spandit

I've tried hitting it fast and going in slow, I've tied the flap completely open too but the grass still gets jammed around the rim. I'm looking at better mowers now

How do people normally balance blades after sharpening? Horizontal nail?

Frankly I was on the verge of shooting the bloody thing...

Can hardly make it any worse...

I was planning on measuring and then balancing the blade, grinding small bits off the heavy end until it's even. Mower vibrates a lot anyway...

It is a collector mower but I've taken the collector off so it just shoots grass out the side (when it actually cuts). I'm just disappointed because with a big heavy blade and a pretty powerful engine, I thought it would be unstoppable but apparently not. I do have the old blade with chipped ends - might try cutting that down and trying it to see if it makes a difference

I'm not talking metre high pasture, the grass is, in places, about 8 inches long. I'm using a Snapper 33" 13hp rear engined ride on, with a newly sharpened blade, on the highest setting (actually one higher than that - you can latch it above the teeth) but every time I get grass wrapped around the ends of the blade and it just smokes the belt (which aren't cheap) I'm wondering if fitting a shorter blade to give more tip clearance might be a solution or failing that, cutting the guard away to let the grass out (possibly not the safest solution). Ideally, I'd keep the grass regularly mown but that hasn't happened and short of buying an Orec Rabbit (REALLY expensive), I'm getting fed up with stopping every few yards to remove the jammed grass from the blade ends

Looks like it's been espaliered at some point but hedge laying is more likely

My satellite cable got cut a couple of weeks ago... I've joined it back up again but sometimes when it rains it cuts out again. My MIL, who was trimming the ivy round the porch, was apologetic and did buy me a carrot cake to say sorry

I've got two of their spitting axes. Haft is a little short but I haven't had to use the spare yet

Doh! I've planted some of this at home too! Thanks... This is in my father's rather overgrown garden where even the nettles are 6' high...

A lot of quality tools are made by Danaher in China. Hellfrauds Professional and Draper Expert for two (hence they look the same). Britool and Facom are the same company too, IIRC. Hellfrauds does have the advantage that they are open on Sundays and sell them individually but buying a set will work out much cheaper

I do love willow propagation:D

Thanks. So I'm right to cut them down this winter? They're fairly well sheltered by the osier (and in spirals too). I'm guessing the off cuts can be propagated like normal willow?

That's because it's not under the leak!

Earlier this year I planted a few almond willow (black maul), some of it in a high density plantation to hopefully produce long straight shoots for basket weaving. However, it's struggled to get to 5' whereas the common osier puts on nearly 3 times that. Is it just a case of not being in the South West or are they likely to accelerate next year after I've cut them down?

People have different sized stoves and don't all want logs the same length. Also, nicking a bootful of logs is easier than taking billets

Invertebrates seem to like living under the bark and if they're likely to damage the wood, then I'd say peel. The bark could also trap moisture which could accelerate rot

That's an idea... I've just picked up a load of 4x2 - a few of those on edge should be strong enough

We can take chip, logs and small amounts of brash. Pm or text for details. HGV access no problem. TN21 (Heathfield) area 07595 024752

Got to get the ladder up to the wall to fit the eyebolts first!

I don't think the roof actually needs repair (although after I've fallen through, it might well need some TLC ) - the flow of water is so heavy the tiles can't cope - it's like a hose. Normal rain is fine.

We do have a scaffolding tower, not sure if it's high enough but I suppose I could erect it on the flat roof as then it would only need to be a foot high. Not convinced I'd get enough height to fix the bracket from there, mind Might get access for a MEWP but the distance between the walls is about 6m

A few months ago when I had scaffolding up to repoint the chimney and drop some flue liners down, some rubble slid down the roof and into the gutter, breaking the bracket away from the soffit. The gutter and brackets are plastic and the gutter now overflows at that point as it's lower than the downpipe. As a result, whenever it rains, a heavy stream of water splashes down onto the tiled roof below and being an old cow shed, it tends to come through, which upsets the dogs who sleep beneath that part of the roof. I've put a piece of plastic there to deflect the worst of it, but it still makes a loud drumming noise. The issue I have is that I can't work out how to get up to the gutter to refit the bracket as there's no flat place to put a ladder (the wall you can see next to the washing line is about 6m away from the back wall of the house). The green line shows the approximate roof line Any ideas? Don't really want to put scaffolding up for a single bracket and not sure a cherry picker would have the lateral reach