njtimber

Kilworth do bcs alpines no problem with loaders , and a lot of older holder tractors had loaders fitted for Apple boxes in orchards etc.

Machines can't do everything and there is workout there for well trained forward thinking efficient chainsaw operators .

On day rate because some of it is first thinning and you would struggle to earn on tonnage ( some of it is cut to waste hazel etc clearing rackways ) And brush cutter your comment of "its a skill that isn't taught anymore" I agree!.....I also think that they are not taught to look forward and see what needs doing next ,there is never nothing to do!

Oil infuser? Oil in the small pot hot water in the large pot ?.its a bit like those things the priest's swing about on a chain . Basically I haven't got a clue. (And some might say not just about the pot !)

Is there a lack of reliable self employed hand cutters that are capable of getting on with the work and creating a reasonable out turn of timber in a tidy efficient manner ?.. We have had a few subbies lately, and not only do they run out of steam at midday they spend as much time on their phones as they do cutting.....just for the record I am not a slave driver but when it is obvious what needs to be done and they stand there looking at you ,until you do it yourself and even then they just watch ,it does my head in ! Or am I just turning into a miserable old git ?

This is the size of a 135 massey but 85 hp reverse drive, dual steer,and capable of mulching up some quite large material. Wide profile tyres, so low ground pressure ,good on slopes (low center of gravity ) etc.Thinking of selling it soon because the estate clearance contract we have is due to be franchised out. I advertised it 6 months ago had an offer and some interest but I don't think he had the money when it came to agreeing a deal. Either something like this or similar can hit out a considerable amount of work in a relatively short time.

You're only hateing your saws because you bought the wrong ones , stihl every time !

If you're in Wiltshire you could try our local estate , we cut some several years ago which we were told was destined for Pakistan. Pm me if you want contact details we are near Salisbury.

What's the weather like near you? SH1T ..bloody frustrating lots of work to do ,just need some dry weather. An indoor job is starting to look appealing.

C j Cox at bagber (near Sturminster newton ) valtra dealers and they will do a forestry conversion ,belly plates ,brash bars etc

We reinstate forest rides after forwarding timber with a 6 or 8 ton steel tracked 360 excavator ,break up the ruts with a toothed bucket,re grade with the teeth and then track backwards and forwards to bed it back down. As someone else mentioned a good driver will cover a lot of ground per day.

Yes I'm the same, I think it is because we have obsessive personalities , could be worse though you could have chosen drugs rather than trees.

Try new saw chains.co.uk mark would supply loops of ripping chain (good prices) he may supply reels as well but his loops are so cheap I just buy them ready done.

Got some large oak milled out on an alaskan mill up to 14 ft long tree diameter was 4 ft had to put the cannon super bar on to mill it . In Dorset though may be too far away for you. Nick

Poplar is crap firewood very low heat output you would be better off with sycamore (fast growing and reasonable firewood) You have missed the planting season this year usually between October and April for bare root trees. (Check out ashridge trees website for stock ) Plant mixed species (depending on soil type) and consider other uses for your wood, ie chestnut coppice to produce your fencing stakes a few hazel mocks to produce bean sticks and kindling , and grow these among your standard trees (oak ,beech ash (be careful of ash dieback) ) if you aim to grow timber you will produce your firewood from the poor quality trees and the branches of the good trees also put in some soft wood areas the improve the bio diversity (evergreens are good winter wind breaks and roosting /nesting habitat ) consider a native hedge mix for the boundaries to help keep the wind out and improve the habitat for birds etc. Could consider a small pond area ,and keep some open glades and encourage the shrub layer (flowers /insects etc). Firewood is merely the bi product of a well managed woodland. As for machinery if you are only needing 5 to 7 tons per year I would only invest in a hydraulic splitter ( pto driven pump one as your dexta oil flow will be very slow )and a good professional chainsaw still or husky ( worth doing nptc chainsaw training if you haven't already ) as for handling your timber trailer cranes are exellent for taking the strain out of lifting and shifting stuff but can be quite expensive especially for a small woodland. The APF forestry show is in september most machinery manufacturers from Britain and Europe will be there you should go. Also the arb show (confor woodland show) is in June you might get some deals there ,its at westonbirt arboretum you can walk the arboretum and get some ideas of the trees you want to plant. Sounds like a really interesting project wish you luck with it. Thanks nick

Just be careful with Adrian Flux we were insured with them , had a landrover valued (after modifications ) and agreed a policy with them. Unfortunately the truck was stolen and when we came to claim they only paid two thirds of the sum it was insured for. When asking them to find a vehicle of the same spec for the money they were offering ,they declined and said this was a service they did not offer (probably because they knew that they wouldn't be able to find one). The truck was subsequently recovered from a travellers site in Surrey (along with 4 others) but because we eventually had to accept their offer ,when it was found they took ownership of it and it was advertised for sale ....strangely enough at the value that we had originally insured it for. N F U are a much better company to deal with and when a friend of mine had to claim they paid the full sum insured for and he received the money within 4 weeks .

Thought it might be, they will still be here for a month if you do need them as we are busy with firewood thinning. Thanks nick

Going up to the AA desperately in need of new boots ,I'm going to save the camping for the APF there's too much to see in one day.

We cut some oak in the winter but haven't extracted it yet , we are on an estate between Salisbury and Blandford ,might be too far for you ? If you are interested send me a text on 07867 971 473 and I will put you in touch with the estate forester you can discuss it with him. We were thinking of extracting it soon now the ground has dried up a bit. Nick

Hello I have paid between £16 and £20 per cubic meter standing for straight ash or beech . I don't know the price for birch , but it should be a touch cheaper I would have thought.

Saw a chap that had used heras fencing made it into squares filled it with logs and then covered the top with a tarpaulin. Looked like a relatively cheap effective storage idea.

Takeuchi seems like they are worth a try , as for the ad blue comment I would consider a low hours 3 year old machine to avoid the blue .

Thanks for the info Eddie interesting you mention takeushi ,I've had other people recommend them. I bet if you were buying one it would still be a kubota though ??

Interesting to hear opinions on other makes such as neuson and terex I will have to get some info on them . Thanks nick

Deals in Europe ? Is somebody going to sell me a good machine at a cheap price ? ...I wish.