thebrookster Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 Not really a hobby, per sae, more a necessary chore. Firewood. I burn a lot. I already have maybe 6 tonnes already cut and split, this is all rhodedendrum cleared from the garden. However, I like to have pine in as well (open fires so advantage using hardwood for me, most of the heat goes up the chimney!) so a quick chat with the local forestry office procured an additional 3 tonnes of 3m lengths of larch. "There's maybe 5 tonnes there" the guy says, "take what you want". So, trailer hooked up and checked. First load collected, however now for the tricky but. I have to reverse down here......... Not much room for error either: And an interesting bend at the bottom: But the first load is stacked! There's maybe a tonne and half in there, maybe a touch more (I halved it all before stacking, a lot of that is at least two men handling, some bits 3 man!). Lucky I have two willing helpers And now back again to get the second load. Unfortunately we have taken the "light" stuff, so heavy lifting will have to begin. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRooster Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 Doing the same, 18 cubic meters to cut up and stack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 Let the first warming begin..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrookster Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 Second load back. Definitely much heavier load this time, but better loaded (first load I put at the front which gave me too much hitch weight, even though I was within the trailer capability). Actually had to go into first gear to get up my drive (which is steep to be fair). Just got to unload, cut and stack it all now! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escadrille Ecosse Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 That's a lot of wood. Not my favourite task I have to admit. Fortunately we live in the city on mains gas so don't have to this much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrookster Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 Damn right it's a lot of wood, used quarter of a tank today, it's a 50 mile round trip to Aberfoyle, and the fuel usage was mostly on the full runs! Equates to 50 miles costing £30 in diesel. My 2 willing helpers also thought it was a lot of wood This load required splitting on the trailer where possible: The finished stack: And a few rounds cut down, I shall split these down shortly (judged to be too big for SWMBO to move by herself, so we decided to cut and split them straight away). Truck never skipped a beat all day, just me that is a bit knackered now lol. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRooster Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 This is a lot of wood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrookster Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 35 minutes ago, RedRooster said: This is a lot of wood Careful, this line of conversation could rapidly hit the gutter (not that I would ever lower myself to sexual innuendos) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrookster Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 Final splitting done. Glad I got this axe now, the old one is smaller and would have required substantial effort on this, still a bit wet. And just for the hell of it, a video of the final two logs. Excuse the miss on the second last hit lol. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 (edited) Man of your calibre shouldn't be chopping wood, when such excellent machines as these have been designed Edited October 6, 2020 by JohnD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrookster Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 Not for me John, I enjoy splitting by hand! I have considered buying a powered splitter, however the cost is such it would take a long time to just pay it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRooster Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 Get those splitters that have a twist in them, the normal ones just end up being stuck in the wood. RR ps Bet my chopper is bigger thank yours, 20 inch.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrookster Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 14 minutes ago, RedRooster said: Bet my chopper is bigger thank yours, 20 inch.... Got you on that one, mines 36 inches, and 3.7kg head (8lb in old money)........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterC Posted October 13, 2020 Share Posted October 13, 2020 Burning pine will soon clog a chimney with layers of ash embedded in condensed resin. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulAA Posted October 13, 2020 Share Posted October 13, 2020 On 10/6/2020 at 7:31 PM, JohnD said: Man of your calibre shouldn't be chopping wood, when such excellent machines as these have been designed I was eagerly anticipating severed limbs (or at least digits) and copious blood. Instead, all these machines were operated by phenomenally lucky people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRooster Posted October 13, 2020 Share Posted October 13, 2020 5 hours ago, PeterC said: Burning pine will soon clog a chimney with layers of ash embedded in condensed resin. Peter Your right there, it should stand for at least a year and even then it isn't the best thing to burning, RR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerguzzi Posted October 13, 2020 Share Posted October 13, 2020 5 hours ago, PaulAA said: I was eagerly anticipating severed limbs (or at least digits) and copious blood. Instead, all these machines were operated by phenomenally lucky people. Hello All I think I take risks but am a complete Amateur compared to these people. I really like the backless slippers in the second one! Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrookster Posted October 13, 2020 Author Share Posted October 13, 2020 8 hours ago, PeterC said: Burning pine will soon clog a chimney with layers of ash embedded in condensed resin. Peter Aye, I also have the chimney swept annually by an external company, along with regular sweepings by myself (the external company satisfies insurance requirements). 2 hours ago, RedRooster said: Your right there, it should stand for at least a year and even then it isn't the best thing to burning, I agree that hardwood is better, however this also depends on how you burn it. I have open fires, where roughly 2/3's of the heat goes up the chimney. In my area, hardwood is roughly £80 per tonne (builders bag full). I have just collected over 4 tonnes of larch for £75. The extra heat from hardwood does NOT justify the cost, and further hardwood is simply not sustainable in Scotland currently. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterC Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 I tried a powder that was claimed to be used in coal-fired power stations to reduce flu encrustation. Looked like iron filings. No idea if it worked but as the flames looked unchanged I lost interest, along with its name. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrookster Posted October 20, 2020 Author Share Posted October 20, 2020 13 hours ago, PeterC said: I tried a powder that was claimed to be used in coal-fired power stations to reduce flu encrustation. Looked like iron filings. No idea if it worked but as the flames looked unchanged I lost interest, along with its name. Peter Never thought to see if you got those for chimneys tbh, I do use similar onboard on Exhaust Gas Economisers and Auxiliary Boilers (Both of which have a bad habit of choking up over time). That stuff works though, doesn't negate having to water wash the tubes every 6 months, however it does speed the process up dramatically as washing takes far less time to do. That's a nasty green powder though, and doesn't need to be burned (though the Boiler takes a slightly different form that does react with flame), does some funky stuff to your skin if you are not careful! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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