Tom D

Join your local machinery ring, they often do a bulk buy scheme, plus you'll get jobs out of it too...Contact Details of Scottish Machinery Ring Association Members

TP for me...

I have a set of aly dropsides, and tailgate plus corner posts if anyone is interested... I took them off my 09 transit when I made the chip box.

That's way too cheap Eddie... Maybe machine hire with operator, but how much would the average surge charge for that ? £1500? You'd have been a bargain at £1200..

Use the cant hook on a felling bar to lever them down?

One day when I have time (so probably never) I'm going to compare all our 50 and 60cc saws: ported 357, 550, ported 254, 6100, ported 034 and a 362... I'll video it and if Matty wants to bring his 560 as well we'll have a pretty broad comparison..

What's on it now? ballasting the front tyres will add 150-200kg per side, should be enough....

I originally bought a makita 6100 from an on line retailer which rhymes with " turd of shower" It was delivered fully assembled in its original box with the bar and chain sticking out of a slit cut in the box! There was no padding in the box, unsurprisingly the saw had been damaged. The fuel tank was split so I tried to get them to replace the saw but they were quite stroppy and didn't want to do anything about it at first. They did agree to repair the saw, so I eventually got them to collect it ( something they were reluctant to do). I had my reservations about their repair service but had been assured that it would be done by an "expert" . On its return the saw was un-useable, the vibrations were so bad that fingers would be tingling after just a minute or so. I was so busy that I didn't really get a chance to have a proper look at it but at the APF I mentioned the saw to the guys on the Makita stand and as soon as I looked at the saw they had on the stand I could see the problem with mine was a damaged AV mount. I had noticed that one of the AV mounts was different to the others but I had assumed that it was a different part and meant to look like that. Since then Makita UK have been great and I have now been offered a brand new saw, so naturally I asked for an orange one... It should be personally delivered next week. So I can say that Makita UK are a great company to deal with, but "turd of shower" will never get my business again.

Not a great comparison with different sized bars and chain pitch. The story of my 6100 is a long and painful one which I will post once resolved, it looks like its going to have a happy ending though and then we can do a comparison. I doubt it will match the ported 357 but you never know.

Maybe it was mine he tested...

I'd like to try the 560 against my ported 357...

Sometimes when lifting over an obstacle that you don't want to break having the security of a chain or sling is nice, fat lumps can slip out of a grab when you least expect.

Whats the base vehicle Sandy?

I would say that fitting a grab and rotator would be unnecessary for arb work. Assuming its a HIAB type crane then they are not really designed for grab work and they lack the slewing torque of a loading crane. I would say think about the average job that you will use it on and count the lifts, chances are it will be less than 10 per job. So for 10 picks you'd be as well using slings or chains, you may also be able to use a manual boom extension which will come in handy. I have a loading crane as we do a bit of estate work, but if it was pure arb work I was doing I'd have a hiab with much more reach... Horses for courses though..

Try this lot..John Bownes Ltd New and used Tractors, New Valtra, used John Deere, used New Holland, used Massey Ferguson ..

I haven't been strict either but have lost well over a stone now... Its common sense really, cut out the toast, crisps, bread and chocolate and you're bound to see a difference...

Thats the way I'd do it, I registered as a supplier and I told them how my wood was sourced, they had no problem and I am now "certified"....

Root veg are allowed I believe... not potatoes though...

If you buy the heated handle version its still ally, so presumably you can buy the part...

Amazing!

That has always been the case in the stihl vs Husky argument, the huskys are always more nimble, the 254 was way more checkable than the 034, as is the 357 is compared with the 362. I have a loathing for saws which need computers, such as the 550 / 560, however good they are I hate the idea of being beholden to someone else in the event of a break down. Our 550 has had to go back to the dealer for a software upgrade already. I'd take my ported 357 over a 560...

I'll come along, although I'll still need convincing why this would be better for us than ISO since ISO appears to be the only recognised accreditation in Scotland.

I don't know why you'd want stainless, IME winch wire rope isn't prone to rusting, and even if it was you'd wear it out before it would rust.

Ring Kilworths, they are pretty good for parts..

I liked the Axe throwing that you did at Jonsies Steve...