ben_inthewoods

Hi cheers for the reply. I was under the same impression about the fixing point being the key factor, but a couple of arbs have been scratching their chins, which in turn has got me doing the same (the job is at the design stage at the moment with consultation with SNH and FC. The job is removal of beech (small, medium and large) a number a year's work! There are similarities with some of the fc steep ground large conifer work which is a lead to follow. Cheers Ben

I'm looking for a view on what tickets are required for the following: Tied to a tree to access very steep ground and ledges for either felling to waste or stem injection. At the bottom of the gorge is a river - gorge is 30-60m deep. Arb tickets and PA1/6a or rope access tickets and PA1/6a? There is rather a lot of this work, 6 miles of bank! Cheers Ben

This may well help with the friction issue in unloading 2m3 - might be well worth giving that a go!

1m3 loads came off very easily, i was really impressed when first using it on heavy loads of rubble into the local tip on a weekend. However 2m3 of dry split logs (on a high sided ford ranger) did not come off very well. The sheet pulled through leaving 1/2 the logs on board. Latterly our lads managed to snap the plastic brackets too. The concept is fantastic, but it needs refining. As mentioned above the placement of the handle is one to watch and can lead to a loss of paintwork. There is supposed to be a heavy duty model (bearings and metal housing), not seen this offered in the UK - perhaps it is now? A sheet with better grip on the load and low friction on the bed to catch the logs to prevent the sheet from pulling through and leaving logs on? If refinements were made i would get another, but it needs to handle 2m3 on the bed of 4x4 pickup to meet the economics of delivery. I'd happily test another refined model. All the talk about one processor vs another etc all the gain can be cancelled out by inefficient delivery. One the of the elements is efficient delivery of 2m3 loads within a local radius.

Forget about the gel gloves (can make things worse) have a good look at your saw, check the vibration levels quoted by the manufacturer and use the HSE HAVS calculator to work out your maximum trigger time usage (<100 points). Consider a new saw with heated handles they do work. Lastly consider visiting a OH specialist. HAVS (white finger) is not nice. All the best.

£45/t + 20% VAT @ roadside for green beech (processor sized) £40/t + 20% VAT @ roadside for green beech (over sized)

We have a boughton on a Mf. Have the manual too. Pm me and I'll scan an manual. These old winches are strong old dogs, but you need to go careful as they take no prisoners! We use 18mm wire rope works fine.

excessive wear - i'll get a photo up in the next week or so (machine not in our yard at present).

Look back at your first few posts. It read like you were indeed being that reckless. Hence you got hassle from me for it. Now if you say it was a misunderstanding that's all well and good no harm done. Firewood has spread pathogens in the past DED, Pr etc. It certainly has the potential especially and as it often part of the grey economy controls are not adhered to. Cheers Ben

Quite happy to continue. Punter (not licensed handler)has described a log burner - viglan 40L - y/n? You post pr larch, including price up to Gloucester y/n? I post querying this in the context of statutory controls to minimize spread of Pr - y/n? You post back on the attack to the effect "nose out, you know nothing, blah, blah" - y/n? I come back with basis of risk and current advice from fc. You now selling to licensed processor - certainly not clear from you previous post. Useful public discussion raising the profile of Pr timber movements? Under the wire timber movements are a risk? Y/n?

VIGAS 40l is a log burner not a chip boiler hence the initial request could only be for logs and not chip from heat treated Pr infected chip.

From your earlier post I certainly got the impression that you were offering some of your 3-4000t of Pr larch for sale as firewood - hence you rattled my chain! What exactly were you meaning? I presume that you must be a licensed mill to take in that quantity of infected material?

