Insufficient paint

[Flyfisher]

Our hens are not lucky enough to dine on braised steak but you're absolutely right about them being omnivorous. Whenever I take my tractor into their pen (where I store a few implements) I use the front loader to dig up a shallow trench and the hens are all over the fresh earth eagerly devouring worms and anything else exposed. They also love potato skins. They didn't seem too keen on the stewed apple skins I gave them yesterday, but they were all gone by the end of the day.

 

[skier-hughes]

How do you find your log splitter? Is it a great boon? I've just got 6 ton of tree, cut into shortish trunk sections that I need to chop up and dry. It's a rather daunting pile to do by hand, wondered if I should get one to go on the back of the tractor.

 

[Flyfisher]

I suppose it depends on how fit you are, or how fit you wish to become, but splitting wood by hand is certainly hard work. It also depends on the diameter of the logs. Smallish logs, say up to about 10 inches, could be seasoned as they are and then split with an axe on as 'as needed' basis given a few minutes of work each day. But big trunk sections will dry out much quicker if split into segments, which is what I do, and a powered splitter makes it fairly effortless, meaning that you can spend an afternoon creating a huge wood pile instead of being worn out after half an hour (in my case anyway). So, yes, I'd say it was a boon.

If you already have a tractor then you've got most of what you need. My splitter is DIY (but not by me) using an old hydraulic ram operating off the tractor hydraulics and a bit of welding. Otherwise, I've seen self-contained electric splitters based around an electric motor driving a small hydraulic pump and a ram that pushes the log against a steel wedge, so exactly the same principle as my tractor-mounted splitter.

I've also seen a 'rotary screw' splitter driven off the tractor PTO, but I've no experience of them. Some info here (no connection), but seems a bit pricey.

Shame you're not closer; you could have borrowed my tractor and splitter.

 

[skier-hughes]

I wish I could, as after posting I checked ebay and cheapest pto driven splitter was hundreds of pounds. Long term a good investment, but with kitchen and bedroom still on the go, a new heating system and a garage complex with new log store to build and eat up cash I think it's going to be an axe again this year.

 

[Flyfisher]

I agree they are pricey tools. I was lucky that the chap selling my tractor threw in the log splitter as it was no longer any use to him. Still, think of the physical benefits of all that work. :wink:

 

[JoceAndChris]

There is nothing so splendid as a fine man wielding an axe.

 

[skier-hughes]

and what about me wielding an axe? Maybe Jo'd look better in her pink dressing gown!!

 

[JoceAndChris]

:lol:

 

[Penners]

There is nothing so splendid as a fine man wielding an axe.

First, find your fine man...

 

[MdB]

I'm sure everyone knows this but you can get dedicated splitting axes which are supposed to make the splitting of logs far easier compared to a normal axe. I received one for my birthday but I'm afraid to say I haven't actually used it yet....

 

[Feltwell]

I've used one of these to good effect:-

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/51334...tter?cm_re=SEARCHPROMO-_-LOG SPLITTER-_-51334

Just don't get too ambitious and drive it too close to the centre of large log with no natural splits - otherwise you get it stuck and have to carve it out very carefully with a chainsaw....

Alternatively, Screwfix do powered log splitters from £200.

 

[Cloudscape]

Is it true that green logs are easier to split than seasoned ones (this from someone who would prefer not to have to split any logs at all :wink: )?

 

[skier-hughes]

I've found chopping with an axe is easier with seasoned wood, it has started to split with the drying and hitting that sweet spot makes life easier.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I've found chopping with an axe is easier with seasoned wood, it has started to split with the drying and hitting that sweet spot makes life easier.

All this talk of splitting logs - you'll be telling me I shouldn't be burning coal next! 8)

 

[Moo]

Is it possible to hire log-splitters?

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I've seen log splitters for sale in the local hire shop, so assume they can be hired too.

 

[MdB]

Is it possible to hire log-splitters?

Yes
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en-GB&q=log+splitter+hire

However, these look like more fun....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3RsEJ15GBE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qwz0w4mX40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJZkNRsarcE&NR=1

 

[JoceAndChris]

Green with envy for those machines... just spent the best part of three days manually snapping up branches and trees and putting them in the incinerator - I've got a pile of them the size of the front room.

A couple of men with a couple of those machines, my garden would be ready for chicken expansion in no time!

 

[Flyfisher]

Yes, slight advance on the axe. The Bobcat cutter/splitter would be ideal. In fact it makes me wonder if I could modify my splitter to split more segments at a time. No, I must resist. Mrs FF already thinks I've got too many implements for the tractor.

 

[Penners]

However, these look like more fun....

MdB - when I worked for Volvo Construction Machinery, we sold a considerable number of machines of that type. Forestry demonstrations were my favourite part of the job. I've never seen that Bobcat attachment before, though. What a wonderful bit of kit!

Today, Volvo are backing the development of electric forest harvesting vehicles. Such as: