Acerforestry

Torry Hill Chestnut Fencing, Doddington currently require self employed hand cutters for chestnut coppice. Please call John-Leigh Pemberton on 01795 886020 

I recently emailed Morris's and they confirmed winding the company up, I wanted a spar hook and very few  suppliers now seem to produce them so I have gone vintage through lack of options. Hedgelaying does not seem to have any lack of interest in the UK and the  wood craft movement is still strong so its a bit baffling really that more tools are not offered here

i think the best approach here is to put a few feelers out, on Woodlots and the like first and see what happens. I understand imports can sometimes scupper the efforts of local craftspeople but that doesn't mean that opportunities don't exist. I have seen current websites where producers of spars are asking a lot more than 20 pence a unit, but that doesn't mean they are shifting them admittedly

I frequently have access to standing hazel and the idea of making some thatching spars on ever frequent  torrential rain days is gaining appeal - has anyone on here any experience of producing them and is there only seasonal demand - based on the idea that I imagine most thatching takes place in the warmer months, or do thatchers stock up on on materials throughout the cooler months. Any info appreciated TIA, Phil

That's great, thanks

I can see we are going off topic with humourous banter which is fine, but anyway some good replies there I will check out youtube, it seems all that is needed is a pimp clamp and some spare time

Has anyone seen at any point an instructional video for making the above, the general purpose of which is to start bread ovens. I saw a bloke at the Kent Woodfair last year and he had a little bench clamp / vice setup to assist in the making of, I'd like to see that or something similar in use. A dying craft it seems, and I get quite a lot of birch top

Fuel filter was one of first things checked, have tried all options and thanks for replies but I'm now just using it on and off as back up, will deal with issue when more time available 

On 30/07/2023 at 20:08, lurch_918 said:

so I ask are you leaving the saw on tick over for 1/2 hour before it cuts out or are you running it full chat for 1/2 hour then dropping straight to tickover ?

Full bore use until cut out, though that duration time has dipped (see other reply)

Thanks for all replies, vapour lock I've heard about and is a possibility though it seemed to do this less in the reasonable heat of June than the pretty awful cool and wet conditions of late - on Monday it scarcely managed 5 minutes before playing up. All routine maintenance I'm pretty good with, and air filter doesn't look that discoloured but I will put another in. Will report back after trying all possibilities, cheers

I'm sure this will have been asked before but anyway..560xp sometimes runs for maybe half an hour, sometimes less depending on how it feels apparently, before cutting out on tickover, or refusing to start again after refuelling. Advice please from anyone who had the same

4 hours ago, doobin said:

Good quality chestnut coppice is worth maybe £600 per acre standing. Probably considerably less than you were hoping. That goes right down if access etc is shite.

 

I'm presuming you are either Sussex or Kent, if Sussex then I can give you some starter contacts.

Correct, I'd say for acreage rate that is

Whereabouts are you please 

I never bought one but it has to be said Husqvarna make the best spec belt going, and if you need anything more than tongs and tape you may as well go the whole hog and get the right tool for the job. Its coming off your tax bill anyway if you're S/E

If you are cutting chestnut in Kent you would have to go like the clappers to do 150 a day, every day. The only way you'd get that kind of wage is by doing firewood as well. The rates are up and down like a donkey's hind leg really

25 minutes ago, Sutton said:

We can calculate how long it'll take you to get your money back for you - just give us some imput first:

What amp is your alternator?

What inverter price range are you looking at?

What is idle rpm of you diesel and what size?

What batteries are wanting to charge?

 

Ok, that's pretty decent of you, I'll get the info by tonight. Though given the cost of the little inverter  (50 quid)

I'm more than happy since that can be used to charge or power all manner of stuff, on the move. Tried a 4 inch angle grinder on it yesterday, it handled that ok

Ok that's confirmed that in theory you lose a little on mpg - I'm able to use recycled veg oil mixed with derv to a degree in my old truck so I'm still coming out more than on top in that respect (and at present that's perfectly legal, before anyone asks!), and I'll be interested to see if the inverter can be used with the vehicle stationary for spells of say up to 30 mins, on one click of the key. As to if what extent that will deplete the two batteries (winter pack), I don't know yet

22 hours ago, Canal Navvy said:

Being able to charge from a vehicle is for convenience,  it's never going to be less expensive than plugging into the mains 🙂

You might have to explain that to me, lol I don't quite follow. If say, I charge any small electric appliance or tool from 12V on the move, how is that not costing less than the mains at home? Particularly given current and projected costs

23 hours ago, GarethM said:

That does say modified since wave instead of pure sine wave. Being RS you should be able to send it back if it doesn't work tho.

 

The cheapest pure sine wave version is £100

 

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/power-inverters/1793325

RS stuff is usually quality, this has 3 year warranty. I think it will work fine. As long as outage is over 250, which it is

Thanks for replies, the options above are a good start and you've got me thinking along the right lines- the option below is only 50 quid delivered, top quality and 3 year warranty, just bought one

With electric costs what they are, I'm thinking it will make perfect sense to charge 18V batteries for the 540i from the winter pack 2 battery set up in my 4x4, all that is required is an inverter wired in. It's unlikely I'm going to need to use the inverter for anything with higher requirement so my question is does someone know offhand what sort of output inverter is sensible without going too far up the scale, as the prices of Durite versions for example, are not cheap generally. TIA

Not something I've had to think about yet, but I own one and and at some point this will be useful info if someone has done it

Cheers for all replies. Bafflingly the next afternoon I handed it to mate who was going to drop it off at ag merchants, and after a few squeezes it started again. So, iffy trigger of connection somewhere is all 

So, I've been running the above saw alongside a 555 for occasional use on  chestnut coppice, only using the electric unit for stems up to six maybe 7 inch, and I guess since buying it in April it's scarcely cut an acre (days off, holidays, wet weather all impacting use). I bought it not new new but prior owner had literally bought on a whim, tidied his garden up for a few hours, then sold it to me, with warranty until 2023. Today it made a slightly rattly noise that made me wonder if the sprocket was playing up, and then wouldn't go when trigger squeezed.

I have looked to see if there is anything obvious that could stop one of these other than low battery, and drawn a blank so far. Motor failure? If that's the case I doubt I'll buy another, not for the best part of a grand with a few batteries. Just curious if anyone else has put a pro grade electric ground saw through its paces but found that they are not likely to last very long before needing serious attention.

Yes you're right there, it is time to apply as this government seems hell bent on making everything hard work