Ernesto

When I'm not charcoal making and coppicing. I spend the summer doing marquees. Depends what size you want. Up to 6m wide

Try these for new temporary storage: 

Home - Hoecker Structures UK Ltd | Commercial Quality Marquees and Warehouse Structures

WWW.HOECKERUK.COM

---

Cover it Faster with Hoecker® MarqueesCommercial Quality Marquees manufactured in the UK since 1990 Explore MarqueesCover it Faster with Hoecker®...

Or here for the second hand (and some new stuff)

58 minutes ago, Sutton said:

It's well known that baby boomers and GenX have all the cash and all the property.

Because us GenX'ers have worked for 35-40 years to flippin earn it.

59 minutes ago, Sutton said:

Millenials and GenY are living on the never-never and rent.

Exactly like I did 'til I was in my thirties.

It's just childish whing and jealousy, "It's not fair".

Sorry for the rant, this kind of thing just annoys me.

They sold up/ merged with Berkshire College of Agriculture, at Birchetts Green, near Maidenhead.

All the courses still done through the college.  @Kerry BCA , posts on this thread as the contact.

Hi James,

Where are you in Bucks? I work and make charcoal just outside Reading, but am regularly up and down to Lincolnshire, where I live (I know, pretty mad, don't ask). Hopefully get my new kiln going in Lincs soon as well.

Bit short a the moment but could sort you out in a week and a half/two weeks, in 10kg polyprop sacks.

Drop me a dm/pm if you are interested.

Ernie.

(ps same applies to Joe above as Rugby's kind of on the way home.)

36 minutes ago, Woodworks said:

Treated myself to one of these 

ThermaQ Blue thermometer with Bluetooth LE - monitors temperature remotely

THERMOMETER.CO.UK

---

The ThermaQ Blue Bluetooth thermometer monitors temperature remotely and transmits temperature data to any...

 Can sit in the kitchen drinking coffee while monitoring the retort temps haha 

 

We may need a second retort if demand stays high. Made 200kg of charcoal in the last 3 days 

Cheers for that Beau. That looks just the ticket, my Bluetooth gadget loving workmate will be in heaven.

Only managed 90kg made last week, and started the new kiln this week, hopefully make around 300kg next week. Just trying to get some stock built up, but actually only keeping up with demand, which is good. Hopefully have our best year yet. The new kiln should, if I've got it right, make 300kg a burn but probably only weekly. As I say I'll keep you posted.

@Woodworks

Hi Beau, hope your well. Just in the process of putting together a 3rd retort, I'll post some pics when it's up a running. I was just after some info regards thermometers/probes. We've used old school metal probe thermometers with the glass dial and needle on the retorts so far, but were wondering if you had any recommendations regarding the electronic probe ones?

Thanks in advance, Ernie.

Hi John just you a DM/PM.

Hi Mike, hope you're well. If you're not worried about new I think there's a few in the quarterly plant sale in Reading, it's online only, cus of covid and got about 7 days left to run. Might be a bit of a trawl to find them as there's hundreds of lots. It's at www.tsauction.co.uk 

Ernie.

On 21/06/2020 at 15:27, Azz19 said:

I just bought an offset smoker and I'm looking for sources where I can buy hardwood at a fair price. 

 

Does anyone know where I can buy different varieties of wood such as; Apple, Cherry, pear, basically any fruit or nut woods, or any woods that people recommend for cooking/smoking such as; oak, maple, alder, etc. 

 

Preferably a source that can deliver to the B30 area. Thanks in advance, I really appreciate the help. 

 

 

PM sent

On 25/06/2020 at 21:54, fonzy said:

Thanks, I've passed on your details

 

Hi Fonzy, a belated cheers for that. Give him a nudge if he's interested as I've got some time in the yard coming this week and will be able to sort stuff out if needed.

Ernie.

Hi Fonzy, I'm in LN9 get him to drop me an email: [email protected] .

Don't have the shavings/sawdust Les does but may be able to offer other species of wood in chunks etc. 

Ernie.

