In a bid to combat climate change, Scotland has taken a decisive step forward by implementing new regulations affecting the heating systems of new buildings. From April 1st, 2024, the landscape of home heating in Scotland underwent a significant transformation, particularly about wood-burning stoves.

The crux of this change lies in the April 2024 version of the Domestic Technical Handbook issued by the Scottish Government, (Mandatory Standard 6.11), which mandates that every new building must be designed and constructed to eschew direct emission heating systems. However, this prohibition comes with nuances. While wood-burning stoves are not outright banned in Scotland, the new rules exclusively target new-build homes, disallowing the installation of wood-burning stoves therein.

“Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that the means by which space within the building is heated or cooled and by which hot water is made available in the building is not by means of a direct emission heating system. Limitation: This standard does not apply to: a) alterations to, or extension of, a pre-2024 building; b) emergency heating; c) heating provided solely for the purpose of frost protection.“

Domestic Technical Handbook issued by the Scottish Government, April 2024

Moreover, even existing buildings undergoing substantial conversion work are not spared from scrutiny. The regulations dictate the removal of wood-burning stoves in such cases, especially if the existing heat source is located within the portion of the building undergoing conversion.

Zero Carbon Buildings Minister Patrick Harvie underscores that exemptions exist for emergency heating systems, albeit sparingly. The regulations outline stringent criteria for exemption, making it unlikely for a typical dwelling to meet the bar. Emergency heating via wood-burning stoves becomes a consideration only under specific circumstances, primarily in larger or more complex buildings where portable solutions are unfeasible.

But what about existing homeowners? Those fortunate enough to own homes built before April 1, 2024, need not fret. The new regulations do not apply to such homes, except in cases where the building was initially constructed or converted to meet the 2024 New Building Heat Standard. Hence, existing homeowners in Scotland retain the liberty to install wood-burning stoves.

However, there’s a caveat. Developers should be cognisant of future requirements, especially concerning zero direct emissions heating (ZDEH) systems. The regulations hint at a potential future mandate to install ZDEH systems before 2045, prompting consideration for cost-effective installations during alterations or extensions of pre-2024 buildings.

In response to speculations regarding the ramifications of these new regulations, the Scottish Government issued a comprehensive statement. Emphasizing the need to address carbon emissions from heating, the government highlighted the consultation processes that preceded the implementation of the New Build Heat Standard. This standard aims to eliminate climate emissions from new buildings by prohibiting the use of polluting heating systems, including wood-burning stoves.

Importantly, existing homes remain unaffected by the new standard, ensuring that homeowners can continue to use wood-burning stoves.

In essence, Scotland’s wood-burning stove ban marks a pivotal moment in the country’s journey towards sustainability. While it imposes restrictions on new buildings, it also signals a concerted effort to mitigate climate change and transition towards cleaner heating alternatives.

Here at Forest Master, we’re all about offering our customers the best choice available. This of course includes our products and services but now extends to our payment options. What if I told you there was a way to split your payments over 3 months?

Introducing Pay in 3 from Paypal

Get the products you need at the prices you’ll love split across monthly affordable payments. Steal your deals first, then apply for a finance option at checkout. In fact, split anything from £45 – £2000 across 3 easy payments, whether it’s a saw horse, a chipper, or a splitter – get yours today!

With Pay in 3, Payday can no longer get in the way of preventing you from getting your Forest-Master fix. No interest, no hidden charges, and no set up free = no worries. Ultimately, it’s a great way to help you bag a bargain while keeping your budget under control.

Put your feet up, chill and stretch out your payments on any of our products with next working day delivery as standard. Order today, get it tomorrow, and pay next month.

Likewise, stay in control of your finances, make interest-free payments and get a decision in seconds. It’s backed by buyers protection and available on any of our products over £45.

Takeaway:

All in all, don’t let payday hold you back, now it’s as simple as ordering today, getting it tomorrow, and paying over the next few months. (You can thank us later!)

Why not check out our product ranges such as:

• Click here to view our range of Log Splitters
• Click here to view our range of Wood Chippers and Mulchers
• Click here to view our range of Saw Horses
• Click here to view our range of Lifting Tools
• Click here to view our Outlet Range

Want to learn more about Paypal’s pay in 3? Click here for their Pay in 3 FAQs, and here for their Pay in 3 T&Cs. If you want to learn more about Forest Master, drop us an email, call, or chat and we’ll help you however we can. Moreover, check out our blog here to learn all you need to know regarding home, garden & forestry.

In an age where choice is bountiful, making the correct one is all the more important. Why? Because while having a variety of choice is brilliant, it makes it easy to make the wrong one. Now, anyone with access to the internet can open their own shop – can you trust the source? Having said that, the internet has also made it possible for manufacturers and brands to cut out the middleman. Here at Forest Master, it enables us to build a relationship with our customers that we wouldn’t have otherwise had. So, what are the perks of buying directly from the manufacturer/brand and why should you care?

Direct Communication:

Ever had an appliance break and not known who to call? Worse yet, had it insured and they wouldn’t honour it. Not only will you receive the newest info about the must-have products. But, you also have a specific point of contact if needed – who needs a middle man! Speaking of middlemen, have you ever got frustrated trying to get through to someone who can actually answer the question – us too. Going direct you have experts on hand whenever you need them.

