Growing the woodpile.

[divebuddy]

Brought some logs back from Greenway. Split 5 of them today. 8 to split tomorrow.

 

[1 shot willie]

Just the job Dick.....that lot will keep you warm for while

 

[divebuddy]

Have to dry it for a while. 28% at the moment and best below 20% water.

 

[Bob N]

Nothing like a nice fire to warm those bones on a chilly night

 

[divebuddy]

Done a bit of chopping and filled the kindling bin.

 

[Gulfalan67]

Thats neat work. I’m guessing a fire makes a useful alternative to other heating fuels in these days of high energy prices.

What’s the deal in UK with collecting or harvesting wood on private or public land?

Alan

 

[Big Red]

Thats neat work. I’m guessing a fire makes a useful alternative to other heating fuels in these days of high energy prices.

What’s the deal in UK with collecting or harvesting wood on private or public land?

Alan

Strictly you can’t Alan, at least not without permission. It is theft.

 

[divebuddy]

The kindling is wood from a buddy who gets offcuts from a bed manufacturer. The logs come from a property where I have permission to take excess wood that has been felled usually for safety reasons. A wood delivery can set you back £100 for a dumpy bag. Very expensive.

 

[38thfoot]

I’ve never had a problem getting free wood; spend the whole year collecting and drying random branches, timber off cuts, broken pallets etc. A lot of the wood I get is the side branches up to 4-5 inches thick when trees have been felled as people want big split logs which look prettier in a stack. With side branches all you have to do is cut them to length with no splitting necessary.

38

 

[Big Red]

Got a few odd bits myself! Currently cutting wood as we speak, at around £90 a cube, I reckon by the the end of March, I will have about £2k + worth…….All free, apart from fuel.

I am currently in the process of filling this one up again, I have a load down and cut, and tons still standing. All split with a Maul, I have not given into using a splitter just yet……Keeps me fit!

I don’t sell it as such, I supply the farm where it’s cut, my lot, and the pub!

 

[divebuddy]

Right hand side of the wood shed is now full of split wood for next year.

 

[38thfoot]

Does that work out as a years supply?

38

 

[divebuddy]

Does that work out as a years supply?

38

Just about two thirds depending how long the cold spell is.

 

[Ystranc]

I gave into using a splitter years ago Mike, damn useful bit of kit when you’re doing the big bits.

 

[Gulfalan67]

Obviously we don’t burn wood for fuel hereabouts -but I noticed on trips down south to Tassie and thereabouts that towns are heavy with woodsmoke in winter, almost like the 19th century! I’m guessing fuel prices are a big part of that -but can’t be helping emissions much.

A couple of years ago I had to push 8 hectares of old growth forest to improve my fire management and protection of everything else. There must have been hundreds of trees, big ones too! I hated pushing them but it was the lesser of two evils. I had them stacked in big piles as habitat for wildlife ( tree hollows etc) rather than chipping them. They are slowly decomposing, but I live in terror of the prospect of them ever catching fire. The pile would burn for weeks!

When the fire came through last year I spent more effort trying to protect that woodpile than I did my own homestead

Alan

 

[Ystranc]

Obviously we don’t burn wood for fuel hereabouts -but I noticed on trips down south to Tassie and thereabouts that towns are heavy with woodsmoke in winter, almost like the 19th century! I’m guessing fuel prices are a big part of that -but can’t be helping emissions much.

A couple of years ago I had to push 8 hectares of old growth forest to improve my fire management and protection of everything else. There must have been hundreds of trees, big ones too! I hated pushing them but it was the lesser of two evils. I had them stacked in big piles as habitat for wildlife ( tree hollows etc) rather than chipping them. They are slowly decomposing, but I live in terror of the prospect of them ever catching fire. The pile would burn for weeks!

When the fire came through last year I spent more effort trying to protect that woodpile than I did my own homestead

Alan

We also like to leave some wood piles for the wildlife but on a much smaller scale

 

[Ystranc]

Well it seems I’ve got a bit put by for next winter…Jono may need a bigger axe

 

[divebuddy]

Nice! I invested in an hydraulic splitter. On it's second motor but worth its weight.

 

[Ystranc]

Nice! I invested in an hydraulic splitter. On its second motor but worth its weight.

They’re a necessity if you’re doing a lot of wood. I’ve got a hydrocrack splitter that has a spinning conical auger, it hangs off the back of the tractor and runs off the PTO.

 

[Ystranc]

Most of this wood has been down 18 months-to two years but it’s been out in the weather. If I split some down and get it under cover some of the softwood should be dry enough for the meet in April…if not there is some drier skinny stuff in the log stack.