rachelroots

Yes, Sounds nice- it's a bomb shelter, but hey its somewhere in the woods,where no one can hear my noisy hobbies! PVA is a great idea, haddent thought of that. I try to keep willow cool so it doesn't dry and crack to quick, ash is very nice and behaves well.

Mine is Love like a Rock by Rory Mcleod He's awesome!

I think this one wins for me! I like cats in the cradle but I thought Ugly Kid Joe did it! I thought I new my music, meh.

Ah, thought it had a bit more colour to it! I've got some bits left but I think I sold the last of my nice bits ( hard times) I made some mushrooms with the smaller bits and sold them at £13 each like hot cakes. I'll dig out some pics of the shrooms and I'll take some photos of my planks when I'm next down at my cabin- probs Friday as I'm at college tomorrow. I'd love to do some more milling as there's a mighty oak been down a year or so down the river from my shack. I'm planning on asking a mate whose a welder to make me a mill as he's after some planks in return. I lent the last one from a local saw mill but it's a bit cheeky to lend something more than once! I'm new to doing this sort of thing so any advice on storing milled lumber, and whether to mill green or seasoned etc is fantastic!

I use Yale XTC Fire from Gustharts Yale XTC Fire | climbing | climbing-ropes | Gustharts. For none professional climbing you still need to keep safe, especially if your taking kids with you. Always wear head protection! However you can probably consider cheaper and less durable kit. I'm a tree climber really, rather than rock but it's all the same principle. If its trees your wanting to climb Gustharts do some good kit deals where you get everything you need to start off. They include a through line which is a godsend for beginners unless your a cricket pro! I suggest selecting a 10oz through bag.

Wow! Thought that was a typo for Elder- I can imagine an elder flower champagne lolly to be truly scrumptious!!! Just googled it. Realized I had to try some. Found out to my disappointment my nearest stockist was in Cumbria Alston to be precise.Alston is the country's highest market town, snowed in for 300 days of the year and the absolute arse end of nowhere. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for Alder Tree ices on my travels. Get a stall of the stuff at this years Arb Show please!!!

Haha, I used to live in Dundee so maybe there's summat in the water on that east coast. Can't say the Tay looked all that fresh! I lived there for 4 years but all I can remember of St. Andrews was a belting record shop, irn bru ice cream and being very, very drunk!

Ah nice one matey! What sort of timber is that? I had a lend of an alaskan mill and had a go on a big bit of willow, it had had honey fungus and the pattern was kind of similar to yours. The willow haddent been down long and was muckle heavy! I cut it in 4" planks to stop warping. Although chunky, after a year it's super light- great for something like a motor home! Willow is'nt really rated as a usable timber but it's lightness would be handy for a project like yours. I've also milled ash- that stuff is seriously heavy in comparison!

Good on her! Not sure I quite get the speed she seemed to gain her chainsaw certs. Was that after her shift at the pub, a hour before she started working at the crack of dawn for you, while she was pushing some dudes head into a pillow? lol. It's great us lot (lasses) are becoming more familiar on the scene.It's great being in the woods and its a healthy job.Nowt a girl can't do. And we should be more accepted in the trade. I have had to work twice as hard for any sort of credibility, stared at and videoed three times as much and got half the pay. I am as good as anyone else in the trade.Gender shouldn't be an issue on this one. I have learnt you can't wear a vest top to work- as she will once she joins arbtalk! Its lonely and hostile at times doing this and being a lass but I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't love it! Hopefully there won't be such a song and dance every time a girl picks up a saw. I hate it when female fire fighters have an easier fitness test than men to do the same job. If a woman can't do the men's fitness test, she shouldn't do the job! But in arb they don't make the trees shorter for us to climb or fell so I reckon just give us a fair chance and stop treating us like performing seals! I'd say rant over but I have so much more.... women eh!

Hi Harvey, Just a rope, carabiner and a sling to make a harness out of. A lid is handy if you going higher. Most arb climbers start with a couple of prusiks. Basic kit for any proper hight would be: a lid, a rope, a couple of carabiners, a couple of prusik cords and a harness. You can get kids ones. Knots you need are just a double figure 8 and prusik hitch and fisherman's to join prusik cord. Hope that helps!

Thanks mate! I'm getting better, if only there were more hours in the day...

I haven't got a carving bar but I started off probably the same as everyone- carving mushrooms out of a tree stump. You need about a foot so put the gob and back cut in higher than usual. I progressed this year to owls and stools. To make a stool you bore into a crosscut log, quite satisfying and good skills practice. I found owls o.k to do, I agree- keep it simple. Always worth having a go. No one can ride a bike straight away!

Nice one, I'm 30 and I learnt a lot about failing right through my 20's! Spot on tho, travel is a gift to use.

Hello everyone!

Hi, I've built yurts before. The tricky part is steam bending wood for the circular hole in the roof for all the roof spokes to go into. If you have that sussed then its happy days. I have made the walls from processed wood but just as good, if not better-and surprisingly uniform is to cut some poles. you can use any broad leaf wood, obviously coppiced hazel wood be nice, but anything 1-2" dia.When still fresh and green, take a butter knife and the bark peals off very nicely like a cheese string.lattice work them together using cord or screws-see castanea's diagram.The longer roof polel can be sourced from sycamore-roughly 3" dia. the thick ends to the outside. The shape is realy strong, and you can use some cord and nifty arb knots and hitches to keep it in place.The central curcle should be supported by the roof, no need for a cantral support. Tarp on top, I like a cheap plastic camo one and I cut it to shape then sew and duct tape.The base platform can be any skip raided flat planks on top of bricks to stop damp.Fire pit in and hay presto! Feel free to ask about finer points! If I were nearer I would have offered to help! :-)