Mr. Squirrel

I see your bracing. How long does it look like it's been in? If it's all tensioned up properly to provide decent static support it may be OK, like a redirect I suppose. But that's quite far up for steel bracing by the looks of it. Also the union doesn't look so bad in the pics that I'd be putting a static cable in it. But then I don't know the position, targets etc. Yes, bit if an odd one...

Hmm, strange. As far as he was aware basically nothing was changing in the supply and sale of them in Germany. Presumably they're still making them in smaller batches in Germany? It wouldn't be the first time the UK has gone really strict with an EU law nobody else bothers with, and blames it on the EU...

Just a wee word on this, I was talking to a Stihl dealer in Germany the other day and he said they have no issues getting 880's in stock still. Yes, they aren't compliant with the latest European emissions laws however as they sell so few of them, the German government deemed it unnecessary to ban their sale. So no panic, it might be more awkward but you can still get one shipped to the UK.

I pay decent climbers with saws etc £200/day up in Scotland. Though that doesn't seem to be the norm. Wish I could pay more but I'm a young business and still finding my feet. People paying £150/day or less are taking the piss quite frankly.

It could also be different genetics... I was at a site yesterday where one big sycamore was in full leaf. There was a smaller sycamore either side where the buds have done nothing. I'm sure they'll get there though. You may be right, but don't jump to conclusions too quickly. Trees have their ways sometime's...

Aside from all of the very justified safety concerns, without any experience it's also very likely you'll do a bad job of pruning work. When it comes to older, more significant trees there's a great deal you can do wrong. And with smaller, younger trees there's the potential to wreck them before they ever reach maturity. There's a lot more to tree work than the manual side of things, there's so much to learn about tree biomechanics, growth patterns, fungal interactions... I'd invest in some books. And get climbers in while you're learning.

I've got the older alloy distels, not dmm ones, and my only complaint is the velcro lowers are really crap. The click ones look great though, I imagine they're decent spikes.

The DPD driver who does my village is great, leaves everything in the log shed or just in the front door if it's unlocked. UPS are awkward buggers though. Bearing in mind I live in rural Scotland, private enclosed garden not visible from the street. Crime isn't an issue. I ordered some wee traffic cones from Honeys and the driver refused to leave them in the log shed incase someone stole them. I mean, seriously. They're traffic cones. I had to drive an hour each way to pick them up from the depot. I've had chainsaws left in the log shed before. Right faff, and why I don't shop from Honeys any more, despite their good service.

I guess the danger is that even with the 'master data base of tree pruning know how' (if one ever gets created I want it to be called that btw), there are always exceptions to the rule. It varies so much, on their position, exposure, immediate environment, soil etc. At which point the operator who actually needs this guide in order to do half decent tree work will probably end up spanking some ancient perfectly retrenched Oak thinking 'well it's only 15m high eh? Can't be that old' Personally I think there ought to be a requirement for education, and if you don't have any formal education you shouldn't be doing tree work. I know there are plenty of folks who know their stuff without an HNC, and others doing crap work despite the qualifications, but it would be a good start. Anyway, no pics but I was on a job today where another firm had done a good ol' topping of a perfectly formed copper beech, leaving the one on the other side of the garden with a large compression fork be. Crying shame.

I met a guy who built cabinets, furniture etc for yachts, he used mostly Poplar and Tulip wood. I was amazed it got used for anything, but makes sense. Light, innit... Can't help on ident though...

Ah dear, that's a rough number like... Yeah I've had a lot of contact with them and have a pretty severe skin reaction which gets worse with each exposure. I hardly sleep for about five days and it usually lasts about seven. After years of having a terrible time I tried anti histamines and had a mild itch for a day, that was it. Highly recommend soaking to a doctor and getting done strong anti histamines.

'didn't seem a big issue' somebody obviously didn't do their homework eh...? Germany have spent millions spraying forests with helicopters, and they're still spreading. Thing is that they don't spread 'thinly' either, when they're present, they seem to be present in large numbers. Harsh as it seems I think they should be creating an exclusion zone. Draw a ring on a map and fell a 4 mile wide strip in the oaks throughout. Only issue is they can diversify on tree species. I've found them in red oaks and heard of them in hornbeam and sweet chestnut.

