Graham

Excellent review. I'm into a fourth year with a 390. It's had a lot of use: few thousand metres of hedgelaying, small felling, firewood cutting. Thus far a broken recoil spring. There's a lot of stop/starting hedging. Really like it.

On to the big old gnarly and often rotten stuff.

This one follows the 'lazy s' of medieval ploughing. Stafford style.

I've used the CS390 ESX for three years now. Only a recoil spring replaced. Worked hard on my hedgelaying, small felling and firewood. Bloody good saw and that's from 45 yrs on saws.

At £800 it should do.

My little experience with them is match cutting next to people using them and of knowing several who've tried them. In one national champs the chap cutting next to me used a Stihl. He was well into two batteries on a match length. I've had a few little goes and not really impressed but much of my cutting is very heavy stuff. Smaller hedges can be as quick with axe and hook if you've got the room. They seem to be popular with the hobby/weekend warrior cutters but commercially they've a way to go I reckon.

First and possibly only ploughing and hedging match this season. Brittle stuff and laid by a bloke with a bad back previously. Stafford style.

Medullary rays and colour point to blackthorn, bullace type.

Thank you. I do try ?

I won't start properly until next week. Got too much booked in really. First lot is really heavy stuff 750m. Then another 1000m of nice maiden hedge. Having to turn stuff down at mo and just glad Defra have given an extension to grant work.

Too hot to start really but getting eye in on some light stuff before the heavy grant work.

What many don't realise is that putting that drop of extra oil in 'for good luck etc' weakens the mix and the engine will run hotter. Mistaken belief they're doing the engine a favour.

Fox moth.

Ninety percent alone although the dog chews a few sticks up ? The first 750 metres this season is real heavy stuff so may draft a little help in if I really need to.

Thanks. Around 2000m this season. No matches though which is a real downer.