Elliott.F

Great thank you. Exactly the sort of tip I was looking for. Cheers.

That’s a good method. You can use zip ties fixed to the side handle and cut to length in the same way for longer log lengths. Again working left to right works best.

I understand that log size uniformity may not be that important to many people, but I do find it useful for 3 primary reasons: 1. Speeds up splitting time significantly on my splitter as you can set the blade travel range to an inch or so longer than each log. 2. I find it quicker, easier and more stable for stacking. 3. It’s easier to calculate volume more accurately. Obviously helps if selling firewood, which I do for a few friends. So that’s why I try and be reasonably uniform, but haven’t necessarily worked out the best way to do it.

What are the best ways to get a uniform log length when hand cutting logs for firewood? One recommendation I had on here was cable ties on the saw handle cut to length. I’ve also seen people using a top handle saw and tape measure to mark the logs before cutting with a larger saw. Which method/s work best for you?

We have around 50 of these on our farm and use them for all kinds of storage. They’re super tough, heavy duty and practically indestructible, been using them for years and of all the crates we use, they are the most useful - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B078XJRBLV?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

That’s great. Who do you plan to sell to, retail, wholesale, direct, etc? Also, whats the size of your kiln? If was to try this I’d probably just get a small kiln and test the water. Cheers.

I have actually been thinking about that and have done a little research on the subject. We have a decent amount of Alder, but right now I’m not sure I’d have the extra time to make, process and sell charcoal. I might change my mind if thought it could be a profitable enterprise and worth the investment, but at the moment I don’t know too much about that. I might start a new thread and get some advice 🤔

Good advice and great video, thanks. When you say your branch logger produces logs too quickly, do you mean it fills the trailer so quickly that its hard to keep up?

Looks fantastic and a great way to help the trusts out and create biodiversity. And you're a Husky man too. Do you get to keep any of the wood?

It's about 10 years growth and I think leaving them to get bigger is the way forward. They're all self seeded and have never been cut before, so what I'm wondering is whether I should pick out the bigger stems with say a couple of metres between each one, cut everything else away and then in a few years go back and start coppicing those stems in blocks. By taking out all the smaller stuff, I'm assuming the trees I leave will grow much quicker and be ready in a few years? Or I could just leave it all to sort itself out, which is already starting to happen.

Thanks Dan, some great tips. I think you’re right about the canopy so I won’t worry about that, but dividing the area into blocks for annual cutting is sensible. However, because these are all young trees that have never been cut , I think maybe I need to establish some individual stems at a good spacing and allow them to grow on for a few more years, then begin cutting them on a Coppice rotation? I will continue to explore the options. Also, great tip on the branch logger. I’d not actually heard of those, so went on YouTube to learn. Lastly, just out of interest what sort of conservation work do you do? Cheers E.

We’ve got an area of about 3/4 acre of naturally regenerated Alder - both Italian and native varieties next to our woodland. It has good access so we want to manage it as SRC for firewood. The largest stems are around 4” at chest height, but it’s very dense with much smaller material as you can see in the pic. Should we start to thin it out this winter or just leave it, as it seems to be doing ok and save ourselves the work? Aside from speeding up time to maturity, the biggest reason I can think of to thin is to improve the diversity so a bit more plant life can thrive under the canopy. At the moment it’s a bit of a monoculture. Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated Cheers

Yes maybe a person but English isn’t their first language or something. But it is interesting, this is probably the future now, never really knowing if the ‘person’ you’re interacting with is actually real or just an AI.

I see your point. Yes as long as the trees are being replaced then it’s sustainable. Perhaps the word sustainable was a poor choice on my behalf, when really it’s the environmental concerns (pollution or particulates) that I was addressing regarding the efficiency of the stoves, fuel quality etc and that many stove owners don’t understand that.

Absolutely not surprised to hear that. It’s standard operating practices for government and large industry. It’s one of the reasons I personally heat with wood, so that I am not dependent on these kinds of global systems. My firewood comes from woodland I manage. And like growing your own food, I find producing my own energy deeply rewarding.