I agree that it looks near impossible to limit the airborne spread of Pr in the areas of the UK that are climatically suitable for Pr to thrive (Zone 1 & 2 areas as defined by the FC/FERA etc), BUT there is still a possibility that drier areas can be kept clear of the disease if bio-security measures are adhered to. This is the current 2013 map: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/Pramorum_risk_zones_Oct11.pdf/$FILE/Pramorum_risk_zones_Oct11.pdf FC Scotland anticipate that 'hot spot' infection will occur in Zone 3 (low risk areas) and this hot spot infection will be due to either airborne spores (moving from distance) OR spores remaining on soil/water being moved by infected round timber/mud. Yes OnFootForestry is correct that sporolation is via foliage, but where do these spore land? Water-mobile zoospores rain down on stems of infected larch. They then have the potential to survive for at least 3yrs (especially the chlamydospores). The chance of infection (into a host that can then sporolate Rhodi, larch wounds, foliage) via soil/water contact from larch bark is much, much lower when compared to several hectares of 25m tall larch trees transmitting masses of spores into a damp valley but it is still real risk, hence restrictions on the movement of unprocessed infected logs is controlled. "yes son, just drop the firewood (larch) down by that rhododendron" - and potentially you have a new infection? Is this not the case??? TimberCutterDartmoor - could you confirm whether movement restrictions have been lifted in England? If not what are you doing offering infected larch for sale as firewood? Where could this firewood end up? Could it contribute to 'hotspot' infections. I am genuinely interested, would you sell into say Nottingham? check the link out: P. ramorum - national update Phytophthora ramorum in larch trees - Update (July 2012) Timber movement authorisation system It is important that we prevent the pathogen being transmitted through the movement of roundwood (logs) from infected stands. We are therefore requiring a number of biosecurity measures to be taken, such as sweeping off vehicles and machinery between movements, and destroying or treating bark, which can harbour infective spores. This means that timber hauliers and timber processing companies must be authorised to handle material from infected stands. In order to gain movement or processing approval the operator must demonstrate to a Forestry Commission plant health inspector’s satisfaction that they have put in place, and are carrying out, the measures required. Approved hauliers and processing plants will be inspected from time to time to ensure that the measures are working. We will withdraw approval from operators found failing to comply with the terms of their approvals. Full details and application forms for approvals are available for downloading from the Forestry Commission - Pests and diseases - Phytophthora ramorum area of the Commission’s website. As for harvesting companies and the FC moving timber under the biosecurity controls - yes it is a real challenge - i speak to a number of those involved in the SW of Scotland where 4 years worth of annual cut has hit the market in less than a year. There is pressure to abandon the movement restrictions to free up processing capacity. From your location in the SW England and anywhere in Zone 1 or 2 controlling infected larch movements this might appear like pissing in the wind, but from my location, a Zone 3 area, it is a element of control that could allow larch to be grown. Happy to discuss further.....

Very effective method of spreading Pr!

Industrial pressure washer with turbo lance can debark reasonably quickly, but perhaps not as cheap as a sharpen. I'd used one for knobbly spruce pillars and large Douglas fir for log houses.

We have one and the build quality is poor.

My understanding is that stem injection techniques for controlling Pr is problematic. FC/FR are assessing or have assessed. You could email Hugh Clayden at FC Scotland who might be able to give up to date view. cheers Ben

Propeller or clean kill are approved by FERA and FC for Phytopthora(s) Cheers Ben

Even better value! I used it for years before having to go over to the dark side and use edit arcgis. Loads more cash for not a lot more.

Mapmaker £350 very good, simple to use.

I sound I bit like a one trick pony, but what controls do you have to prevent pathogens entering the UK via timber with bark on? As ex services you will no doubt have a risk register around biosecurity among other things. I'm not aware of pathogens in the Balkans having an impact on European beech, but then the Balkans also have oriental beech too and hybrids. Are you aware of any potential problems? It is a question that I would ask if I were to consider buying in. Regards Ben

Very interesting thread. Hope you are recovered from the smash. It would be very interesting to know the movement history of these trees. Would the quarantine of imported standards have allowed the poor health of the trees to be picked up? (Did instant impact trees not bring in OPM?) Regards Ben

Rob and Muttley, Many thanks for the advice. I'll go with it and in the spirit of the forum keep you posted. Cheer ben

I agree I do like the look of beech, especially for a kitchen. I will give manufacturing for myself a go, but reasonable felling cuts do not make a joiner; I could be producing plenty of sawn firewood! I did start milling to better understand what I was selling in the round, so it does follow that some manufacturing would help me understand milling. One query at the start of this process is how thin is it sensible to mill beech straight from the log for air drying? is it a case of less haste more speed? I was thinking of cutting 3/4" x 4 1/4" x short length to dress down to 1/2". Storing in drying shed under weight? Cheers Ben

Hi, that's really the issue. I can get £40/t at roadside as firewood, which is not far off £60 minus the haulage down to hardwood mills of central Scotland, northern England. I would like to add value if possible by milling on the estate, but fear being left with a lot of sawn timber with no market. I only have one modest sized kitchen to use as a test job I'm happy to experiment. Cheers Ben