Pedroski

Errrrr. it's because most of a JCB digger isn't actually made in this country any more.

Tilia, if I were you I'd go to the doc or see a specialist and perhaps you'll be able to get a diagnosis of CTS. That way, you might be able to pre-empt the HAVS testers automatically giving a positive HAVS result. Also, what model machines are you using? And are you using gloves? Some gloves are quite good at reducing the effect of vibes - they don't have to be expensive ones marketed as anti-vibe. The sort in the picture below are good. Even though they are described as winter work gloves, we use this sort all year round and they good. Also, look at how you are using the machines as well. A tight grip makes things worse, especially for things like trigger finger. And on brushcutters, do you have the handles in the most comfortable position? And your posture too - all these things affect how you handle stuff.

Dunno, but I've got absolutely covered in bites over the past week doing hedges. Also got something down my shirt last week that was biting and biting and biting as I was trying to kill it.

ps, What's a batten?

I might branch out into roofing. Customer was quoted about £20k for a new roof - looks like easy money and I've already got a ladder

We've never had a problem with width of base on narrow paths and we do lots of jobs with narow paths. Just stick one leg in the flower bed. Or use the ladder as a two legged job and lean it against wall or tree.

Adjust the front leg and that won't happen. We use the 3.6m one. Definitely would NOT be without it. It has made a massive difference to us for hedges and other pruning work. It's brilliant having a ladder that is stable on all sorts of ground. The legs adjust sufficiently to be able to use it on rockeries, sloping ground, one part of the ladder on the lawn and another in a border or on a raised bed etc etc. And so light and easy to move around.

Depends what sort of lawn you want. Choose a multi-purpose seed for a durable lawn. Lawn UK do Sprogs and Dogs for £4.90/kg - used for sports pitches and all sorts - which could be worth a go. Easy care it is. ps glad you didn't have a mishap with a rotavator!

Like others said, still worth looking at the Nalgene ones. I've always had SIGG myself in the past, and while better than some of the cheap stuff, they still get dented easily.

Do you mean the SIGG ones?

Wife and I, with 4 kids (well 3 now), spend £200/week on food - that's sensible food - not special treats. We don't drink (well I have one bottle of wine/week), we don't smoke. I slog my guts out, every day, for £100/day. Out of that comes my expenses, NI, TAX etc which leaves prob approx £60/day, or £300/week, or £1200/mth. Council tax £150/mth, insurance £60/mth, gas and electric £200/mth, mortgage £300/mth, water £50/mth, critical illness cover £60/mth..... £380/mth left. My wife gets a pittance as a childminder and can't get any other paid work, not for lack of trying, but it's just the way things are. About 60% of our joint income goes on food leaving not enough to pay the bills...... So we DO get WTC and CTC, and I don't give a stuff what anyone says about people claiming these....if we didn't get them we'd be right up sh1t creek and would lose the house and everything. It's just the way things are at the moment. For someone to suggest 10% income goes on food, for the average family, is crap. It surely is closer to 40-60%, just like in the old days.

That's what I thought.... hope Jesse doesn't take advantage of stuff other people say for ideas!

Haha, I love BAAPS.

Exactly. And fewer moving parts and instant throttle response! Another issue I have with the 4-mix is the torque when opening the throttle twists the machine too much. And when using it with the throttle locked on for hedge cutting, there's too much of a gyroscopic effect going on in the engine (I think because of the extra weight of the moving parts) which tries to oppose fluid movement. And the noise.....yeah, might be lower frequency, but it thumps through ear defenders and carries far further than the 2 stroke buzz. And the vibes feel stronger regardless of the claims made.

Nah. It can surely only refer to the use of the word "surgeon" in relation to people.

Hmmm, no reply from ATC1983.... hope he didn't run himself over with the rotavator! Easy to do in reverse.

Good thinking. Funny enough, the guy I bought my Jeep from warned me that one he had locked itself with the key still in the ignition. He got in through what he thought would be the cheapest window (side rear), but it turned out to be the most expensive and hardest to get hold of because it's not one that usually gets broken! Was told he should have either smashed front side or the windscreen!

Thank you both. I'll look into them a bit more. I'm going to start steering away from Stihl due to being less than impressed with the 4-mix engine compared with the 2 stroke engines (deeper "more pleasant" sound, my arris!). So looking at Shindaiwa, Tanaka, Maruyama etc. But the problem is..... why no nice extending pole? Which brings Efco and Husqvarna in so I'll look at them as well. Mind you, we already have the Stihl 2 stroke one one - getting on a bit and never missed a beat.

Night all.

If you're groundying, then make sure you know how to tie a marlin spike one handed. Yeah, it needs a gentle tug to undo it, but it ain't half easy and means you can hold something in one hand, tie the marlin with the other, then clip in what you're holding with the other hand. Also, you can use it for sending up another line - tie the marlin spike, pass end of the other line through the loop and pull it through..... makes a bowline that won't drop the rope.

Must be doing alright if the stems have got to 60ft and it's still standing.

Depends - sometimes 8 to 9, sometimes 5 to 6 hours. Either way, I still feel like a zombie after work.

Anyone have any experience of Maruyama brushcutters/hedgecutters/chainsaws? Just seen them in Vandyck.be catalogue but know nothing about them.

Yeah, the whole parking brake thing on the Disco 3 is really stupid.... it has a plastic part that wears out really quickly leading to the brake coming on. Frickin' electromechanical mechanism too - what's wrong with a cable?

Oh so true....