Sirius

13 hours ago, aspenarb said:

 

Worth checking with the client first, we have a done a few where they wont accept crushed concrete as fill, gets expensive using clean stone.  Some of them want the tracks taken up and the ground reinstated when extraction is complete, some insist on root protection. Best to get a spec.

 

Bob

Hi bob,

Its not in higher tier yet. And i want to explore doing the work prior. Especially for one wood.

We have a quarry site for stone.

Would love to get someone to quote.

50 minutes ago, htb said:

@aspenarb?

location?

Dorset..

Its for skidder tractor and forwarder.

We are going into Higher Tier also...

I am after a ballpark figure per metre to construct a forestry access track.

Not high spec but all weather.

I am teying to put forward an idea of cost to my employer.

16 minutes ago, doobin said:

I love my 462, especially with a West Coast Custom exhaust mod.

 

However,I also really love my little Echo CS501SX, and had I had that before the 462 I may well have tried an Echo instead.

 

That said, the Stihl is a fair bit more powerful for a good deal less weight. But I like the Echo 2 year commercial warranty. Stihl warranty is barely worth a wank.

 

Yes the warranty is worth it in my book. 

Echo is ordered, collect it this week, pretty excited to be honest.

I hear nothing but positive stuff about this saw.

It was a choice twixt Dolmar and Echo...and Echo won.

Husky and Stihl are just not my bag,  i am not sold on the tech and premium price of stihl.

So let's see how the Echo it does in the woods over the next few months..👍👍 that's the real test.

Cheers for input everyone.

9 hours ago, IronMike said:

Loads of forestry folks on my Instagram feed rave about the 500i. 
 

I have a 572 and like it a lot. It doesn’t feel quite as tough as a 372 perhaps, but I think it’ll hold up ok. 

I have been quoted a good price from my local dealer for boyh echo and husky.

Husky for £840

Echo around £100 more than the husky. But with a few sweetners chucked in.

The echo has a good warranty, and the retailer is very good. Will lend me a saw etc if mine breaks, always over and above.

So to my mind the echo seems to be winning as its not just the price it is the aftersales service too, and supporting local business.

Sadly the 500i is just out of my budget. Well over a grand..

I havent really looked at Stihl as there is a price hike.

I have echo, stihl , husky and dolmar dealers close by.

Dolmar have a 2 week delay cirrently on parts, which puts me off.

What is a bonus though is both Dolmar and Echo have either a 2 or 4yr warranty on there saws..🤔🤔

Too techy for me...lol but wouldn't mind a go lol

Hi all,

Looking at a few saws at the moment.

Any input would be good from other foresters.

I dont really like all the modern tech on saws but i am willing to give it a go ie: husky 57

In the running are:

Echo cs-7310 

Dolmar 7910

Husqvarna 572xp

I already run a Dolmar Ps5105 and its pretty good no nonsense saw. The new saws for bigger felling.

Hi all,

I have 8ton tractor winch (farmi)

I need to buy kit for redirects for winching at right angles.

Continuous sling for tree anchor

And a decent snatch block.

Not sure what size is best and where toget the best kit?

I am also after 10-20meter eyed strop breaking strain 5t or higher.

Help advice gratefully received.

2 minutes ago, Khriss said:

( plus if you find a good lad and shape him up right - worth weight in gold ) 

Indeed, its ust finding a good lad or ladess....??

Cheers for replys people.

I am looking at getting a apprentice type deal. Not ideal as I will prob spend more time teaching him so productivity will fall.

But I suppose if he can use a phone and do a first aid course it's better than a tracker imo.

51 minutes ago, s o c said:

Totally unacceptable working/employment conditions.

if, God forbid, you have an accident doing this kind of work alone, I’m not sure your employers insurance would pay out as industry best practice not observed.

if you get badly cut or crushed you only have minutes .

Sorry if this sounds harsh 

So what would you suggest to put it right?

