jrose

I "think" they're the same as Tanaka, but I could be wrong! Similar to the Makita/Dolmar or Husky/Jonsered arrangements, same saw different colours

agreed on the DEET, not pleasant stuff mind! Most of the methods I've heard to remove them don't assume you have a healthy lifestyle - cigarettes & strong liquor seem to be the answer (either burn off, or pour strong alchohol over it to make it release it's grip)

variable - if I'm hedge laying, the saw is doing a lot of idling and isn't used all day, so 6-7 litres a week. A day cutting logs I'd use 6-7 litres a day, strimming all day I'd plan on 10+ litres.

I use Stihl bar oil, it seems to be thinner than the generic ones I've tried. My MS171 is a good little saw with a carving bar, unfortunately the oiler is nowhere near the standard of my "professional" grade saws - thinner oil flows through a bit better. If you're doing work that involves a lot of heat (eg boring) what I do is every now and then lay the saw on its side, no need to turn the engine off just apply chainbrake and pour a dollop of oil straight out of the can along the bar, just to help things along.

OK cheers Jon, will seee if anyone else has any thoughts otherwise it'll be the RAC again!

great idea, when I'm working with others they know the risk assessment for the site will be in the tray thing under the windscreen on the Land Rover (you all know the bit I mean, I just don't know the name!) this way, when the lad working for you gets in the truck at 6.45 in the morning and promptly falls asleep for the journey he has no idea even roughly where you are when he awakes! but if he knows where the address/grid ref is, along with nearest hospital etc. you can't go too wrong

Husqvarna Construction Safety Helmet White on eBay (end time 18-Apr-11 17:33:31 BST)

From the Health and Safety Executive leaflet Chainsaws At Work, available at http://www.liv.ac.uk/safety/Hazard_A_to_Z/chainsaws.pdf "Employers should remember they may be responsible for the health and safety of someone who is self-employed for tax and National Insurance purposes but who works under their control and direction." "Chainsaws are potentially dangerous machines which can cause major injury if used by untrained people. Anyone who uses a chainsaw at work should have received adequate training and be competent in using a chainsaw for that type of work."

I was working under the understanding that if working for someone else, you are an employee, be it self employed or otherwise. In that context, I'm fairly certain it is illegal for an employer to ask the employee (you) to use a chainsaw, without making sure that employee is fully qualified/trained in its use as appropriate to the job in hand. I could be wrong though, and I realise you are perfectly within your rights to use your own saw on your own land with no tickets, blindfolded, wearing nothing but a pair of speedos etc... however I was trying to provide information within the context of the question asked. Again, I may well be wrong but this was my understanding cheers, Joe

Hi all, My RAC policy has just expired, and it's time to renew. This is quite important, as I drive a 20 year old Land Rover 110 and it's likely at some point I may need mechanical help at the side of the road, miles from anywhere! The 110 is a pickup, so classed as a commerical vehicle if this makes any difference. Can anyone reccomend the best breakdown service - AA, RAC, Green Flag, or another company? cheers, Joe

a tree surgery labourer means feeding a woodchipper, and dealing with stuff on the ground (at least, that's what I do when I work for a tree surgeon). AKA groundie. Most people will require you to have at least CS30 chainsaw ticket, you'll struggle to find anything without this as it is illegal to use a chainsaw without. And you'll need to have all the safety kit - boots, trousers, helmet, ear and eye. If you have all this, try responding to anyone advertising on here for a groundie/brash dragger in your area, that's what I did! Be honest and tell them you're not very experiened but willing to learn, you won't earn brilliant money to begin with but it's a start. hope this helps

another vote for the 346xp

sometimes that happens to me, if you have a router try turning it off, wait a minute and turn it back on again, it works fine then for me. something to do with the IP address I think? I'm not very clued up on computers!

if you can get both it wouldn't hurt, as you'll have a spare bar and chain should you break a chain, or hit a nail and can't be arsed to sharpen, or get your bar stuck and need to cut yourself out, etc etc... mine has a 15", I prefer this over a 13" as it's a bit more versatile. Especially while coppicing as it gives you that bit more reach which is sometimes handy!

What size wood is it? In my opinion if you are cutting bigger stuff than 14" or so on a regular basis the 250 may be too small, and it may be more efficient to invest in a larger saw so you're not overworking it. For example, I could use 1L of fuel through both my MS170 and 365, if I was cutting bigger bits of timber I would bet on the 365 getting more cut as the engine won't be screaming for as long! Kind of like driving at 90mph in a small Saxo/106 is going to use more fuel than in a bigger car, because the engine is going to have to work a lot harder. I could be completley wrong though!

when I had me series 3 I was with Lancaster insurance they were cheapest if this helps... I was 20 though, so not sure about you young whippersnappers at 17!

well done mate, the 346xp will do you well for years if you look after it. If you want a 13" bar I'd make sure you keep the 15" bar and chain in your truck/toolbox, so if you come across a bigger lump of wood it's available! Also then it's there if you get your saw pinched, you can remove the powerhead and cut yourself out with the other bar and chain.

get an old series then you will be tax exempt and get on classic insurance which tends to be a lot cheaper there's one for sale in the trading post at the moment...

and to make you laugh, I saw a bloke today cutting logs in his back garden with a small Husky saw. His PPE you ask? Diving goggles complete with snorkel hanging off (he wasn't breathing through it, reckon it filled up with sawdust too quick), an Ipod for hearing protection and old paint stained jeans. Wish I'd thought of this, wouldn't have had to spend the money on "official" kit if I'd realised all this would do just as well

which one is it? do you get different ones for 200tdi/300tdi/td5 etc, I don't really know? if it is suitable for a G reg 110 with a later 200tdi in I'll give you a few quid for it cheers, Joe

for spades, shovels, rakes etc I've always brought Bulldog for preference, brilliant tools. I've never managed to break one yet, can't say the same for Spear and Jackson - I managed to break 3 S+J forks in a week!

I'm interested, let me know when you have a price in mind please

I think there are some trousers you're not meant to spin at the end of a wash, however I'm not really sure. Why it can't just say in English on the label I don't know, instead you get pictures of triangles and squares with lines through

Any port in a storm!

Don't know if this is old news, but thought I'd share it to help some of you save a few quid... Since I got my 110 pickup I have driven down to Bristol and back in it once, which involved going across the (old) Severn Bridge. I paid roughly £11 for the toll, which I was expecting to as a commercial vehicle. Well tonight I had to drive down there again, and on the way back pulled up at the kiosk expecting to pay £11 again. However, the digital display thing showed class 1 (normal cars) with a price of £5.70. The young lady at the kiosk wasn't sure, and called her manager over. He said apparentley there was a law brought in in 1967, classing all "Jeeps" as cars and not commercial vehicles, including my 110 pickup :thumbup: He said to keep the reciept from today in the truck, and if anyone tries to class me as a commercial for tolls purposes again to ask to speak to their supervisor! Quite what classes as a "Jeep" I don't know, you chaps in Hiluxes/L200s etc might be able to qualify with a bit of blagging just thought it was worth sharing, especially to those who go on toll roads regularly a fiver saved each time isn't to be sniffed at! cheers, Joe