As Khriss said, hairspray bag and burn. I've met guys who wear full waterproofs for it and have someone hose you down afterwards as the hairs can get through the cheap white suits. Invest in a half decent respirator. Where did are you, out of curiosity? Just wondering how far they've spread. I'm so bitter about opm in the UK, it should never have happened, and when it did they should've tested it seriously. It really is horrible stuff...

As said, it's better in almost every way except size, but even that isn't noticeable, particularly not once you're climbing. The tending is amazing, and being able to easily use it right or left handed is a nice improvement. I'd highly recommend it if you liked the 2.1. My only criticism is that you can't just chuck your rope round a stem without either putting a cambium saver in or putting an extra carabiner in to maintain proper rope line. But I rarely do that anyway so it's not really a big deal I guess.

Hmm, yes... but the baseline right now is pretty good. I went to the doctor this morning as I hurt my thumb yesterday, was x-rayed, confirmed fracture, splinted and out of there within the hour. Though admittedly the services you get vary from region to region, and still more in specific areas. I guess I just feel it'd be a whole lot less fair if you just got what you paid for?

But then we'd be separating the nation into very distinct class systems, where the rich could afford better education, health care etc. while the less well off would be left to struggle. Hardly seems reasonable? Anyway it's off topic. As said I think that carbon taxes etc. can only do so much before government have to start pushing for pretty major change. From manufacturing, as Echo said, right through to recycling. We're doing it all wrong right now. We need fewer phones/clothes/cars being built, sold, driven. Better, cleaner public transport. Better infrastructure in towns to allow people to cycle safely. And that's still just the tip of the iceberg.

Well I have to say I'm loving the 572 on a 20" bar. Only had 5 tanks or so through it so it's maybe not really settled in yet, but it knocks an unported 560 running 18" out of the park. It's not too heavy, extremely manoeuvrable in a tree and super smooth cutting. We'll see how it lasts but it certainly feels like a good, solid machine.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands of climate scientist from all over the world are saying global warming is indeed real, and a real threat. I don't think any of us here are in a position to argue with that. What we can actually do about it, as consumers, is another matter. In order to bring things under control carbon taxes on individuals will just make us poorer. I'm not sure how they work but you have the right of it, they'd need to be on big business in order to encourage change. What it will probably take us a dramatic shift in how we live and lead our lives. So what we really need is a global change in behaviour. How does that come about? I've not a clue. But my guess is it won't happen until the current generation of people in power are out of the picture. edit: smart phone, turning global warming into clonal warning...?

I have a cross Evo which I've never used. Having little dookets for everything just seems a hassle and it looks pants for rope. I have a black diamond touchstone I've been using for 6 years and used to fly with loads. Seriously tough. I chuck my 70m access line straight in the bottom, and can get my harness, 45m climbing line, 2 throw cubes and a helmet in on top of that with some room to spare. It's brilliant.

I spoke too soon. Just got an invoice for £95 from the plumber. It's no an unfair price but the fact it took two and a half months for them to invoice me is a bit ridiculous...

I have a 20" bar on mine and it's a ripper. It could run a larger bar but I'm basically setting it up as a dismantling saw so wanted it to cut like a demon. I think a longer/heavier bar would balance it a bit better, it's a touch machine side heavy with my setup. But it's also awesome.

Sounds like a dodgy bam. A written quote is pretty basic, and getting you to order your own parts is just counter productive to doing a good job. It's like with tpo applications, yes the customer could do it, but I'd rather do it myself so that I know the wording is correct. I had a plumber come check my boiler in December as it wasn't working at all. He said it might be sensor, so he ordered that in and fitted it the following week. Works fine now. He never invoiced me at all. I tried chasing him but he never returned my calls. Bloody plumbers...

Crap. I've been completely wrong. My apologies everyone I've so confidently told was wrong... I'm surprised though, I've seen construction workers wearing kask and petzl lids which clearly aren't actually up to spec. The side protection thing is still nonsense though, it's tested as an impact 30 degrees off vertical. Hardly the side...

Yeah, but the Protos meets the same standards as any other climbing helmet in arb. Climbing helmets are totally fine to use on the ground, ground helmets aren't ok up a tree. The only difference in forestry and arb Protos models is the chinstrap.

Yeah, that is wrong... If anything the Protos is less capable as it's ear defenders aren't up to chipper spec. All readily available climbing helmets for arb purposes, so kask, vertex, alveo etc are rated and appropriate for ground work. I'm not sure where the idea comes from that they aren't but it's nonsense.