agg221

Nice job on shaping the handle - the grain runs virtually perfectly. I was shown hammer making by a blacksmith on Shetland, one of the last people to have had an industrial forging apprenticeship, and I made a few hammers with him. Handles are usually made in hickory or ash, as they take the regular bending type impact without splitting. Hickory does it almost forever, ash does it for a long time and eventually lets go. Apparently privet is also worth hanging on to for handles if you ever run across a decent bit without knots, say from the base of a hedge. We did all the shaping with a horse rasp, and having done it, I bought one for myself (available from a farrier's suppliers) for the same job and have rehandled axes, adzes, froe, hammers etc, either that I've made or came originally from my grandfather's shed. It's a really good tool for rapid freehand shaping of this type, used diagonally across the grain. It has a coarse side and a fine side so it can leave a reasonable finish. Hickory, and coincidentally cherry and other prunus species, have a high sugar content, so one option for finishing is to flash them through a fire, then give a quick rub with wire wool. This singes off all the rasped fibre ends which rub away as charcoal, and caramelizes the sugars, leaving a rich, dark finish. Alec

Hello and welcome to the forum! I can guess roughly where that must have been - I remember my Dad driving us to visit relatives in London at the time when the Swanley junction of the M25 was being built, and for some time there was a roundabout with most of the M25 bridge in the middle, not connected to anything. What have you been pruning lately? I presume lots of centre-leader apples on M9? Alec

I can't answer your question, but I know a man who can. If it's been a while, you may find things have moved on a bit - I went round Dalbeattie mill, just south of Dumfries last year and it's a staggering operation where every log is fully laser scanned to optimise yield. That changes the length/diameter equation a bit, and also means mixed loads are sorted at point of reception and hence can be accommodated. The mill (and the one at Fort William) is operated by BSW, who have a contact point for buying logs, and hence would know what cutting pattern would get the best price. Dalbeattie may even be your most local mill? Web page is BSW Timber Group | Log Supply and I think you want the head office number (if not then it would be Carlisle). Alec

Hi Rich, it's not actually the saw - it's more that, having got the old line off, the part the dealer supplied me with as an impulse line isn't - it turns out they supplied me with a pre- 1997 fuel line instead, so I will now have to order a new part. While I was at it, since the line was off by this stage, I tried sticking a thumb over the end and blowing down the other end - no leaks. However, stick it on the fitting and there's a leak at the point where it goes on the carb, so I suspect it's not cracked but there's a fitting issue, so I'm just hoping that when I go and complain to the dealer, and eventually get the correct part, I don't find the problem is with the carb fitting instead, leaving me needing a new carb. Just rather frustrating (although no swearing at it yet). Alec

Personally I would - it will soak in while the timber is green and protect against further rot deterioration, and insect attack. It will also stop sticker stain and general bluestain moulds if you can get it on fairly quickly. It's basically borax (I suspect it may contain some dispersants too) - you dissolve it up and slap it on. I think Big J uses a paint roller, I use a small hand-held garden sprayer and a facemask. Alec

If that stuff up the middle is hard then you have hit really lucky with some stunning grain there! I would be inclined to wykabor it if you haven't yet, to stabilise it from rotting, since the grain looks like it's spalting and it will stop it going further. Alec

My 026 is currently getting a good schlagen - on account of its impulse line. Alec

It was definitely still there in 2009, and looking pretty healthy. I haven't seen this tree personally as it's not that close to me, but if you type "Fingringhoe Hall Pond" into google maps, then switch to streetview and pan round it gives a very good view. Alec

Isn't that a mixed metaphor? (and does the combination of spotting it and commenting on it make me both ) Alec

Yes it will sell on Ebay. Expect very little. Your location isn't in your favour, oil isn't popular (solid fuel is) and reconverting them back is fairly expensive on parts, although possible. Cutting the oil pipe in will have made a hole in either the door or the front and filling this neatly is next to impossible. If you go over £50 consider you've done well, although the apparently good condition of the enamel suggests you might get something for it from someone looking for spares. Alec

