Search results

Earlier this week.... a Forestmaster vertical axe (log splitting thingumybob). Install on chopping block, place wood, lift axe/weight, drop, repeat. Managing to split a bunch of old logs that were here when we moved in and which had proved resistant to my bext efforts with a "normal" axe...

Humidity/damp and exessive heat are both issues from insulation not being done properly. Gas central heating should not cause condensation inside if it's a main installation as the boiler and heaters will vent outside. However, it's entirely possible to be using a gas cooker without extraction...

If you do a building refurb under current Building Regs in UK then your new double-glazed windows will also required those vents. Along with insulation in walls (cavity plus insultation), floors and loft. If you directly insulate a roof without a ceiling space, you must put upper and lower...

@TeeDee : here's some (stock) pics of the stoves: This is the Pumpkin Pi with the oven on top, mine has a red door with wooden handles though. It sits in a large old fireplace. Then there is the Clarity double-sided (again a stock pic, they also do a single-sided version): In our case, we...

We had a few hours of very strong winds/rain late in the evening in W Wales, then it moderated to "usual" blowy/wet. We are though in a bit of a dip in the side of the hill and relatively sheltered, I bet it was blowing a hooley at the top of the hill. GC

@dnarcher : You can get a really good range of Defra approved stoves. Fuel: A proper solid fuel merchant is always the best place to get your fuel. We have a local "fuel cash and carry" which is also linked to the main fuel (solid fuel, oil, gas) provider in the area. They only sell fuel which...

I suspect you will have a wider range of fuel choice with an approved stove. Don't forget to have the chimney checked and swept, a decent local sweep is also likely to be a useful source of suggestions about the sort of fuel and/or stoves work with the setup up you have. (Don't think you can...

@TeeDee : in the living room it is the Ekol Clarity double vision raised option, multifuel grate option. It is a big room, the stove about 2/3 down the room divides dining and sitting areas. Standard black. New double wall flue which goes up through the house, put in before/ as the roof went on...

Storm incoming. Gonna be proper soggy in the west...... Checked the trash screen on the stream today, did a bit more upper channel clearing/checking. They are predicting something like 45 mm of rain in 24 hours. That's very wet even by West Wales standards...... add in the gales and there will...

Interesting. I looked at a masonry heater for the new place and eventually decided against it. For the same money (buying the stove, not including installing and getting it signed off), I had my modern ultra-efficient multi-fuel burners plus my Rayburn overhauled and all installed. The Rayburn...

A "Techno Bee" knife from BPS knives and a fleece vest. (Not from the same retailer.......) Happy with both. GC

Another batch of brown willow for basketry. Musgroves is obviously clearing their warehouse out, a few varieties/sizes I have been waiting for were back in stock.... and it's the last of the 2024/25 harvest that's being sold, once gone it will be April/May 2026 when the 2025/26 harvest starts...

Depends on market placement. They may go for a small range of higher-priced premium products made in UK...... it's a niche product after all. Shift the materials used to recycled stuff, market it as "for life" and price accordingly. Arguably that would be true to their roots. Given that the mass...

Not surprising really, The BBC article also mentioned the amount of takeaway residue in the bin bags, which I suspect is the real driver. Can't blame the rats. When humans chuck out a bunch of tasty food in thin bags and leave it there for ages, of course the rats will thrive. As will the...

@forrestdweller : Needles for hand sewing: well, John James https://www.jjneedles.com/ make a good range... I prefer the ones in packets to the ones in pebbles...... ...... but if you want a really nice needle, Tulip needles are the biz: https://www.tulipneedles.co.uk/ and their pins are great...

It's a good point. I use Starlink. I don't particularly like Musk- but actually, it's the team of skilled engineers and others in the company who make this work- not him. I also use Microsoft for work, and use Google. My phone is Android. My phone and screens were all made in China- although...

Unfortunately, we see to live in an era of folks knowing their "rights" and being determined to exercise them- without any acceptance or perhaps even comprehension of the accompanying responsibilities, not giving a fig about anyone but themselves. They are just having "fun"/taking a...

Earlier this week...... a newt and a load of Red Admiral butterflies (not at the same time, I saw the newt in the evening, butterfies during the day). There's been loads of the butterfiles for a few days, since the sun came out. GC

@Herman30 : There's different versions of a "Range." Fundamentally, it's a directly fueled closed appliance that is focused on cooking but will also heat a room. Typically it runs constantly- it will be capable of runnign overnight. In some cases the range also runs a central heating system...

Yes, a kitchen range is a great thing. Lit the (coal fired) Rayburn last night as it's getting chilly at nights, when lit I always have the kettle parked on the side with water warming in it so it boils quicker, (and the cooking gets done on the range instead of the electric cooker). Thing...