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If only it was the case that my mill had been bought for me. I had to save hard, and sell other stuff to buy the mill outright before a grant was given, this itself took almost 6 months of writing and rewriting business plans, jumping through constant political hoops and stonewalls, to get a 1/6th reimbursement as an 0 interest loan over 3years with constant scrutiny, so climb back down, - a freebie it most definitely wasn't. If we hadn't made the decision 20 year ago to leave England and start a new life from absolute rock bottom and crawl and scrape every bit of a job we could find to keep climbing the ladder ,I would not be in the position where I am now. I advertise hard, I go to cattle markets trying to increase my visibility to other customers, most of whom arent even aware that mobile milling is a viable option to their timber needs. I'm out quoting, site visits on jobs where client have magnificent and unattainable dreams or don't have either an end use or a market for their timber, so no, not just sat on my arse dreaming about work, I have to generate it . - Some jobs turn into absolute gems, you just never can tell. Combine that with the pi$$ing wet west coast irish weather, mud and stone encrusted logs where the clients have skidded them behind a weak and knackered tractor, blade repairs etc all add up to a less than easy peasey job. The one thing we do agree on is that if you have an existing tree work business then the mobile mill is a usefull and viable added value item to consider, just don't be looking for it to instantly turn you into the most successful entrepreneur ever, and if you have other high overheads to meet don't tie up your capital in a sawmill that isn't earning its keep every day. Shiny new kit isn't necessarily an indicator of success.- nice to look at but if it's preventing a fulfilling life is it worth it? Sent from my GT-P5100 using Arbtalk mobile app

I do mobile milling as my sole business. I'm lucky in that I have no mortgage, loans or kids. - all money pits of varying degrees. All my equipment is paid for in cash, if I can't afford it I can't have it. I work probably 2 days per week averaged out over the year and live a relatively simple life . If my living requirements were any higher than this I'd be looking at a different occupation, I could always do with more customers, they just aren't there. I read a motto from an American site that I often quote back to myself- "if you want to make a million dollars as a sawmiller , start off with two " ! But at the end of the day, I love what I do, I meet some amazing, forward thinking people and I see some beautiful parts of the country. Shaun http://www.sawmilling.ie Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

I once made the mistake of blasting one inside our stone turkey house of about 12'x8'. Got the little bugger, but the stone shrapnel spattered across the face hurt like hell, and it was 3 days before the hearing returned back to normal. I now use a live capture trap and call the cat , who comes legging across the yard when she knows the cage is going to be opened. Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

Gone ? Gone where ? On holiday or has he been really nasty to them? Perhaps an appeal on local radio will get them returned ! - Never been known for being paticularly sensible. ;-) ;-) Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

Remove every other cutter and you'll have a fine chain for cutting round corners ! And youll need another with the opposite cuters removed to go in the other direction !! I cut off every third cutter to gve pairs of cuutters followed by the skip on my 066 wirh 36 " 3/8 chain. Mark and check several times before taking the grinder to the chain to make sure you dont get successive same side cutters together, depending on how the chain was joined initially. Make sure you dont get the grinder too close to the rivets. I learnt to use good light, a solid vice and my glasses the expensive way. Shaun Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

Nice one, I've already thought of half a dozen other uses I could put this table to. Me and paypal will be getting on just fine - again. Thanks Shaun Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

Nice bit of work there. Well done. Are the antennas delicate using cross cut log slices? What's the table/clamp underneath it? Always looking for more kit to spend my money on ! Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

Hi, I've also had this effect from my lucasmill slabber. It was actually more pronounced when using the correct hyper-skip milling chain than my own doctored standard chain. Anyway the long and short of it is, I can expect to see this washboarding if I'm putting too much pressure on trying to speed the cut, often a succession of patches like this interspersed with normal cut texture. Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

Cripey, the speed it occurs is so frightening. A good reminder to me and definitely to him. What a lucky guy Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

