JimM

I wonder if you can highlight how they are funding equipment/fuel used/pay rates on private jobs through a Freedom Of Information request. It might show if they are being unfairly subsidised.

Yet! This is why the thread started. We just saw similar in another thread. Whether its "you didn't remove the stump too" or otherwise. I'm just starting out and this is a big lesson for new business start-ups. We cannot afford to throw away substantial amounts of income for the sake of missing a few minutes of paperwork. Thanks for posting this Paul.

Sorry mate, didn't see this until this morning, thanks to Easyjet's delays yesterday. Pity you didn't post this with a bit more advance warning. I did my 32 in December. I guarantee you'll enjoy it. Nothing quite like felling big wood

Hoping for plenty of snow at Gatwick tomorrow so my Sleazyjet from Inverness gets cancelled and I cant make it back to London

Picked up my 576XP (standard) from Jonesie a couple of weeks ago now and loving it. For normal fir stuff I just can't fault the 346xp for handling when it comes to snedding quick, but once onto the bigger cherry that I was dealing with, the 576 just chewed it up and spat it out. Fab saw. Don't find it too heavy and it's a nice shape for throwing around when de-limbing. Running an 18" bar, with a 24" in reserve.

I'm with pleasant about being pleasant The text of your note may inspire them to look elsewhere. A cheery note that regrets that your rate has gone up to cover increasing costs should be sufficient and not P them off.

Never, ever, underestimate these guys. What a nice little piece of innovation.

What the Yorkshireman said is true. I felled 5 big'ish larches on my 32. High winds stopped play on day 2. The test was fine and I talked it all through with the assessor as I went. He gave me some extra pointers too and it went much like my 31 did. These guys have seen it all before and know you'll be nervous as hell. Take your time and be safe in what you do. You'll be fine. Good luck and enjoy.

Spent it!

Over in Moray you have Malcom More and also Ron Clowes. Why not give them a bell and have a chat?

Some say he can fell a 4ft oak with his finger. Others, that his jaws are more powerful than a Greenmech chipper. But I want to know if you got him to do a lunge pose for Stevie's thread? Great visit. You guys are friendly and helpful. Bushwhacked by the Haix man and blew my raffle voucher on some boots. See you in the week for my saw I hope. Cheers Oh and that Ferrari will never make it as an arbtruck

Yup. Heading over for about 10. Think I won a £50 voucher for them! But I'll just have to go back a second time to spend it

PM sent

Congratulations! When I was on the phone today it sounded mad busy. Best way to be. Looking forward to dropping by on Saturday.

I've taken the plunge and gone for the 576xp. Decided against auto-tune for the moment. Christmas part 2!

Cool. How long have you been using it?

Quite happy to go for a 576XP as my medium saw, but wondering if auto-tune is worth it? Good/bad comments?

Never too old! Have a good New Year Sandy.

What you want to do now is get yourself on the Cs34,35 course. It does need 32 first. A couple of ghillies at an estate over my way did it alongside me a couple of weeks ago. Great course and would have taken any of your worries away and given you the right ideas to tackle it. Well done for sorting it and thanks for the description and pictures.

Paintwork all looks good on the sills, mate!

Hi there, I was sold an MS290 new back in March and used it for my CS30/31 training. The course supplied beasts if you didn't have your own saw were 346XP's. I used the 290 through June and July on general tree work on an estate. It started fine every day, and still does. It is heavy for it's power though. I then got hold of a 346XP and the difference is tremendous. Slightly lighter, but feels a lot lighter due to its shape and balance. It makes snedding MUCH easier as it seems to rev up faster. You feel as though you have to wait for the 290 to get to speed, even though its probably only a few fractions of a second slower. I still use the 290, mainly for cross-cutting firewood as it's a steady plodder and it remains in my van as a back-up saw. After a days use, the 290 will leave you tired, but the 346 certainly won't. Summing up my experience with both mate, I would try and get a decent second-hand 346 if you can't manage new. The 290 is OK, but it's not for everyday forest work.

Let us know how you progress with it Sandy. Pics too.

Laughing. Hoping to purchase a 576 from Jonesies new emporium when I go visiting next week. Love my 346 but want something a little bigger for the windblow etc