10 hours ago, IronMike said:

Since the near miss incident, I’ve started positioning the machine about a foot further forward than previously. I figured the extra nose weight would be better, but could be wrong? It does sit relatively flat for the most part, but definitely looks worse in the photo. The tow bar itself is a Witter one, and as far as I can gather they are a reputable brand with decent reviews etc. It isn’t adjustable in any way though, so maybe that is an issue. Come to think about it, I do think it maybe sits a bit low for the trailer. I often find myself having to stand on the hitch with one foot to force it down onto the tow bar. Might be time to look into alternatives, any recommendations folks?

Hi Mike, hope you're well.

I had  an incident, 2/3 years ago, on the A34 in the morning rush hour. Going sideways down the dual carriage way, a-frame of the trailer flat against the rear bumper, did a complete 360, absolutely bricking it... minimal damage, tightened the load carried on but more cautiously. Been towing a 3.5 tonne trailer for the last 15 years. Problem that day was heavy but not overloaded trailer, but the load was uneven ( too front hvy if I recall). Power on up a big hill to keep going didn't ease off before the crest (always advisable to be slowing before you come over the top) and then the trailer was chasing me/trying to overtake.

Essentially you want the load as central as possible on the trailer so that its balanced, ideally so that you could effectively wind the jockey wheel up and the trailer doesn't tip forward or back. You don't want the weight to be either "lifting" the rear of your motor or forcing it down and making the steering light. Also agree that the lorry ruts don't help, I find you tend to get pulled to the side sometimes if one wheel of the trailer finds a rut.

I would agree that maybe a higher hitch would help, try a Dixon Bates adjustable one, check with the tow bar place you use if they're compatible with your attachments..

Hope that kind of helps.

Ernie.

On 09/04/2020 at 22:12, gobbypunk said:

So  it seems to me that the government is helping everyone except the self employed,we rely on country shows ,fairs etc for a big part of our living not only sales but orders that come in weeks sometimes months after ,my yard costs my house costs !cant live in a caravan or a bus as the government don’t like that ,so I pay my taxes and now what the F##k am I ment to do !my poor dog is very sick with cancer no money coming in !claim fucking universal credit !taking the piss !where is our help and everyone else who is in the same position ,and fair play Timon what you and your charity does world wide is cool as 

Gobby,

You may be able to apply for one of the grants on offer. There's 3 kinds: Sbrr of £10k, Larger rate payers of £25k and a third type for leisure business that's been screwed by the lock down. You can only get one of the 3, obviously for the first 2 you need to registered for business rates at some level. But if you don't pay business rates you might get the third one. I spoke to a mate who runs a big marquee firm yesterday (to big for either of the rates related grants) and he said that the marquee trade body had got an MP to ask in Parliament what the score was, Rishi Sunak said that events firms were eligible for the grant that pubs restaurants events venues etc can claim as all the weddings shows festivals etc were cancelled. So I reckon as you rely on shows etc for your business it's worth a try. Haven't got  a link to what was said but the trade body is MUTA (Made Up Textiles Association, yes despite the name it really exists).

Ernie.

7 hours ago, skyhuck said:

Arborisk are a broker, I was with Aviva via them, is your saw cover new for old?

Think so, all the stock is insured at replacement value. So cost price for the marquees tools etc.

I'll find out soon as spoke to the broker today as renewal is end of April.

1 hour ago, Rough Hewn said:

How were you contacted?
By who and when?

Not sure regards the Se side but we're eligible for the £10k from the SBRR grant scheme. Checked on the local authority website, and had to fill in a claim form, they hadn't notified us that you needed to do this, I was originally under the impression that as its rates related they were just going to sort it. Anyway got an email confirming receipt of application, now awaiting some cash...

With the 80% for PAYE you've got to wait for the new HMRC portal to be up and running, supposedly soon, before you can confirm staff as furloughed and then claim back March and each month thereafter, April May if still off work.

No news yet on what the scoop is for SE other than you'll get 3 months (March, April, May) money in June (80% of your average trading profit  for the years 16-17, 17-18. 18-19 divided by 36 x 3 ) regardless of whether your able to work or not, how they haven't said yet.

Edit I'm going to see about doing asparagus picking tomorrow, 'til the end of June.

We use a broker for the insurance, a combined policy for the marquee hire (summer) and forestry (winter) parts of our work.

Saves all the mucking about for quotes, they do all the legwork finding the best policy, and deal with claims for you also.

