Chris Sheppard

Like others have said, think it depends on the circumstances as to what's acceptable or not. Plan B's are always a god thing to have, but things like the weather aren't always so predictable. We've had it a time or two where the weather's been OK when set off, to find it torrential when we reached site (also had it the other way where it's been torrential at home but apparently fine on site) - who's fault is that if it's deemed unworkable? Usually if someone's turned up but the weather's scuppered it before we've started then Fuel money's usually offered. If we've gotten a start but knocked on the head a good bit before dinner then it's usually half day. All depends on the job - if you've rocked up to do a day on tonnage then who's pocket is it going to come out of? As others have also said - reckon if you charge them it will only happen the once as you'll not get a second chance to. An odd 3 or 4 day week shouldn't be the end of the world - if you can't stand missing an odd day's wage then maybe you're trying to live beyond your means? Try dealing with some of the bigger sawmills who won't pay for over three months - that'll test your cash flow Embrace a day off - there's more to life than working (though it took me a while to realise it )

550: Best little thinning saw I've used so far - fact. Mine has been reliable so far - fact I would recommend them to anyone wanting a small thinning saw in the woods - fact

Got the bit between your teeth there Jon?

Seen plenty of 365's or 365 specials but never an xp

Got a bit of a non work engine (bike) related question that hoping someone will be able to help with. My fire breathing () DR 125 is struggling a bit to pull top gear on anything other than the flattest of flat roads or down hill and among other things I don't think is getting enough air in. At some point it's been fitted with an aftermarket exhaust, possibly even a DR 200 one and header pipe too as it looks quite big bore. I'm not as familiar with 4 stroke bikes as 2 strokes and was wondering, if I leave off the airbox lid so it's breathing through a roughly 4"x4" hole instead of a 1/2" slot, am I likely to need to fettle the carb or are they less bothered than two strokes? My old KMX 125 (13 years ago now) really went well after opening up the exhaust and leaving the airbox lid off - till it went pop a fewweeks later I'm not expecting miracles but every little helps

Me neither, been trying for last hour. Watching episode 4 of that kevin mccloud thing instead now that's finally appeared on 4OD

yep, X cubed would be XbyXbyX whereas Xm3 is X many m3 - that's how I would take it anyway.

I'm guessing he isn't

Yep, going with snatch block on tree behind to fell it up hill but cut through his hinge

We had a day playing about a while back and put my 550 on the mini mill not expecting much - reckon it gave the best finish out of all the saws we used that day. Admittedly most were set up for felling on normal chain, including full chisel on the 066 but the 550 was fresh from felling too.

Can't see any vid but are you sure he's not got a snatch block in the other tree to redirect the pull?

I feel your pain! Did my left one about 16 years ago when I as 14 or so. For such a small bone I've not known pain like it. I've never had any problems following on from it so hopefully you should be fine. Pot came off after 6 weeks and I was back on Bike not long after. How did you do it? I crashed my CR

Do you not think they feel a bit nasty though

Hope so - want another cold and dry one like a couple of years ago. Proper weather for working in

No Snow here but proper cold this morning

Is this a sign I talk too much? Something lighter than a 372 but with plenty of go - sounds to me lke a 560 It's no secret that when the autotune saws came out I was dead set against them and wanted nowt to do with them - til I tried one Bought my 550 off the back of the 560 demo. We never timed it, but I'd be surprised if there was much difference between my 372 (3/8 15" bar and 8 tooth rim) and the 560 (.325 15" 7 tooth rim) when we were crosscutting in Scot. I know there's plenty of disgruntlement (my new made up word of the day) around the 550/560 but I can only comment on my own experience of them, which so far has been good. Talking to Husky at the APF, it also sounds like the majority of people having problems with them are the ones usign them on more arb type jobs where it might be run for a few min and then off for a bit and like that all day, rather than out in the wood where it will be filled up, run til empty, refilled, emptied all day. The later 357's are OK but don't feel as aggressive as the earlier ones. I have two mid/later 2000's ones and they're OK, but I still find myself reaching for the 372 if we're in branchy hardwood and the 550 now gets chucked into the usual 357 timber. The 346 just never got me excited - it's not that it's a bad saw, but it just feels very domestic and a bit lardy in the woods with anything bigger than a 13". The difference between a 346 and a 353 wasn't enough to make me want to swap my old 353. My two penneth (no doubt different to what others think ) EDIT: after reading TCD's post - I forgot about the Jonsered - I know they're just the same saw as the huskies but I'd have grabbe ther 2250 (or whatever it is) if I could have got one locally, just to be a bit different.

Wonder if our two were pre-production or just a different batch?

Who's to say it's the autotune that's at fault though? For the extra power the autotune seems to provide, I;m hapy to take the chance Never seen a 365xp though

On Arb waste, 2 of us usually average about 12 cube or so a day. That's one of us ringing up and one on the splitter, with the one ringing passing to the splitter when not sawing. That's on an 18T vertical Thor splitter. Couldn't do that in a day with an axe as I'd be pooped,

Mine was one of the first ones out and, so far, has been problem free. Was dubious about the auto tune saws before I tried one but been happy so far.

Cool, does it need much doing to it?

Absolutely - no more chewed up screw heads

If it's something you don't need to use all the time, I really rate the ryobi one+ 18V impact driver. I've got the Lithium Ion batteries for it and it last ages on a charge. Did the Dog Kennel roof the other week and was putting 10x4 screws in with no pilot holes no bother (probably best part of 50 or 60) and a few of the big spax coach screws too and only swapped batteries towards the end and it wasn't freshly charged when I started. Bought it not expecting big things but it's been really not bad for a DIY grade tool. Think it was about £70 bare, but B&Q were doing the drill/driver with two Lithium batteries and charger for £99 - two batteries and a charger were over £80 to buy separately so it made sense to get the drill set.

Been to BC and Alberta a couple of times. Like others have said, Vancouver Island is lovely, Sea to Sky highway up past whistler and Squamish is fantastic, and the icefields parkway between Jasper and Banff is great too. Depens what you want to do - You could probably easily use up a couple of weeks without leaving Vancouver or you could move somewhere new every day. Both times we landed, picked up a car and just went where we felt like - you'll cover some miles but get to go at your own pace and stop off to see some of the smaller sites that the bus trips go straight past. The last time we went, we took a ferry from the top of Vancouver Island up the inside passage and then drove east down to Jasper and Banff and flew back from Calgary. The ferry is almost like a bit of a mini cruise and goes past some really remote little communities and we even got to see Orcas from the ferry. Would shove some pics up but they're all on the old computer at the mo.