DriveLink

No, but the idea hasn't gone away... getting the time and resources is more of an issue!

The email has the download button - give it a chance to download as it's about 6.5MB in size so may take a few minutes depending on your connection. If it really didn't appear to work, please contact me via [email protected] (rather than here as I check my emails much more regularly) and we'll get a copy to you. Cheers, Dave.

Once you subscribe you'll et an email just asking to confirm your email address. Once that has been done, you'll get an email which will contain a button to download the book - it's a PDF file about 6.5MB in size... it doesn't get sent out but you'll have to download it. Any problems please email me at [email protected] and I'll get it sorted out

Hi all, I've just finished and released a new 131-page eBook covering chainsaw maintenance; written specifically for the UK market it not only covers various types of machine but also the underpinning knowledge about maintenance, legislation and H&S. It should be ideal for those entering the industry or those about to take their Level 2 Award in chainsaw maintenance. You can get your copy at Free Book Cheers, Dave.

They both have a kickback zone at the end of the bar and although I've never experienced it either, the potential is still there. Obviously with modern 'safety' chains and those low-height cutters, the risk is ever diminishing; although with the slower chain speed I reckon the Makita is more likely to kick back than the Husqvarna... but as I said, I've never had an issue with either saw. Thanks for jumping through the hoops!

Hi all, I bought the Husqvarna T536LiXP about two years ago, and now have a partnership with Makita and was recently loaned the DUC302Z. I've written a comparison report on the two saws which the pros and cons of both saws. You can get a copy from Comparison Review - you will have to sign up to get it but I absolutely promise that you will not get any spam from me (as I hate it when I get it too).

I agree totally with you - I'm not putting these risk assessments up as a one-stop solution, but as a starting point for others. Indeed, I hope that I receive comments back on my documents so that they can be improved and then fed back into the industry. Risk assessments definitely need to fit and cover the machine, operator(s), co-workers & 3rd parties, the site and the task to be undertaken. Some of these can be covered by generic risk assessments, but site risk assessments should also be undertaken. Cheers, Dave.

I've just written a document full of generic risk assessments related to tree work - or rather tree work training, but I thought that the information may prove useful to others in writing their own risk assessments. There's more information, and details on how to get it at http://drivelinktraining.co.uk/h-s.html I'm making this information freely available - hope it's useful to you! Thanks, David.

Yep, just to re-iterate, what used to be CS34 and CS35 is now the Level 3 Award in Severing Uprooted Trees Or Windblown Trees Using A Chainsaw. The qualification guidance is available at http://www.nptc.org.uk/assets/documents/b586dbdcab5e4eb7b1f7249bef9a36af.pdf. To complete this assessment, you must demonstrate retaining a forward-leaning and rearward-leaning root plate, show securing a stem under side-tension, deal with partially broken or broken trees, use reduction cuts, fell partially windblown trees and so on. You will need to hold CS32, or the new Unit 301. The emergency treeworks, or Level 3 Award in Emergency Treework Operations, although looking similar at first glance, is quite different. First off the pre-requisite is CS31 or the new Unit 203. The qualification guidance is at http://www.nptc.org.uk/assets/documents/3bd377c3a72a43e3aa3c6655495ffb2d.pdf. This course has a different emphasis and has more information regarding environmental issues, and deals with securing root plates, severing the stem, assisted felling and breakdown of the canopy. Cheers, David.

Over the years I've been training the various chainsaw units, I've had loads of course attendees who have had difficulty with reading the qualification guidance provided by NPTC. So, in a bid to help those who have difficulty reading, or difficulty in learning stuff by reading, or indeed just don't want to wade through pages of assessment criteria, I've created a couple of audio programmes covering the underpinning knowledge for small fell and medium / large fell (or as they are now known, the Level 2 Award in Felling & Processing Trees Up To 380mm, and the Level 3 Award in Felling & Processing Trees Over 380mm). Hope they are useful to you - feel free to share, download or whatever. Small fell: http://drivelinktraining.podbean.com/mf/play/92bdma/QualGuid-0020-04.mp3 Medium fell: http://drivelinktraining.podbean.com/mf/play/qzuje2/QualGuid-0021-11.mp3 If they are useful, I'll do some more to cover other areas as required. Cheers, David.

I'd second that recommendation... when I managed and delivered the forestry and arb short courses at Sparsholt College, Roland did a number of assessments for me and I found him to be excellent! Dave Vickers.

Whereabouts are you located? PM me, I may be able to help you with copies of the books (Part 1 & 2). Cheers, David.

Hi Dan, You might want to consider going down the apprenticeship route - the Trees & Timber Work-Based Learning scheme lasts 18 months and means you'll get the training you'd need and get paid. Although I can't offer any apprenticeship packages, with my background in training I might know a couple of people that could help you out - drop me a line if want to discuss options. Cheers, David.

