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gdh

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Posts posted by gdh

  1. I haven't had a chance to read the whole thread so apologies if I double post .

     

    From what I understand only about 1% will be immune to dieback and maybe 5% will recover so I would work on the basis it's all going to be dead.

     

    There are immune varieties of ash (so far) but I think it's still being worked on and you would be very lucky to have them.

     

    In terms of felling, if they're a reasonable size then access is more important than slopes but from experience of harvesting ash die back I would say to halve any estimate of standing volume because it shatters everywhere.

     

    If they look badly affected they're usually even worse inside on bigger trees.

  2. 32 minutes ago, Mr. Ed said:
    WWW.SAWDUSTBOILERS.CO.UK


    fascinating that they demand wet wood to burn! if your sawdust is too dry you must soak it before burning. Riddle me that …

    Yes, it's strange but we tried some dry stuff and it burns but makes a lot of smoke whereas the fresh stuff burns clean. It doesn't need to be soaking just can't be dried material like chip boilers take.

     

    I would guess it's to do with the burn speed but there has to be more to it.

  3. We've put our prices up 10-15%, most expensive is £210 for 1.8cube of hardwood.

     

    We got lucky because we held out for lower priced roundwood and it worked but it's gone from £70 to 90 a ton average and now a lot are asking for £100 plus if we bought now.

     

    Machinery costs and electric costs for drying have also rocketed so I expect prices will go up again next year.

  4. 18 minutes ago, JLA1990 said:

    General question to tractor lovers - If you could have a bigger tractor would you? Obvs certain jobs will mean smaller is better however unlikely to be involved in small thinning jobs more site clearance, large scale mowing and habitat creation. I’d like to purchase a tractor next year and the choice is slightly bewildering! So hence the question for the above duties would you get the biggest hp you could? I’m used to alpines and John Deere 6155 but want to step up, Valtras seem to be everyone’s go to - T174 or T234. 

    I normally go bigger so you're faster on the road, especially towing but it's a balancing act with economy now. Those valtras you listed are around 150k now so will cost more in depreciation and fuel. But valtras do have good gadgets. 😉

     

    With the newer valtras the t174 up to t254 are the same tractor, just tweaked. I would always go Vario/automatic with newer tractors. Once you get used to it you won't want to go back and having the speed and PTO rpm separate is a big improvement.

     

    Just for fun: https://showroom.valtra.com/en/t-series

    • Like 2
  5. I do a fair bit of sharpening with all the saws and a processor so I put the saws in a vice to get the best position and hand file.

     

    For the processor and bigger saw chains I used to use an old bar screwed to the side of the work bench because it's quicker than undoing the vice but now I've got a Markusson triplematic which has been working well. 

     

    It's a mess today I know 😉

    20231210_170946.JPG

    • Like 6
  6. I've got a tilt hitch on our 8 tonner and I would have one again but there are trade offs. Obviously there's the big cost but it also adds weight and a lot of unwanted leverage when digging, especially on rock.

     

    It's noticeably more length when you're using a free hanging grab as well but it does balance out by giving you a bit of extra movement at the end.

     

    It's strange how different countries do things. I saw the other day that America doesn't use pick up hitches on tractors, they have to jack everything up which seems weird to me.

    • Like 1
  7. I like my Milwaukee one, it's well made, but I usually just buy cheap ones because they usually end up getting broken before they wear out anyway.

     

    Ironically I have a £2.99 one in my coat pocket that's lasted 3 years so I think it's just luck when you work around wood and sawdust.

    • Like 2
  8. Prices are always higher in garden centres because they're aiming for the occasional user but log prices are definitely up this year. 

     

    All costs have gone up but unprocessed timber us up 50% in the last 12-18 months after probably 10 years of only small increases so that's the biggest driver.

    • Like 1
  9. 21 minutes ago, daveatdave said:

    you have made a mess of the grass 

    Haha, it had rained for a month and gone overgrown so I got fed up and used the brush cutter. Luckily it looks good a week later.

     

    It's more designed for rushes and brambles but it does the job in wet grass 😉

  10. It's definitely been a wet few months, we also do contract baling and this is the first year we didn't finish. A few customers didn't find a dry period to cut and had to sacrifice the crops.

     

    I haven't noticed the wind but as with all weather we only notice the peaks/extremes not the average. We've had a few bad storms but that doesn't help drying at all.

     

    Luckily we have a kiln for firewood so we can keep drying through the winter but the wood going in seems soaking this year.

    • Like 1
  11. If you've got a good dealer locally I would stick with them. I've always preferred husqvarna but good back up is more critical.

     

    550 MK2 is a good saw on a 15inch bar as is the 560 but everyone's going to have different preferences in that size range so just go with what you're happy with.

     

    Personally I would stick with one brand because it's surprising how many small parts are interchangeable between models.

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