Matt GT

I use husky because it is what I started with and then it is what FC supplied us with. I am not for or against either brand and do not consider my self a husky person. I have never had the luxury of trying both brands so despite tree cutting for 20 odd years, Husky is all I've used. I just thought about this some more and I do not know anyone with a stihl saw (other than the top handle, which I have used on my CS39 assessment and prefer the rear handle saws due to forearm position) Heard good stuff about the bigger stihl saws. Clothing I prefer stihl. Go figure that then perhaps I am a closet brand snob heheh.

About -4 dry cold (yay) with a dusting of snow. Light to zero winds and very good light today. Perfect grafting weather

Commercial tree planting is how to burn fat at an average of 2k-3k trees planted per day. Can also bring in some decent wages as well if you can get the 13p per tree jobs Short bursts (30 secs) of intense exercise that leave you breathless and unable to speak properly are what you want to invoke the HGH (Human Growth Hormone). I was reading some articles about this which has applied science backing it. Or just eat a healthy and well balanced diet, exercise and avoid alcohol. eat for 5 and fast for 2 is also a good recommendation. I really do not get the British male. Who would rather care more and spend more on what he puts in his car engine than he does about his own body (engine)! And I should not reply or share my opinions on public forums when I have just necked 4 bean ground coffees as I stare and glare at the "F"q£$ sh"£$"!£$ ba"£$!"£$ weather" that has just messed my week right up, hey ho Snow is back again

Hah that is awesome and golden! Thanks for sharing that loon

I checked my sea hawk but no model or part numbers. And the outer is made of Nylon. I doubt I can replace it now so I went on a bit of mission last night and came accross this which to me reads as the ideal tree cutters jacket. Most of the reasons they added features for shooters work for us cutters lol Helikon Black Gunfighter Soft Shell Jacket The gloves as well if you look at them have a Kevlar reinforced trigger finger haha perfect for chainsaw operators

Heya buddy dinnae forget that CS38 is a requirement to be a groundie! The aerial rescue is the important thing here so you can support and care for your climber and get him out of the tree with out needing to use the ground saw lol Awesome post though Will I am myself have recently passed 38/39 and will be doing what you suggest Going out to rec climb and play and hone skills till the speed is second nature. I want to commit the new skills into instinctive reactions. Robin all the best to you

I think it is a few generations older of that one yeah. I don't have the mobile pocket and hanging loop or velcro cuffs. My storm flap is velcro though. Wonder if its custom made for Oil and gas. I will go check if there is a model name on it

Nyie weel loon you cannae be far awa fae me if yer in Deeside! My home. Best waterproofs I have used yet are the Sea Hawks my oldman gets me from his offshore job. SeahawkClothingLtd Light, windproof, waterproof, well cut for saw work and have this crazy high collar with a helmet stud. I was brashing some spruce up to about 5 meters for a week, it was rodding doon rain all week and the others in the squad had hydro yellow goretex kit. I was the only een to bide dry all week!

I would do it if there was work. As you say though machines took over. I was part of a 5 man team doing thinning and clear-fells then it degraded to hairy edge trees as the harvesters moved in on most of the tree work. Then we were only getting work where the ground was SSSI and machines were not allowed in. Then it became carpark making tree cutting for FC carparks etc. The we got axed. My ideal job was thinning Pine plantations. I was one of the last cutters for NE Scotland Forest Enterprise (Forestry Commission). When they closed down the cutting squads and put everything out to contract I was lost. Had no idea what to do. I ended up going and getting an HND in IT. But that was a stupid move because that led to 12 years working in an office that nearly killed me by way of suicide. Now I just rambled into OT. Sorry. Long story that one. I left offices and went back on the saws seeking work, nothing out there. Too many overheads and no customers willing to pay the cost needed to break even. Now I am about to sit my 38/39 to see if I can get some steady work as a groundie. I have experience as a groundie but this HSE world. It is only a matter of time before someone checks up. I doubt I will get work as a climber due to my age (40 which is a stigma and perception thing where I live) even though I am fitter than most 20 year old's and lack of 39/41 experience. To many folks up here think climbing is a young mans game only. I would also like to add 34/35 because with all recent storms I keep wondering if there is some un-tapped work there. I spent a lot of time with FC doing windblow because before they axed the squads I was scheduled to those tickets. I love doing windblow. But. all these overheads just make it impossible to earn a living. difficult very difficult I find with what to do. Anyway sorry for that ramble on my first post here! Do you think machines leave a big ugly mess behind them or not anymore so than hand cutters? And the wages do not reflect the job. Never have done! I used to do all this for 100 a week ok they supplied all ppe, training, gears and saws etc. But still.