green heart

Well done. Pretty amazing value at that price -so just sew your own pocket etc on, for that money!? I think my Strauss (vented) Class A's around £130? measure up pretty well against my Pfanner Vents -around £300+, from memory..

Really sorry to hear about the loss of all this gear -you must be really gutted... Well done for listing out all the details of it too -if it's any consolation, you'll now have lots of Arbtalk's 'eyes' looking out for it. Also, a useful reminder for me -and all of us, to be mindful of our vehicle security/complacency!

And apparently they have now superceded Land-rover's, in the most stolen vehicle category ! -I'm not sure if this is really true, but you'd do well to consider vehicle security, if you buy one ?

Well, it's obviously the local Scouse Lab formulation of crystal meth, or a new Spice blend, perhaps. And hastily discarded, one imagines, during a police pursuit.. so just get it weighed in.. The last photo actually looks quite trippy to me. 🤭

Just as sime42 said, sadly. The decay/cavity points are only likely to get worse, even in the shorter term, regardless of any pruning work/costs? If the tree is felled, there will doubtless be some future stump regrowth, from which a single leader could be selected? Or inspire your customer, by making some good replacement tree suggestions, with nice photos -and the offer of free firewood for their stove, or friends? Most domestic customers seem comfortable with medium/longer term suggestions, if well presented, in my experience.

I'm guessing squirrels might taste a little bit gamey/possibly a bit interesting, when roasted ?? (I'm thinking Winter stews, with a bit of damson and seasoning etc.) I've no idea, obviously, but clearly would be quite a faff to prep them, as you say... So possibly skinned, cooked and then thrown into a stock pot, to separate the meat off easily.. ? Nah...you're right, it's all sounding a bit much of an effort 🙄

Hmm.. the twists and turns in threads on this site never cease to entertain me.. Sime, is it feasible we might accommodate a brief foray on ' best Squirrel recipes ' here ? I understand there's a Butchers up in Darwin, that sells Squirrel pies. Never had the chance to try one, personally tho.

Kram, why would you even use a lanyard when working on the ground with a saw ?? Also, do you have an idea when those Makita saws are coming out? I couldn't get your pdf link to work -I'm interested to see the specs. Thanks

Haha ! Crikey, you're not wrong there... but why didn't you just spray it, with a selective herbicide, before it started flowering?? Those hogweed seeds last up to 10 years... it's surprising how far they sometimes travel, too.. Apologies for the thread derail !

So sorry to read this, fella. There's nothing worse... Have you any photos of the stolen kit to put up ? -Also please think carefully, as you start to replace your kit, how you will successfully foil the almost inevitable nocturnal 'return visit' ? See recent thread on : 'Protecting my yard'

Yep, a bumper crop for all tree fruits here in the NW -though I was expecting less/smaller fruit, given the very dry summer period . Sweet Chestnuts gathered this week. Apple store and new freezer are chocca block. Evidevidently there was sufficient winter rainfall to make no difference to yields. Has anyone here ever experimented with making Calvados/distilling cider ? Just asking for a friend, obviously... 🤔

Yes, I'd second Doobin's comments-you could happily run 6-8' rotary blade/swipe on 26hp, for ride maintenance, but you'd seriously struggle to power a flail with that horse power.. Swinging cutting tips are common on most large rotary cutters, and generally better than flails, unless a fine finish is specified? Doobin: you're the first person I've ever seen mowing Giant Hogweed, with a tractor mower -what happened there ! 🤭

Does anyone know if there's a way of setting up the Sthil Pro-Com units, if you won't (or rather, refuse to have ) a Google/Apple account, on your phone or computer ? I really want to buy some sets, for over a year now, but just don't want my data 'shared' with all those anonymous tech 'partners'.. 🙄

Go to it, Carl.. Age is just a state of mind. -You sound the business !! 😊

Carl, it sounds to me like you're bright and above average fitness for your age. That's worth a lot. I think, given what you've said, you'd make a good groundy trial/impression, for any local Arb business, and pick up work, easily enough. I also suspect you'd do equally well starting tree climbing too, if already climbing on rock.. IF you are lucky enough, to find someone willing to pay/subsidise your climbing training costs? As has been said: Joiners, tilers, brickies etc all make good/better regular outdoor earnings, with less or similar outlay -and much less risk of injury, though... I'm still loving climbing a couple of days a week, at 60 myself -but, honestly and hypocritically- I'd be unsure, as the boss, about training up someone only a few years younger than me, to do this work full-time ? Unless you showed great aptitude..