Vedhoggar

How long to season depends on size of log, the smaller the log is cut and split it will season more quickly ... spruce normally within one drying season in my experience.

Between 0.875 and 1 tonne, estimated weight then 0.938 tonne

Conditions favour seller more than buyer of domestic firewood at the moment I would have thought.

Nottingham Energy Partnership were quoting 11.52 pence per kWh online and standard 11.06 pence per kWh per unit, after taking boiler efficiency into consideration that worked out at 12.29 pence per kWh and 12.81 pence per kWh (90% boiler efficiency). Gas based on an average of the 6 major gas suppliers from their website, including standing charges and VAT. LPG based average of three sources including Caller Gas for December 2022 is 9.04 pence per kWh (90% boiler efficiency), its expensive per unit but energy content is 6.66 times more per kWh per unit than mains gas.

Ash fresh cut and split Jan -April 2022 moisture content <20%. Sycamore, birch & alder fresh cut and spit Feb 2022 <20%. Scot pine fresh cut and split April was <20% in three months. All wood cut and split as soon as possible in 1m or 0.50m lengths (most max dia 150mm) and top covered with firewood tarp with the short 33cm and 25cm logs stored in slatted sheds or crates. Firewood if had been left in the round would not have been seasoned (<18-20%) by now.

Ref. Nottingham Energy Partnership kiln dried logs (not seasoned as stated, used to be seasoned logs but see they are referencing kiln dried logs now) based on prices from three of their sources, Tesco not being one of them. For December 2022 kiln dried logs is listed as being more expensive (11.21 pence per kWh) than oil (9.13 pence per kWh) but still cheaper than gas (12.81 - 12.2 pence per kWh). However, the prices quoted here on Arbtalk for seasoned logs are all are cheaper than oil ranging from 6 pence per kWh (£85/loose m3) to 8.86 pence per kWh (£125/loose m3) using 1411 kWh as an average at 20% moisture content for broadleaves.

1 tonne dry hardwood (20% water content) 5.000 MWh 1 tonne dry conifer wood (20% water content) 5.278 MWh Ref. Krajnc, N 2015 Wood Fuels Handbook

UK energy cost comparison Nov 2022 - after taking into account boiler efficiency (85%) seasoned firewood was about the same price per per kWh as kerosene (10.19 pence per kWh), mains gas was more expensive (12.29 - 12.81 pence per kWh). Electricity 38.41 - 39.21 pence per kWh!

I've had that same problem with other products in the past, had some fencing posts sat for months during a hot summer before being moved and the buyer would only pay by the tonne as he was getting paid by tonne delivered in to mill. Seasoned firewood ought to be sold by the solid m3, it doesn't make sense selling by the tonne.

Probably dogs trying to keep warm! Warmer there is Sweden that in UK (-6C).

Is that a heated grain drying floor? Do you leave the split logs like that or do you turn the pile from time to time? How long is it taking from fresh cut to get to <20% MC?

Choice of a capstan winches will be between PCW 500, Docma 105 Red Iron and Eder 1800. They all pull a tonne and about 2 tonne with block, the Eder will pull more with out block (1.800 tonne) but most expensive (£1950 + VAT). The Docma Red Iron is the cheapest (£1200 + VAT). The PCW 500 (£1495 + VAT) is the slowest (12 or 18m/min depending on drum fitted), the Eder the fastest 12m/min and 24m/min depending on gear selected, the Docma 20m/min (with block about 10m/min 2 tonne). If you have the funding and a lot of use for winch probably Eder best option otherwise Docma good value and well made winch. We have used a Docma for over 4 years and nothing worn out as yet although have had to replace some damaged parts - Treadlight Forestry provide very good backup and advice if required. The winch we find is good for taking down hung up trees, directional felling and extraction of firewood, the winch performs best when tension on rope so good pulling up hill, when pulling downhill if log slides or rolls the rope can slacken and the rope may then get tangled up one drum. Skid cone well worth buying (£139 +vat).

Subject title was 'Arb Waste'

It's not firewood processor grade firewood that you could load onto an artic at roadside which you you might be expected to £55-£65/tonne as you say, it's often wood from trees that have been felled in sections so would be in random lengths, some often in larger size diameters not suitable for many processors as well as located often where you would not be able to get an artic lorry, not the volume either to justify an artic most often as well very often not suitable material for loading onto an artic anyway. Everything has its price and £55-£65 is not what you would to be pay for 'arb waste', half that price would be more than enough.

It sounds like carpel tunnel syndrome and using an axe as well as some other activities will only make things worse, a machine is definitely the way forward as suggested (purchase or hire in one for time being) but you may need to rest wrist for a couple of weeks until it gets better (the nerve in wrist will have swollen putting pressure on it), a support can help until gets better but if it gets worse a steroid injection can help but still need to rest wrist. I had it bad in my late 20s which was probably a combination of various arb/forestry activities to a point I couldn't climb trees/couldn't sleep for pain and again in late my 30s tree planting on chalk it flared up however I haven't had a problem for years now ... using an axe a lot can also cause a problem with rotator cuff in shoulder.

