Ford Forester

Hi, I'm pretty much of the same opinion as the others. Chainsaw trousers keep the water out for a while apart from the back. Wearing a waterproof jacket just makes the rain run down and your legs get wetter quicker. Also most waterproof clothing is puntured within a few weeks unless you're really organised and don't just chuck it in the back of the van at the end of a wet day, and punture it on a chain, pulp hook or screw driver. I just work in the rain now as I am, and then change into dry kit at dinner time. This normally gets me through, although the last 12 months have challenged my ability to keep the rotation of washed, dried and ready to wear kit every day.

Hi, Just wondering if anyone else had had same problems with Stihl 441 or knows what mine could be. Basically, the saw starts fine, but as soon as it's put under full load; ie felling, the engine dies and has to be revved back up or it cuts out completely. Always starts again straight away. My hunch is that it's dirt in. The fuel line as it only happens at full throttle and not at idle speed and sometimes sounds as if I'm about to run out of fuel when the engine races for a second or two. Could it be as simple as just replacing fuel filter (never had to replace one before) or something further in?

Hi, Bit of a new one for me. Even after being in the woods for 25 years, I have never had to market horse chestnut. Got about 40 tonnes (still standing) that the owner wants removing. I'm doing a lot of work for him and there is return work for the next 5 years so I don't want to let him down. I need the work. It's generally accepted that its no good for firewood, but has anyone (probably tree surgeons) had to sell any before? I'm thinking maybe hardwood chip market. Paul

Hi, I've got maybe 40 tonnes of horse chestnut to fell and extract amongst maybe 3 or 4 hundred tonnes of sycamore and ash. It's part of the job. However, even after 25 years in forestry, I've never felled any that I've needed to sell as I rarely come across it, and it's usually left for amenity anyway. Anyone have any ideas of markets? Firewood, hardwood chip or otherwise? Work is in Northants area Paul

Hi, just got me new batchelor pad since leaving psycho ex wife. Looking to put my personal stamp on it. Was wondering if anyone could direct me to where I could get some cool pictures (black and White) of men felling big redwoods, sitting in gob etc. I saw some when i was in college. Maybe 10 of the and some of me boy and I'll make me home me own!

I could sell you some for £35 a tonne, roadside. Its been down since June, its ash and I'm in Northants, so not sure what the haulage would be. Depends on where you are.

No point selling green wood to your customers. You might get a sale, but maybe not return orders, and a reputation, especially a negative one spreads fast. You would be better off cutting your losses, (no pun intended) and buying in a lorryload of seasoned hardwood. It might be expensive and could cost you between £40 and £50 a tonne delivered in, depending on where you live but at least you will be giving your customers a good product and they'll be back next year. Its a case of short term pain, long term gain

Thanks Dave. Might be a case of giving NFU on another number. Bit like my bank or HMRC. it depends on the personality of whoever picks up the phone, as to whether you can get what you want. Didn't ask, and they didn't suggest liability insurance as a way through it. When you say £50K of hired in plant, do you mean that you could hire say 10 machines over the year so long as none of them are over £50K, or the total hire cost over the year is less than £50K? Sorry if I sound thick haha

Thanks Alec. That sounds worth a phone call. Is he online? Might Google it or do you have his number?

If it was already at roadside, maybe. Also, there are ash Hurley butts to extract, and I will be paid to extract the timber. I haven't bought it standing or anything, so I am loath to pay someone else when I can get it out myself. Also it's on 2 estates and there is follow up work, so I need to show that I am capable of getting the job done. I can then maybe buy a small tractor for myself and move the business forward.

I did think of that. Snag is that if I got my wood out, there is bout £7-8K revenue to come in. I don't have much cash right now as I am going through a messy divorce, can't really take out any more loans ( due to divorce proceedings also), so have to hire in really. As she said last night, I never knew it would be that hard...

Yeah, after my first three calls (AXA, who my PL insurance is with, the NFU and then Trust insurance( who Had a concern about it being on the road at any time) I called them back to see if they would donut themselves, but they said they'd have a employ a full time member of staff to take call and deal with the paperwork, sonthey can't be bothered. This is Ace plant at Milton Keynes. They say most of their customers use the NFU and they tend to be farmers who these days hire in kit when they need it rather than buy themselves.

Hi people, I'm on a bit of a sticky wicket at the moment. I am currently in the process of trying to hire a tractor for a fortnight. I have access to a forwarding trailer so just need the tractor to pull it. (I will be buying my own kit in maybe 6 months). I have about 300 tonnes to get out, so 2 weeks should be plenty as I am very experienced at forwarding. The problem is, no one will insure me. NFU will only do annual policies. "ok," I said "well seeing as I'm gonna get my own later, I'll just put the insurance in place, then it covers me every time I hire in". she said they can't do that as it isn't my machine, and if I hire in again, even from same firm, it might not be exactly the same tractor! She said that if i had my own kit, and owned it, they could cover me for hiring in plant. "But if i had my own kit I WOULDNT BE HIRING IN YOU STU..." GRRR I have tried AXA, NFU, the hire firm itself( they can't be bothered with the paperwork so leave it to customers. Ive even tried attaching it to my car insurance. (he asked if I would be towing it behind my car....( give me strength). Does anyone else have this problem, or can anyone recommend an insurer or a solution, or both? Paul

I am thinking of asking my GP actually. I reckon I have found about 4 nests in the ground in the last fortnight. They generally don't like it much when you crash a tree on their roof! Maybe because they give me the jitters I tend to see one floating around and lift my visor up to see where the bugger came from, so I see the nest before its too late It just worries me that you generally don't have what you need just when you needed it most. (Is that a song??!)

I take your point, but a guy I worked with out Northampton way was stung by hornets a few months ago and had to go to hospital. He reckons he was just lucky to be working within 10 minutes drive of it. If he was deep in the woods and had to call an ambulance he was told he might not have made it. They gave him a pen. He said "Thanks, but its a bit late now."