Want to repair rather than replace – they’ve got the parts to do just that! Moreover, they’re the people you need to speak to, so your issues are resolved twice as quick.

Don’t get caught in the middle:

Cutting out the middle-man benefits both parties – why? Well, there aren’t any costs associated with distributors (think personnel, transport, equipment & storage facilities). Moreover, you get a free warranty as standard (some of our products even come with 2 & 3 years). Why does this matter? Well, we save, so you save. Not only money but time too! If we’re removing the middle man, we may as well remove their costs.

Manufacturers are experts in their own fields:

An in-store sales assistant in a third party shop isn’t going to know the ins and outs of your specialist product. Brands and manufacturers have known their products from inception to creation – they know every element of it. So who better to ask for help? Everything from set up, to how to optimise performance and so much more. This enables manufacturers full control of the customer experience because after all the customer is king.

Custom bespoke products with a custom bespoke service:

Think, what’s the point in owning a top of the range product without getting a top of the range service. Do you know every facility of the phone you bought online? No? Imagine if you could get in touch with them and they could tell you all the facilities you’re not making use of. Moreover, they can make sure the product is fit for purpose. Did your product breakdown during your warranty – the manufacturer will sort it – a third party couldn’t.

Why you should choose to shop directly with us:

Here at Forest Master, all products when purchased come with a 1-year warranty as standard; you can even upgrade to 2 or 3 years for free! In that time (and beyond) we’ll make sure your product is up and running, whether replacing individual parts or the whole machine. Moreover, we have our technical team on hand to answer any questions you may have, from setting up to break down – nothing is a problem.

Our team knows our products inside out, and when you purchase through us you get access to that knowledge. Our items are as bespoke as our service and no one can match us. Here at Forest Master, we sell market-leading products with a market-leading experience to match. Moreover, we have spares for our machines, so if there are any issues – we’ll sort them. Also, we’ll get it to you on the next working day as standard – incredible right.

In this article, we will cover the fundamentals of wood splitters and advise you on how to carefully select the best product for you. You can view our full selection of log splitters including manual, electric and petrol options by heading to our log splitter category page.

This articles covers:

• Why do I need a wood splitter?
• What are the different types of wood splitter?
• Which wood splitter is best for me?
• What are some recommended log splitter accessories?

Why do you need a wood splitter?

Log Splitters provide a safe, easy and efficient method of splitting wood. It eliminates the hard work of creating firewood or kindling, leaving you able to heat your home without the exhausting and time-consuming work of splitting wood with an axe. If you regularly split wood, then a log splitter is essential.

A number of dangers come with manually splitting logs with an axe, which you must devote constant attention to. As well as the downside of the unfortunate general wear and tear effect that splitting with an axe naturally has on your body.

Another downside of splitting with an axe is the recurring issue of having to pull the axe out of the wood after you’ve struck it if you don’t split the wood the first time. This wastes both time and energy. The Forest Master Manual Smart Splitter ensures that you’re hitting the same point of contact in the wood every time, so you don’t require the physical strength or stamina it would typically require to split with an axe.

This article further outlines the risks involved. Find out more about the dangers of splitting with an axe by clicking here.

What are the different types of wood splitters?

First, let’s cover the different variety of log splitters. We have Electric, Petrol and Manual Splitters for sale.

Electric Wood Splitters

Electric Log Splitters provide fast, powerful and long-lasting use with minimal maintenance required. They are incredibly straightforward and easy to use, and you can get started almost straight away with little or no guidance. It’s as simple as a push of a button.

A major benefit of Electric Wood Splitters is the low-maintenance requirements. You don’t need to worry about refilling the petrol and the hydraulic oil we provide with each splitter will supply you with an estimated 150 hours of effective use, a refill is only required when you start to feel the power has dropped. This typically depends on how hard the logs are that you’re splitting.

You can operate an electric log splitter anywhere you find a suitable outlet, meaning you can even operate the machine indoors without worrying about fumes. The electric motors are also relatively quiet, so you don’t need to worry about disturbing the neighbours! If you live in a suburban area then an electric log splitter is more than likely the ideal choice for you.

You can find a full side-by-side comparison of our electric log splitter range by clicking here.

Petrol Wood Splitters

Petrol Log Splitters are incredibly powerful but are also typically heavier machines than manual or electric splitters. If you don’t have access to a power source, then it’s worth looking at investing in a petrol log splitter.

The benefit of not having to be plugged in means you can transport and operate your splitter wherever your wood is stored, rather than having to haul your logs to the splitter.

If you want to read a more detailed and in-depth comparison of petrol vs electric splitters, check out this linked article.

Manual Wood Splitters

Typically, Manual Log Splitters are easier to conveniently store and are more lightweight than petrol and electric log splitting options.

Manual splitters are more physically demanding but are still significantly safer and more efficient than splitting wood with a standard axe.

The manual splitter also requires no fuel or power, so it’s also the most environmental and economically friendly of the three possible options.

Manual Splitters do not lack power, our DUO10T efficiently generates up to 10 tonnes of splitting power as well providing a rapid jack for fast splitting.

Kinetic Wood Splitter

New to 2021, our kinetic splitters use kinetic energy rather than hydraulics to split the logs. This is based upon a flywheel system that builds up the energy as it spins. Once the lever is engaged it is transferred to the splitting wedge and splits the log in one quick motion

This cutting-edge way of splitting utilizes a 2200w motor and makes easy work of both hard and softwood. It’s fast, reliable, and efficient – designed to dramatically reduce splitting to only 3 seconds per cycle!

