Timber Futures

Thanks will look it up.

Been back to work on a large Ash which has dropped a couple of large boughs recently, based near Gloucester UK. Not the european Fraxinus excelsior but definitely in the family, with much larger pinnate leaves. It’s an old tree, probably 100 years judging by the trees planted with it, so it has a few dead branches. Also it’s losing its bark majorly (pictures attached), never seen this before, you can see there is a new layer of bark developing below the outer failing layer. If anyone knows what’s up with it I’d be very grateful, both to know the species and is bark condition a feature. Many thanks.

Thanks for this openspaceman great to hear the history, Paul Elsey had some good insights into what creates a high quality finish on milled timber. When we first started out milling with the Trekka it was challenging, mostly because we new very little about the tree end of timber, being cabinet makers and joiners. We ended up modifying the head on our machine with extended handles and few other little tweaks. We got over the issue of miss winding the elevating handles - whoever f**ked up the most bought the beer. After about 4 years of milling with the Trekka we needed a more productive machine, still with a mobile capacity. We hired in several mills with operators to see how they managed, including the big Wood Mizer. All the mills were good a managing certain timber, but the best all-round performer was the AutoTrek - the Wood Mizer has a faster throughput with softwood, but can’t match the consistently fine finish of the wide blade set up. LogLogic produce some great kit - good solid British engineering.

The Trekka was a design inherited by LogLogic, can’t remember the chaps name who originally built them, but they developed it into the current machine. I started out with a Trekkasaw which I still have - converted the beams so that it can cut 8.5m lengths, still have it in a barn but not used much now. Wavy cuts - took a while to discover the cause, can be several things, most common is the blade not being absolutely parallel to the direction of travel. The guide bearings allow adjustment for this. The Lucas is a great machine, LogLogic were agents for them - we used to demonstrate the AutoTrek alongside a Lucas Mill at the APF on LogLogics stand.

Your right it’s a very well built sturdy machine - just on the weight limit for towing with a Discovery 3

Yes I did thank you - will check out Green Waste Management Services Ltd - not to far from us.

We use and AutoTrek - built in Devon by LogLogic - one man operated, 6.5m bed, 1.2m width capacity and can self load up to a 4 tonne log. Uses 4" wide stylite tipped blades - very nice machine, super accurate cut.

Hi Billhook, thanks for the comment - main work is getting hold of trees to mill for timber use, anything from western red for external garden projects or hardwoods, garden exotics and unusual specimens for makers. I'm a maker who couldn't find any local timber for joinery and cabinet work, so ended up setting up a small saw mill with some other woodies. It's become harder to get hold of sticks from contractors over the years (all of them processing for firewood now) so I've moved into climbing to access the timber direct. Not been easy, I'm scared of heights and don't like seeing trees being cut down, but I do love timber and all the associated processes and people. Have worked with some great climbers and skilled arborists so had knowledge to call on. It's very satisfying to take care in removing a tree, milling the boards, drying them over months and sometimes years, then seeing someone find just what they need for a particular project. And I get the pick of the timber for the stuff I make too. Cheers, Tim

Tebay that's the original - never been but planning a trip to inverness next month so will call in. Westmoreland is the family name, they own a farm at the Tebay site, land was compulsory purchased to build the motorway, pretty isolated location so the workers on the roads had nowhere to go for scram. They got a hut together for them and that's how it started. I met Mr. Westmoreland during the build at Gloucester, he was still involved but was being run mostly by his daughter and a big team from Tebay. Very tight nit bunch with a broad view and not afraid of graft. Google Maps GOO.GL ★★★★★ · Aire de repos - that's the spot, cheers, Tim

We live a few miles outside Gloucester and if ever passing I usually hop on the motorway for a one junction trip to grab some scram and do a bit of shopping. Loads of the produce is cooked and baked on site using local stuff - it can be a bit pricey but they sell off all the fresh baked pies and cakes cheap at the end of the day. Well worth a visit - nice timber work too!

Hi there, just joined this site looking for somewhere near Gloucester to drop some chip and this topic came up in the search for some reason. I was responsible for putting in the trees for the lighting in both north and south bound Gloucester services. I extracted the trees for the job from a small woodland near May Hill (nr. Newent), nice ash about 70 years old. Had to get them out as complete as possible to meet the architects spec. Tricky job all completed with a Warn winch fitted to a Discovery TD5 to get them roadside for collection. Also put in some log screens in North bound and the log pendant lights which I really enjoyed hacking out. The services are a family owned outfit that insist on using local providers whenever they can, really nice people to work for. The original services was put in on their farm up north which started out as tea hut for the guys building the motorway. I understand they've acquired land just north of London on the M1 and will be building there too. They had a lot of planning issues to deal with, mostly raised by the big services owners who tried to block the planning at many levels. They stuck at it though and the result is a game changer for looking after people who travel. Good job too.