New member from South Africa

[dewaldf.carstens]

Hi, I'm Dewald from RSA near Cape Town. I have followed the forum for several years, very helpful, thanks.

I have finally started my firewood business, after leaving a 20 year career as a Mech Eng. I have included some pictures of our first productive days word in a few months.

Sent from my SM-J700H using Tapatalk

 

[moondoggie]

Welcome to the site! !

What kind of wood is that you split?

Nice conveyer and tractor too! !

 

[milkman]

Good looking wood, glad you joined. How about some pictures of you machines?

 

[unclemoustache]

Welcome! Always nice to have more foreigners around here. I got a couple friends from your neck of the woods, but they used to live in Johannesburg.

Yes, what kind of trees grow there?

 

[dewaldf.carstens]

Thank you for the welcome.

The wood is Blue Gum , or Eucalyptus. It's a hardwood, originally from Australia or Tasmania.

The equipment we run is a Tajfun CRA 480 processor with lof deck and a Tajfun tractor mounted winch. These we bought all new. Our tractors are all from Noas Arc. Fiat 850 and a Massey B40 with Forklift attachment on the front.

We have contracts with the farmers to harvest these planted wooded areas.

Sent from my SM-J700H using Tapatalk

 

[dewaldf.carstens]

Welcome! Always nice to have more foreigners around here. I got a couple friends from your neck of the woods, but they used to live in Johannesburg.

Yes, what kind of trees grow there?

Blue Gum.

Thanks. Forestry in SA is 40 years behind the First World. I believe we are the first in Africa to have imported this specific kit.

Sent from my SM-J700H using Tapatalk

 

[Sandhill Crane]

Welcome!
Love the photos...
Really love the log deck on wheels. Nice set up. Looks like it is working well for you.

 

[dewaldf.carstens]

Welcome!
Love the photos...
Really love the log deck on wheels. Nice set up. Looks like it is working well for you.

Thanks, yes I have been looking at various equipment before I started the business, and decided that this would be able to produce a fair bit of wood per day. Then the nightmare began getting finance, more than 2 years of it.

Ended up with a partnet, but without him, I would still be office bound working for a boss in the corporate world.

At least now we are producing 32 000 logs in 7 hours. So we are getting there...

Sent from my SM-J700H using Tapatalk

 

[Gugi47]

Welcome to the site and enjoy your stay here. If you need any help, you know what to do.
Many members here have huge experience in wood processing. They can help you in many way.

 

[svk]

Welcome!

 

[dewaldf.carstens]

Welcome to the site and enjoy your stay here. If you need any help, you know what to do.
Many members here have huge experience in wood processing. They can help you in many way.

Thanks, yes I hope to learn loads more from more experienced loggers, especialot regards to equipment choices. It's not like we have dealerships or other users that you can pop in at to look at kit. It's either YouTube or forums for me. Served me very well thus far...

Thanks again.

Sent from my SM-J700H using Tapatalk

 

[dave_dj1]

Welcome to the jungle (pun intended) Nice equipment you have there. Any pics of the forklift?

 

[dancan]

What's the main use for the firewood , heat or cooking wood ?
Welcome aboard!
I sure hope that we get to learn more about your part of the world so you'd better be an active poster with lots of pics [emoji3]

 

[dewaldf.carstens]

Welcome to the jungle (pun intended) Nice equipment you have there. Any pics of the forklift?

I will get some today and post this evening.

Sent from my SM-J700H using Tapatalk

 

[dewaldf.carstens]

What's the main use for the firewood , heat or cooking wood ?
Welcome aboard!
I sure hope that we get to learn more about your part of the world so you'd better be an active poster with lots of pics [emoji3]

Blue Gum has heat value similar to oak. We use it for BBQ, braai, we call it. Also very good for energy source. It is also used in paper industry in other parts like AUS and I believe Brazil.

My market is firewood and braai wood.

Sent from my SM-J700H using Tapatalk

 

[dewaldf.carstens]

I will get some today and post this evening.

Sent from my SM-J700H using Tapatalk

This is our MF 40. Better than loading by hand, but we will have to get better equipment once we start loading interlinks (40 ton rigs) to customers.

Some more pics from today....

Sent from my SM-J700H using Tapatalk

 

[dewaldf.carstens]

Blue Gum has heat value similar to oak. We use it for BBQ, braai, we call it. Also very good for energy source. It is also used in paper industry in other parts like AUS and I believe Brazil.

My market is firewood and braai wood.

Sent from my SM-J700H using Tapatalk

This is what we call braai (BBQ), we have these in almost every home in SA. Not because we weather, but we are addicted to meat and braai.

And one of my employees after stacking my firewood for a part of the winter. I tried the 400mm long logs that is thicker, so that my wife does not go through 2 cords every month. Hopefully this will last longer.

Sent from my SM-J700H using Tapatalk

 

[dave_dj1]

Nice looking rig, thanks for the pictures.