porky

Just found this dead squirrel strung between the wires near my house. Looks like he has been electrocuted? One claw is till attached to the 2nd wire up. I dont think its been shot.

One pet hate of mine is putting up bird and bat boxes WITHOUT using copper nails!

The shaft on the chainsaw attachment is much shorter than the strimmer attachment. About 18" shorter from memory.

Never fell a tree after three

I've been using my Grapple from Digbits that I got the other day on my JCB801 for shifting small logs, its not ideal but better than nothing. Still dont know whether I would have been better off using a standard digger bucket and a Thumb talon. The Thumb folds back when not in use, which might get in the way but the Grapple you have to change the bucket.

Would be loads better on a JCB803. Really all depends on what you are going to use it for.

I also got a Licence out of fear.

But beware the Para.21 'exemption certificate'. Once you have given them this info and its on a Database its there forever for anyone or agency to check. It may be free now but once they have got everybody signed up there is nothing to stop them charging, another nice stealthy tax.

Offer them round to people who want to make habitat piles eg schools,zoos,nature reserves etc. Good publicity and recycling. Ticks all the boxes.

Not many. For that you need a log grab.

I was afraid of that. When you say "log grab" do you mean like the one in the pic or the type that goes on a front loader of a tractor?

I've looked into to get something like that for my small kubota but they are just to heavy for it

Thanks for posting pics.

I think I need a grapple rather than the "thumb". I've got a quote from Digbits for a grapple for £450+vat. Still waiting for the HawkFawk quote. I like the idea of splitting the grapple and using it with different buckets, should give more flexibility.

Still unsure how many 18" logs I could grab in one bucket, if it's like the toys in amusement arcades I might be left with just one log or a liqourice comfort!

I know it would be better on a larger machine but has anyone any experience of using a Grapple on a 1.5T digger like this one?

1 to 2ton mini digger/excavator grapple JCB/Kubota/case on eBay (end time 06-Apr-10 11:29:04 BST)

Would it be worth having for shifting logs into a trailer, general yard work, maybe moving brash or quicker by hand?

For rings that are too big to lift on to the table I keep an old saw with a ripping chain on. Turn ring on its side, cut through half way,insert wedge, tap and it falls apart. Saves a lot of struggle.

Tired of dragging brash, and all those heavy logs?

I've finally bought a cheap Chinook off Ebay. Its got a few oil leaks here and there but nothing I cant fix I'm sure. Will be hiring it out soon, with or without driver. Costs will be about £8000 per hour, I reckon. Operators will need BS30 & BS31.

Hi, welcome to the forum.

Your right there isn't much sweet chestnut here in Devon. it prefers to grow in Sussex, & Kent where it's a lot drier!

I did try planting some once but it got hammered by the squirrels anyway.

I will soon have to do a cs 31 as a refresher to stay on a LA list. This will be the 6th "basic course" I will have attended in my life - anybody top that?

I did use some old, but sound 6x1 tanilised timber on a tipper trailer bed and then covered it with sheet of steel from an old oil tank. Works well, but if you buy fresh timber it will shrink and leave gaps as it dries.

[ The other thing of course, and 'yes' I know it's all well and good me banging on about it, but I would also think about your professioanl CPD moving in line with your advancing skills to ideally keep a parity.]

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Well done!

When you are working, are the rules that you must have another IRATA qualified person with you for aerial rescue?

I can't help thinking this isn't progress. Must cost more to manufacture as well.

I bought a couple of new saws in the last month with the new (to me anyway) bayonet type oil & fuel caps. The petrol caps are okay but the oil caps take ages fiddling around before they finally close properly. Anybody else having trouble or maybe I have a dodgy batch?

Just go and buy a new saw mate. Its not worth rebuilding.

I had a set of BFG MTs before and I know what you mean about mud clogging up but I think that is inevitable on a road compromise tyre. Its probably about as good as you can get and still hold the tarmac!

I bought a set of 235/85/16 from Paddock recently complete with rims for my my Landy, £630 delivered.

Well impressed so far, on and off road.

I don't think that BT have cleared around their lines routinely since Privitisation. Its a huge cost so they are not going to do it unless they have to. Like you I have often wondered what the legal situation was.

Dont forget you must have consent for works to trees in a Conservation Area

If you use pallets etc I found you get rats, mice & rabbits move in because you have left a nice, dry emtpy void!