SteveA

From what I've read it's best to apply to posts with a moisture content below 28% (ish). Were your posts seasoned enough before applying the bitumen? Would be good to find out some details of how you did yours inc ground conditions, etc if you don't mind sharing? cheers

That's the first I've heard. Why do you think it would reduce the lifespan? We're using Sitka because we've got lots of it to remove on the farm.... and it's free.

All our posts are Sitka ~ which without treatment have a very short life expectancy; probably 2 to 5 years. In theory by using PostSaver sleeves and/ or bitumen dip (e.g TuffDip) we could probably extend the lifespan to between 4 to 10 years. This is fine for our situation as it's for a dead hedge / bug habitat... and when the dead hedge collapses (in 4 to 10 years time) there will be an edible hedge flourishing alongside to replace it. We're steering clear of chemical preservative treatments as we don't want nasty chemicals leaching into the soil and groundwater.

Fair point - but if you're fitting posts into rocky ground probably best not to use wooden posts! (Fortunately for us, we have soil).

Throwing another post into the mix (good pun yeah?).... protecting fence posts from rot by using bitumen: Anyone tried TuffDip Tuffdip Fence Post Protection

What date did you fit them and was it in really hard ground? Looks like they upgraded the sleeve design sometime in Winter 2012.... maybe the Mk1 sleeve version had a few problems??

According to the Postsaver FAQ's they've tested extensively into stoney ground without problems, and I'm sure Network Rail have quite a bit of stoney ground. Did you bang some in that weren't heated/ stuck to the post properly? cheers

I've been thinking of trying the Postsaver on a load of Sitka poles, but just found this paintable/ dip~able bitumen/ rubbery black stuff.... anyone tried this? http://www.longerlifeposts.co.uk/LongerlifePostDipBrochure.pdf

What Slky Saw are you using above?... doesnt look like a Natanoko 60, handle looks different and is it a curved blade?

Ah, I was considering Stihl vs Husqvarna as my first chainsaw.... the Stihl not selling online policy has made my decision making much, much easier..... I'll be buying a Silky Natanoko 60 and enjoying the peace/ quiet & fresh woodland air!

Is there on for ipad as well? cheers

Sounds good.... have you any photos?

I did read up about the Stein Arb trolley on the forum somewhere. Looks like a handy bit of kit. Initially I'm looking at something with a box as we'll be using it for horticultural purposes as well.... definitely a multi-purpose tool. Strong enough to carry some hefty weight but light enough to pull by hand across the meadow.... minimum of 2 wheels for good balance.

Been looking at various hand carts & barrows for manually lugging logs & bags of soil, etc. 4 wheel carts with mesh floor & sides - cost about £100 They look strong enough & are versatile with fold down sides... but I've been told the wheel bearings collapse and the maximum carrying capacity of 500kg is way over estimated (by a long way). Shame, they look much better than they sound. Then I found this thing & makes me feel how crap most things are made these days!.... "They are hard to come by, especially in Europe where most of these carts were put to good use by local farmers after the war" The Liberator Hand Cart These carts made in Germany look a bit stronger, but along with a pretty hefty price tag: Heavy Duty Hand Carts / Trucks 400kg capacity - 5yr guarantee - ESE Direct Thinking about getting the welder out, must learn to weld.....

Getting back on subject now Silky Natanoko 60 vs Natanoko 2000 .....I can't decide!.... Can you help?? thanks

Yes, I've heard that being mentioned before. The scheme appears to be a tricky one to manage.... but as far as advice goes we've found them to be helpful. Filling out the forms is okay; waiting & chasing for them to arrive in the first place is a bit frustrating. Our form was sent back to us as they said the form wasn't enclosed (it was definitely enclosed).... but they double checked and it appears the automatic scanning system double scanned our cover letter/ ignoring the entry form.... so we've sent it back again by snail mail + via email as backup. Plodding along with it.....

We've been filling out forms!..... Any thoughts (good & bad & indifferent) on Glastir Woodland Management? Glastir Woodland Management offers grants to manage existing woodlands that are 0.5ha or more in a single block Glastir Woodland Management, along with the Glastir Woodland Creation scheme, replaces the Better Woodlands for Wales (BWW) scheme and completes the Glastir Woodlands Element. The scheme is targeting Welsh woodlands to deliver the following Glastir objectives: managing soils to help conserve carbon stocks and reduce soil erosion improving water quality and reducing surface run-off managing water to help reduce flood risks conserving and enhancing wildlife and biodiversity managing and protecting landscapes and the historic environment new opportunities to improve access and understanding of the countryside To help deliver positive outcomes for these objectives, area and capital grants will be available for the following operations: thinning restocking infrastructure boundary work protected and priority species vegetation management pest control public access

Reporting back ....glad to say The search is working fine here! So put my message above on ignore. Thanks

Just been watching a few of Ian Sturrock & Sons videos; well worth a watch & learn: Choosing Your Tree and Site: Cultivation Video Guides for your Welsh Fruit Trees Planting: Cultivation Video Guides for your Welsh Fruit Trees Pruning & Picking:Cultivation Video Guides for your Welsh Fruit Trees Grafting: Cultivation Video Guides for your Welsh Fruit Trees Useful Tips (inc tools/ Silky Saw):Cultivation Video Guides for your Welsh Fruit Trees Altnative Orchard Design / Forest Gardening: Cultivation Video Guides for your Welsh Fruit Trees

That's good advice....I did suggest putting an Age 40cert on the petrol comments!.... ever tried teaching an old dog a new way to wash?!!

We've been looking into planting a new orchard and will definitely be including some old variteties, especially ones without any need to spray. Not used them (yet) but Ian Sturrock & Sons based in North Wales looks like one to bookmark: "We have been succesfully growing rare organic Welsh fruit trees in North Wales for the last 30 years. After many years of searching, researching and trials, we have developed a collection of fruit trees that will succeed in our unique location. We have varieties of Apple, Pear, Plum and Damson fruit trees from all over Wales, all of which are unique and very rare. Apple Tree, Pear Tree, Plum Tree, Damson Tree. Our organic fruit trees are disease resistant (no need to spray), ripen well despite our cool and cloudy summers and bear fruit that doesn't blow off the trees during autumn gales."

Here's the advice coming from Andy at Farm in my Pocket: "I've had some success with crunchy peanut butter believe it or not. Scrub really well with it, then wash off with soap and water. If that fails, a mixture of sugar and ecover washing up liquid is a powerful detergent scrub: and as a last resort this stuff is safe enough for occasional use. De-Solv-It You could also try neat tea tree oil. Whatever you use, moisturise well afterwards."

That's exactly the same problem I've been having..... i just tried using the search again and it didn't work.....BUT.... then i tried it again (3 rd attempt) and it DID work!! Weird. I'll start using the search again over the next couple days and will report back here.... Thanks

I've been trying the Arbtalk search link at the top right of this page. Is there an app for ipad? cheers

I hope there aren't kids reading some of the advice here and taking it seriously. Using petrol or white spirit to cleanse skin?.... No way!! Maybe the forum moderators could put a minimum age 40cert on those comments....