TeaMonsta

I'm considering buying 3m lengths of hardwood from the Forestry Commission and hiring in someone to process it into firewood with their equipment (I have none). On average, what sort of amount could I expect to be processed per day? Thanks in advance.

Supplier now found. Thanks everyone.

Like it. Thanks, FJMatt

I'm looking for a wholesale supplier who can supply net bags of kindling for a start-up business in North East Scotland. If this is something you could help me with, please PM me with your business details to register your interest. I can give you a call back or send an e-mail, if preferred, so we can then discuss it further. Many thanks.

Thanks AMF. I had seen this one and wondered what it might be like. However, I'm going to test the water with some kindling bought from a wholesale supplier to sell on.

Thanks again; gives me more numbers to work with, although, what size are the bags? Anyway, I'll be calling potential suppliers today and if the figures work out, with a bit of luck I could be selling later on in the week. If it goes according to plan, of course....

GensetSteve, Farmer Ben, Ash Smith and FJ Matt - thanks for your input. It makes complete sense and I appreciate you sharing your ideas with me. It actually occurred to me this evening that this may be the easiest and least risk way forward so your ideas have reinforced what dawned on me a couple of hours or so ago. I'll be making some phone calls tomorrow. FJ Matt. I'd rather not disclose my location just yet but I'm a long way from you. Thanks for the offer, anyway.

Looks like a sturdy piece of kit. Think I'd be using a piece of timber to push the stuff through, though. I'll keep a look out.... In the meantime, I'll also have a look for a source of timber off-cuts. I do like RenewableJohn's Aldi, idea, though, which I'll be investigating, too.

So, £1K's not going to get me much, then. Thanks, ML. What sort of price should I expect to pay for an "entry-level" second-hand kindling machine? There don't seem to be many about.

Like it. Much less hassle. It's just for some extra pocket money. If the big suppliers want to sell it at a loss, that's up to them. Although, going by your first tip (Aldi), I can take advantage of this. Thanks, RJ . As long as I'm making a profit on what I sell that's all I'm concerned with. The only kindling available around here is in two local shops where they charge way over the top prices for a small amount. Thanks again for the info.

My full-time working pattern gives me a lot of spare time. For various reasons, it looks like small-scale kindling production and supply to the local area would suit me to give me an extra income to earn when I'm not doing my usual job. I'd be working on my own (at least to start with). As a start, I've had a trailer of 6 inch softwood logs delivered, got some kindling bags ordered (65cm x 45cm) and have set about splitting the logs into kindling. This has led me to realise that splitting with a maul by hand takes a long time. Although I'd guessed this would probably be the case, it might lead to the problem of future demand being higher than I'm able to supply. Many of the logs are very knotty with a lot of twisted grain which slows the splitting down drastically. Having read a few threads on this forum, I thought I'd ask you, the guys with the experience and knowledge, what might be the best way forward. I'd like to buy a cheap, used kindling machine but it appears that the most popular and reliable, the Kindlet and Posch models are over my current budget which is about £1000. Until I'm able to invest in a kindling machine, is there another way of buying softwood to process which is knot-free so that I could speed up the current production speed? I have looked at using pallets for the kindling, too, but the time and effort required to process them along with possible contamination problems means they're something I'd rather not deal with. Any other advice you may be able to offer on setting up for kindling production and supply would be very much appreciated, too. Thanks in advance.