Had a karcher , can't remember model but its a medium sized domestic, with a spool of light hose contained within. Twas a great washer but hose got kinked and damaged , it split / got holed in many places and wouldn't pressure any more. Tried to get new hose and almost died of shock at the price. Specialised fittings I believe prevent any other type of hose being used, or being made up. It remains to this day in the heap of things I may get round to repairing one day or will be canibalised for something else. Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

The groundy's lunchbox ? Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

Love my 266sg dearly. Heated handles on a wet day are such a pleasure. Heavy saw in comparison to modern ones, but good balance and reliable Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

You keepya mules over there , I've enough trouble with donkeys Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

Alec, what's the book you have? Sounds historical, but we shouldn't dismiss old techniques -always useful stuff for the practical and adaptable mind. Shaun Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

We all need help, divine or otherwise. I'll get my glass of holy brandy charged and raised in your direction. May your God go with you. Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

If you listen or attempt to listen to the peeps in the churches out here in SW Ireland, it won't take long at all to do the hail marys. A couple of seconds per verse is slow Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

Will ya do one for me if I raise a glass in your direction ? I think I need it if you read earlier Shaun Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

That is a superb sentiment to the year. Aside from all the celebrity losses this year, I seem to have spent the entire year needing to be somewhere else in 5 minutes, or a succession of friends relatives or neighbours all needing tools ,assistance or transport also within 5 minutes. Work has been good when it's been there but also a worrying number of lean times. Just when I've been getting my head above water another raft of bills or unexpecteds come in to take the bank account back down to scratching the line. But despite all this I'm still alive and able to boot 2016 into the bad history dustbin and look forward to next year not being as mental. Wishing all reading this the very best for 2017. Stay safe. Shaun 2016 kiss my hole ! Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

What the f@@# is goin on this year. Now we've lost George Michael. Its bloody crazy out there. Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

Butt rot, gut rot my missus reckons ive got them all anyway!! I don't wear glasses/goggles anyway, so fogging isn't an issue.- oil and resin smeared clear lenses with rain droplets or saw cooling water mist are perhaps the wrong side of useless. Usually just using forestry helmet with mesh visor, so the 3 m type mask should do. Was just interested to know what others use. Thanks Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

Luckily no beard as really don't wish to be going down the helmet /air route if possible. Looking for practicality and comfort. Oh and some have said in the past, I've a big nose ! Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

I've been cutting a fair number of fungi laced logs recently for clients, producing some gorgeous spalted slabs and planks, but being very aware of the strong essence of mushrooms/ fungus. Obviously this suggests that I'm heavily exposed to spores in the lungs. Does anyone have any sensible, practical suggestions for dust masks that are comfortable to use for extended periods -disposable or otherwise. Not heavy intrusive or restrictive in any way otherwise I just wont use em! - Or is wood fungi not an issue at all in which case I'll just crack on. Also needs to be weather resistant as all my work is outside. Shaun Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

Nice colour too! Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

I see Dave has put his axe to rest :sad: Breaking News : David Gilmour to announce retirement from music - Mediamass I worked in his garden taking out a dead apple tree, if I remember right, then grinding out the stump. One of those grand houses on Maida Vale, where the back garden is down a steep long flight of stairs at the side of the property. Got stumpy in, did the job with himself glaring out of the window all the time. Sweated me tits off getting all the scriff back up them bloody steps. Did I get a cup of tea or even a hello? Did I buggery!! Couldn't get Stumpy back up the steps , roasted the hydrostat drive - too steep and too long, but knew they ( the London garden company I was contracted to) were going to crane in a new tree , so left Stumpy there for several days and came back on Sunday to a complete road closure, a 120 tonne crane (simply to achieve the reach required) and the tiniest willow tree in a 40 litre pot. Christ it looked stupidly small swinging over the rooftops from the street outside. Craned Stumpy back out and away. Still no bloody greeting or cuppa or anything. It still stings now 20 years later. Knob was the word then, don't think I'm gonna change it even now. Funny how some things stay with you. Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app

There's a Layby close to my brothers place in leek on the Ashbourne road- everyone else seems to just drop it there !!! Sent from my GT-I9195 using Arbtalk mobile app