The vol/weight ration of fresh matter is not the same for all species and 'builders bags' differ is size. Unless you intend using a public weighbridge you might consider making an offer based on volume if measureable. The value is going to be influenced by species, access and quality of 'arb waste' (branchwood, rings, sections from dismantled trees and/or main stem). As a guide 1 solid m3 = 2 m3 bulk split loose logs (25-30cm). The average weight of say a fresh (green) solid m3 mix of beech, ash, sycamore and birch would be about 0.895 tonne. On a price for those species if reasonably good access you might suggest around £30 solid m3 or £27 per tonne for 'arb waste' collected but then you might get if for nothing if contractor just wants it all out the way.

If considering a circular saw for firewood get one that throws the sawdust away and down from operator as some throw it towards operator. On size of engine it depends what you will be cutting, if mostly split billets >150mm dia a smaller engine will do and uses less fuel if a petrol engine also depends on species and if seasoned hardwood etc. We've bought a Balfor 700 rocking petrol saw bench in 2014 (£2190 incl. vat at the time) which has a max cutting dia of 295mm however that has to be wood that is easy to cut, more like 150mm it in my experience. It has the Chinese RATO 6 hp (212ml) engine - Honda copy as has been posted out. It's on the whole a well made machine and has roller bars in the cradle as well on the log support both of which some saws don't have). Maintenance repairs in 8 years with low to medium usage have been one of bracket supporting engine snapped and had to be welded 2 years ago (no problem since), belt needed replaced 2 years ago and there was difficultly in starting engine for a short period 2 years ago - probably seemed to be with not turning fuel off when not in use and/or having been transported with fuel not turned off, it's running well now but always turn fuel off and using Aspen 4 only, starts usually on 2nd/3rd pull from cold or first pull when often when warm. Did think of getting a Posch at the time which is well made and has a much bigger engine but was a lot more expensive and some of the cheaper ones out looked at don't seem as good. Never had a problem getting parts and the support from UK Balfor rep has been very good. The blade is tungsten tipped and never been sharped in 8 years but seems to be loosing its edge a bit now so will get it looked at when time allows but still cutting reasonably well billets <150mm but des jam on larger dia gnarly seasoned hardwood. It's heavy to move about yard but and very noisy so use Peltor X5 Extreme (37db) and double up with ear plugs!

Yeh, could have both as AJSress says but difficult to say without seeing the rest of the tree but whatever I would put a saw through it personally.

Yeh, I would agree with TWiG it's Ash Bacterial Canker

What's the situation regarding the movement of beech firewood if infected with Phytophthora kernoviae?

Serco have in the past given money to the Conservatives one way or another also Edward Argar at the Ministry of Justice and previously Chief Secretary to the Treasury was a senior executive at Serco before becoming an MP, Rupert Soames brother of former Tory MP Sir Nicholas Soames is currently Serco CEO.

England is the most densely populated country in Europe so percentage per 100,000 doesn't count for much ... not enough housing, food has to be imported as no longer sustainable, not enough dentists and so it goes on. One migrant yesterday was moaning that the centre he was being held at was like a prison, I would have thought prison was the place for anyone entering the country illegally and not being put up in a £150 hotel room at the tax payers expense which no doubt he had been expecting.

It is plain to see that the asylum system is not fit for purpose and our taxes are being squandered on dealing with illegal immigration. Labour will want to see the back of Suella Braverman no doubt because she will win back the support of many Red Wall voters which has been lost.

With regards to small machinery such as chainsaws, strimmers, log splitters, circular saws, mowers, hedge trimmers, generators and so on we use Aspen 2 and Aspen 4 as well as sometimes other makes of Ethanol free fuels, we also though use E5 (5% ethanol fuel) but never E10 (10% ethanol fuel) and don't buy petrol with ethanol in it if its not going to be used within a month. Ethanol free fuel goes into all machinery not used regularly and E5 goes into machinery used frequently. Ethanol can be bad for engines if left in too long as it can cause corrosion as well as attracts water which leads to all kinds of problems. We have had problems in the past with some machinery relating to fuel which has caused downtime and increased repair costs but the thing is savings may not be obvious within a 3 month period.

By the sound of it there is not more than about 25% sound wood at the base of the tree plus open in several places also the decay might well have extend into root system. The tree you think would not hit a house but people use area within striking distance of the tree at varying frequencies no doubt. All things considered if low pedestrian frequency in the facility of tree then probably broadly speaking it might be considered an acceptable risk, this could be made less of a risk if height of tree was reduced but for peace of mind you might considered removing the tree all together and be done with it which would be my preference if it were my tree. It looks like the tree may have been initially damaged by a garden fire then a pathogen moved in causing decay. I wouldn't have thought permission to remove the tree would be an issue. My best advise would be to remove the tree.