Author Topic: Rock Salt.... (Read 4431 times)

supplies for smallholders · « **on:** May 27, 2011, 01:32:01 pm »

Hi,

Just about to take on a new product, but need some info from people please

I know it's the beginning of Summer, but in winter those of you who use Rock Salt for yards / paths / drives etc how much to you tend to use a year? where do you get it from? and have you had any trouble obtaining a supply??

Many Thanks

shetlandpaul · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2011, 07:34:36 pm »

mmm. think carefully on that one. with postage yours is going to be pretty expensive compared to say co-op or tesco.

supplies for smallholders · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2011, 08:12:42 pm »

Hi Paul,

I agree, but a couple of things:

The product is a new liquid de-icer transported in 20L containers

Tesco etc If I recall sold out very quickly as the highways agency comandeered all the supplies of salt.

But yes, postage would make it seem expensive

Thanks

CameronS · « **Reply #3 on:** May 27, 2011, 08:21:00 pm »

Will you only sell them in 20litres? they may be to large for some people and the weight if going to be substantial.

shetlandpaul · « **Reply #4 on:** May 27, 2011, 09:24:13 pm »

Quote from: supplies for smallholders on May 27, 2011, 08:12:42 pm

Hi Paul,

I agree, but a couple of things:

The product is a new liquid de-icer transported in 20L containers

Tesco etc If I recall sold out very quickly as the highways agency comandeered all the supplies of salt.

But yes, postage would make it seem expensive

Thanks

it then will not have any grit property. melting the ice would have been silly the last two winters. the salt and sand/gravel worked very well. i would dred to think how many litres we would need for our track. your right they do sell out quickly but for some reason they managed quite well this year. if there is a demand go for it. just being nosey what damage does it do to the enviroment. as our track drains into the field it could be quite bad. that why we are very tight on salt.

supplies for smallholders · « **Reply #5 on:** May 28, 2011, 09:06:32 am »

Hi Paul,

Its actually better than salt, 60% less corrosive, works to -27 (rocksalt is only good to -6) and is more environmentally friendly.

If you pm me your email I will let you see the brochure and case study.

Thanks

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #6 on:** May 29, 2011, 09:30:50 am »

Quote from: shetlandpaul on May 27, 2011, 09:24:13 pm

just being nosey what damage does it do to the enviroment. as our track drains into the field it could be quite bad. that why we are very tight on salt.

We have observed significant damage to areas of hedge bank and field where the council put piles of grit. Makes us seethe; everyone wants to tell farmers how to care for their land, makes out that without direction from defra farmers would be the scourge of the environment, but when it comes to a bit of popular inconvenience all that goes out the window and they can kill of as much of our pasture as they like, apparently.

And we have wondered and worried about the effects of the gritty sludge draining into the watercourses, of which there are an abundance around here.

I'm going to post this question on its own thread, don't want to hijack your market research SfS!

tobytoby · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2011, 02:08:03 pm »

It is good to see that suppliers take an interest in what other people use/buy/spread etc.

Rock salt is £25 per ton and goes an awful long way at 20gms per M2 ( by road treatment standards)

If you can buy white salt in bulk, (1 ton of salt added to water will make 4300 ltrs at 23% salinity) and covers a huge distance and is cleaner than road salt, and can be applied with walk behind fertiliser/weed sprayers, and just as effective!!

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #8 on:** June 01, 2011, 12:47:41 am »

So if my maths is right ... that'll be about 1kg white salt to a gallon of water?

Many of us know where to get white salt in bulk ... does a bit of saltpetre matter?

supplies for smallholders · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2011, 08:41:38 am »

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies, good food for thought.

However, a word of caution if using the salt solution as above - Rock Salt for instance is only good to -6 degrees, depending on the strength of your salt solution it may initially cause a thaw, but may then well freeze agian as the temp drops - leaving the water you sprayed on as a lovely slippery layer of ice.

Also Salt is an excellent weedkiller - so be careful where you apply it.

Thanks

shetlandpaul · « **Reply #10 on:** June 02, 2011, 08:51:03 am »

I agree with that. its often best to leave the snow alone. often a bit of gravel will make it driveable. i would only treat if its ice. A 4x4 was a godsend last winter as our normal car could not get up the drive for a month.