Without hydraulic systems, there is less need for maintenance. Likewise, it’s less likely to get a leak or require constant

Not only does it split wood as fast as you can load it, but you don’t tension the belts. Why? Because it features an automatic belt tension system.

Moreover, it features wheels at the rear of the machine and lockable castors to the front.

Due to its burst of power, there aren’t many types of wood that a kinetic splitter cannot handle. If you’re looking for a quick and efficient way to split wood, a kinetic log splitter may just be the one for you.

Which Wood Splitter is best for me?

This varies depending on several factors; the types of logs you’re going to be splitting, how often you’re going to be splitting wood, where you want to use your machine and the design or style of splitter you want to use.

Type of Logs

The main thing you must take into consideration is the type of log you are going to be splitting. If you’re going to be splitting hard and knotty woods then we’d recommend looking at a 7-ton log splitter as a starting point. You may require a more powerful splitter if you’re planning on regularly splitting the harder woods such as Elm or Ash.

Take a look at our fuelwood burning guide to explore the different varieties of soft & hardwood, including density properties that indicate how hard a wood is to split. You can also learn about how efficient each wood is for burning and keeping your home warm through the winter months.

The sizes of the logs you’re planning on splitting is also an important factor. Splitters are limited to max log lengths and diameters, so you must be aware of the size of the log you’re going to be splitting when selecting the best log splitter for you.

View our side by side comparison of our range of wood splitters and the log capacity of each splitter by clicking here.

How often do you need to split wood?

You must also consider how often you’re going to be splitting wood. If you’re planning on only splitting softwood a few times a year, then a manual or electric splitter is likely to be the best option for you.

Where are you planning on using the wood splitter?

If you live in a suburban area, then you may want to opt for an electric log splitter in an attempt to reduce noise pollution. If you split logs in a rural area, a petrol splitter will allow you to go directly to the logs to split your wood. You won’t need to worry about connecting your machine to a power source.

In the case that you want to operate your splitter indoors and out of the unpredictable weather, then take a closer look at Manual and Electric options.

Design of the Log Splitter (Horizontal & Vertical)

You will also want to consider the design of the wood splitter and how you’re going to store it.

Our range of splitters is available in either vertical or horizontal arrangements.

If you’re splitting logs for a log burner or fire then a horizontal splitter is likely the more appropriate option for you. Horizontal splitters typically allow you to cut a larger log diameter but are limited to a smaller log length.

Vertical splitters offer a larger maximum log length but can be limited to the diameter of the log.

Wood Splitter Accessories

There are a number of log splitting accessories available to further improve the efficiency, safety and power of your log splitter.

Log Splitter Stands

Wood Splitter Stand (T Stand)

The Forest Master Log Splitter Stand (or T Stand) is a two-wheeled support stand which raises your machine to a comfortable working height without the need to place it on an unsecured table. The front of the stand features a plate foot for support and the rear provides two wheels for transporting and manoeuvring your machine.

Wood Splitter Trolley (TW Stand)

The Forest Master Log Splitter Trolley (or TW Stand) offers the same benefits as the T Stand but provides much-improved manoeuvrability. The stand features wheels on all corners, meaning it’s fully supported and you’re able to move it with ease. The T stand only supports the rear of the machine with wheels, meaning you still have to lift part of the weight of the splitter in order to move it.

Work Benches and Safety Guards

A Work Bench and Safety Guard Log Catcher is provided with every purchase of a Forest Master Log Splitter. The workbench eliminates the need for you to bend down to pick up logs as they’re caught after being split. The bench also provides improved safety as the logs aren’t able to fall freely to the floor after they’re split.

The safety guard is a community registered design that allows you to split much larger logs than cages from other manufacturers. It provides a maximum log diameter of 400mm whereas the industry standard for cages only allow 250mm diameter.

Another feature of the guard is that the vertical sides do not feature any holes, this prevents logs from being trapped when you’re splitting them. Often cages are designed with holes or sides which traps logs as they are split.

Power and Efficiency

DuoCut Blade

The patented DUOCUT blade replaces the standard pusher block and increases the splitting efficiency by having two opposing contact points. This allows the splitter to easily cope with knotty wood as when one blade encounters a knot, the other blade continues splitting.

This blade is pre-installed on Forest Master FM10 Series log splitters.

HYD46+ Electric Log Splitter Hydraulic Fluid

HYD46+ Hydraulic fluid has been specially formulated by Forest Master with leading hydraulic oil manufacturers to greatly enhance the performance of electric log splitters. This hydraulic fluid is superior to others on the market due to its uniquely tailored design towards electric splitters. Only virgin oils are used in blending HYD46+, which allows it to last much longer without degrading, compared to cheaper oils which are blended from recycled oil.

You will see up to a 30% increase in log splitting power when switching to HYD46+ hydraulic fluid.

Moisture Meter

While it doesn’t directly affect the performance of the wood splitter, it’s very useful and handy to have a moisture meter lying around. The pocket-sized device is used to detect moisture levels in a log, sawn timber and hardened materials. The device is very simple to use and only required one button to operate. It’s an essential tool as any wood you burn must be below 20% moisture content – read more about the need for a moisture meter and the risks of burning moist wood in our guide.

