Lead Adventure Forum
Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Jon Suth on November 10, 2015, 01:15:45 PM
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Hopefully someone might know where I can get some. I've seen our US friends use these for rock faces and so on, I think they are actually pine bark? All I can seem to find in the UK are the mulch type smaller bits. I've looked at the suppliers for playground health and safety and they have larger bits sometimes, but only sell it in bags the size of a family car.
Any ideas? Preferably one of the DIY chains, think it might be really expensive to have it shipped.
What I want to do is to stack it up and make rocky hill sides and use individual bits for terrain scatter.
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I can only tell you where I got mine from.....
I picked mine up at Lidl - not in the store but from the car park as they use them to decorate the car park verges.
Tony
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Nice one, but I'd feel morally obliged to buy a 5p carrier bag from them before I nick some!!
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I can only tell you where I got mine from.....
I picked mine up at Lidl - not in the store but from the car park as they use them to decorate the car park verges.
Tony
I used to go pick choice ones from my neighbour's front flower bed too.
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Visit Finland, go to a forest, pick up pine bark :) And while here, buy huge amounts of cheap insulation foam board too ;)
But if not Finland then for example:
from pet stores like Eric the Shed:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=57696.0
or from garden centres, Eric the Shed at it again:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=75143.0
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Pocoloco - its not that cork bark stuff, I can get that from a pet shop or online no problem. Its the wood chippings they use for gardens, soft play areas and to keep the weeds at bay I want, the big chunky stuff.
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You're after large pine nuggets. Unfortunately they only really get used for play areas, amenity coverage etc. Not really a home use thing due to size and cost. I've only been able to find it in the UK in bulk bags, the same ones they deliver sand etc in. Keep wondering if it's worth buying a bulk bag and then selling smaller amounts to gamers :)
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You're after large pine nuggets. Unfortunately they only really get used for play areas, amenity coverage etc. Not really a home use thing due to size and cost. I've only been able to find it in the UK in bulk bags, the same ones they deliver sand etc in. Keep wondering if it's worth buying a bulk bag and then selling smaller amounts to gamers :)
Probably wood ...
Here in Canada they sell them bags about the size of a torso. Pretty big bag, really about a lifetime supply. I think under $20, maybe even $15? I bought one for a friend at the landscaping store near me (they're massive, sell everything from trees to small plants, ponds, etc.).
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Probably wood ...
::) ::)
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Yeah, Dewkabuk is right, the best ones are probably pine nuggets as used in play areas. I have trained the kids to bring back suitable samples.
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Pocoloco - its not that cork bark stuff, I can get that from a pet shop or online no problem. Its the wood chippings they use for gardens, soft play areas and to keep the weeds at bay I want, the big chunky stuff.
Parks in the Milton Keynes area have tonnes of it in the kiddy play areas. It is where I got mine last time. If you are still looking for a bag of the stuff then maybe B&Q or one of the other garden centers. Probably the wrong time of year for it though.
Snitchy sends.
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Nope garden centres don't carry it unfortunately.
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I've looked at the stuff you can get from the DIY stores, its much smaller chips, shards of it or just bigger than small stones. I'll keep looking. Thought I found a website selling it, but it was in the US!!
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Jon, I am assuming that you've seen some of the pieces that I've posted here. These are indeed pine bark chips and they come in 50 pound bags in the US. They are however very cheap. Maybe 15-20 dollars for a 50 pound bag.
Your best hope is to buy the big bag and split them with like minded friends.
Best of luck...KingsMt
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Ah KingsMt I've got you to blame for putting these into my head. It must be the kind of trees you have over in the US compared to the available sources here in the UK. I saw plenty of the big pieces being used along the paths on the AWI and ACW battlefields as well!
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Like this?
https://www.scotbarkuk.com/item/967/DecorativeBarkandChips/Pure-Pine-Bark-Nuggets.html
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Like this?
https://www.scotbarkuk.com/item/967/DecorativeBarkandChips/Pure-Pine-Bark-Nuggets.html
That's the stuff. Only available in bulk bags and not at all currently.
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It's a lot more expensive than I thought it would be. When we had high winds and lots of fallen trees a couple of years back I confess to going scavenging with a hammer, chisel and bucket.
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I have to confess to taking a plastic bag along to play areas when the kids were younger and scavenging.
These days I'd get arrested if I went on my own... :D
Milton Keynes eh? I'm working in Aylesbury during the week, I may have to take an evening detour... Definitely looking to get arrested...
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I bought a bag in B & Q about a decade ago. It lay around until I finally figured out how to use it properly and how wonderful it was and now I have run out. I looked last year and did find some places in England selling it which is useless to me as I am in Northern Ireland so I would have to get a pallet of it – which I am not entirely adverse to. I have not given up hope yet and haunt garden centres looking for some more.
Try looking for bark nuggets or cedar bark chips. The former seems to produce more hits.
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Bark nuggets do still turn up in b&q etc periodically, but they're the small ones unfortunately, usually no bigger than around 30mm :(
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Even with smaller chips, you can build a respectable piece. Just hot glue them together. Don't forget that you can break these chips up to fit into each other, as if they were natural crevases. Keep the cracks dark and scatter some vegatation in them for a realistic look.
