Brushcutter

The old husky fuel can, the spouts where crap, the new husky fuel can has crap spouts and I can guess any new ones will be crap too. As much as it pains me the STIHL can is the best one. I've got Aspen one, expensive but it doesn't leak.

Give them a ring and they have some good relationships with people and they can quite often arrange for you to go and see one nearish you.

I think the newer botex cranes are much better than the old ones. Everything is just more polished and a lot more options than ever. I've used the 5050 the 560 on the roof and the trailer. 570 on the trailer and the 580 on a trailer. From the piano leavers on the 5050 to the pilot electro hydraulic on the 580tl. The lift capacity is still good and the build quality is nice. For big timber I do like a botex but they are slow compared to a farms Kronos or any of the other scandi cranes. Depending on what you plan on doing with it if you could find a used gen 2 farms 12 tonne or even a 9 it's probably a better forestry trailer. If you do big hardwoods the straight bolsters and near 3 tonne lift is hard to beat.

There are only a few intact ones left apparently. I've never actually seen one before.

Is that the inflatable wedge,?

Yes it's normal. Horrid things I don't know why Stihl still sells the things.

PPE is the last line of defence something has gone very wrong if your cutting your trousers/ boots. A failure of many other steps. Mainly adminstrative thing like work breaks and welfare facilities to reduce fatigue, timescales and deadlines to prevent rushing. Operator refresher training and experience. Level of supervision for the operation adherence to best practice. The HSE would be all over this step well before they cared about the trousers rating. As FISA 301 states no PPE Can give 100% protection against cuts with a chainsaw. I did wear class 2 trousers for a few years just because they were on sale. They were ok. Not much less flexible than my gladiators. That I had before and after.. only ever worn Haix protector pro boots and they are class one.

Mk 1 husky saws were bad on the restart when hot. They work better if you follow the hot start process of putting the choke on taking it off so it starts at half throttle. My MK1 was bad for it especially in the summer. Eventually it went in for repair and it has a new carb under warranty, which was the issue. What was wrong with it exactly I can't remember. Tank breather isn't blocked is it?

As far as I am aware there is no NPTC or Lantra award for milling in general. Your chainsaw mill would be covered by your chainsaw maintenance and cross cut as the power source. I once did a band saw course which I got sent on and the guy who did it knew less about band saws than milling than I did. He was expecting a little workshop resaw as that's all he sees. A Robinson's resaw and a stenner 41 were too far out his comfort zone so I felt we showed him more than he showed us. So specific training for band saws and table saws exists. As the PUWER requirement would be to show suitable training did you get any from the machinery suppliers. If not maybe see if they could do you something? The other option if a local training provider would be willing to do a certificate of training. Then you have something to show people.

Depends on the school. One school I go to every contractor has to have an enhanced DBS. If you don't no work. Blanket policy. Some places they you have a minder. If you need an enhanced DBS the school have to do it for you. It costs them rather a lot 250 quid I think. Once it's through you can sign up to the update service and it keeps it up to date for 38 quid a year. I do this so they can just check me if they need. Way I see it if the staff need checking the contractor do too. You just charge accordingly don't you.

Post code lottery. Having things like drive and garage make a difference. My insurance is sky high as nobody else around here bothers with it....

Disodium Metasilicate

346/357 leaked chain oil like it was free. It's just a little seal on the pump that's normally the issue. Seems like your going to have to spend some money putting new bits on it. Bit of Stihl varioclean should clean up the outside.

A very good saw. Had the option of running .325 or 3/8 chain you just had to change the sprocket and the plastic bit that went in the worm gear that the sprocket sits in. Didn't really suffer with spitting out exhaust bolts the way the 346 did,.or at least that was my experience. Although replaced by the 560 the 550 feels more like it's direct comparison. Price wise modern saws are silly money. Second hand saws are also silly money. I think at it's youngest it's going to be nearly 15 years old I think! I wouldn't want to pay more than £200 quid for it but I think £300 would be a more realistic figure nowadays

Check Amazon. I recently picked up a triple pack of 14" Oregon 3/8p 1.3.guage 91vx I think l. For just 18 quid. So at £6 each I can't argue. Just come in a Oregon branded bag in a cardboard box of 3.