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#1
Forestry and Logging / Re: JDM Mini Trucks
Last post by Riwaka - Today at 02:36:38 AMNZ has imported the Japanese used JDM mini trucks for 20 years or more. So there is a fair bit of experience with them.
The old Toyota RAV4s are a side by side substitute on flat drier farms (bigger off road tires than the mini trucks) A pile of parts in wreckers yards years ago (not sure about now)
The mini trucks are right for some places and people, but they are not for every place.
Impact has a youtube demonstrating the minitrucks.
Suzuki Carry vs Daihatsu Hijet try mini trucks NZ (illustrates the bottoming out at the ramp angles etc)
https://youtu.be/AXsLD86Z82k?si=D2UBdn4bPLHqSNXQ
Other places use the 4x4 Kubota diesel side by sides and many other different vehicles.
Even the old Duzgo vehicles have been resurfaced recently.
One thrifty guy bought an old tracked small Japanese dumper to use around a flat wet farm and it worked well. Lower ground pressure than the farm tractors that could make ruts (there are/ have been several Japanese tracked dumper brands)
The machine needed a fair bit of fixing, the low purchase cost because no one wanted to put the work into fixing it.
Not as good as this one, this one for illustration purposes.
https://youtu.be/16CTTkQ9Av0?si=-jBFGHah3K1mOyN-
The old Toyota RAV4s are a side by side substitute on flat drier farms (bigger off road tires than the mini trucks) A pile of parts in wreckers yards years ago (not sure about now)
The mini trucks are right for some places and people, but they are not for every place.
Impact has a youtube demonstrating the minitrucks.
Suzuki Carry vs Daihatsu Hijet try mini trucks NZ (illustrates the bottoming out at the ramp angles etc)
https://youtu.be/AXsLD86Z82k?si=D2UBdn4bPLHqSNXQ
Other places use the 4x4 Kubota diesel side by sides and many other different vehicles.
Even the old Duzgo vehicles have been resurfaced recently.
One thrifty guy bought an old tracked small Japanese dumper to use around a flat wet farm and it worked well. Lower ground pressure than the farm tractors that could make ruts (there are/ have been several Japanese tracked dumper brands)
The machine needed a fair bit of fixing, the low purchase cost because no one wanted to put the work into fixing it.
Not as good as this one, this one for illustration purposes.
https://youtu.be/16CTTkQ9Av0?si=-jBFGHah3K1mOyN-
#2
Sawmills and Milling / lT50 Shipped 1st Week of Apr —...
Last post by widetrackman - Today at 02:17:13 AMAfter 15 months was notified 3 Apr mill was in production. On Apr 6 dealer called to come and get it. 4 hours later was called and told not to come as WM had shipped without Debarker, HD blade guides, Seat and Blades. After 2-3 weeks dealer finnally got a Debarker . guess what? Debarker won't work, tripping circuit breaker. Still don't have Mill as of today 9 May 24. A WOOD MIZER SNAFU AT ITS BEST 
#3
General Board / Re: Post office troubles.
Last post by Ianab - Today at 01:11:33 AMPost isn't perfect here in NZ either of course, but I don't hear anywhere near the amount of gripes about it.
But a few differences. NZ Post is run as a commercial Company, even though the shareholder is the "Crown" (Government), it's run like any other commercial business, and postal delivery is open to competition. Anyone is actually free to put things in your mail box, and there is an alternative post service operating. Most of the actual delivery "front line" staff are now contractors, and "Post Offices" are usually an agency located and operated by another local business. Here it's the Book Shop in town, where you can buy stamps / post letters & parcels etc, next town it's the Hardware Store, small town the other way, it's the Library. The amount of mail actually sent is now so low that it's not economic to keep a dedicated Post Office open, but a counter at the back of a book store is viable. It's also some extra income to keep a small town book store open. But bottom line is you can be fired for not doing your job. Post workers aren't Govt employees, and although NZ labour laws are pretty strict when it comes to firing someone (there are various steps you have to take before you just fire someone or they can claim compensation), if you don't actually put in at least the bare minimum effort (after being warned in writing a couple of times), you ARE out the door.
Declining mail volumes. That's the main driving force behind the local Post changes. Mail volume has dropped by ~80% over the last 20 years. From ~1 billion letters, down to only 220 million last year, and still dropping by about 10% per year. Checks are no longer used in NZ, The problems people have mentioned in this thread (lost / stolen), the cost to process them, and their general declining use, the banks basically just said "no more". So of course that adds to the dropping mail volume. I think we have received 2 letters this week, and one of those had "GO Paperless" on the front in large friendly letters.
