DocMustard

Cut and split approx 2m³ of well seasoned beech last night, very hard but straight grained so not too difficult to split by hand. Ready for autumn now.

I'll add to the X27 recommendations. Very easy to swing for hours. I also have a Fiskars Isocore 8lb maul (described confusingly as a builders axe) which is excellent for large section logs. If that doesn't do the trick, an Estwing 'sure split' wedge with 14lb sledgehammer (eye protection worn) or my trusty Husky 550xp2 if the log is too knotted.

Morning all, I got a load of sycamore from a plot of land being cleared yesterday, the stump base of the largest trunk about 2 feet across. I'll be logging and stacking that today, if the weather permits! Forecast thunderstorms here in Lancashire.

So it is, apologies.

It wasn't clear in the OP that arb waste was what was required, the opening statement was 'raw wood that could be processed into firewood'.

£30 per tonne? Good luck with that! Otherwise please feel free to share any supplier who is able to supply firewood grade hardwood at this price, I will have an artic load. The majority of roadside timber prices I have seen on this forum over the past 2 years have been near double your expectation, i.e. £55 to £65 per tonne roadside. Note the person selling the wood to you will not set their price based on what it costs you to transport/process the wood after you have bought it, they will base the price on the cost of labour, machinery, business running costs to extract the timber.

Got offered a felled ash today, was very grateful and sawed the trunk and large limbs into carry sized pieces, sawed up the branch wood for the tree owner's chimenea, both happy chaps at the end of the afternoon.

Back to the post subject, Fox Blox are made by a Lancashire timber moulding company from all their shavings. Their website states that the shavings are compressed using a load of 1700kg per square centimetre, in order to force the lignin to bind the wood fibres together. So based on a block surface area of, say, 20 x 10 cm (or 8 by 4 inches) this equates to a load of 340 metric tonnes compressing it. (200 square cm @ 1700 kg). That's a fair piece of machinery!

Morning, I have done a lot of proof reading of technical documents over the last 25 years, including PhD theses when I was doing my PhD, research papers and engineering reports in my job. I'd be happy to proof read your book if there is still a copy spare. I obtain and process a lot of log wood myself and have read other books on the subject which provide good comparators.

My dad uses Chantlers and is pleased with the quality of the hardwood logs. Look them up on the internet, they have a website.

Have an 18" bar on my 550xp2 and it is great, use for hardwood logging and ground cutting/harvesting, timber up to 24" diameter so far and the power (3kW) is fine. Low weight so good for using hours on end and good fuel efficiency.

A full afternoon logging oak, using some top equipment. Husqvarna 550xp2 to cut and the Fiskars X27 and Isocore maul to split. It is a joy to work with good tools.

Used my new Fiskars isocore splitting maul/builders axe for the first time today. Very good. Split some awkward lumps of curved grained sycamore and some very straight grained oak with relative ease. The maul will complement my X27 nicely.

The problem isn't the retailers of firewood, it is the bloody morons who don't have a clue about the moisture holding properties of wood and try to burn it wet (even when the wood may have been sold to them dry), don't understand the 'physics of fire' such that they produce a load of smouldering embers and in many cases don't know how their appliances actually work so can't adjust airflow, for example, to alter the characteristics of the fire. I source my own firewood, from diseased trees that have been condemned and felled. I season it for over 2 years under cover outdoors with plenty of airflow, cutting and splitting it to let it dry out. If my stocks get high, I may sell a bag on to a family member. There isn't a woodsure logo to be seen, but the logs sure burn brilliantly because we know what we are doing. The legislation is being forced in because of idiots who don't have a clue.

Blimey Moose, what length is that bar? Is it on a 550? Regarding swapping the 18" for a 15", I will run it on the 18" for the forseeable and if I need to replace the bar, will consider which size to get. Thank you.

Ordered, paid and on its way. Husqvarna 550xp mark II, with 18" X cut bar and chain. Thanks to everyone that has contributed their advice and experience (and time) in answering my question. I'd buy you a pint if I could! Cheers guys.

Evening all, I have placed an offer on an unused Husk 550xp mark II this evening. Under my budget limit too and comes with an 18" bar. Hoping the purchase goes through successfully.

Evening all, thanks again for the advice, have to get an EGR valve for my truck now, which will eat up the budget next week! So plan put back a few weeks, but I am favouring the Husqvarna saws after a lot of reading and the recommendations made here. Give yourselves a pat on the back for passing your wisdom on.

Morning all, thanks again for the additional information, some really good advice and tips to take on board.

It is a decision, based on prices I've seen vs my budget, between the Makita EA610045PD (seen at £498) or Husqvarna 555 (seen at £507).

Morning all, thanks to everyone that has taken time to provide advice and recommendations.

Hi Gary, any particular reason for you not having this saw any longer?

Thanks Gentlemen, I will review your recommendations during my dinner hour today. Update:- there is a Husky 555 on F R Jones for £7 over my budget, with an 18 inch bar fitted. I am tempted. Any experiences with this saw?

Morning all, Having gained access to a number of felled trees, I thought it is time to invest in a decent harvesting saw that:- - can comfortably ring trunks that are up to 2' diameter in two cuts, - is efficient with fuel (I have a Mitox CS64 which drinks like an old Volvo estate) - can cut quickly (my MS181 isn't designed for harvesting and isn't a fast cutter in this application) - is designed to be operated for 5-ish hours a couple of days a week for the next few months - is quite light and maneouverable as some of the ground in the area is very uneven. Plus I want it to last a few years, be able to get spares and replacement chains (ideally of different types, chisel, semi, etc). I have set a budget of £500. This will likely become my firewood saw in the future. Thoughts were initially a Stihl MS261, 271 or 291 (engine in the approx. 50cc category, with an 18" bar), however these are stretching my budget limit. Yesterday I saw a Husky 450 at a good price, so have started looking at their models. Any recommendations/advice to help me navigate this maze? Thanks in advance.

Woukd a 6hp unit be suitable for smaller scale material i.e. up to 20mm diameter? I would like a compact machine that I can store easily and be quite portable (not meaning towable though).