sandspider
-
Posts
1,743 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Classifieds
Tip Site Directory
Blogs
Articles
News
Arborist Reviews
Arbtalk Knot Guide
Gallery
Store
Calendar
Freelancers directory
Everything posted by sandspider
-
Hi all I had an ash tree felled in December last year. Do I need to split the rings quickly? Or does ash get easier to split as it seasons? I think it might get easier, as some of the rings are already opening up, but don't want to make life harder for myself by having it set like rock before I can get to it! Cheers.
-
Sounds good, be interested to see how it goes.
-
Are you not going to sell the small offcuts from the milling any more?!
-
I have similar feelings. They're fun to watch, and plant acorns all over my little patch of land. But as and when they start nibbling my young trees I will do what must be done! I've put too much time and effort into my trees to want to lose them or have them damaged.
-
Tvi, do you have trouble with grey squirrels? Can't recollect seeing them mentioned here, but as the thread is now 47 pages long, I may have missed a bit! Thanks for all your efforts, it's a great read. Merry Christmas!
-
Safety Gear - Order Of Importance
sandspider replied to Witterings's question in Homeowners Tree Advice Forum
I've cut logs for my own use for years. Never had any formal training, but I do have a helmet and ear defenders, chainsaw trousers and steel toe capped boots. I also have a healthy respect for the saw, and err on the side of caution. I won't do something if I'm not sure I can do it safely, so I usually get someone else to fell anything of a serious size and process the wood once it's down. -
How much do you pay for your stove wood?
sandspider replied to BowlandStoves's topic in Log burning stoves and fireplaces
I bought some "seasoned" logs a couple of years ago. They didn't look very seasoned to me, so I stacked them, grain vertical, in front of the stove for a couple of hours, only to find them sitting in puddles of water. Never used that supplier again, and am now seasoning my own instead, which are much better. -
Penshurst Tree building/huge seven sisters Chestnut
sandspider replied to Les Cork's topic in General chat
I was there quite recently. Lovely tree & building, though the cafe was a bit full of hipsters! -
Haven't tried the Stihl, but I've got a 2kw mains electric titan chainsaw. Cost me £50. Only had fairly light use as most of my chopping isn't in range of a plug, but it does a good job and cuts surprisingly well. Don't forget to fill up the chain oil as it won't run out of fuel to remind you!
-
In my experience, wood stacked off the ground, ideally with a cover on the top (but not the sides, you need to let air through) will keep pretty well. It will probably season a bit in 6' lengths, especially if you stripe the sides (cut grooves in the bark to let the water out), but nothing like as much as if it was cut and split to final stove size. If B, it will keep for a long time, years, but not I think for ever. My logs never stay unburnt long enough to test!
-
Wild privet? Good for wildlife, looks and smells nice. Not sure how it would do in a confined root space though...
-
I'm very jealous of your "office"...
-
Yes please!
-
Squaredy, were the cups at westonbirt no good? Industrial recycling only?
-
I seem to remember seeing somewhere that 10cm diameter is the best size for optimum burning. Most of my logs are around this size (length varies), and it seems to work well in both my large and small stoves. Having said that, I will put a bigger one or two on sometimes to keep it going for a bit longer, as long as it's still flaming rather than smouldering.
-
I think you will find it's just a photo of Graham in his work clothes...
-
As I remember, they made a thing out of their cups being compostable in normal compost, not requiring the high temps of industrial set ups. I don't have the details though, so don't quote me on that...
-
I dried my leylandii in a polytunnel. ~6 months in good weather with one door and all vents open seems to dry it fully, to 12% ish.
-
Surprised to see you in normal clothes, was the gimp outfit having it's yearly wash?!
-
They have disposable cups at Westonbirt, made of some sort of vegetable polymer, which apparently will compost in normal compost bins...
-
I'm currently burning quite a bit of leylandii, as I had a big one felled in my garden. I need to put three logs on where I would have put two hardwood logs on, but it burns well and dries quickly.
-
The Truncators are quite good, especially if you've got a lot of smaller diameter wood. Pricey new, but I picked up an unused one on ebay for £25 and it's handy to have. Chop wood, saw horse retains it, pour each "cup" of logs into wheelbarrow, off to polytunnel. I also have one of the basic metal ones from Toolstation, but I've eventually managed to snap the little metal strap that holds the legs closed by dumping one or two too heavy logs on to it. (It's also a thin, flimsy bit of metal). Still works though.
-
Whenever you and others post the branch logger videos, I have to watch them! Very soothing. I'd like one, but don't have enough small diameter wood really. Chainsaw it is then. As for log carriers, I have an old plastic laundry box thing that has served me faithfully for 10 or more years. Can put it down without it collapsing, throw logs into it etc. and it's easy to carry, keeps the mess in, can be put down on wet grass etc.
-
I had an air arms tx200 HC, non fac. Lovely gun, I regret selling it. I never tried a fac version, but I imagine they'd be good to shoot, the non fac certainly was. Heavy though.