So NZ Post is putting more emphasis on it's parcel / courier services, as those have grown, and still operates at a profit overall. I drive part time Rural delivery, and we basically deliver for ALL the courier companies, either via a deal with NZ Post, or via another company run by the actual rural mail contractors. We also deliver mail for the other "mail company", as legally NZ post has to accept mail from them, at their "cheapest bulk commercial rate". The DX Mail guy isn't going to run his 125cc scooter out to the end of our run to deliver 1 letter
But a few differences. NZ Post is run as a commercial Company, even though the shareholder is the "Crown" (Government), it's run like any other commercial business, and postal delivery is open to competition. Anyone is actually free to put things in your mail box, and there is an alternative post service operating. Most of the actual delivery "front line" staff are now contractors, and "Post Offices" are usually an agency located and operated by another local business. Here it's the Book Shop in town, where you can buy stamps / post letters & parcels etc, next town it's the Hardware Store, small town the other way, it's the Library. The amount of mail actually sent is now so low that it's not economic to keep a dedicated Post Office open, but a counter at the back of a book store is viable. It's also some extra income to keep a small town book store open. But bottom line is you can be fired for not doing your job. Post workers aren't Govt employees, and although NZ labour laws are pretty strict when it comes to firing someone (there are various steps you have to take before you just fire someone or they can claim compensation), if you don't actually put in at least the bare minimum effort (after being warned in writing a couple of times), you ARE out the door.
Declining mail volumes. That's the main driving force behind the local Post changes. Mail volume has dropped by ~80% over the last 20 years. From ~1 billion letters, down to only 220 million last year, and still dropping by about 10% per year. Checks are no longer used in NZ, The problems people have mentioned in this thread (lost / stolen), the cost to process them, and their general declining use, the banks basically just said "no more". So of course that adds to the dropping mail volume. I think we have received 2 letters this week, and one of those had "GO Paperless" on the front in large friendly letters.
So NZ Post is putting more emphasis on it's parcel / courier services, as those have grown, and still operates at a profit overall. I drive part time Rural delivery, and we basically deliver for ALL the courier companies, either via a deal with NZ Post, or via another company run by the actual rural mail contractors. We also deliver mail for the other "mail company", as legally NZ post has to accept mail from them, at their "cheapest bulk commercial rate". The DX Mail guy isn't going to run his 125cc scooter out to the end of our run to deliver 1 letter
#4
Forestry and Logging / Re: Daily Fabrication Thread
Last post by barbender - Today at 12:32:11 AM PJS, that should work- but I would also plate both sides and strap the top and bottom. For an example of the job the top strap does, the Ponsse forwarder bunks tend to break where two pieces of strap are butted. There is a lot of tension strain on those when you have a load of wood mounded up👍😊
#5
Sawmills and Milling / T&G Knifes
Last post by Ljohnsaw - Today at 12:30:43 AMI picked up an MP200 two sided planer for my cabin project. I need to make T&G for my floors, roof and walls. The floors and roof will be out of 2x pine stock an the walls out of 1x incense cedar.
I'm thinking of having one set of knives made with a double T&G. Full height for the 2x and drop down for the 1x.
Is there folly in this plan?
I'm thinking of having one set of knives made with a double T&G. Full height for the 2x and drop down for the 1x.
Is there folly in this plan?
#6
Sawmills and Milling / Re: How to get a Suffolk sette...
Last post by barbender - Today at 12:25:25 AM I would really encourage you to eliminate the desetting bits from the operation and work on getting the setting accurate without them. Once you get it dialed, you can bring them back in to the equation, but you're trying to deal with too many variables at once.
My setter does an accurate and repeatable job with no desetting bits at all.
My setter does an accurate and repeatable job with no desetting bits at all.
#7
General Board / Re: Some random notes, observa...
Last post by SawyerTed - Today at 12:23:57 AMMr. Milton, THAT story is good! Rancid Crabtree and Howard Green have found some competition!
#8
General Board / Garbage can tow dolly?
Last post by Brad_bb - Today at 12:23:55 AMMy house and my mom's house are far from the start of the driveway at the road, where we will be getting garbage pick up by the end of the year. Right now we still have a dumpster for our construction. Anyhow, we're going to need away to get the garbage cans up to the road. I'm thinking something like a Tow Dolly pulled behind a side by side (Ranger). With a tow dolly there's no axle but only spindles on either side. The garbage cans would load between the wheels (2 of them). If I build it, the tongue would be shorter than the car one so it would be closer to the sxs. Has anyone ever seen anything like this commercially? I can't find any such thing on the web.
#9
General Woodworking / Re: Tenon cutter
Last post by Ljohnsaw - Today at 12:12:53 AMCool! But what do you use to make the tapered hole?
#10
Forestry and Logging / What are you cutting 2024? - p...
Last post by Ianab - Today at 12:06:13 AMNew Thread for pictures and other updates / discussions etc.
Old thread is available here, but is now locked.
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=80957.0
Carry on.
Old thread is available here, but is now locked.
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=80957.0
Carry on.