An angle grinder is one of the versatile tools that can be used for doing multiple jobs. Far away from cutting, grinding, and sanding, there are more than 100 uses of angle grinders. Thanks to its wide range of attachments, you can use an angle grinder in place of many other tools.

According to Angle Grinder Guide, an angle grinder is enough to replace hundreds of other tools in your workshop.

So this article will truly talk about the uses of angle grinder and will unveil some common uses of angle grinder and places where an angle grinder is used mostly.

Have a look!

Angle Grinder – A Versatile Powertool

Ever wonder why an angle grinder is called a versatile tool. The reason is, it can be used on any material be it wood, metal, concrete, or marble. You have the freedom to use it on every surface. Secondly, it has got a huge range of abrasive disc attachments which can be used for different jobs, such as cutting ceramic tiles diamond blade disc is used.

Angle grinders are available in different sizes such as 4, 4.5,5,6,7, 9, and 12 inches. Large angle grinders have large wheel diameters and small angle grinders have small wheel diameters. You can even perform heavy-duty jobs with small angle grinders.

Uses of an Angle Grinder

When it comes to the uses of angle grinders; trust me, there are countless uses of angle grinders. Angle grinder gives you the freedom to do numerous jobs with just a single tool. We have mentioned cardinal uses of angle grinders:

• Grinding and sharpening
• Cutting
• Polishing
• Sanding
• De-rusting

Grinding and Sharpening

How silly it would be if angle grinder can’t grind? Well, angle grinders are used for grinding different objects. Not only grinding, but they can also sharpen different tools and uneven joints. A good example of this is that the replacement blades within our compact chipper series can be easily resharpened. This is one of many uses of an angle grinder.

If you want to grind any bad weld job or remove rust from metal, then install the grinding disc of the angle grinder and start.

Cutting

An angle grinder can become a metal cutting machine just by installing its cutting wheel. An angle grinder can be used to cut tiles, masonry, concrete and metal. . It’s a perfect tool to cut obnoxious metal pieces at a strangled site. Angle grinder runs at very high speed. This means you can cut a piece of metal within seconds. For precise cutting, there are angle grinders that run at a comparatively lower speed.

Polishing

Using the right abrasive wheel disc, you can polish the dull piece of metal with your angle grinder. With a gentle and single touch of angle grinder, your dulled metal will begin to shine within minutes. The worth mentioning part here is, an angle grinder can be used to polish every sort of material be it wood, metal, or stone.

Sanding

A rough wood can be evened out using an angle grinder. Just install the sanding wheel of the angle grinder and you are ready to clean metal, tiles, and different tools. The sanding wheel of an angle grinder is also known as a flap disc as it has flaps all around the disc. With the help of flap disc sanding becomes easier and effective.

De-Rusting

Have your precious metal tools become rusted?

If yes, then don’t worry, angle grinder will make all your tools new, by de-rusting them.

An angle grinder can be used for removing rust from different tools and equipment. This in turn increases the lifespan of tools. De-rusting can be done by fixing the grinding wheel or flap disc.

Other Uses of an Angle Grinder

The above-mentioned uses are the basic uses of angle grinder. Where else you can use an angle grinder? Let’s check it out:

Auto Mechanic Shop

Angle grinder is one of the most useful tools at an automobile shop. It is used to grind damaged car parts. Besides this, for removing old car paint angle grinders are the perfect companion. It won’t damage the metal underneath.

Sometimes when a mechanic has to revamp an old damaged car, an angle grinder becomes the most important tool in such projects as it removes rust from the parts of the car. Sand and polish different parts of the car.

Construction Sites

During the construction of any building, an angle grinder is the most crucial tool there. An angle grinder is there with every labour for doing different tasks. Some labourers use angle grinders for cutting tiles, concrete, and marble pieces. Whereas some labourers use it for removing old mortars. Besides this, an angle grinder is used for sanding and polishing the floor skirting.

For cleaning, cutting, and polishing metal angle grinder is the tool of choice for every metal worker.

It would not be wrong if I say that at a construction site, an angle grinder is the highest using tool.

Carpenter Shop

Angle grinders are quite useful in craving the woods in minutes. Besides this, sawing is also a possible use of angle grinder at carpenter shop. Since carpenter has to plan and sand the wood, that’s why an angle grinder is a must-have tool in their shed.

Wrapping Up

An angle grinder is the tool of choice for DIY enthusiasts. You don’t need to have many other complicated tools when you have an angle grinder in your workshop. This versatile power tool can be used for different purposes. Either it’s removing paint/rust from objects or cutting/carving wood or cutting metal or tiles, using an angle grinder won’t disappoint in any of your DIY projects. Just buy its wide range of attachments and experience the never-ending uses of angle grinder.

Whenever you think of energy-saving ideas, it’s usually for the winter. But, the same concepts can be applied to sunny days. In recent years, we have experienced some of our hottest summers. The mission is to then keep yourself and your home cool, the cost of which could get your wallet sweating. With the constant running of fans or A/C, your electricity bills are likely to heat up and you don’t want to get burnt. Read on to find out our top 10 energy saving tips to get you, your wallet and your bills cool for the summer. Speaking of cool, if you’re looking for winter energy tips – check out our blog (after reading this one of course)

1) LED Bulbs are a bright idea – energy saving tips for summer

Even during the summer months, you’ll need to light up the nights. Switching to LED bulbs is simple, affordable and more accessible these days. They’re safer to touch, use a fraction of the energy and produce less heat. About 10-15% of the electricity is used to light bulbs, the rest is wasted heat. LED bulbs to use 75% less energy, last 25 times longer and release less heat – such a bright idea!

