where to buy thinnings for use as scout pioneering spars

W31rd0

We are looking for rough timber poles (thinnings, bark on would suit) for scout pioneering. From 6 to 12 foot poles about 1 to 5 inches diameter. Ideally birch but any type will do.

We are looking for about 120 spars currently. We can collect. We can pay.
I know some other scout groups also looking for spars.
I would appreciate it if anyone could help locate a source of these type of spars.

Thanks!

James. (I am based in Dublin)

timfromtang

W31rd0 wrote: »

We are looking for rough timber poles (thinnings, bark on would suit) for scout pioneering. From 6 to 12 foot poles about 1 to 5 inches diameter. Ideally birch but any type will do.

We are looking for about 120 spars currently. We can collect. We can pay.
I know some other scout groups also looking for spars.
I would appreciate it if anyone could help locate a source of these type of spars.

Thanks!

James. (I am based in Dublin)

Hi James,
I would be happy to supply spars to scout groups, I am located in the Midlands Tang is 19km north of Athlone. We have 80 acres of diverse hardwoods to choose from. pm me for a chat
tim

Boardnashea

Hi W31rd0
Can I ask... why the choice of birch? We have been buying turned poles recently to use. Most rough timber we have used have been softwood. Or a few ash spars which I have cut off my own trees, 6 - 10 ft and nice and straight.

W31rd0

Hello, birch was recommended to me as the ideal by another scouter, we had softwood spaes and they are good. They got woodworm though! I love ash only hard to get straight branches!

Boardnashea wrote: »

Hi W31rd0
Can I ask... why the choice of birch? We have been buying turned poles recently to use. Most rough timber we have used have been softwood. Or a few ash spars which I have cut off my own trees, 6 - 10 ft and nice and straight.

Boardnashea

W31rd0 wrote: »

Hello, birch was recommended to me as the ideal by another scouter, we had softwood spaes and they are good. They got woodworm though! I love ash only hard to get straight branches!

Coppice all the way. After the first cut you will be getting 4 or more nice straight stems and big enough to harvest every 3 or 4 years or so. Sycamore will give you similar and I'm sure Timfromtang and others will be able to suggest other species that would suit just as well. A little management to keep side branches to a minimum helps. What isn't straight enough for staves will be great on the camp fire and easy to cut and split.

(Do I need to include a warning about using ash from a die-back perspective?)

W31rd0

Pm sent (this time!)

tabby aspreme

Boardnashea wrote: »

(Do I need to include a warning about using ash from a die-back perspective?)

Not anymore, it's everywhere

timfromtang

Greetings Folks,



Whilst Ash dieback may be everywhere, that is no reason to help the "B&*##*D" along.


Simple easy stuff anyone can do ....


Wash yer bits, boots etc tools an all...... Jeyes fluid and a bucket, some water and stiff brush is yer man here.


Leave all the leaves and twigs behind, take only clear uninfected poles for spars.



on a positive note on ash dieback, the more resistant individuals are now starting to reveal themselves, I have great hope for a luxuriant female in my yard, dripping with seed, glossy and healthy right in the ditch beside the field of 14,000 stems i was forced to uproot and destroy last year.


tim

Boardnashea

I always wash my bits Tim - Haven't tried Jeyes Fluid before though. Does it sting?