Mat

Buttons... Is that Braille? What do you think is says? Maybe it's "If you can read this, then you're too damn close"

I got the stihl ones. They have put up will all sorts of abuse, but you have keep the point super sharp. For storage I stick a bit of old hose pipe over the end. Here is a vid [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvJ8Q1vAdGA]Pickaroon - Mans Best Friend - YouTube[/ame] :- ) (not from me, obviously)

Yep, that works if you can be arsed to scroll down the screen

The great thing about a hookaroon, is you can really keep your back in line. The name is funny as well. Be sure not to bury it into your knee though. Timber tongs are ok but you spend hours looking for them every time you put them down. I trained my spaniel to retrieve them in the end.

Click on the paperclip When the window opens, click on 'choose file', browse for your file and select it. select 'upload'. Click on the paperclip again, and the file name should be there. Works for me

Never used one - guess no one else has either as you posted ten hours ago. I am all up for easing the 'manual handling' I have used timber tongs and lifting hooks and all sorts over the years. The best thing EVER (in my opinion) is a hookaroon (sometimes called a logpick). Brings a smile to my face every time I use it.

Here is a map of mainland UK. I just ripped it off a website called Wikipedia - I don't think it will catch on! Search for UK DNO You should get links to all the regional network operators from there.

If you look in your local phone book (if you can find one) it should be in there (possibly under what to do in an emergency - don't ring the emergency number though). Or you could say which bit of the country the tree is in and we could have a little guessing game :- )

You could do worse than to look here... http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/utility-arboriculture/39602-how-close-too-close-when-contact-local-network-operator.html The official answer is "You should get someone from the electric company to advise you". If you are not one for following rules, you will have to trust your instincts. On a public forum, you will get all opinions, but who could ever really offer good advice from a poorly exposed photograph? Stay safe and healthy :- )

Brief example: Top feed roller mechanism. Likes… Mini orange felling lever jobby for getting feed rollers apart. Must have been designed by someone who had had enough of the Timberwolf ‘finger slicer’ type top roller slide (you probably could use the bar as a felling lever in an emergency – or maybe not ). Dislikes… Coverplate on top roller – how are you supposed to get all the rubbish out of there? Roller tension spring – the one on the right side (Facing from the hopper) appears impossible to remove without partial disassembly of the machine, or the most perfect shaped spanner. Tight access and a fuel tank in the way – maybe they thought that no one would ever feel the need to remove that spring. Maybe you aren't supposed to remove it. The good bits are really good – the not so good bits are just a bit of a contrast.

I guess I am alone in having mixed feelings about Forsts. It's as if half of the machine was designed by someone who has years of experience using chippers, and knows what other chippers are lacking. The other 50% is designed by a young lad who knows all about what is technically possible, without really knowing what is desirable. Maybe its just me :-)

Edited due to swearing! Pissed myself laughing (Nice first post though, by the way)

Another point, especially using a extension cable reel, is to fully unwind it. The safe current is greatly reduced with a partially wound lead. "Thermal runaway" would not contribute safe use.

Nah, I reckon they were asked to do a 1 metre reduction.

Wear on the tip?? Any chance of a photo. Not meaning to offend or advise on egg sucking, but if the bars all wear in the same place / way, it could just be something you are doing rather than a problem with the bar. When you say "only lasts a season", is that 4 bars a year, or one bar a year?

Been and long gone.... http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/utility-arboriculture/28978-whats-your-opinion.html Didn't turn out to be as entertaining as we hoped....

I don't think Mr Lumpet was talking about a team or two or more, I think he meant a business with two (or more) teams, hence the ref to jealousy. I used to frequently work for the 'loosing' team, and it didn't do anything for 'company cohesion' .

Yeah, hence the 'hopefully'. Some centers took the opportunity to 'stockpile' cs units. Either they were resistant to change, feared that their clients would be resistant to change or were worried that the new assessments would be a shambles during the changeover so protected themselves by 'getting a few cs units in'. There is nothing wrong with CS30 or CS31 (as is regularly pointed out by some on here, trees haven't changed and nor have chainsaws). The question is why on earth did you do CS30 and 31? it seems strange that you were offered assessments that no longer reflect 'industry best practice'. The updated NPTC CS30 is now called: 002003 - City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross Cutting Updated CS31 is now called: 002004 - City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Felling and Processing Trees up to 380mm Both catchy names eh? I am genuinly interested in the answer to this by the way, I am not 'picking a bicker', or trying to get one over on you. I am interested to why you do an assessment that has been superseded. Cheers, Matt

Going over the handlebars of a normal bike is bad enough...... .....Imagine it on that thing

You and me both, Slack, :thumbup:Welcome to the brave new world How is lovely Pembs doin? My Mrs keeps nagging me to move us all back!!

Consider yourself corrected my friend NPTC now do training, Lantra now do standalone assessments- the world is on its head. The CS30, CS31 certificates of competence are long gone (hopefully), and have been replaced by new ofqual regulated qualification (that are called long names and are issued with incomprehensible numbers). Welcome the the end of the old assessment monopoly

Nah Philip, NPTC is no longer just assessments and Lantra are no longer just training or ITA. The new LANTRA / NPTC qualifications (assessments) are now identical. Lantra assessments are considered as suitable pre-requesents for NPTC and vice versa.

Yes Dave, it has changed since you did it 2 years ago. See post 3 and 8

Hi, welcome to the forum and all that.... Lantra and NPTC Quals are now identical - both regulated by Ofqual - and completely interchangeable - you can do saw maint with LANTRA, followed by NPTC cross cut, followed by LANTRA basic felling. If Lantra and NPTC agree they are equal - who is anyone else to argue. The only issue is that you may find that that those who have not moved with the times still think that NPTC (that should read City and Guilds) are better. I guess they will catch up in time. If Lantra is cheaper - go for it IMHO