Donnie

These are the two splitters I was looking at. 

1 hour ago, Puffingbilly413 said:

A lad near me sells tonne bags of larch for I think £80 a bag. Used to be less but he went up this year I seem to remember.

 

He sells it as a sideline - perhaps a couple of hundred bags. Always runs out by about Christmas.

Aye like I'm not looking to make this my absolute full time job as soon as possible. More so a side hustle alongside cutting so I'd more than likely be the same, I'm guessing larch will sell the best for softwoods. I can buy 3 metre lengths of hardwood/softwood etc from the company I work for. 
 

21 minutes ago, scbk said:

Can you not work weekends doing the felling?

 

Probably make more money at that than firewood 🤐

Yeah I'd like to but cutting is a hell of a lot harder on the body than firewood...

Aye. I've had a google but I'd say most things on there are just for the lazy people who can't phone around. 80-150 for softwood? I'd of thought 150 for a trailer load 😂

it might be a bit different where I am from 

Here's a photo of the yard I might be getting to rent. I'm not going to be at this five days a week as I'm a forestry cutter Monday to Friday. 
 

I'm looking for a petrol log splitter that's towable and I'm steering towards Rock Machinery Venom splitters.

I've a lot of access to Sitka, some larch and pine. (For free obviously through forest wasteage)

I'll be buying IBC cages and using them to store my logs.
 

How much is the going rate of an ibc cage of softwood logs?

Loch Trool again. 

Jake Donaghy (@jfdonaghy7) • Instagram reel

WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM

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21 likes, 1 comments - Jake Donaghy (@jfdonaghy7) on Instagram: "Loch Trool high leading. #highlead #forestry #logging...

Climbed this hill today after brashing a big block that's to come, here's a panoramic view from the top. 
 

Maidens Paps, Shankend. Scotland. 

11 hours ago, Mike Hill said:

Are you paid by the day rate? Do you get an allowance to run your own saw or is that and the fuel built into the day rate?

Aye paid day rate. Get extra for going a fair distance etc. 

I supply petrol, oil, saws, chains ppe. Everything. 

7 hours ago, openspaceman said:

Are trees manually felled then skylined/highleaded out and processed on landing? If so what happens to the lop and top?

 

I used to think I was doing well to get 10 tonne up on a simple highlead. Modern forwarders put paid to that as the hills round here are not steep enough to be beyond their capabilities, ground damage is another thing though.

We have a high lead, and a tiger cat to process. 
 

All trees felled to a forest road or winched to the landing by us/cutters. 

4 hours ago, Mike Hill said:

How do you measure the volume of wood pulled up the hill onto the landing? In tonn or cubic meters?

How much are you pulling in a day do you know?

Depends on the job but that's for harvester drivers to know. As that's what they get paid by ton or metre. 
 

Not sure, it's not really a straight forward job as far as I'm concerned. Only done 2-3 days so far as local boys have got most of the work. 
 

Here's another photo out by Newcastleton way. 

Here's one from Loch Dee/Clattering Shaws. 
 

24 minutes ago, Doug Tait said:

To keep it light you could use a small caged trailer with a fitted tarp cover. Not high security but keeps things out of sight. I've an Ifor P8e with a fitted tarp that takes the quad in it with the cover on.

(Pic lifted from internet, I haven't swopped the truck for a Chelsea tractor!)

 

Aye to be fair that would be grand like. Can't be that much money in a trailer like that! Cheers again Doug

That Rangey would suit you to a T!

What about trailers? I've only a 1.5 diesel van so can only tow about 1-1.5 ton I think legally. 
 

I'd like a trailer that has sides and a roof on it so if I'm parked anywhere nobody knows really what is in it. 

22 minutes ago, MattyF said:

Keep an eye on the big dealers websites for trade ins , they will need a bit of work but I picked mine up from carsbilington, spent what it needed on brakes ect and don’t think I’ve lost anything in 8 years looking at current prices. 
Definitely get 4x4 for crawling out of forest ditch’s you’ll probably unintentionally find ! 

That's a funny place for them to be taking a nap...

Cutting leaners out in Loch Trool, 150 mile west of us. 300 round trip. Long day, steep ground but nice views. 
 

Used our new high lead winch to pull these in, as walk path and loch on the other side. 
 

Hemlock for the most of it. 

1 hour ago, Muddy42 said:

I have a 350cc 1980s Honda Big Red. Its had the odd repair, starter motor, new tyres and the rear axle has been welded, but other than that it barely missed a beat. I know the previous owner from new and it was looked after.  Watch out for ones that have been overloaded towing trailers of logs etc.

 

Other than that a lot of people rave about old Hondas being better than the new ones or any of the competitors, can am etc.

 

If you are a risk taker, you can pick them up for a few hundred quid. Plus they are much less of a sexy theft target.

Aye it'd be more of a luxury really and wouldn't rely on it every day. Be grand for brashing around bits and a bit of a laugh. An aulder one would be mint. I'd like a Honda, had a 125 and a few Honda Preludes and gave them death and never broke! 

Aye. Sold on the idea like. 
 

would I be buying a dog rough quad for max 2K do yoy reckon? 

I'm a cutter and this year I'm looking at spending about 1-5-2.5 on a quad bike for getting about some sites etc. 

Does anybody use a quad on harvesting/clearfell sites? If so let me know how you get on with it and show me your set up etc if you've got photos. 
 

Just think it'd be grand for steep ground if you can get up and around the clearfell on farmers fields etc. Only heard of one guy around here having one, but I like the idea!

Made a reel of a few old videos and another new one. 

Over size firewood today. Splitting oversize down to fit in a processor. Now that the fella I work for on weekends has this trailer takes away the need to hand ball it.

6 hours ago, Mike Hill said:

Those boors with the triconis will be hopeless on anything other than rock. The mud forms an almost instant second sole that falls off repeatedly.

 

Spiked soles with a couple of triconis on the edges are really good. Remember to get a propper tool to use replacing the spikes, golf shoe tools are a bit soft.

 

I wore these for years.

 

Wesco® | Stock Boots

BUILDER.WESCOBOOTS.COM

 

I've bought them today so will see how they go. I'm sure it'll be better than no spikes/rubber soles. 
Cost me 400 pound, can't really complain. They were 280 for the vibram ones. 

Here's a video taken off my work mates phone the other day as well. 

I have the technical Husqvarna hard hat and was looking to get coms for when I'm brashing/felling and soon to be high leading. For music when brashing etc.  
 

Looking at these Husky ones but I'm not actually sure if this has the mic or if it comes seperate. 
 

Any recommendations? Will be used for forestry work

2 hours ago, Roebus said:

JDon, thanks for the fb link, I don’t have Facebook so just sorting stuff out 😀

Get it just for that mate. You'll find info on there, more than what's here. 
 

This forum is mainly arborists and tree surgeon, that page I've sent you is just full of forestry cutters and loads of stuff on there. Well worth it. 

I pmed you @Roebus about an FB page. 

11 minutes ago, slack ma girdle said:

I tried some screw in tungsten studs, fantastic grip, but impossible to drive machinery in.

I think I'm just gonna buy these by the end of summer. Sick of falling over every log I walk across 😂