In a bid to update all the information on the Drivelink site, I've started a new website at Home - Drivelink Training - practical training in forestry and arboriculture (currently only has lots of health and safety stuff on it, and due to the ever increasing work commitments it's not going as quickly as I want(!), but it will grow over time to provide loads of great [free] information. In the meantime, the original Drivelink website is still up and everything is available on there. Finally, I'm now on Facebook proper - having left Sparsholt College where I managed and delivered the forestry and arb short courses to go it alone, you can now see what I'm up to at http://www.facebook.com/drivelink Cheers, Dave.

Hi, Just to let you know that I've heard there is a space available on a Level 3 Award in Felling & Processing Trees Over 380mm (was CS32) at Sparsholt College, Hampshire. The course runs from 27th-31st January, don't know what the cost is though! Contact Gill Yeeles on 01962 797213 or email [email protected] for more information. All the best, DriveLink

After many hours of deliberation, and thousands of pounds on consultancy and marketing, I decided to take the radical approach and called it "Woodfuel Magazine". A genius thing to do, I'm sure you'll agree? The magazine is available online at Woodfuel Magazine and issue 2 will be out on Monday 14th October. No old newspapers were harmed in the making of Woodfuel Magazine, but my telephone bill has gone up slightly since starting it, if that's any help? Best wishes, D.

Now that I'm taking a break from the DriveLink chainsaw maintenance site at Drive Link, I've been able to start a new filming project about the woodfuel industry. Centred around woodchip and wood pellets for biomass boilers, I've arranged to meet various individuals and companies up and down the country, to find out how they see the industry and the challenges involved. Presumably, you see the [woodfuel] industry going from strength to strength - whatever level you're operating at, whether that's supplying a few air-dried hardwod logs, to supplying tonnes of roundwood to the biomass industry; but I'd be interested to hear more about what you think. You can find out more about the documentary at http://facebook.com/woodfuel.heating.the.nation - check it out and "like" it! Cheers, David. Just a quick disclaimer - much like my DriveLink site, I don't get paid for this documentary and I'm not trying to sell anything... I'm doing it off my own back to promote the woodfuel industry more generally.

Pole rescues are still in the new units... the Level 2 Award in Tree Climbing & Aerial Rescue consists of 2 units (206 and 306). Check out page 11 where it says "Candidate to undertake a rescue from a pole using climbing irons" - so it's still in there! You can download the latest assessment guidance for this at http://www.nptc.org.uk/assets/documents/c1a3593d525b4f208301416795c8b433.pdf Hope that helps? Cheers, David.

Apologies for the lack of information sometimes... bottom line is that along with a full time job, full-time family and other commitments there are times when a surprising number of weeks (ok, months) go by and I realise I haven't updated the site. So, sorry to those of you who keep checking and find no changes. I've been attempting to make up for it recently though - new videos and subtle changes to the layout as I'm aware that it's not always easy to find things. --- Oh, and "Hi Dane" - how's it going? --- Aerial rescue video? That's on the list, and has been for, err, longer than I care to think! I also wanted to include spiking as well, so it's definitely a great option to do. Aerial rescue would be covered by a number of videos I think, two-man, belaying, pole rescues, etc. --- Facebook? Never get time to use it so I deleted my account with them! However, should I go back to Facebook? Would you be interested in keeping in touch via Facebook? --- *** PLUS *** The new high-definition sharpening video has now been loaded up on to the site (4 minutes long). It's really designed for those about to undertake their CS30 (CS0960) assessment and should be viewed as such (i.e. a reminder about the steps to take). Anyway, hope it's useful :0) Thanks everyone, David.

Thanks for that. The site is largely based around the CS30 course, with additional articles based on the things I come across whilst teaching the various chainsaw units. Anyway, I've just added a couple of pages to the site, which appear on the menu above the posts. Here you'll find direct links to all the videos that I've shot and edited, all in one place and easy to find - under "VIDEOS". I've also added a page that provides easy links to articles dealing with risk assessments and so on - under "RISK ASSESSMENTS". Original, huh!? All the best.

Just to let you know that I've posted a couple of short videos about making a chain, and chipper maintenance over at Drive Link and I'm currently shooting another video to help with sharpening a chain. Having invested in HD camera gear, I'm keen to make some more videos regarding chainsaw maintenance / crosscutting / felling (essentially what used to be CS30 & CS31). I've got some ideas floating around, but is there anything that you'd particularly like to see demonstrated with a video? Let me know; I don't mind if you're a grounds-person, a business owner or another trainer, I'd like to make the industry safer through videos. Either reply here, or PM me. All the best, David.

Just to let you know that DriveLink is moving on from CS30 chainsaw maintenance to now looking at CS31 and felling trees! I wish you all a happy christmas, and all the best for 2012. Cheers, DriveLink.

Just in case you weren't aware, the NPTC CS30 assessment schedule was updated December 2010 - no major changes, but a couple of minor tweeks here and there. You can download the latest assessment schedule direct from NPTC here. Cheers, David.

Are we talking about QTS, or QTLS... as they are different (and it's quite a contentious subject too!).

Hi, I have 2 places left for a 3-week course delivering CS30, CS31, brushwood chippers and stump grinders (all NPTC assessed), and leading to QCF Level 2 Certificate in Forestry/Arb. PM me for further details or visit Drive Link for more information. Thanks, David.