl stay dry, or stick them in a barn or similar. And as said above, if you are looking for this to be more than a side line for beer money, you need to sell alot. And to process and deliver you need reliable vehicles and machinery and that does mount up in cost. I found last season even having a truck that didnt like starting in the cold would soon mess up a day! But if you are willing to out in the effort, make your product stand out and be sensible, hope fully youll do well.