jrose

Hi all, I've been meaning to write a review of this saw for a while, so here goes... In November last year I found myself in need of a new 50cc ish saw. I mainly do utility arb, with a bit of domestic and firewood for myself. I walked into my local dealer fully prepared to spend £600-700 on a MS261, or was going to investigate what the Echo options were. When I saw this beauty sitting on the stand, for £279 all in (currently cheaper at FR Jones, £260). I had a little 35cc Efco (same saw, different sticker) years ago and was pleasantly suprised. So I asked my dealer to change the provided 20" bar for a 15", and walked out the door with it. I've been using it as my main ground saw since - for coppicing, dismantles, firewood and as a chipper saw. Basically as I would normally use a 261/550. It's put up so far with the same amount of abuse, being chucked around a tree, dropped on ground, etc. For the price, it's very hard to beat. Power is not quite at the level of Stihl/Husky etc, but it's really not that far off. Weight, I haven't put it on scales but not massively heavier than the pro saws either. What really lets it down is the anti vibe - it's definitely noticable! I wouldn't want to be putting tank fulls through it every day in the woods. Overall I wouldn't buy one if I was in forestry, or using a 50cc saw a lot. But as a first saw, chipper saw or as a backup I can definitely recommend this one given that you could buy 2 for the price of a Husky/Stihl, and still have some change.

I pretty well only do utility works these days. The Captain is brilliant when in a woodland span of leggy Ash, Chestnut etc as it saves pulling yourself up each tree. So I can go up one tree, and come down 8 later. Usually I clip it to the tail of my rope, and either throw it and just pull myself across, or if I'm more knackered I use the spare prussik on my harness as a progress capture type thingy

I love my Protector Pros, on my 5th or 6th pair at least now. When they're new they do take a couple of weeks to break in, but once broken in they're the comfiest boot going IMO

From my limited knowledge of SRT... 1. It depends if you're tip or base tied. If tip tied, it acts exactly as SRT if your anchor point fails... 2. If base tied, you may have a short/medium drop which is still quite dangerous in itself, there's a reason you don't climb higher than your anchor point! You also open up the risk of more external factors damaging your rope - the new lad with a saw nicking it, being damaged by falling timber, hit by machinery, etc. 3. As said above, increasing forces on the anchor point.

I never got on with any of the mechanical devices - ZZ, spiderjack 2 and 3. And SRT doesn't really work for the work we do. Have been on a VT with hitch climber for years, most versatile system out there IMO

You'll always find someone who'll have logs round Stroud... I've had good luck with Facebook local buy/sell/free to collector groups. Just put a post up on there with the date you're doing the work, and someone'll bite

I've been in the stove camp for years. Used to have a little Coleman petrol hobby, but it never really liked 2 stroke and kept clogging up with unburnt oil. So I upgraded to a Bullfinch - a small bottle of gas will last best part of a year. Also full fry ups on a Friday, no faffing around with the little suitcase gas burners as this will put your kitchen hob to shame! Keep a container of water in the van, and buy a pint of milk on the way to work. Another bonus, if you get called on an emergency job before getting back you know you have tea, coffee and a couple of emergency cans of food.

Most of the forestry types I know seem to use Suzuki 4x4s, either Jimny or Vitara As far as I'm aware they're still quite cheap to buy and run, are light weight to get over wet bits and can still be used to carry 4 people if needed

As above, the best bet is to get to an ARB supplier local to you and try a few on. What works for one person won't for the next. I brought a tree motion years ago as everyone seemed to love them, absolutely hated every minute in it and ended up swapping with someone else and was glad to see the thing go!

For a domestic ARB first aid kit where the van is generally quite close, I'd agree - add a whistle somewhere on your person for attracting attention if needed. For a felling first aid kit, where you may well be further from the van/site kit and other help, personally I'd rather have a few extra bits like the eye wash, trauma shears etc on me rather than stumbling back to the van across a brashy hillside. Also if you're carrying a torniquet I believe it's quite important that you write the time it was applied as soon as possible on the label, hence the Sharpie!

I never found a personal kit I liked, so ended up making my own. Buy a suitable pouch/bag, maxpedition do some good ones but there are other makers. If in doubt, get the contents first so you can measure how big you need. What you put in it is up to you, but I generally have: Israeli bandage Triangular bandage CAT torniquet Packet of ibuprofen and paracetemol Snappy thing of eye wash Whistle Antibacterial wipes Paramedic shears Black Sharpie Maybe another couple of bits that I've forgotten.... This takes up not much more room than the standard personal kit you buy. Because you've made it, you know exactly what's in there and where it is, rather than potentially opening it for the first time in an emergency. And should be enough to get you to a full first aid kit and further help if needed

I haven't had the protector pro 2, but the original protector pro was the best chainsaw boot I ever wore - supportive, waterproof and comfy. I had a pair of protector light and you only had to look at a puddle and your feet were wet

A lot of the forestry guys round here run Jimnys or similar. Cheap to buy and run, when all you need is a couple of saws, felling bar & wedges, lunch and PPE then a pickup is overkill. And a Jimny is probably a better off road vehicle than most!

I'm a bit late seeing this, but wouldn't it be better to get a hicap or normal pickup, lose the bed (neither of which are ideal for logs) and build a custom dropside bed on it? Might cost a bit more, but fairly simple to do and worth it in the long run. There's a chap local to me who has a 130, with a little hiab behind the cab and then andropside bed that takes 2 builders bags.

I've got a pair of Pfanner Tirol Fighters I got just before Christmas. They are without doubt the best boots I've ever worn for spiking, you barely feel the spikes under your feet!