2) Check your Air Con

Air conditioning requires regular maintenance to run efficiently throughout the year. Neglecting this can lead to poor performance, poor return and lead to a poorer bank balance. Our energy saving tips for summer include hiring a professional for the more complex stuff, but there are some easy checks you can do. Ensure you clear air vents to prevent dust from building up. Moreover, ensure that they aren’t covered by furniture so airflow can circulate the room. Furthermore, ensure that lamps and TV sets aren’t near the thermostat so it’s reading is accurate and the A/C isn’t wasting energy.

3) Seal & Insulate your home

Sealing & insulating your home seems obvious in the winter – right? Well, it’s just as applicable to energy-saving tips for the summer. Why? Well, you want to keep hot air out and cool air in. Look over your home, find air leaks and consider how well insulated your attic is. If you can, get a professional in to take a look over it all and pinpoint problem areas.

4) Avoid the oven

So, this will either be music to your ears or your worst nightmare. But, a top energy saving tip for the summer is to avoid the oven! Whether that be eating out more, or befriending your microwave. Cooking up a storm in your oven will release yet more heat into your home. Whether it be your microwave, outdoor grill/bbq or eating out – avoiding the oven will help. Using your stove/oven can raise the temperature of your room by 10 degrees – that’s not cool.

5) Hang blinds/curtains to keep out the heat

At its height, between 12 pm – 4 pm, we always recommend closing your blinds/curtains. Keeping them closed keeps out the height of the sun and its heat. If you have any southern or western facing windows, invest in good blinds/curtains. A top summer energy efficiency tip is to leave north-facing windows open enabling natural light without the heat & glare.

6) If you aren’t using it, unplug it

This is the easiest and simplest summer energy efficiency tip if you aren’t using something – unplug it. From your TV to your toaster, they generate heat – even if they’re switched off. To ensure they don’t, simply unplug things you aren’t using. Each one only generates a small amount of heat, but cumulatively they add up. Other ideas include reducing the amount you use bigger appliances, such as dryers and dishwashers, as they give off a lot of heat. As such, it’s best to wait till the night to use them.

7) Keep your vents clear

One of the more simple energy saving tips for summer is to check your air vents, ensure that they aren’t blocked and free of dust. Moreover, ensure that all furniture isn’t blocking the AC or fan systems.

8) Use Fans – Energy saving tips for summer

Whether you’re fortunate enough to have A/C or not, running a fan is a lot cheaper. Moreover, even if you left your fan running 24/7 for a month – it’d only cost £5! Unfortunately, they simply circulate the air around, they don’t produce cool air. Using them alongside your AC works incredibly well! If used with a fan, you can set your AC to 4 degrees higher without compromising comfort.

9) Use more cold water

In the summer, cold showers can help chill your bills. It won’t be an immediate adjustment but a cold shower is good for you and a brisk wake-up call in the morning. If you use less hot water you can turn the temperature of your water heater down. Water heating can account for between 14-25% of your total energy use. Not too shabby, no more sweating over the bills.

10) Raise the temperature on your thermostat – Energy saving tips for summer

Trying to keep your indoor temperature cool can lead to extremely high utility bills. While it may ease your temperature, it will have the opposite effect on your bank. The closer the temperature between the outside and inside, the cooler your bills will be. A top summer energy efficiency tip would be setting your thermostat to around 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Speaking of gauging temperature, our moisture meter can act a temperature measure – check it out here

Finally, we hope you’ve found this article useful if you have, comment below and let us know! Did you learn any energy saving tips for summer? Or is there anything you plan on doing yourself – let us know! Moreover, send us pictures of your equipment in action & check out the rest of our blog. Or, follow our Facebook Community group, Twitter, YouTube channel and like our page

The wet wood and coal ban is being rolled out from this year. Are wood burning stoves being banned? No. The problem isn’t your stove, it’s what you put in it! So, in this blog, we’ll talk you through the coal ban, what to consider and how you could save 150 p/year.

Coal ban UK – Is Coal being banned?

Sale of wet wood and a coal ban have begun to be rolled out for domestic purposes. Why? well, fine particulate matter is released when burning these substances in wood burning stoves & fires. They harm not only the environment but also damage our lungs. According to Environment Secretary George Eustice, they are the “biggest source of the most harmful pollutant that is affecting people in the UK.” Moreover, a similar ban in Ireland, called the “smoky coal ban”, has saved approximately 8,000 lives.

It’s harmful to us because wood burning stoves are the largest source of fine particulate. These fine pollutants easily find their way to our blood and lungs. 1.5 million households use wood-burning stoves, approximately 18% of total UK households. However, these 1.5 million accounts for 38% of the UK’s fine particulate emissions. Poor air quality contributes to at least 1.4k deaths per year. As such, phasing out of wet wood and coal sales began in 2021. So, again, the wood burning stoves themselves aren’t the problem – it’s what you’re putting in them.

Wet Wood Ban – What is wet wood?

What is wet wood? Good question! Click here to read our blog on the topic. Moreover, DIY stores often sell wet wood. That’s why you need a moisture meter, click here to learn why!

