Dry Rot

To resurrect an old thread, has there been any movement in the disposal of old tree guards? I hired someone to remove a large number of guards on Scots Pine and Silver Birch plants as I got tired of seeing them over years. They should have been removed years ago and some were deeply embedded in the trees and had to be left. I now have hundreds of these tubes collected in old 50kgs feed bags taking up space in my shed -- and I appear to be stuck with them! Any ideas? All I can think is to dispose of them surreptitiously in small quantities over time which is hardly "protecting the environment and slowing climate change".

I collected my Ifor Williams TT85G from the nettle patch where it had been carefully stored to find 'something' had broken the plastic fluid reservoir. I bought a new reservoir and thought I had better test the unit before putting everything back together. First off, the reservoir doesn't fit! The electric motor doesn't start up either. Presumably it should show signs of life even though there's no fluid in it? The solenoid does seem to click. So I am thinking, maybe it's something simple like a fuse? I have a circuit diagram and a multi tester but so far that's as far as I've got. OK, so these units are basically just an electric motor and a pump, right? The whole unit looks old and run down as it should do as it is probably 20 years old. So I started looking at prices. The tank was £100! A new trailer is around £5,500. The old trailer is still structurally sound and I am not paying that for a new trailer, so it looks like a repair job. I see new genuine IW hydraulic units are around £750 but there are other units that look similar for under £200. And the trailer still looks quite solid and can be used as a non-tipper meantime. Has anyone successfully installed one of these cheaper hydraulic units? Is it any good? And if so, which one? I gather IW changed the 8x5 trailer several times which is probably why the reservoir doesn't fit! Mine is an older TT85G. Any thoughts?

Remember this thread? I don't use my chain saw much and when I do, I don't usually use it for extended periods as I'm a farmer, not an arborialist. But the chain slackening problem started again when I started to cross cut a stack of larch logs for fire wood. It got so bad I was having to tighten the chain after cutting just a few rounds. Carefully watching the chain tightening thumb screw, I could see it unwinding by itself! In seconds, the chain was so loose it came off by itself. I actually have this on video. As I got no joy from MacGregor Industrial Supplies in Inverness last time, I decided to contact the Husqvarna factory in Sweden. I got a reply by return. If I could give them the date when purchased, etc. they'd send me a new side plate with the tightening mechanism. I haven't got that yet, but I have no doubt that it is on it's way, four years after I bought the saw. So, well done Husqvarna for recognising the fault and dealing with it promptly. Not so sure about McGregor Industrial Supplies who (allegedly) just swopped the faulty side plate for another of similar design. Whatever happened to, "The customer is always right"?

Scottish Woodlands are apparently "having a word" with someone in that department but haven't got back to me yet. Tilhill and Bell Ingram are good suggestions and I'll try them on Monday. Thanks! Meantime, I am still in the market!

Hi, I'm new to this so hope I'm in the right forum. I see artic loads of timber going up and down the A9 north of Inverness every day. I want to buy timber with delivery near Tain to process myself for my wood burner. Smaller diameter preferred as it would be going through a tractor mounted reciprocating saw. Who sells and how much should I pay?

Hi, I'm new to this so hope I'm in the right forum. I see artic loads of timber going up and down the A9 north of Inverness every day. I want to buy timber with delivery near Tain to process myself for my wood burner. Smaller diameter preferred as it would be going through a tractor mounted reciprocating saw. Who sells and how much should I pay?

Thanks, Jon, you will be passing my door! I am a couple of miles from the A9. If I can make a sale, I'll gladly contribute to your petrol bill. Thanks again for the kind offer. Transport is a real problem living this far north.

Hi, My first post here but I've lurked before. This forum seems to be a mine of information! I have recently had some old birch trees thinned and the guy who cut the trees for me got quite excited about this birch burr. It is roughly 24 inches long. There are also a number of old trees which, unless they have value, will be cut up for firewood. Is the burr worth anything and how do I sell it? The bad news is, I am 35 miles north of Inverness in Scotland!