You can also stack them up like pancakes to make rocky terrain.
Pust some on your ground and then cover a portion as if the were sticking out of the earth.
Lots you can do with the smaller chips.
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The problem with the stuff you can get in the UK is that it is like mulch rather than ground cover, so its like chunky dust!!
I think the solution is to raid a supermarket car park or lurk around in a park until the groundsmen disappear for a brew of tea!!!
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This has got me curious. Any pictures of wargaming terrain made out of the stuff? If it's that sought after, I want to at least have it on my radar :)
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Easy enough to get in the Uk from specialist horticultural suppliers, (just google pine bark nuggets) but it averages 130 quid for 600 litres. It might be worth trying to find a local company to you and giving them a call about buying smaller amounts for modelling or perhaps you are enquiring about a sample of their product(s)
Have a search on the net and in your yellow pages for a company and give it a go. Some people in this world are friendly and helpful... If you can go and collect it yourself, then I bet that makes it easier...
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Some examples from a quick Google search.
(http://i.imgur.com/cRkOn1u.jpg)
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VsedM7HEHJQ/VfWkMqJKWNI/AAAAAAAAG3o/S71_pgG46Vo/s1600/terrain-board-dirt-11.JPG)
(http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb225/emu2020/Gaming/104_6657.jpg) (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/emu2020/media/Gaming/104_6657.jpg.html)
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Oh, in that case I was just confused. The stuff in Cubs's link looked like something else. I'm quite familiar with the material in those pictures and have some of it myself (though I can't recall where I got it). Sorry.
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I produced these from Oak Bark (scavenged from the local park) - remember to blast this in the microwave to kill off any bugs
http://shedwars.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/rocky-outcops-oak-bark.html (http://shedwars.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/rocky-outcops-oak-bark.html)
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j375/ErictheShed/Rock%20Piles/pic1a_zps49ad162a.jpg)
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j375/ErictheShed/Rock%20Piles/pic3_zps12c8eda4.jpg)
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I looked into this a couple of years ago. Aside from the bulk supplies mentioned, I did find one retail bagged equivalent. When I said find, I mean sort of: in that while it could be purchased nowhere in about 50 miles of me actually carried it. I then found a cheap local supplier of cork so canned the idea. Apologies but I can't remember the brand.
Edit:
I think the brand might have been Melcourt, which is UK but sells wholesale only. They do a variety of bark shreds, chips and nuggets, many of which are in 70/75 litre bags.
For example there's the 15-35mm orchid nuggets at £17 for 70 litres
http://www.bhgsltd.co.uk/melcourt-orchid-bark-course-grade-70l-p-1481.html (http://www.bhgsltd.co.uk/melcourt-orchid-bark-course-grade-70l-p-1481.html)
There are bigger grades (up to I think 150mm in reptile) and cheaper prices (about £8 upwards - but will include more fines and won't be disease free).
www.melcourt.co.uk (http://www.melcourt.co.uk)
Just to be clear, I haven't actually used or even seen this brand.
Edit2:
A few more 10mm - 50 MM play bark for less than £9 plus delivery
http://www.jfcmonro.co.uk/search.asp?brand=Melcourt (http://www.jfcmonro.co.uk/search.asp?brand=Melcourt)
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I have just bought a sample of this to try - I found you could get a small amount for £3 post free from CPA Horticultural:
http://www.cpa-horticulture.co.uk/play-surfaces/play-nuggets
It arrived today and I have two ziploc bags of large pieces Pine Play nuggets and Deluxe pine nuggets and one of bark mulch - which doesn't look usable.
Pictures with a sample Dust 28mm figure for size against a couple of pieces:
(http://www.blackhat.co.uk/images/CPA1.jpg)
(http://www.blackhat.co.uk/images/cpa2.jpg)
Mike
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Good find!
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Terrific detective work thank you, I reckon this is the stuff - I'm going to order some:
http://www.jfcmonro.co.uk/melcourt-playbark-bark-10%2F50~683
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Just bought 75ltr bag of it:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181343478939
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Just bought 75ltr bag of it:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181343478939
Now you have to keep it dry so it will not go moldy. lol Good find all around.
Snitchy sends.
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Just bought 75ltr bag of it:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181343478939
Will be interesting to see what you get. 10-50mm pieces would put me off as I suspect it will be mostly in the 10-30mm range which isn't what I'm after and I think it said 'pine based' which probably means there is other stuff in there. Easy enough to sift through though, and you can always put the bits you don't want for modelling out on the flower bed :D
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The same firm does 10-30mm - that's why I went for this option. Hopefully I'll get lots of big bits!
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I am also curious to see what arrives. "Pine bark based" means........what?
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It means most of it will be pine nuggets but they may bulk it with other bark, stringy sections of pine or perhaps from other trees.
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Its arrived and its useless. The bits are too tiny and its soaking wet too. Never mind, the wife has appropriated it for the garden!!
Back to the search again.....
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That's a real shame :'( Thanks for testing the water.
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Would this (http://www.awbsltd.com/shop/product.asp?P_ID=1059) be any good?
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Would this (http://www.awbsltd.com/shop/product.asp?P_ID=1059) be any good?
Yes.
These look like the right bark chips.
Tony