Today we’re discussing all things wood burning stove, from their sizes, to what to burn in them – we’ll run through that now. Regarding cost, wood burning stoves cost anywhere from £500 – £5000! That doesn’t even account for the cost of installation. However, it is noteworthy that according to Which 52% believed they still saved money! Stoves are often 77% cheaper than electric fires, 29% cheaper than gas effect fire per Kw & 43% cheaper than oil – fire up those savings!

So, what can impact the cost of wood burning stoves? Well, think of it as a TV. The larger it is, the more expensive it is. Furthermore, if you want a slimline one, or it’s more of a design feature than for practicality – it’ll cost more. Moreover, if you’ve got a tall chimney that requires scaffold or needs relining – there’ll be costs there too. We’d recommend shopping around and getting all quotes written down to compare.

Stove maintenance costs approx 60 p/year. Furthermore, they use 1.25 tonnes of wood costing around £150 p/year. However, as you know, DIY stores often sell wet wood. So, to save £150 p/year and get peace of mind – why not collect your own?

Ever considered a Log Splitter?

You can be sure of the moisture content by collecting your own wood burning stove’s firewood. And, that 150 p/year can be invested in some nice kit. Make collecting wood into a fun pass time with our 5-ton electric log splitter. Furthermore, it pays for itself after two years of use! Here are some key features:

• It has a 2200 watt motor, creating 5 ton of power
• it contains a stronger moving carriage designed for harder logs
• cuts logs 370 mm in length & 300 mm diameter
• compatible with our duocut blade system
• comes with hydraulic oil, ready for out the box use
• fitted with a tray and a safety cage as standard.

All for £299.95! Allows you to play while paying its way! Designed for small-medium wood burning stoves, it’s perfect for domestic use! Click here to find out more!

Moreover, need a cheaper alternative? How about something that pays for itself in 6 months. Our manual log splitters are safe, they’re ergonomic and easy to use. Moreover, Our smart splitter splitting axe offers everything you need for £79.95! here’s all you need to know:

• ergonomic, safe and easy
• uses a drop weight to apply splitting force
• reduce injuries and protect your back by not having to swing an axe
• splits logs as thick as 550mm
• axe weighs 3.5kg, drops from a 1m height

Like what you’re hearing, click here to see more.

Finally, we hope you’ve found this article useful if you have, comment below and let us know! Moreover, send us pictures of your chipper in action & check out the rest of our blog. Or, follow our Facebook Community group, Twitter, YouTube channel and like our page

So, you’re a seasoned wood pro. But, if you want to stay that way you need to know how to avoid unseasoned wood. Why? Because not only does use of unseasoned wood damage your wood creations, it could literally burn your house down. How do you avoid that – a moisture meter. In this guide I’ll run you through what is a moisture meter & how does it work – and why you need one!

1) Why should I use one?

A moisture meter is used to measure the moisture content in wood. It helps differentiate between seasoned and unseasoned wood. Why is that important? Understanding the moisture content in the wood helps ensure longevity, physical integrity and aesthetics of your wood creations. Furthermore, even if you’re just burning your wood – you need to know its moisture content. The lower the moisture content, the better the burn. You see unseasoned wood, when lit, only burns the moisture content of the wood. Not only does this mean it doesn’t give off heat, but it emits fumes that can lead to chimney fires. (for the full run down, check out our blog post on seasoned and unseasoned wood at the end of this!)

Customers assume that when they purchase wood that “has been seasoned for 2-3 years” it’s good to go. This can often not be the case, having a moisture meter eliminates these questions. Having a moisture meter really pays for itself in the long run.

2) What is a moisture meter & how does it work?

Well, it’s basic science. pin-type moistures work by measuring the electrical resistance between the two electrodes (pins). The moisture in the wood enables the electricity to flow easier, the drier the wood the more resistance. The Moisture meter takes a reading and then converts it into a moisture %.

You can insert the pins in various locations in the wood and get specific locations of moisture. This helps identify specific areas of the wood with higher moisture. As such, this helps avoid the use of unseasoned wood.

3) How to use a moisture meter?

You can take measurements from the outside of the log, but to get the best readings we suggest splitting them. That way both readings together give the most accurate possible answer. Providing the moisture content is below 25%, you’re good to burn or build.

4) Who needs one?

The question is, who doesn’t. Nobody wants wood changing shape after use. Particularly professionals working with it on a daily basis, imagine that conversation with a client! It’s vital that wood is only used when it’s at a suitable moisture content. Greenwood goes through a drying process, it initially loses its free water first (contained in the cavities). Bound water is what is contained in the cells of the wood. When lost or gained bound water causes wood to shrink, split, expand and crack. That is why it’s crucial to know your moisture content before use.

But what if you simply just need firewood? Well, it’s equally as important – if not more so! When you light wood with higher moisture content, the wood burns its moisture content. This means that not only does the flame not produce heat. But it releases a creosote substance which when settled in the chimney creates tar. This then begins to damage the lining of the chimney and ultimately leads to fire. Moreover, it increases the fist of fumes such as carbon dioxide; not the sort of thing you want with your dinner. A moisture meter would help prevent all of this.

There’s a reason why the government introduced the wet wood ban. If you’re one of the 2.5million households that still rely on hire wood – you need a moisture meter!

