Chainsaw courses without the lectures?

[Paddler]

I am fairly new to chainsawing and keen to learn more.

 

I have looked at CS /LANTRA courses, but what I don't want is half a day on the importance of PPE and identifing kite marks etc. I have bought PPE and know the importance of it, that's why I am looking for a course!

 

I know how to start the saw from cold/hot and have limited experience of crosscutting, usually with the logs held in a horse. I can fuel, oil and sharpen the chain.

 

So are there any "real world" courses out there, without the nonsense? I am not looking to work in the industry, just want a course suitable and they all seem too basic or too advanced. What I want more safe experience of is cutting limbs larger than guide bar, and limbs on the ground. I don't want to fell any trees, just deal with them once they fall.

 

I realise half day in a lecture room is easy for the course providers, but surely a quick check of equipment and the rest spent on practical skills would be better for most users, with theory thrown in during the day.

 

Does such a course exist?

[john meehan]

I think really you want a windblown trees course but you wont be abke to do that without a basic chainsaw course first.

 

Processing windblown trees can be really dangerous as yhere is a lot of weight and pressure forces involved. You really should have some real training before carrying out this kind of work.

 

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[stihlmadasever]

If you dont want too work in the industry then a lantra or NPTC course wouldnt really suit you as its a lot of health and safety,rules and regulations etc.

All proffesional training bodies have course curriculam that they have to adhere too in order to award candidates the qualification so id say you would be better off going to a local tree surgeon or someone else you who uses chainsaws and ask for a lesson,you could offer payment or a free days labour draggin brash in return for a chainsaw tutorial.

The only problem with this is the longer we use the saw we get bad habits and some of these may be passed on to you unintentionally.

Youtube is good for looking at how to use a chainsaw but real world tutorige is best imo.

I wouldnt touch windblow until you've got your basic saw skills on point.

Good luck mate and be careful

Edited October 14, 2016 by stihlmadasever

[Stoatally]

Not sure the idea of a 'lesson' from a local is a good idea - would you want the kiajikity coming back of 'he told me to do it that way' when something went wrong?

 

Courses are set the way they are to cover the more boring aspects like ppe, forces, cleaning etc. Sometimes you just have to put up with those bits to get to the better hits.

 

As mentioned above you need some of the more basic tickets to do the more hands on courses. You may even learn something you didn't know relating to maintenance or cross cutting etc, especially if you always use a saw horse.

 

I'd say you're better looking into who's a good training provider and delivers good, hands on courses. I always recommend Roland Heming as the courses he and Mart deliver are very hands on, cover just enough theory without being boring or OTT. Might be worth doing the basics, or asking a provider for a short course with assessment fir maintenance and cross cutting allowing you to progress to other courses

[Shane]

Our local college (in Sussex) used to run a one day course for domestic users, with no certificate or test given at the end.

 

It still included a couple of hours on the safety aspects.

[felixthelogchopper]

You sometimes find courses like that on the Woodlots website or have a look at the Small Woodland Owners Group.

[Haironyourchest]

You might consider buying a long reach chainsaw as well - not a telescopic one, more like a kombi-system attachment. For processing branches on the ground it would be ace, way easy on the back, super safe, super convenient for everything really.

[peatff]

So are there any "real world" courses out there, without the nonsense?

 

I'm 64, never been on a course but been using a saw for many years without any incidents. How much more do you want to learn ? Sitting through an extra couple of hours of "nonsense" wouldn't be too much of a chunk out of your time and it's part of everything now so it's in the price. Just live with it and then get on with the job after.

[Adamam]

As an aside, most of the chainsaw manufacturers have free manuals online (not saw user manuals; generic use/safety manuals).

 

The one from Echo is good, for example.

 

The Homeowners guide is generally considered decent and covers a good amount.

 

I would imagine an inquiring mind with a laptop and a manual might come away potentially far safer than your average hung-over 20 year-old daydreaming his way through a beginners course...

 

Not suggesting courses aren't absolutely the correct way to go, obviously.

[Stubby]

I'm 64, never been on a course but been using a saw for many years without any incidents. How much more do you want to learn ? Sitting through an extra couple of hours of "nonsense" wouldn't be too much of a chunk out of your time and it's part of everything now so it's in the price. Just live with it and then get on with the job after.

 

I am the same age and agree with what you say as long as the extra couple of hours of " nonsense " did not include snapping the chain brake on at every opportunity .......