lux

One of my crosspein forging hammers.  Same as the one in the pic it’s round in profile for spreading metal.  

21 minutes ago, sandspider said:

Looks a bit like something used in forging, to cut hot metal. One person holds it on the metal, the other hammers the back of it to drive the sharp / thin end through...

Nope, that would be a hot set or a hot cut tool, most commonly it would be slotted into the hardy , you do get hot cut chisels which basically look like a hammer because they have a handle, the handle is merely there to place the chisel head on the hot metal accurately before striking it. Neither end of this is suitable for cutting, one end is clearly a cross pein and the other can't be made out too well. 

On 26/02/2024 at 09:28, Stubby said:

Something tells me its was used on the railway . Tapping rails into line before clamping them down .

Ill go for some sort of heavy foundry / forging type work

When you make representation to the council keep it factual.  Emotional comments re keeping the tree will be disregarded. Have a look at national and local guidelines on TPO’s and select the most relevant in your circumstances.  
Any development, particularly if it’s dividing down a plot for houses will have a Tree report so there maybe two bites of the cherry should that be the intention of the developer.  
I think the majority of us would be concerned if a neighbouring plot was up ( potentially) for development 

This thread kickstarted a put off mini project.  Found a vintage 4 1/2 lb Hultafors Bruk axe head in the barn when we moved here about 8 yrs ago.  I’ve just  Restored the head correcting the primary and secondary bevels. I made the handle from locally milled Ash , locally milled Laburnum for the cross wedge and palm

They are a good solid reliable saw but really do need opening up a bit to cut quicker. 

Trouble is now my benchmark is my ported ms200t courtesy of custom saws. (crocky on here I think)

Man that thing is good, any other top handle feels lame after using it. 

Simon Tranter currently has my 2511 and a larger saw he is working on, looking forward to seeing those back, the ported 2511 will no doubt be used lots. ported , machined, etc etc 

I think the 362 is a really good base saw which should have a lot of gains if worked on. Mine has been ultra reliable.  I will have it ported next 

13500 is the top rpm, (still got the sticker on mine) 

32 minutes ago, Big J said:

 

If ever I were to get a pickup here, I'd just go American. The roads are massive and empty compared to the UK, and a Yank pickup is more suited to my size. I'd say you probably see as many American pickups here as Japanese.

 

Our family car is a 4x4 T5 Caravelle. Not super cheap to run but it's bloody versatile. I've transported pianos in the back of it, driven very long distances and on Friday pulled a Kia out of a ditch after it pulled too far over to let a car pass. 

I’d do the same.  I really like American pickups.  
just no point having one in the UK.  
ah we had a 4x4 caravelle a while back.  15 plate with the nice auto box.  Drove it to the alps for skiing a couple of times and was very practical. Was a nicely thought out car but had the issue of burning oil.   About 800ml in 1000miles of driving with about 40k on the clock.   VW said it was high but within tolerance( just)  so we sold it as they would do nothing under the warranty.  Cost of a new engine was frightening if it ever got to that 

3 hours ago, Big J said:

 

I had a Sprinter 4x4. It was an impressive machine and damned comfortable too. A bit heavy for offroad work in the SW, though pretty much everything got sucked into the mud there. 

 

A lot of people have smaller 4x4 vans here. Dangel converted Citroen Berlingos are very popular and as are 4motion Caddys. We don't have anywhere near the same mud issues here though. 

 

I think part of it is probably specific to me. I really, genuinely struggled to fit into any pickup if I had work gear on (chainsaw trousers and boots). I don't know why they build the cabs so small. Vans are so much more massive, internally.

There’s no doubt vans are roomy.  The sprinter cab is very comfy / roomy.  It would be a big factor for someone your height buying a vehicle.  Less of a factor for most of us. The ex power company 4x4 ones look a fairly good purchase.  Usually have power / workshop in the back that would have cost a pretty penny to install and very useful.  
sone of the posties have those 4x4 berlingo type vans.  Handy little things but wouldn’t cope with the work I ask of the pick-up.  
horses for courses I suppose 

7 minutes ago, Big J said:

You hardly see any pickups here in Sweden. You get reamed for tax with them here, and in all honesty, they aren't that useful except as a hybrid work/family vehicle. 

 

From my experience though:

 

* A van tows far better. Much more stable.