5) Best Moisture Meter for Firewood UK (& abroad)?

Want to know a secret? Our wood moisture meter is the best moisture meter on the market. Why? It’s pocket-sized so you don’t need to worry about it getting in the way. It’s a log moisture meter, used to detect moisture levels in wood. But it can also measure ambient room temperatures! It’s quick, simple and easy to use with a one-button operating system. Here’s a quick list of its features:

• Bright LCD screen – useful on those dark nights!
• Easy to use & designed for one-hand operation
• Auto power off with a low battery indicator – never get caught out!
• 2 pin probe designed for better accuracy (we’ve got you covered!)
• Supplied with batteries – so it’s ready when you are!

Click here to find out more

Better yet, it’s discounted when purchased with a log splitter! Our 3 in 1 digital moisture meter is £19.99 or £14.99 (wpw) – peace of mind for under £20! Click here to find out more.

Feeling inspired to purchase one, let us know below! Also, check out our blog post on seasoned and unseasoned logs! We hope you’ve found this article useful if you have, comment below and let us know! Send us pictures of your chipper in action & check out the rest of our blog. Or, follow our Facebook Community group, Twitter, YouTube channel and like our page

If you’re anything like me, you’ll have recently received your energy bill and wished you hadn’t. So, I’ve spent my afternoon looking for Winter heating tips & tricks and thought I’d share them with you. Read on to find out my Top 10 energy efficiency tips for winter & potentially save £1000 p/year

1) Keep doors and windows closed

This may seem fairly self-explanatory, but ensuring all doors and windows remain closed traps in heat. Now, you’re probably thinking, of course, I’m not leaving external windows and doors open. But this extends to internal ones, keeping them closed and even adding thick mats/draught excluders will help keep a poorly insulated house warm. Moreover, if you have a window that gets the sun – take advantage of it! Leave your curtains open during the day to trap more heat.

2) Turn down your thermostat by a degree

Again, when you think of winter heating tips, Rather than switching it on & off, keeping it consistently lower is actually cheaper! This is because most of the energy is used in the initial heating process. Typically we heat our homes between 18-21 degree Celcius, reducing this by just 1 degree could save £60 p/year. Not only that, but you’d be reducing your carbon footprint by 310kg – what’s not to like? Moreover, turning off/unplugging your appliances rather than leaving them in standby could save a further £35 p/year. So, nearly £100 in your back pocket & a greener footprint – happy days.

3) Wash Between 30-40 degrees

One word that sends shivers down all our spines, laundry. I know, I’m sorry for even mentioning it but what if you could make it work for you? This energy efficiency tip sees you washing your clothes at 30-40 degrees. 90% of its energy is used when heating the water, so the lower the heat the more energy efficient. Furthermore, by using drying racks rather than tumble dryers you could save up to £60 per year. However, a big fall energy saving tip is not to cover your radiators; use a drying rack or clothesline, not your radiators to dry clothes.

4) Use Less Water

Noticed a theme in our Top 10 Energy Efficiency tips for Winter? Yes, water is closely linked to energy efficiency, are you shocked? No? What if I told you the average UK Household uses 330 litres of water per day – shocking right? It’s weighted at roughly 140 litres per person, per day. When you think about it though, we bathe in it, brush our teeth and clean with it so it’s little surprise – is it? So, how can you reduce this, well firstly take showers instead of baths. Dropping the pressure on your shower or switching over your showerhead can help too. When it comes to morning routines, try switching off the taps when brushing your teeth and where possible use cold water. Moreover, when loading up the dishwasher or washing machines – full loads only. Also, if you’re the dishwasher than try investing in a washing bowl for maximum water efficiency. Also, try lowering your water setting, this can save 25% of your bill too. These little things really do add up, but the big money could be in switching to a water metre. Success stories have saved £100s p/year doing this alone, check out an article about it here.

5) Replace your boiler

Now, the next options are designed for winter heating tips, despite the budget. The first option is to look into alternatives for your gas boiler, if your boiler is over 15 years old, switching could save £315 p/year (based on a detached house). It can be costly, £2,300 (ex radiators) to 3,100 for oil boiler replacements – but you could save £350 p/year though! Ever thought of going solar? A curveball I know. But, you could earn while you save through the government’s feed-in tariffs.

Finally, if you’re more budget-conscious then insulating is the most efficient way to heat a home. You may already know this, but heat rises, and insulating your attic could save £100 p/year. If that’s too big a job then cavity insulation will also go some way to saving you money.

6) Purchase draft excluders

Again, if all the above is too expensive then these options could help. Simply popping down to your local discount store (or logging in online, how 2021) and purchasing draught excluders will help. Here’s a link to draught excluding options on Amazon. While you’re there, check out our great deals on Amazon for all your forestry needs, click here. Alternatively, insulating your pipes could save you up to £40 p/year particularly in draughty/badly insulated rooms.

7) Leave the oven door open after cooking

A lot of what I’ve previously mentioned, you’ve likely heard before. But here’s some out the box (or the oven) thinking for our top 10 energy efficiency tips for winter. Now, keeping the oven door closed while cooking is more energy efficient (you lose 30 degrees every time you open it). But what about afterwards, well, why not leave the oven door open and heat your home? You’ve paid for it after all. Moreover, ensuring your fridge is well stocked enables less energy usage to keep food cool. So why not use all the money we’re saving here to keep it well stocked! Ring efficiency, what’s that? Well, it’s simply the idea of using the right sized pan for the hob. Like goldilocks, if this pan’s too big, or this pan’s too small for the hob – it doesn’t end well. Finally, as we touched upon earlier, try to use your extractor-fan less; use that excess heat to warm your home – not outside.

