Gav73

We’ve got a woodwarm stove. Had it 12 years+ now, it’s on it’s second fireguard and baffle. The picture of your baffle looks exactly the same as ours have been. Doesn’t affect the way it works and we only changed our baffle after 10 years because it had warped too much. Same with the log guard. I wouldn’t worry about it.

What you’ve just said kind of proves the point I was making. You’re reading it one way, I’m suggesting it could be read another way. I don’t think either of us is right or wrong, it’s just a typical example of legislation not being straightforward. When it come to enforcing the legislation, none of us know how the legislation could be interpreted and used, and until that happens everyone will have to make their best guess on what’s right and wrong.

The money’s worth is where it can be a little iffy, as it can be interpreted in different ways. A sale is a “transfer of something (and title to it) in return for money (or other thing of value)” In the case of arb waste, the “money’s worth” is the “other thing of value”. Generally waste costs money to dispose of, so it could be construed that by providing arb waste for free, the arborist is gaining the value of not paying for disposal. Now I don’t believe it would fall under the scheme, all of my firewood is arb waste, so I hope it doesn’t, but it is a good example of how legislation can be a headache and open to interpretation.

It’s typical of any legislation, vague enough to cover all the angles they might want it too, but not specific enough so everyone knows exactly where they stand! It reminds me of a local genius who got round the alcohol licensing by selling crisps from an old ice cream - you’d call his number and he’d come over to sell you a bag of crisps for £5 and you got 4 cans free. He traded for a number of years, much to the annoyance of the licensing guys, until the legislation was changed to the current vague version.

Sounds like it might be having an identity crisis if it’s called a LARCH sawfly and it likes SPRUCE [emoji23]

Yep, apparently also known as a greater horntail. Just been reading up about them. Harmless to us humans, but they love spruce for laying eggs in. The larvae can live for 2+ years in the wood before emerging as another big nasty. Glad all the spruce I’ve got will be going into the stove well before they come out!!

Keep seeing these around the pine and spruce at the minute

I’ve been shadowed by this little fella all afternoon. Was never more than 2 feet away from me and didn’t budge even when I put my hand out. So I’m guessing he’s either very brave, foolhardy or there’s some tasty food in the logs I’ve just split [emoji23]

Ive got one of those on my solar system, it’s called an iBoost. Works really well for us. Our heating and hot water all runs from our wood burning stove. So in summer we rely on the iBoost for our hot water. Great bit of kit.

Every time I looked out the window and saw the sun I smiled!

Where abouts are you?

Smart meters? Well not very smart in our case. When I had the solar panels put in a good few years back the meter was the old type (pre digital), the solar was plumbed into it and the meter actually went into reverse! Got away with it for about 18 months before the energy company decided the meter wasn’t compatible with the solar and feed in tariff [emoji23] They upgraded us to a smart meter - and it didn’t work! We’re now on smart meter number three and none of them have worked, the joys of having the meter nestled under the stairs surrounded by sandstone walls. It can’t get a signal [emoji849] We still have to submit meter readings and have the annual meter reading from the energy company!

Colour of the wood is very similar to hawthorn, but the bark is really thick and it doesn’t have the same density

Budget-wise I’d happily pay for a decent saw. I don’t have a fixed number in mind. But I’m not going to go stupid and buy something l like a 500i. The diameter of the logs varies massively, it really depends what the local tree surgeons are dealing with at the time. Biggest I think I’ve had was about 4’ in diameter, but that didn’t need cutting any smaller as it was already cut into a round that could be picked up. I would say the normal ones I cut up are between 1’ and 2’ in diameter. I tend to rotate what I’m doing and stick to one task at a time, whether that’s cutting, splitting or stacking. So when I’m cutting it’s a full day of cutting.

