honitonhobbit

Nothing. Solid. Nails. Ugly - so good security

Sounds about right

Softwood, yes; hardwood no. There's a big difference it was the 1860's Chris - I know I don't look that old, but that's what a life of working outside does to your skin

They were very different times. I made a lot of money back then. I bought a brand new stump grinder, a Bedford Brava pick up and two new saws off that little gale, as well as a deposit on yard. It kept me flat out for over a year... I remember watching the army come in, over in the Ashdown to clear timber.... It was chaos. No training. Nothing.

When I first started out in timber felling back in 1982, it was officially the most dangerous job you could do. If you had all your fingers by 21 you weren't trying. People died every month. Understandable really, a chainsaw is a nasty bit of kit. Knowing how to use one safely is not simple and only a fool assumes he is safe. I saw my first death three days after I turned 16. No chain-brakes back then; kickback and a powered cut to the carotid artery; man died in less than two minutes. I still remember it like it was yesterday - I was the only first aid trained guy on site because I had been in the Scouts. I used my shirt as a pressure bandage - although we didn't call it a pressure bandage back then. It's not nice, being unable to do anything. Safety kit, training, techniques and rules now mean that tree felling is one of the safest industries in the UK, people rarely die. The people that do still die are those that haven't got the training, the kit, don't know the techniques or the rules... Trees are heavy, grow funny, have funny stresses due to grain, species and growth habit. Chainsaws don't cut, they rip and tear. They remove a quarter inch width of flesh in a clean stroke. Most folk use mineral oils so if you don't bleed out, you will have major vein and nerve trauma exacerbated by the mineral oil - say hello to Mr Gangrene... You attempt to move that tree and it goes wrong, someone will get hurt or die. That will be your fault. If you have ticked all the boxes then the man with the funny wig will say you did everything you practicably could. If you haven't ticked the boxes, then you will need soap on a rope. Simples

OM 605 would be nice - hard as nails loads of grunt, very fuel efficient, not too long

Having two 200 series Disco's I frequent breakers - one especially - who know I will have switches, trim, seals, glass and all the odd bits no one else wants. What ever I collect that is surplus goes on to the GWAC boys or to the Alan Young Collection, as a way of supporting what is now a relatively rare classic vehicle

I generally use my local 4x4 specialist. The staff there have experience that accumulates to hundreds of years - and not just on Land Rovers. They have a special book that notes the parts they order for customers for when the work is in house. That way you get good parts form a very varied list of suppliers.

Very true Mike... Seems like if you haven't had one stolen yet, then you're not in the 'In' crowd

Don't buy a Defender

Construction and use - very boring; in fact very, very boring

Well I offered it to Chris Watts but his trailer was too small and then he moved. Another chap I know hired a 28tonne 8 wheeler and hauled it all to his farm... Free It was plantation thinning's. Roadside screening planted for the A303 Duals back in the early 90's. Never thinned as per the spec. The planting mix was Ash and Norway Maple - all about 450mm at stump. Mostly nice and straight. Ideal firewood If it's going for firewood then it's not waste, so as long as a waste transfer licence ticket is filled in then you don't need a actual Contractors Waste Transfer Licence If it went to land fill then it would be landfill costs plus £100.00 a tonne land fill tax for green waste. To chip it we require a waste exemption ticket for the waste class form the Environment - then when we have that an further ticket form the EA to chip and spread on our clients land

Think that's bad - go and look at Nene Valley's site, or Khan Conversions

I have a spare timing chest....

Worth taking a browse through C&U regs prior to swapping to coils

My client is looking into Bio-mass in a big way - but they move much like a three legged tortoise

I occasionally have a bit of wood free to a good home - although you will have to sign a waste transfer note. Problem is it's always in the west country and often in quite large quantities (600tonnes was the last lot)

Pretty much - not like Vesuvius, but I'd have a rag in my left hand and undo the oil cap with my right

Also worth taking off the oil filler cap whilst it's on tick over. It's relatively common for the 200 to blow the gasket to the oil way between 2 and 3 or 3 and 4. Thi spressurises the oil to an entertaining and messy level

Easy way is to ask the land owner - Council will say 'no' . But private land owners like to keep public footpaths across their land clear

Fallen timber is property. Full stop. Removal without permission is theft (and possibly trespass). It may also contravene certain environmental legislation. For example I always specify that some arising's form tree works are left as habitat piles - piles of logs. These are hibernacula and as such protected Of course you need to get caught first

You'd still need a certificate of competence - unless it's your land and trees. Also need third party liability. So they put you in an interesting position within the law. Used to be you would only need a CS30/31 but now you will need Level 2 in Maint and Crosscutting, Level 2 in Felling and processing over 380mm in diameter and Level three in windblown and uprooted trees You'll also need to be on the County Highways Framework Contractor list, have full RAMS and TPL

JU, where did you acquire those remarkable stickers?

Like buying a chocolate tea pot