Company we use is Marsh Commercial, formerly Jelf (recent takeover). They got us cover through Aviva.

2 minutes ago, Rough Hewn said:

I'm self employed, my wife is too.
We rent.
We don't have savings.
Wife worked as childcare for two doctors looking after 2 young babies and 2 children at the same time.
Her list of constantly refreshed quals is ridiculous.
Gets £9 an hour.
20 hours ish a week.
I've been building a business from literally nothing.
Invested everything I could afford and more.

Yesterday I tried to sign on universal credit.
Yeah it's that bad.
But they presume everyone is an employee and want month by month earnings for last 18 months.
Fir self employed grant need 3 years books.
I'm really bad at tax returns.
I declare everything.
So I actually earn very little on paper and in reality.

However from what I understand, it's still possible to continue a business whilst on UC.
Got a feeling we won't be getting any support from the government.
So I'm actively looking for any tree work still.
And yes it is depressing as fuck.

Hi Saul,

Not trying to cheeky have you considered fruit/crop picking till things pick up? I'm pondering it myself so I know that they're recruiting now (lettuce near Ely starts this week). Work from April to October. We should've been starting our summer festival marquee jobs soon, all cancelled, was going to do some tree planting called off as not essential all accommodation shut for the lockdown.

Cheers Ernie.

Hi Sandspider, bit late posting on the thread, been working away this week and only just saw it. We do marquee work in the summer and coppicing/thinning/charcoal winter and around the marquee work.

I think you should look at frame marquees, they are temporary structures, got a feeling the 28 day limit is for events on one site ( been a while since I've had to remember the rules for this  as its not the kind of marquee work I get involved in now). Lots used for temporary storage, I know of some that have been temporary for 20 years (we've got one in our yard that's been there for 10 years at least, so long I can't remember when it went up). Also got a 2.1m x 6m frame in my garden as a log store, sides but no ends (4 1/2 years).

They have eave height of 2.4m ridge about 3.5/4m. The alu. frame will last for ever these covers easily 25 years and counting.

From hocker/hoecker or roder/roeder good for winds up to 60/70mph.

Have a look on www.curlew.co.uk its the marquee trade 2nd hand website. Probably cost you around £500 one single 3m bay of 3/4m wide. Might get a 6mx6m pagoda/witches hat for the same money, about£1000 3/4mx 6m.

Ernie.

4 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

Surely you mean phallacy?

No Mark, that's a phallus which is just a load of cock.

20 hours ago, topchippyles said:

200 years be worth more for the oak

Don't worry Les that's all in hand too. Now just hope the anti-ageing/ telomere restoration research works.

Got given this last year, by a mate who's got about 1/2 a dozen of these randomly in his garden, kindly planted there by squirrels from a nearby tree. Now all I've got to do is live for another 150 years and I'll be rich. Rich I tell you!???

Ernie.

Yes we got the inside faces of the sheet lined with ceramic fibre insulation, 50mm thick still gets too hot to touch on the outside, but then again it's over450c inside. Drop me a pm with your number if you fancy a chat with a fellow charcoal spotter. Ernie.

It's galv. The Base plkate over the fire which the charge sits on ( in the shopping baskets, if you remember) is 3mm stainless, bottled it on the price for  a sheet of the stuff they use for cat converters. Not sure how long it'll last, but the similar sheet in the brick retort is still solid.

Yep those bags look pretty similar to the ones we got from Selway. easy for us as they're only about 7 miles from the retort.

Thought they'd be about that. We had some of the larger bags from Selway, we get about 10kg in them, I tried and could just about get 12kg without making them sealable.

I know what you mean re temperature the last burn we did we struggled to get the kiln properly hot, a combination of wind from the wrong direction for the fire and slightly damp fuel for the fire, not for the charcoal charge.

Anyway here's some bonus pics of our metal retort, featuring the bellows to help get the fire going/hot and the 3 size selway bags we produce.

Ernie.

On ‎11‎/‎04‎/‎2019 at 12:46, Woodworks said:

The first ever big order of charcoal for us. Made 1/2 cube in a day which was our most productive yet.

Hi Beau, good to see you're shifting some bulk charcoal.

Just being nosey what weight are those bags on the pallet? They look fairly large, 10kg?

Ernie.