Tom D

Well done dean, and just to make sure Ed's still chewing I should mention that I pulled a couple of empty artics up Flotterstone hill outside Edinburgh with my old defender a couple of years ago. I had Geolander tyres on which are unidirectional like your anacondas, the pirelli scorpions that I have now don't seem as good in the snow, but then I havent tried to pull any trucks with them.

Another classic Reg, first post i looked at after getting back from my hols. No criticism intended as I know you're a bit of a pioneer when it comes to experimenting with new rigging ideas so here's an old one... Just out of interest any reason for not using a second pulley to take the lowering line away a bit further? I've been pushing my luck with second pulleys on thinner and thinner branches waiting for one to go, still not bust one (using common sense), so long as the angle of the rope is 45 degrees plus it seems almost anything goes, particularly when you can take all the slack / stretch out of the system with the hobbs.

Nice video, I ve still never tried a speedline, I might have to give it a try.

my loler inspector told me 8 was the limit and 7 was too small, Bail out is 7mm.

I've had one for the last 5 years, I junked the honda engine it had an put an 18Hp v twin on it, Its a beast. Bargain for that price, Mine has made its money back time and time again. You just have to be sensible when using it and it will outcut many of the hydrostatic wheelbarrow types.

Willie who runs logosol is a friend of mine, he can get quite good deals on the stihl saws, I'd go for the 88 too, you're not holding the weight of the saw with a mil anyway so go for the biggest you can. On that note I used to use a 3120 quite a lot, it was pants, very unreliable. That was an older one though.

I bought a ropeguide at the apf this year. Once you have one theres no going back. An essential piece of kit IMO.

I've got a 254, Its a great saw, its only fault is it eats a chainbreak once a year or so. The 357 is actualy very nice to use and has more power ( they're both running 18" bars and .325 chain). The 357 has had to have a new carb though which cost the best part of £100:sad: I have replaced it with the old type one so it shouldn't happen again. If you could buy a 357 with a old style carb brand new I'd go for that, but its an expensive saw when you add £100 to put it right. I have used a ms441 quite a lot, thats a good saw, not as nicely balanced as the 357 though.

I've seen pigeons nesting in all months. The breeding season of most birds is not directly dictated by weather or temperature but by the availability of food for the chicks. Since pigeons feed on shite that we chuck out they have an abundant year round supply of food and will therefore nest year round, probably the only bird to do this though. Rats and mice which also live of our shite will also breed all year round. Just chip the little bastard. I hate em.

I dont think there is, but to have any effect marine reserve areas would need to be very big, I just mean they should come right in to the shore.

The EU's fishing policy makes their agricultural policy look quite sensible, and that is saying something! This could be a good thing in a way because angling is supposedly Britains most popular hobby / sport and therefore this may attract enough attention to actually get the government off its arse and do something about the way our fisheries are managed. I thing we do need management of fisheries but the qouta system of throwing fish, dead, back in to the sea is crazy. Speak to an old angler and ask what catches were like 50 years ago or look at the catches for particular ports and you can see the massive decline in stocks. Basicaly we got too good at it and modern trawlers can find and catch more fish than there is out there. Perhaps we should make them use the boats and technology of the 19thcentury to even things up a bit. Personaly I'd like to see marine reserves where rod and line fishing is allowed but no commercial fishing, these should be large inshore areas where hopefuly fish could breed and grow relatively un-molested.

Start out doing simple little jobs like hedge cutting, its easy, you need minimal equipment, there's hardly any rubbish to take away and you'll get more work out of it. I still cut hedges I was cutting 5 years ago when I started on by own. Plus insurance for garden maintenance will cover you up to 4 meters and will cost next to nothing. You dont have to start with big dismantles, taking out small cypresses and pruning fruit trees are all good money in relation to the work involved. As for money work out your costs as best you can on a daily basis, then add the amount you want to earn. Then double it.

I'm with RBS and despite thir current difficulties they've been fine. However if I was starting now I would definately go with northern rock if possible. The government has singled them out to lead by example, extending credit where other banks are not. And since the government alrady own it it cant go bust again.

