Rob D

All good points Andy - the disposal of the empty cans is an issue... Maybe they do need to re think how the fuel is supplied and distributed... a hard one I think!

I shouldn't worry about a bit of dust under the filter Andy - my MS880 seems to have much more than the 090 after milling and seems to cope with it. Things like, Letting the saw idle 30 secs every 4 ft down a plank Idling for a minute or 2 with gentle revving after finishing a plank Do not just switch off at the end of a plank. Don't mill the last board in a heap of sawdust - just firewood it or lift it onto something higher Regular air filter cleaning The biggest thing I've found is to allow the saw time to cool and getting the air flow over the fans - not so much with your 090 as I think the older saws had more metal in and revved lower so less heat build up.

I'm sure they sell large drums of it? But more like 100l. But would 25l be an advantage? - I love the 5l containers as they're so handy... otherwise you just end up decanting from the 25l can into a 5l can.

Very good post - it's looking at the additional benefits of supplying a good product. Someone comes to you to buy Aspen and then they also see that you sell other good products. Why won't dealers take on the product? - I think you need a proper rep to go round to dealers to look at taking on new products. All the larger companies do this and it's a strategy that seems to work.... I have the same problem with what I sell.... I think you need to get out there and promote your products directly to dealers and demonstrate them.... (Something I'll be looking at doing once the new Granberg mill has been put into production). But as you say it's a big commitment taking on someone full time when you're a small business....

Well done for getting out there and doing it - a brave thing to do fresh out of college and no doubt you'll reap the rewards. But yep some pics would be good - I've been out there a few times as the missus is from the South Island... if you get a chance have a look at the kauri trees and the kauri museum.

I got a container from Aspen esp for storing a pallet load of fuel... they were doing them at a special price when you bought a pallet... Not sure if that offer is still there but it's pretty good!

How do you mean cleaner running Andy? To stop it getting clogged with sawdust from milling?

Ha ha! I've had postage on my mind today and did a search - felt it needed a reply.

I know - but I used round up regularly 6 years ago - I only looked up this article today! It may have been published for years (although may not have necessarily been available online all that time) but I never thought to look up anything about roundup as everyone else selling and using it said it was harmless and a 'good one to use!' That was the general opinion of it.

You're looking at it like it's a black and white thing - it depends on what you're sending. Under 1kg - Royal Mail £4.30-00 courier £16-00 Over 4kg signed for - Royal Mail £9-75 courier £16-00 Over 10 kg signed for - Royal Mail £19-75 courier £16-00 So not as clear cut as you're making out. Chainsdirect work on large turnover and small margins which I would expect gives them lower postage rates - to this effect are I would say their business strategy is successful as I could not match their prices and stay solvent.

Pretty worrying as I used 'roundup' all the time for a good few years and the thoughts then were that is was harmless to humans and so not to worry if you inhaled a bit here or there. There's an article here, 'Since glyphosate is being marketed as a safe and environmentally friendly product and its use is so extensive' which sort of summed up how I used to feel about it. Full article here if interested: Glyphosate fact sheet

Nice thread Andy and thanks for posting. I think when you start to mill timber usually one of two things happen- you buy it and never use it..... too busy! OR you mill every bit of wood that comes your way! but it's hard work, you don't know where to store the timber, some of it gets firewooded anyway as you get fed up moving it! And both these approaches tend to resign the mill to the back of the garage.... I think this worked well - good selective milling - as the customer wanted the planks, it was half a days milling and you come away feeling satisfied with your elboes more or less intact.

And ironically this post is the biggest load of tosh I've read in my life!

Well done - that looks pretty doable! As long as the curve in the log is in line with the wide section of the root. And the root looks pretty clean although a pressure wash would be even better.

I think it more likely a blip rather than a change in the economic climate..... Wish it were otherwise. That said there will always be people that need work doing... sometimes the hard times force other people out of the industry which then creates a bit of relative demand. It's tough but you've got to stick at at IMO and keep improving the service you offer.

I'd put some pics up here as otherwise I don't think you'll get many takers... also is this going to need milling through the root ball...? If so you're looking at smashing up a couple of chains on a big set up so just to factor that in as well as the time sharpening etc.

Lovin' the back! Great work

Cracking bench Si - very original. Put some pics up of when it's in situ

I still think the precision grinder is one of the most under rated sharpening tools.... When touching up it almost gives a polished finish to the tooth. A good way of using in the workshop is just to buy a cheap ebay jumper pack as I've not found a 240V transformer.... They don't last all that long but a handy thing to have around anyway... 12V COMPACT JUMP START STARTER BOOSTER CAR VAN WITH AIR COMPRESSOR | eBay

The only other thing with this test was that really you should have a go with all the different file sizes i.e. 5/32", 3/16" and 7/32" so x4 of each to see which came out the best. I'll perhaps do this the next time round. Also I'll advertise the test well in advance as a catchment of 30 people would be better.

I do have the Save Edge files in now but won't be on my website until mid next week so hang in there! As re vamping all those areas of the website. I liked the Save Edge the best - as you say there's something a bit raw about them - they give the most chew off the tooth! The first few strokes on the tooth it can be 'catchy' but then it seems to find it's place and rapidly removes metal. And in the endurance test (thanks Morten:thumbup:) it came out tops as well. But I think if you like a smoother file with less bite the Vallorbe/Oregon ones are the way to go. I'll see about doing some more tests soon!

As Big J says you really want at least an 80cc to 90cc saw for the flip and rip... that and a 20" or maybe 22" bar and it'll work very very well.... The one I currently have will be on sale shortly as I look to take delivery of the first production batch.... but I'm not keen on selling it yet... there's something about this mill and what it'll do and I need to put it through it's paces. I'll have some vids in a month or so of just what it is capable of. I want to try lowering the saw down into a log for morticing or cutting sections out of logs etc.

And thanks to all who took part - I'll maybe think about doing another test in the future when I've recovered from this one!

It's a tricky one.... If that's all you will be milling and the diameters are all about the same and you also have a way of extracting and loading I'd say a small bandsaw would be best.... Chainsaw mills are great but for larger projects like this where you'll prob want to make cladding etc then a bandsaw would be best IMO

Some info on who makes what To get real facts about how and where files are made is pretty much impossible.... You get no replies from e-mailing the big companies direct. From what I gather about chainsaw files (which is not based on fact more what I’ve heard). The Swiss Vallorbe factory have always made Oregon files. And they now make Stihl files – BUT – I noticed that some of the Stihl files I had were marked with black ink at the end of the file and some were engraved near the tang end..... So Stihl have their files made in different places. I suspect the ones with the black writing on the end are made by Pferd (I have some Pferd files and they have black writing on the end) and the engraved ones are Vallorbe – have e-mailed the factories a few times to get real facts but no replies to date.... Pferd make the Stihl EZ file so it makes sense they prob make some of the Stihl files as well. I did get some Pferd files in about 18 months ago – but they cost a ruddy fortune compared to other brands as you have to go through a distributer.... and as the distributer does not carry stock or sell that many it’s a painful process to order them. It’s a shame as Pferd seem to manufacture a wide range of chainsaw files and guides... see pages 24 onwards here http://www.pferd.com/images/WZH_21_201_72dpi_en.pdf but they will not allow someone to just import the chainsaw filing equipment – you have to go through someone who is a main Pferd distributer.... And even though the files may come from the same factory they can be made to different grades of quality depending on how much they are being paid - so just because they come out of the same factory does not make them equal!