sandspider

Interesting question. I live in an old house, 1840s ish. Yes it's draughty and a bit of a pain to heat, partly because it's in a Welsh valley which doesn't see the sun from October to March! By the same token, it's beautiful and full of character. Also, the main components are really well built, unlike many modern houses which are built down to a price. (See various recent examples of huge snagging lists for new build houses). It does require a bit of maintenance, but considering the age and size, I don't think it's too bad. One day I may demolish it and build a wooden or passive straw bale house (like Ben Law). Not sure we'd ever be able to afford that, however. On balance we love it, but moan a bit more in winter when it's cold and draughty.

That's my thinking, yes - though possibly out of date now. 25:1 means a cheap, poorly made smokey 2 stroke. 40:1 or more means a better engine! And also means I don't need to mix up different ratios of fuel...

What petrol to oil ratio is it? 25:1?

No complaints from me! Thinking about it, it's maybe not as much as 70 cube total, but I do burn a good lot of wood and have done for years.

I've used a Spear & Jackson badged saw (42CC I believe, a Chinese cheapy of some sort, cost me £70 or so, not even brand new!) for the past 12 or more years. It's for personal use only, but it must have cut 70 odd cube of timber in that time, maybe more, with hardly a problem. The warm start was a bit fiddly for a while, but it seemed to cure itself! Never even had to replace a spark plug. Touch wood! Hope I've not jinxed it now. But for the money, it's been ace.

Cheers. Might have to raise my budget or take on a project then...

Thanks chaps. Bum. Guess I could stretch the budget to maybe 1k, but really can't go higher. Is that going to get me something worthwhile? What's the least worst option in my price range?!

Hi all As above. I'm looking for a ride on mower to do 3/4 of an acre or so of lawn. Some of it steep, some of it damp and some of it with long grass / vegetation (I leave parts as wild flower meadow for part of the year). It would need to be able to collect the grass. Ideally it could mulch too when required, and be diesel, but I can live with petrol if diesel is out of my price range - I think it is. Budget isn't much, maybe £500. Looking locally secondhand, my price range gets older mowers - MTD, Yardman, Wheelhorse, Snapper, John Deere, Lawnflite, Hayter, Toro, Alko etc. Are any of these likely to give me fewer problems? Or at this sort of price are they all going to be a nightmare to maintain? A friend recommended against Snapper, and I thought that Hayter were reasonably decent. Any thing to look at, or to avoid? Cheers.

Guess it's another word for a set? (Cutting of willow etc. to replant by pushing into the ground). To try and answer the OP's question, I think you'll struggle to keep em that long. You can store them for a few days somewhere damp and cool or even heel them in in damp sand, but for that length of time they'll probably be rooting and you'll damage the roots when you pull them out again.

Agreed, I have and do burn it on an open fire. Though I possibly wouldn't stand over the fire breathing in deeply...

I know that sea water driftwood burns with odd coloured flames due to salt & chemicals in it. Not sure I'd want to burn it in a stove myself...

Cheers all. Suppose I'd better do a proper job!

Hi all I've got a gap between the metal register plate and the chimney pipe from my stove, between 2mm and 20mm in size. I've also got some fire rope and some high temp (300C) silicone! Is this a good way to fill the gap, or is there a better one? I'm guessing the flue's not likely to get above 300C on the outside? (Single wall flue pipe IIRC, too hot to touch but not ludicrously hot). The flue is lined, but there's cold air leaking in outside the liner and through the gap... Thanks.

I've heard good things about A4A and AF8.

Did you find out which strain it is, J? Might plant a few myself.

That looks like the badger, many thanks.

I feel it's obvious and I should know, but I can't put my finger on it... Thanks.

I can still see a patch on my stovetop where I wiped WD40 on the rusty bit (a few months ago now) but not the rest of the surface, so something seems to linger... Don't know if oil might soak into the firebricks and weaken them, maybe?

Yep! Not totally sure on finish actually, but stove installer recommended WD40 rather than expensive stove cleaners / oils as it does the same job. Seems to work well. I only put a little bit on and wipe it around the surface, and I don't then light the stove for a month or two, so no, it doesn't smoke that I've noticed. There was a patch of rust starting where a stove fan got put on top of the metalwork when it was a bit damp, the oil seems to keep this at bay. As for putting oil inside, I don't know. Not sure it would be good to get oil in fire bricks etc.? Wiping it carefully on the metalwork might be OK, but I wouldn't then light the fire for a while, and maybe open the door to let the volatiles out.

I oil the outside of mine, and open the door every so often to help the air move a bit. (Leave the vents at least half open, as you say).

Thanks all. Will chase my tree surgeon up and get it done sooner rather than later. I've got another ash with a big limb over the garage that's looking a bit sickly too, shame. I like my ash trees.

Thanks chaps, I didn't think it looked good. But is it likely to be dangerous, and is it likely to fail suddenly or gradually, branches first? I guess it can't be too bad as long as it still has some live leaves...? I.e., should I have it down this week, this year, next year...?

Can you do it last week for £200 then?!

Hi all A not great photo of two ash trees attached. One has only a few leaves, generally looks a bit thin and sorry for itself, whereas the one next to it looks pretty healthy. I'm guessing the sickly one might have chalara? (Can take closer photos if necessary). Secondly (and I appreciate this is hard to tell from a photo) is it likely to be dangerous? It's still alive to some extent, but not looking great. It's over my drive and probably within range of the house, just about... I'd guess it'll be OK for a year or two more, and will lose the odd (dead) branch before it (dies and) falls completely, but is unlikely to recover? I'm waiting to hear back from a tree surgeon to come and have a look at it, but thought I'd ask here in the meantime. Finally, can anyone estimate a price to take it down? Arisings can be left on site, I'll chop the wood up small for my log burner and can use the chippings too. It's between a main ish road and a private driveway, access is OK though not for anything bigger than a Luton type van... Thank you.

Are you near a stream? Mink took all my neighbour's chickens very neatly.