Hi John, don't forget we can take a load, possibly two, at Mum's place if you're over that way. Can take logs too if it helps. Alec

Glad to see the cat has adapted to the new arrival! Alec

Worth looking out for. Should be possible to establish which of the trees are still going through the power of Arbtalk I would have thought. Any of them in my area (North Essex/South Suffolk/Cambs)? Alec

Yep, it is. Still looking - have pm'ed sawdusty surfer (cheers john p) and there's someone else thinking of selling one, so mine will get replaced in time. Cheers Alec

Thanks for sticking the pics up - the 050 is an 89cc saw with a fairly short production run - it was modified into the 051 pretty quickly as it had a reputation as a 'screamer'. They're quite a fun saw to use for a bit of firewood though. Alec

I also have my 026 sat in bits again tonight (doing the fuel and impulse lines). I wonder if you have a problem with the parts inside the back handle? The back part of this clips in to the base and looks the kind of thing that can become worn where it pivots, causing it to ride over the clips. To access this, there's a single screw from underneath at the very back end of the handle, which releases the black top half of the handle (thanks Rich!) - watch out for the springy bit though - just take the black top half of the back handle off gently. Alec

Hmmm. I asked the dealer for a fuel line and impulse line for a Stihl 026. They looked blank. In the end, they turned the computer screen round and I showed them what the bits were..... Alec

I'll keep an eye out for them. Alec

I think if you were my local dealer I would be telling a very different story. Unfortunately you're the other end of the country. I've tried three different places locally to me. The first I went back to after repair work, I didn't make any accusation as to what was wrong, just indicated that it had been in for attention (new pot, piston, crank, all OEM, with their labour) and wasn't running how I thought it would. I got accusations as to what I had been doing with it (which were incorrect as it turns out). Second saw the 066 with a 24" bar when I wanted the revs tach tuned and their service person said he hadn't ever seen a saw that big before, which didn't inspire confidence I'm afraid, although as it happens they've just got the new fuel and impulse lines in for me for the 026 as the price was realistic and pick-up isn't too bad in the morning. Third looked at the 066 after it had failed (again) and said it was old, so they couldn't diagnose why it had failed. They just wanted to sell me a new saw - I asked what would happen if that failed too as maybe I had a fuel issue. They said if it did that would be my fault, so the warranty would be void. This seemed like a very expensive way for me to identify a fuel issue, which they agreed with, but weren't prepared to do anything different. Oddly enough they turned out to be my local Aspen dealer but at no point mentioned this fact, which is particularly odd given that I was talking about fuel issues. I would have been quite happy to pay for quality of service. As it happens, my 10 year old car still goes to the main dealers once a year, which is quite a trek and not cheap, but the quality of service makes it a real pleasure and I know it's right when I get it back, and if there are any issues they will have found them. They don't try to sell me a new car, but there's a very good chance that when I need one it will be either through them or at least serviced by them, with parts supplied by them etc. If local dealers can offer something that on-line sellers can't then there is a reason to pay for it. Otherwise, they're not charities and they will go the way that any noncompetitive business deserves to.

Did you mean 090 or 070? If it's the former I'd be interested as a replacement. I've got the necessary spares to sort out an exhaust. Alec

Another one for recurve bow - haven't had it out for a while as I need a new butt. Standard type recurve, 40lb draw weight at 30". Need a bit of back-netting when I haven't practiced for a while or I tend to spend a lot of time arrow-finding. Alec

Any idea what he wants for it - they make decent milling saws and the parts would be interchangeable with the 076. Alec

I went for it, but didn't get it. Sunday evening ebay fever took place and it went for £443 (for a non-runner!). They'll get more realistic later in the year, so I'll keep looking. Alec

If anyone feels inclined to have a look at some point I would be interested to know if they're fakes or nicked. Still on the hunt for my 090. Alec

Hi Sam, the only differences between the 075 and the 051 are the pot and piston (and the fact that the 051 pot is held down with socket head cap screws while the 075 has studs), and that the 075 usually had the manual oiler fitted. Oh, and the badge on the top! Alec