* A van also carries far more kit, and for someone very tall like me, a large van offers far more space for the driver.

* Almost any car is a better family vehicle. More economical, quieter, more comfortable and often more interior space. I recall with the Navara being entirely unable to be a passenger in front of a baby seat in the back. I couldn't actually get my legs in.

 

The only reason that pickups are so popular in the UK is the tax breaks. There are much better vehicles out there for actually working. 

Its all down to the individuals use /s isn't it.   I find mine a really good blend of useful for work and useful for domestic duties. It regularly tows across fields etc when I wouldn't even dream of taking a normal van on that type of ground. Fits a lot of kit in the back nicely, had a really good canopy made by N and J aluminium. Wet dogs can go in there without messing up the inside of a car. Sheep and straw bales/feed 

I would imagine given how tall you are if you put a child seat in most family hatch backs you'd struggle to get your legs in. Couldn't see you fitting in my little Peugeot 4 door hatch.  

Vans tend to have a much more upright seating position with more headroom. 

Now the kids are older and drive the rear seats dont really get used in mine but Ive no intention to sell it. Worth more to me than the money although the residuals are quite good. If the sprinter 4x4 van wasn't such a big price I could be swayed, that's a tidy and useful van for sure. 

1 minute ago, maybelateron said:

Yep, that's why mine is going to a specialist for thorough waxing before it gets any real miles on the clock. I have had autos in my Disco 2's and the Hilux is auto. Much nice to tow with than manual in my view.

 

I am guessing your Transit has a very low first gear. My new shape Iveco Daily is 146 BHP, great once it is on the move, but not at all good for a standing start on a hill with a full chip box and the chipper behind. First gear is too high.

1st and 2nd on my 2010 transit are excellent. The duratorque lives up to its durable name

I had my hilux done with buzzweld inside and outside on the chassis, cavities all injected etc. expensive and took a week due to the curing process between the different coats but should ensure she stays in good shape. 

I do find the 3.0 hilux too tall in 1st high range for towing. You can mess around with the 4 low to do 2 low as well and add a switch to the dash for it, its been on the hilux forums numerous times but I've never got around to it. Very handy for shunting trailers on hard surfaces. 

I wouldn't want the 1.9 for towing either. I think the 2.5 d-max would be a safer bet if you go down the Isuzu route. I think that would mean a second hand one as I'm not sure they have made the 2.5 for a while but I could be wrong there. 

Can't go wrong with a hilux, chassis rust on newer ones is what to look out for. 

Gearing and a heavy duty clutch are the key for towing. My hilux is tuned to over 200bhp with a lift in torque as well, however this tune was a general one and would be better being retuned to optimise the torque curve for towing getting it lower in the rev range. 

I would say my 2.4 transit at 115bhp is better for towing off the mark than my 3.0 litre hilux with almost double the power on paper. 

torque curve and gearing are better for getting going. 

eventually I will get around to remapping the hilux again 

The 3.0 engine is very good and been around for ages. it will never be stressed the way a 1.9 Isuzu is if longevity is on your list...

5 hours ago, forestrynick said:

Hi all,

 

Looking for specialist contractor help. I have a client who owns 4 islands on the Thames, these are to one side of the main channel but still get boat traffic around them. They are covered in Willow and Ash, historically been ignored and now starting to cause problems (particularly with Ash dying and pushing the willow over into the water). Access is a challenge! Worse still because they don't own the adjacent river bank. 

 

We've just had another tree fall into the channel, which needs removing relatively promptly but also need to plan an operation dealing with the increasing liability. Fell / coppice the trees around the edges that threaten the watercourse. 

 

I can conceive of an operation based on a barge, ideally with some sort of light weight timber crane to help deal with gathering up material. Its obviously not your average forestry or tree work contractor. Anybody got a suggestion?

 

Nick

Charterhouse tree care in Dunsfold do that kind of work.  Think he has 2 or 3 boats for it  

10 hours ago, 5lab said:

no access inside. To the northern edge is a field and within that field (not close to the land) is a bridleway, but not within the distance a tree could fall

 

Its an ancient woodland so the trees are all sorts of ages. I imagine a whole bunch of them grew after the '87 storm, but its all a mix of sizes.