I'm sure you can, explain your machine to a supplier and see what they recommend. http://www.hydraulic-components.net/pumps_motors_flowdividers.html

Just skimmed over that thread again, I think any method can be employed if an experienced professional judges that under the circumstances it is the safest way, regardless of any officialdom. BTW Reg did you hear anything back? Post #40: "Andy, the lags weren’t load rated but they were welded and tested to my satisfaction on the actual tree in question. I understand enough about mild steel to know that those 4 lags could have probably picked up that entire trunk if it were possible to secure them adequately in the wood, which is the real issue. Different timbers, holding qualities, condition, alignment etc, etc…. I made a judgment-call based on the risks involved. I’m certainly not going to use an approved method that presents more risks or is perhaps just not feasible at all, just because it is approved or recommended by the company/s that advise the HSE….Id be more than willing to go to court in the worst case scenario. As far as I can see, nothing is actually recommended for when a situation like this presents itself (lowering rings). Or perhaps it is simply to flatten everything underneath and fix it all up afterwards. Whatever, it just doesn’t ever seem to get a mention. I actually sent the video link to company xxxx who I gather advise the HSE, to show them how the situation was dealt with. I’ve yet to receive a reply but it sometimes takes time as the guy often works away or is tied up with other stuff. I said in the initial post that it’s not a technique that I’m promoting or encouraging, only that I judged it the safest option on this occasion. Clearly there’s plenty of scope for fine tuning and establishing boundaries etc. Although under the right circumstances it clearly works, perhaps there’s too many variables for someone to risk putting their name to. I’ll let you know if I hear anything. Thanks"

IMO wether a given qualification is worth something is not related to the state of the industry at the moment. We all know its bad but there's no need to slag off coledge courses just beacuse there's a lack of jobs. A qualification is a qualification regardless of wether it gets you a job. I would love to have a degree in Arb but I don't, (I'm currently doing the Tech Cert). Having quals does'nt make you a great arborist but neither does 20 years experience. You need both, I have some experience now and I have started a qualification. There's no reason why you shouldn't do the quals first and then get the experience.

Dont suppose you paid with a credit card? if so you're probably covered.

I did'nt pay that for mine, they gave quite a good discount. Still a lot of money though. This ones worth a look too. http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/buy-vholdr-camera.htm

The split / return cycle on my hydraulic splitter is very similar speed to that thing, it has a 2 stage pump.

Did some deadwooding on some scots pines last year, they were on a farm up the road, the place is right on top of the moor and when we arrived it was blowing a gale, a propper gale. The trees were not very tall and pines dont move much in the wind so I did them anyway. The wind got stronger as the day went on and on one of the last trees I ran out of fuel. While I was waiting for the refil I was just dangling in the wind, I had about 10 foot of rope out and was only about 20foot of the floor. It was a bit like how I imagine sky diving to be, a couple of times I was level with my anchor point. Quite good fun in a little tree but I would'nt fancy it in something big.

Yes mate POV 1 : http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/buy-viosport-pov1.htm?gclid=CKyYqqOsmpgCFRpnQgodyiH2ng

I had a go with a mates velcro type spikes, they were bashlin I think, I did'nt get on with them, I could'nt get the angle of the spikes right on the sole of by boot so they were'nt as comfy as they looked. Having said that loads of people seem to love them and I only wore them for 1 day.

Apparently the latest 200 bilion government backed toxic debt guarantee brings our debt to £33000 for each taxpayer!!! Basicaly its as if 30k has been added to all our mortgages. The painful part is'nt now, its in 2-3 years time as the economy starts to pick up and whoever is in government is going to have to put up taxes and start the repayment process. its going to hurt... For a long time.

Ditto. On the other hand pruning trees with shears on a 360 is a far worse crime than burning a bit of diesel. Why not prune with a chainsaw and use the diesel that would have gone i the 360 to chip the brash and then use the chip for heating.

Is the 280i a smaller / lesser model than the 260?