I read this thread with interest and a touch of eye rolling. Please keep an open mind when reading the rest of this. I used to be in the “man up and get on with it” camp until a couple of years back when I kind of broke down. A lot of what has been written resonated with me and some of the other comments did make me wonder what would happen if some of the people went through the same things I did, would they man up? Would they turn to substance abuse? Would they open up? I worked in an environment where people looked for me to lead them through some very challenging times. For 7 years we faced the prospect of being made redundant at any given moment. It was a rollercoaster ride, one day the business looked to be turning a corner, the next it was spiralling downhill. 7 years is a long time to keep up spirits and keep the chin up on both yourself and your staff - yes I did man up to it. Eventually the inevitable happened and the business closed down. There was relief all round that it was finally over and everyone moved on. I started a new job and I’d like to think I was fine at this point, but 2 years later and the new company I worked for took over a government owned business, they really didn’t do all the checks they should have and ended up with a massive problem - too many staff and a contract that said the previously government owned staff could not be touched. The business decision was to shut down my office and make the entire office staff (200 people) redundant, so once again I was thrust into the role of keeping spirits up, keeping the office going and putting on the brave face. This time there was an added complication, one of my guys was diagnosed with terminal cancer - 23 years old, had an 18 month old girl and was given 6 months to live. A shitty situation made worse by the fact I knew if he died before the office closed his family would get a decent insurance payout, if he didn’t they would get a measly redundancy package. My bosses wanted to do the right thing, but they needed to know which was the cards were going to fall and I got the job of finding out. I was lucky that this kid was probably the bravest, most realistic person I’ve ever met. He knew and accepted what was happening to him and he was open about telling me everything I needed to know. I carried on visiting him every week up until he was taken into the hospice for the final few days. He even called me and asked to see me the day before he died - it took me an hour to “man up” after that visit and go back into the office with the brace face and keep the spirits up. The office shut down 2 months later and I’d already decided I was going to take a break before going back into another job, but a curveball was thrown my way. I was being kept on for another year to help the people who had taken out jobs get up to speed. I spent the next 18 months (it got extended because they were so shit) travelling to their office 200 miles away and staying in hotels 3 nights a week - sounds like a nice life until you know that you’re not welcome in their office because they didn’t want to do the work and used it as a means to move around all their problem employers. So there I sat between clients who were going demented with the sub standard work and the staff who didn’t give a shit. I turned to drink. Every night I went out for dinner and kept drinking long into the night. Mainly on my own, a few times with other people I knew, but mainly alone. Drinking alone is not a good thing. You mull over things and they fester. After what seemed a lifetime the contract ended and took some time out. I wasn’t myself. I was moody, angry, tearful, suicidal, felt worthless. The slightest thing would tip me over the edge. I refused to go and see anyone because I would “man-up” and get through it. The crunch point for me was my wife giving me the reality check of what would happen if I didn’t sort my shit out. I went to the doctor, and he asked me a couple of questions and I literally broke down, I started on antidepressants and got some counselling. I’m not a talker, never have been, but the counsellor was brilliant and I had so many light bulb moments. 2 years later I can now say hand on heart, I should have done it a lot sooner. I no longer see a counsellor or take any medication. I work at things I enjoy at my own pace and with no stresses. My issue was not a single event that put me over the edge, it was years of sustained issues. If I’d recognised this early on and didn’t “man-up” I could have coped much better and not spiralled. Everyone will have a different trigger point that sends them over the edge, some people will be open about their stress, often this can be perceived as trivial, but this might be their coping mechanism and they may never get any worse. The lesson everyone needs to take from this is don’t be dismissive to your own or anyone else’s issues. Take a step back and ask if you’re/they’re ok. Talk about it. I’ve learnt that I should have done that.

I managed to get a pair of Stein boots online (End of line and obviously been on a shelf for some time dusty box!). Worth doing a google search

I know about the lidl socks. I bought all the big ones last time they were in stock!

Some good options. Corded isn’t an option as no power near where I cut. Kind of thinking 20” bar to match the MS391 would be handy

Thought I’d throw this one out there to see what everyone’s views are. I’m currently running an MS391 for cutting logs to length before splitting. I like the power and the speed it rips though the logs, but the weight isn’t great when I use it for a long period of time. I have a MS181 as a back up, a good saw, but is miles behind the MS391 for efficiency. What back up saw would everyone recommend?

You’ve got the same issue as me, finding comfortable footwear is a challenge at the best of times. Add size 49 into the mix and you’re left with very little choice! And it doesn’t stop at chainsaw boots. Socks, trainers, shoes, football boots. These people with little feet don’t understand the struggles….. On a plus side though having foot long feet is really handy for measuring! [emoji23]

I’ve only ever used it for firewood and I have a love hate relationship with it. It can be an absolute b’stard to split if the growth has twisted, but the smell from splitting it can be amazing. Very occasionally come across a resin well that clears the sinuses brilliantly. Great wood for a fire pit with a lovely aroma. Can’t help with any other uses though.

Chopping board? You mean the furniture movers the kids use as skateboards and hook the wheels over a couple of logs to store them [emoji23] When I split I normally write the month and year on the ends of couple of logs in each store with a markal, so I know not to go back to them for 12+months. But all of the logs in this store are fully seasoned (I’d stored the rounds for more than two years before splitting them)

My main log store. Finished filling it with fully seasoned logs last week. Each one of the bays holds 4 cubic metres of stacked firewood. Should keep us going for a while!

Careful - all the other reviews say how excellent they’ve been! Oh and the vast majority of the reviews were invited reviews….