 

I'm not knowledgeable enough to identify what all the trees are in winter, but have access to the forest management plan which shows the various ratios per sector of the woods - most of them ash is way above 80%, there's a whole load of other things (Sycamore, beech, etc) mixed in in small proportions

 

the SSSI is mostly (90%) grassland - the woods were designated because they helped provide a breeding area for birds. So the fact its Ash is (I don't think) particularly relevent. That said, SSSI will make it really hard to figure out what's allowed/necessary. 

 

We weren't really looking to buy a woods (I always kinda wanted one, but wasn't seriously looking) - the reason we took this seriously is that its within walking distance of our house. The real value is somewhere for our 2 (currently small) boys to grow up playing in, and if its mostly going to be ash and falling branches, it doesn't feel like this meets that need.

 

Appreciate all the help

Nothing you have detailed sounds like it would be a big issue to overcome 

Im a stones throw from the SDNP and have the same issue with ADB in part of our woodland (also designated ancient). Im extracting the ADB and started another business producing lump wood charcoal from it as a bit of hobby / side hustle. That took off well last year so will be adding a second kiln this spring. 

I secured a grant to protect the future of the woods. We have put in 900 new trees this week with the grant covering 90% of the cost on a self plant basis. A variety of 11 native species with full planting plan and survey free of charge carried out during the grant application . 

The SDNP is a big place but if its not far from me and you do end up purchasing it id be happy to take a look at the site and suggest some options. 

4 hours ago, Dan Tilley said:

Hi im looking to see what work is about for a groundy in midhurst West Sussex area 

Let me know what qualifications / experience you have 

Thanks 

cheers all, 

The delivery arrived today. sounds like 2 of us will get them done in about 4 days although I might do a bit over the weekend on my own. Been a decent grant process so far. 

So I secured a grant from Woodland Trust for additional planting at home. I have 900 broadleaf natives arriving to create further woodland. Most will be around to 100 cm mark with stake / deer guard. 

The going is easy, nothing steep etc etc 

How many would you expect to plant per person per day?

cheers 

8 minutes ago, Big J said:

I've just become aware of the Danes building a sub-sea tunnel from Rødbyhavn to Puttgarden (I'm a little slow - they've been planning it for over a decade).

 

The projected cost for it (to be completed in 2029) is 6.1 billion euros, or 340 million per kilometer. 

 

HS2 will cost around £1 billion per kilometer, by the time it's finished. 

 

How on earth can building two train tracks across fairly flat English countryside cost more than three times as much as constructing a 4 lane motorway and 2 lane train tracks on the sea bed? 

 

And I bet the Danes finish the tunnel first too.

I always liked that Nordic noir crime series , 'The Bridge' 

Maybe we can have 'The Tunnel' next .......... 

7 hours ago, daveatdave said:

quite agree in line with the edge of the tarmac nearly taking off the door mirror on narrow roads when someone is coming towards you   

yup, classic case of bare minimum. 

what usually happens is you try and avoid the bit of tree to save the nearside mirror and the the oncoming traffic does likewise resulting in you both twatting the offside mirrors with each other 😂

Windy rainy night, probably not as bad as I had expected from the forecast here, certainly some hefty gusts though. Nice and calm this morning which Im pleased about. Looks like it will be business as usual with a Beech reduction. 

6 hours ago, Mark Bolam said:

 

I hear you Mick, and sometimes you’ve just got to shrug, mutter ‘It’s your funeral’, fire up the saws and take the money.

 

I have refused plenty of jobs where the spec was utterly ridiculous locally though.

I don’t want to be known as a clueless twat who doesn’t understand trees and leaves them looking really awful or dead.

 

Well, not better known than I already am, anyway.

you'll only be known as clueless by those that have a clue.. and there aint many of them ... 

On the basis if we get a call out later I won't be driving, I'm going to open a 2018 Berry Bros extra ordinary claret and let it breath a bit in time for roast dinner... a good year apparently. 

1 minute ago, carlos said:

pretty windy here now, worse up north, gone to a red warning!!

Red warnings are the ones with £££ signs attached , right .....?

1 minute ago, Mick Dempsey said:

Ah thanks, no real reason for asking, just nostalgic.

Yes not too far from your old patch I believe. 

1 minute ago, Mick Dempsey said:

Whereabouts are you exactly Lux?

 Haslemere

Nothing like the forecast here atm. No rain and its windy / blowy but definitely not what the forecast is showing it should be. Maybe its pushed further North or a little behind the predicted times. West Sussex / Surrey border