Graham w

eventually got her banded sorry its taken two years to get some photos up

have a p38 4.0 se a very good capable truck, expect £40 every day on petrol and its good to allow the same again for repairs

i dont have much experience with smaller forestry equipment, the smallest i went was a holder a55 and tractors like ford 4000 and massey 135 etc. you could look at a mid sized farm telihandler something like this http://implements.frasersauctionroom.co.uk/uploads/lot_asset/asset/32895/lightbox_1108.JPG i think that one made 6k (i thought 10-12)and sold. i have worked with a small estate that has a john deere 3200 with a log grab and its performance is excellent. it has very good ground clearance, really strong steering and a short wheel base gives a really good platform to work in the woods. i replaced our county 1164 with a manitou 741 for hardwood extraction because it would run rings round pretty much anything all day and then drive home! we would get a good days work done with the holder but you would get four times the work done with the telihandler

very true i use a 6170 massey where you could use a 390 because you get more height this gives better visibility and better visibility gives better control also easier to control, you also get a comfy cab and usually better hydraulics and user friendly controls also you get a heavier tractor that will handle better towing trailers and working implements also small large tractors are less sought after by smallholders making them much cheaper than large small tractors (based on their capability) i would recommend 6270, 6280 massey and onwards, they have strong economical engines and tough electric gearboxes 6600, 6610, 6810 etc. john deere because good hydraulic gearboxes but not 20 series because they have poor (electric) gear boxes i would not recommend new holland tm series, there are tons of new ones running around but only until the warranty runs out then they get launched anything Renault, claas (renault in disguise), jcb, but what was disturbing about the 5445?

i would look at upgrading the motor to somewhere around 30kw if you are looking to increase output. you can find used motors and starter boxes for very little cost alternatively a new brook crompton setup will cost a little over 2k

circular, band or chainsaw?

my Guilliet saw has weighted scrapers on both pulleys and two pairs of scrapers on the blade front and rear (i may have stolen the second set from a stenner 42), combined with the four point diesel lubrication system- upto 7 litres a day on top and bottom pulley and both sides of the blade, can cut the worst larch and the bands never heat. the saw doctor had pointed out you can over do the diesel but it only needs it on larch and cutting douglas im down to 1.5 litres a day

scm is invincible! well done mate:thumbup1:

i have a 900 without the benches so put it with a stenner bench, its a good solid saw excellent for pointing posts and cutting shingles. make sure there is good sawdust extraction to keep the sawdust away from the blades and if its pto mounted remember not to lift it too high because it will hit the tractors cab lol they come with four inch blades that means you will get a very good cut, i would not touch anything less

Are there any problems with building a log cabin almost exactly the same as a design I've found online? Well not exactly the overall layout, dimensions and structural design would be completely different as the build would house a cafe/restaurant and clothing upstairs looking over the seating area with offices above the kitchen and store. The changes to the layout inside are straight enough but the exterior (pictured) is almost perfect for purpose therefore to use it would be more than following a theme? In the worst case scenario what could happen? if anything:confused1: Thank you Graham

yes got some cherry to be cut to length over 8'' big J whats the size of your ash, i need a load for cartwheels

what size of cherry are you after, i may have something. are there any other hardwoods that would do?

im in the market for a wadkin 3 phase morticer, what model and tooling has she got, would you would load on a pallet?

there was a post good few months ago with a steam engine driving that style of saw so no doubt its a proven method

meet you half way!

they are still available, that sounds like a good challenge!

were up at inverness so a fair bit away, yes we can load them and theres about 250- 260 tons in total

Hi, whats the going rate for green hardwood discs mainly beech, oak and sycamore from 20cm to 80cm in diameter by 25cm in length, there's also some ash, birch and willow, loads of lime and a huge quantity of cedar up to 2 meters in diameter? Thanks Graham

theres no such thing as too big! your older equipment is likely to be over engineered and the equivalent of a 4-5 ton modern build. i think a down side to the manitou is the 120lsu engine being a tad too small for the machine and would benefit from a 6cly turbo with lower revs. a 6cly would also help by adding weight to the rear and with the fuel consumption issue, our 4 liter manitou is in competition with the sawmills 10.5liter gardner and often uses more diesel per shift

well spotted! if it requires a test certificate where would you go to get one? it looks as if it needs a considerable air supply and three phase

This is a sensible option The not so sensible one is a p38 range rover petrol. Like a landrover but warm in the winter, quiet on the road and smooth everywhere. They are more compact than a mazda/ford ranger and is a match for landcruisers and patrols off road. At best 14mpg so sits off the road most times but hey price it in to the job!

a lad i know along the road bought a pier made from enormous chunks of green heart, sand and shellfish included, wants me to size it down to more useful sizes. how would you cut old green heart? he says its nasty stuff and no other sawmill will entertain him thanks

well done 82 is good going and i would love to see the new beast!

just me then? a few years ago we were running a 400 acre farm with a ford 7910 from 1986 and a massey 135 industrial. the ford died last year. Kevin, farming is away of life, give it your all and take some pride. theres nothing in farming for the smaller tenanted farmer we sized down to 200 acres as i dont get subsides so fund the farm with the forestry and sawmill

i start with 158mm and air dry standing upright for about two to three weeksand then pass through a rip saw. at best i get 148mm square good slow grown euro larch dosnt shrink much or move too much once cut