FJMatt

1 hour ago, Billhook said:

 

I will need to make the static vertical knife fairly strong and well supported!

And use dozer to push the trunk through the blade 

Have you seen those splitting knifes mounted on a 360  that pull towards the digger blade on the front, bit savage but they don't half rip 

This is one that I made which fits on to matbro head stock, converted it to static later on, but still has matbro brackets fitted, bought a pto model now so very rarely used 

4 minutes ago, Duffryn said:

Not passing judgment here, bagged 200 bags today as a test and thought f that for a game of soldiers. By the time you take depreciation / repairs on kit, extra time to move stuff around, break downs, jams hassle into account I couldn't see it was worth it. I calculated I was better off buying it in and spending my time maximising sales price and volume.

 

 

Duffryn no problem 

This is the main reason I can sell them, as most hate the job, I'm not particularly keen, 

See, our main thing is kindling, lads chop Monday, Tuesday until 1.00 then tidy up start netting, net Wednesday. 

Empty drier Wednesday night, start chopping Thursday, Friday until 1.00 start netting, 

Equipment wise processor is already there, as well as staff,

Log nets always used to be kindling wood that for one reason or another wasn't suitable (softwood, knots) 

Now we cut for nets with the majority of the log nets sold from May through to August as this keeps things flowing as kindling sales tail off 

Its only in the last three years that we've gone back to doing hardwood net's at the request of one of our bigger customers, who also buys kindling and softwood nets 

5 minutes ago, gdh said:

Sounds like a reasonable price to me, we're not making masses but we're on £9 an hour and delivering it for £70 a cube. 

 

Out of curiosity how are you all selling bags? Is it in bulk for garden centres and garages or do you do a few to individuals if that's viable? 

99% wholesale, stopped nearly all household delivery back in 2001

Very few garden centres/garages/smaller retailers will stock hardwood, all want softwood, higher margin 

It's the larger firewood retailer's that don't actually cut themselves, that sell hardwood, 

1 minute ago, Duffryn said:

 Then you must be at best breaking even on this 

Timber is bought by ton, 

I know exactly how many nets fresh per ton 

I know exactly how much sawdust/waste by ton 

I even know how many logs per net

And exactly the profit per net with it all taken into account 

2 minutes ago, Duffryn said:

Understood but this has to be marginal to say the least, especially when you turn 18.

Ha I'm nearly 50

6 minutes ago, Duffryn said:

so paying yourself say £10 an hour for extra wok and doing 25 nets and hour , minus cost of bags you are selling at around £65 a cube ? If you don't mind me askirng , what do you think it costs you to produce a cube of hardwood logs ( not bagged) ?

Cost of a tote bag and netting bags comes to exactly the same, as price is ex yard, no delivery 

As far as £10 hour dream on, under 18 £3.87 

15 minutes ago, Duffryn said:

Just out of interest what is the volume of one of these bags when filled ? 45 x 60 x?

You'll average about 27 nets from m2 tote 

12 hours ago, flatyre said:

I am thinking of selling logs in net bags as some folk prefer to buy smaller quantities, and instead of selling a cube of firewood in vented ton bags, selling it in stacked nets? It would be easier to load and unload in nets than dragging ton bags in and out of the van, also easier for the customer to move them to their storage location. What about the cost comparison between a vented ton bag verses how many net bags? And as the logs are more tightly packed in nets does it mean the customer gets more logs than in a ton bag? I'm just thinking maybe handling the logs in smaller more manageable quantities might suit a small scale business with limited storage space and transport options?

Why not try some Barrow bag's 

Lot of extra work involved in netting 

Before kilns became popular, once heard of someone who had a old typhoon dryer on a tractor, he used fill a container with wood fix blower to one end open other end and let it rip and just leave it blowing, reckoned it worked 

1 hour ago, ash_smith123 said:

The new Palax C1000 looks a nice machine. Think it’s 40cm but not sure how much it is! 

I agree it's a nice machine, the old 100s has a similar capacity, 

Hakki pilke cs1000 is along the same lines,  the uniforest 40/20 that Steve mentioned is also circular saw and looks a fair machine, 

Then there's always the case of circular vs chainsaw 

7 minutes ago, SbTVF said:

I have to agree with the 400 being a fantastic machine. It is easy to use, fast and produces great firewood.

 

We have had a few problems though, I guess that’s what you get with a second hand machine. Had to replace a few major parts but it runs like a good’n 99% of the time.

 

I wouldn’t go for anything else with a chainsaw personally. Welcome to come have a go of ours Matt?

 

The real question is chainsaw or circular saw.

Changing chains and stuff can become tiresome when you just want to get on sometimes I have to say but if you start with a sharp chain and well dressed bar every day you’ll get a plenty done before you even notice any difference.

 

I do really like the look of the uniforest Titan 40/20 though. It’s about the same price as the tajfun 480 too and circular saw machine. If we change machine in the new year it’ll be a serous consideration.

 

Cheers Steve 

Hope you haven't sold all that kindling yet 

Which I your own view is the best firewood processor in the 40/50cm bracket, reasons for choice 

cutting, spare parts, value for money...... 

Cheers 

Frank 

That looking like the best option,  without buying from America which is to expensive 

Thanks for both your help,

Frank 

1 hour ago, adw said:

501514801

That's the one, but is it still available in the UK 

Yeah, that's what was in it, and had to put it back in,

 ordered one by using husqvarna part number and when it came it was a skeletal type which is to small outside diameter, 

Where can I get a clutch bearing like the one pictured, 

Or is it a case of buying a new drum with the skeletal type included 

Cheers

I use an old lister elevator original single phase with gearbox, but the problem with it is the logs come off the 360 are square and the exact size as the spaces between the lats, although it now has a base the logs become stuck in the space and can be carried round under the elevator causing all sorts of damage 

3 hours ago, gdh said:

It should work but there's a few issues with moving chip, namely it goes everywhere.

 

We narrowed up the base of the conveyor so they touch the belt and put a brush and airline underneath to stop it being carried round the rollers but it still needs a tarpaulin under it. 

 

The pictures are of our delivery trailer which we attached a firewood processor conveyor to.

Did you buy the conveyor especially for the job or was it something you already had, roughly what sort price, as I'm looking to put one on a splita 360 

sorry for the hijack :-) 

1 hour ago, richy_B said:

 

Agreed. 30 odd ton of metal, travelling at 50 kmph with a set of pallet forks up front.

 

Where were the pallet forks? 

I thought about turning a kind of steel cylinder, same length as the bolt when it's at right length, so a cap head would go through it and tighten but the head would be inset so the lever wouldn't hit the bolt head just the steel sleeve, 

If you know what I mean :-) 

Mine used to do it fairly regularly, but it hasn't for ages, I think it something to do with the length of the bolt, mine are now screwed fairly well in so it doesn't seem to klonk back and forward or it could be the spring has lost some of its resistance , you could always go for a cap head bolt 12.9

I think Steves right, the bubble has burst