Our current procedure is call office to state where i am working and ring again when i move sites. Eachtime giving a specific position for operations.

But like you say if it goes wrong i only have a few minutes.

1 hour ago, aspenarb said:

We run a no lone working policy where possible, on the occasions where this is not possible and  phone signal is crap we have a six station long range walkie talkie set up that we use, our guys are using it more often now to save beating up their phones. Its good for about four miles and will pair up with helmet comms.

 

Bob

Yeah i really dont like lone working for safety but love it on a personal level.

But even if i have a radio if i have a accident and cant use it, its pretty pointless...hard call

Hi all,

I am a employed forester on an estate, i work alone most of the time in remote places. I fell, winch, extract usi g a forwarder and tractor and process timber on my own.

I cant say i am all that comfortable with this situation.

I am concern that i need to be safe as possible. Often i dont have mobile coverage and cant use the three words app to log my position or stay in contact with the estate office.

Even with mobile reception if something went wrong, and i couldn't use my mobile, i often think what would happen and how i would get assistance or help?

My employer has also asked me to do aerial work in a cage on a telehandler. I am not keen, firstly as its not my bag, as i am a terra firma kinda guy and secondly as the machine hasnt been lola inspected i dont believe. So i have declined unless i am trained and machinery and operator is also appropriately trained.

So do any members have any input to help? Should i request from my employer that i have assistance for operations? or a lone worker alarm? Or both?

I am in the process of reevaluation of my risk assessments and procedures. So any help would be greatly appreciated to keep me safe.

Kind regards

Sirius

Snatch block???

Go back tomorrow and free the pin and get it off the tree and soaked in diesel or oil.

Might come good.

3kg nets I am west dorset not far from Dorchester.

The best I can get is 1.75 per net. Delivered.

Anyone supply at a better price. I want around 4 pallets.

On 16/12/2019 at 07:48, the village idiot said:

I buy mine from Bag Supplies Ltd.

I got mixed up got 50 delivered from bag supplies for 376 quid. 4 sided mosquito net with 6 loops. Not a bad price. Going to process ash straight into them in march and leave em in a airy barn or outside see how they season. If all goes well I will get another 50 or 100.

Do many members on here.

Do all of these processes and make it a viable business?

I currently do the above with some help from contractors to extract, fell and process.

I manage around 65hectares of woodland.

Currently firewood will be my main revenue. But I hope to start milling and making basic stuff from the timber to sell it seems more profitable.

I would be interested to hear anyone else who's doing the whole process as it were, or is it maybe more profitable to buy your firewood in?

Regards Sirius 

I am putting my prices up.

75 bulk bag

140 for 2

All hardwood inc vat and delivered.

Softwood 50 bulk bag

On 16/12/2019 at 07:48, the village idiot said:

I buy mine from Bag Supplies Ltd.

That the company that quoted me just over 400 for 50  inc vat and delivery.

8 hours ago, the village idiot said:

That sounds quite a lot to me. 

 

I tend to buy 150 or 200 at a time. For 200 they worked out at £5.60 a bag plus £35 carriage.

 

Perhaps there is a healthy discount for larger orders.

 

Did your quote include the VAT?

 

 

Yes in vat.

That was a total price.

The price is cheapest on 100 I think.

Which supplier do you use?

14 minutes ago, forestgough said:

I can only tell you about how good the mosquito bags are,i use them to finish drying my stock off,

 Stack them with the mesh side to the wind for good airflow and make sure to keep rain out from above.

The ones with bottom loops suit my system as I use them to tip logs out on trailer.

My current bags will have been used about 8-10 times and are now on their last legs,but I am now double bagging to get more use out of them.

I think they will suit my system too. Thanks, I was quoted £400 for 50 mosquito bags inc carriage. Does that sound about right?

Thanks all. Yep its rated 6ton. However I am not winching anything close to that, but best to go with a over rated block.