8) Switch to LED light bulbs

Back to more obvious solutions, switching your lights or metres are great fall energy saving tips. LED light bulbs are not only more green but could save £40 p/year – great right? Reiterating what we said earlier, switching them off when not in use could save £15 p/year. Not only is this Top 10 Energy Efficiency Tips for Winter list saving you money, but we’re saving the planet too – one bulb at a time! Also, switching over to a smart metre could save around 15% on your energy bills p/year.

9) Buy throws or dressing gowns

Again, when you think of winter heating tips, you probably didn’t think of your clothes and furnishings. But, if you’re trying to reduce your thermostat by a degree or two – a dressing gown would help. Simply layering up can be a top energy efficiency tip, the more clothes, the lower the thermostat. Moreover, simply investing in a few nice winter woolly throws or thicker curtains could make the world of a difference. Want some inspiration, check out this article.

10) Don’t block radiators

Tenth in our Top 10 Energy Efficiency for winter list is about blocking and unblocking. No, not social media, but rather your radiators, tumble dryers and chimneys. Regarding radiators, don’t block them, this includes pulling out furniture and furnishings. Why pay to heat your home if you’re going to block it out? Moreover, putting reflectors between radiators and external walls can help keep in the heat. Or, if you have high ceilings, installing a shelf above them can help prevent it rising. Also, unblocking air ducts on your heaters or radiators (think of the hidden dust) can go a long way!

Similarly, ensuring you unblock the lint filter on your tumble dryer is a top winter energy efficiency tip. Also, the most efficient way to keep a poorly insulated home warm is to block/insulate your chimney; you could save £17 p/year. But, if you’re like us and you love your fireplace this may not be a good option. If your fire is the heart of your home you may find our blog post about seasoned & unseasoned wood useful. Moreover, if you find yourself using a lot of firewood, our Forest Master Bulk Log Saw Horse 3 is worth checking out. Capable of not only securing multiple branches at once, but it can also prevent logs from moving during the cutting process.

So, if you’ve followed all of these top 10 energy efficiency tips you’d be saving at least £1000. That’ll pay for a nice family holiday when you’re allowed to leave your castle again! If you’ve found this article useful, check out the rest of our blog. Or, follow our Facebook Community group, Twitter, YouTube channel and like our page

Picture the scene, Winter. Dark nights. Rain, or even worse snow! It’s the time of year where we like to gather together, get cosy and keep warm. Simple, right? Wrong! Because while nothing says cosy or warm like a log fire. Burning unseasoned logs could make your chimney so hazardous even Santa would use the front door. So what are seasoned and unseasoned logs, why are they hazardous and how can you spot the difference so that you’re warm (and safe) this Winter.

To get an optimal burn you need to ensure your log is seasoned. A good way to tell this is whether the wood is cracked and the ease with which the bark pulls away, the easier it pulls the more seasoned the log. Unseasoned logs are quite often green, “fresh-looking” and damp; usually a moisture content of over 20-25% is considered unseasoned. Seasoning is a crucial process that allows you to get the most out of your wood. A logs lifespan is typically 4-5 years, with years 2-3 being their optimal burning years. A seasoned log needs to be under 15% moisture content to burn safely. We strongly recommend investing in a moisture meter in order to determine the correct moisture content of your logs.

There is a common misconception that unseasoned wood will not burn, this is not the case. While you can light the wood, it is likely that the flame will go out, will smoulder, and won’t give heat. The moisture in the log will bubble giving an indication that it is too damp to burn/produce heat. Other than producing a damp flame (and no one wants that), burning unseasoned logs can dampen your wallet and even your health.

When burnt, the water vapour in unseasoned logs mixes with gases and other particles to go up the chimney, which when left to go cold creates a creosote substance. This substance when left to harden becomes tar, which then seeps into the brick if your chimney is unlined. This is why the moisture level within the wood is crucial, the higher the moisture content, the less it produces heat & the quicker the creosote builds up and can ultimately block your chimney. This is because when lit an unseasoned log isn’t producing heat, it’s burning away the moisture within the log. Not only is this wasting the log, but it also produces smoke which in turn creates more creosote to block up your chimney. Cleaning, or worse yet, replacing your chimney can be both time and money consuming and if neglected can cause chimney fires. Neglected chimneys can emit harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, soot and/or tar; not exactly what you expect to come down your chimney during the festive season.

Do you see why knowing your seasoned from your unseasoned logs is important? Yeah, us too. To make it even simpler here are 5 easy steps to ensure your wood is seasoned enough. Firstly, consider the Weight as seasoned logs are drier, therefore, weigh less than green logs. Secondly, check the Bark, the easier it chips away the better it will burn. Cracking is also important, there should be radial cracks reaching out toward the bark. The log should have a light woody Smell rather than a sappy one and they should be more faded in Colour.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this post, want to learn more? Make sure to follow our blog and socials to keep up to date with everything Forest Master. Got some unseasoned nightmares? Let us know below! And be sure to send us pictures of your log fires this winter!