Haironyourchest

Fair enough, but were they old tools or the latest models?

Yeah I try to resist the masochistic urge to click the Guardian link, but when I succumb I just skip to the comments. Left a comment once - received an email from the Guardian editorial explaining why they deleted it Its frightening though, the people who buy into the propaganda. Obviously intelligent, but clueless. Thats the thing about the tabloid press, they are, for all their sins, the only publications that are actually telling the truth about certain things in our world - like the raving madman with the proverbial sandwich board - its relevant information and needs to be said, but they put out all this other crap that most people don't take the serious stuff seriously.

So I bought a spray-can of "liquid bandage" for annoying cuts where plasters won't stay on. Its a cellulose type polymer in an alcohol carrier which evaporates, leaving a flexible waterproof yet breathable membrane that lasts a couple of days before peeling off or wearing away. I had a wee cut, centre of the palm, sprayed a bit on, and forgot about it. Next day I was lime-rendering a house with traditional hydraulic lime, caustic stuff. Even with frequent application of barrier cream, when I took off my gloves at days end, my hands were wrecked - white and wrinkled palms and fingers. That evening and this morning, hands dry and desiccated, have to keep putting on hand cream. Except of the spot which I had sprayed the day before. The skin under the invisible membrane is totally unaffected. So just a thought, for guys who are sensitive to cementatious products - next time I will spray the suff all over the palms of both my hands the day before and see what happens.

A few thoughts: Its tax deductible. Running costs, consumable and justifiable with the health concerns. Its too expensive to use in big saws. It just is. But the new strato engines don't produce as many unburned emissions - even on pump petrol they are much less harmful. Add in chip controlled carbs and the efficiency is even better. Upgrade for health. In small saws, hedgers and maybe the temperamental 4-mix its not too expensive and better for the engines. Smaller engines, smaller jets, smaller gauses, less tolerance etc etc. With discipline, we can use pump petrol in big machinery, then flush and store with aspen. Best of both worlds. Some talk about rotting pipes when you do this, but I'm not buying it.

Donegal people are super-choill

The Guardian.... Yup. Hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day and the tabloids sometimes publish some actual relevant news by accident.

Got to try those cayenne pepper pills. I find nicotine gum - half a 1mg piece - three or four a day is good for getting through the slumps. Been using for a year and consumption hasn't risen at all.

Sometimes tiredness is more mental than physical, or to put it another way "boredom and fatigue go hand in hand" I find when Im really into a project the time flies and I don't get tired, whereas other days just arriving at site and looking at the boring lawn to strim or whatever makes my whole body feel five stone heavier. I should really download some gansta rap or something to play on those days...

Hedgers - more dangerous all round than a chainsaw I reckon - in that one doesn't view them as a lethal tool and gets complacent. Trying to free stuck twigs while the machine is running, letting it flop and swing after a pass while running, leaning it where it can fall on you all that kind of stuff. Ive cut myself several times, even taking off and putting on the blade guard.

Thanks Matthew, Paul and Joe, looks like a good bet so, the replacement rubber tubes are affordable anyway. 9 Years is what I want to hear!

"Go ape" ! Been a while since I head that expression! Do you mean throwing and whacking with rage? No fear of that, I've the patience of a saint. The rubber tubes are what I was asking about really - not the telescopic pole - think I might have been slightly unclear about that - how long do the elastic tubes last, with moderate or sparing use ?

I really need a Big-Shot or Tekichu but will only use it every now and then, as I don't climb much. My question is will the tubes degrade with time, if stored dark and dry, or is it repeated duty cycles that degrades them? How long have your tubes lasted? If they have a reasonable lifespan I'll buy a Tekichu head only and build the pole myself, with a trigger - have it all worked out. Any thoughts appreciated. Would love to have an air-cannon but couldn't be bothered to build one at the moment.

How much laser would one need to actually cut the branches from the ground I wonder?

Im a Jits guy as well, couple of years training no-gi mostly. Funny thing about martial arts and tree surgery - my uncle got a guy in to eradicate some knotweed, turns out the guy was also an MMA coach - well the knotweed took less time than he thought, so he graciously offered to top some monster spruces that were threatening to fall and crush a building. Uncle was delighted, and the dude climbed the two trees freestyle - no ropes, lanyards, harness - and literally halved the trees. Uncle couldn't really describe how he did it, but I assume he just balanced on branches while he made the cuts. Well, Chuck Norris would have simply roundhouse kicked the trees over, but there's only one Chuck.

You can use it long term, no problem. Have been using it exclusively for several years, never any problem. Keep the saws and containers away from mice and rats though....I would suggest if you're going to convert to rapeseed that you flush out the chain oil tanks with white spirits or old petrol first to remove all traces of mineral oil. I don't know if this is actually necessary, but I would imagine that mineral and organic won't mix, and therefore there might be a film of mineral on the tubes, which might possible become a problem down the road....I really don't know, just went with my gut and haven't have any issues.

How bout a wax jacket? Way more sizes in those.

Guys lose their lives every year in equatorial climbs, trimming the dead branches of palm trees. Apparently the weight of the mass of dead fronds can weight over a ton, and when fronds underneath are removed, the mass can shift - pinning the climber to the stem and suffocating him. Not sure I can visualise this properly, but it certainly happens. So they have invented a remote controlled frond remover. [ame] [/ame]

What with all the talk of balloons and shaving product reminded me of a wee spoof advert I made a few years ago, starring me. [ame] [/ame]

Nobody mentioned Stihl bars yet? I love them...but I haven't tried the Japanese bars yet...The 12'' (actually 14) on my pole saw gets proper abuse, jammed and twisted, Ive seen it bend at like a 30 degree angle, always comes out fine, like its springy steel or something. Bent a couple of Oregon bars over the years, annoyed me, partly the reason I went all Stihl.

I'm interested to hear about your other bad experiences - always enjoy reading stuff like that, for some reason (bid dark, maybe, but - shrug). Certain models from all brands of everything seem to come up again and again. Been reasonably lucky myself, but then I do read all - literally all - the negative reports...

What about a "Wall Of Fame" thread for the most memorable passersby!

You could sell the chip to the "Tax-Sponging-Hippy" at a special low low rate. A one time only special Arbtlalk chance to get in on a lucrative business!!! Just bag the chippings and sell the bags outside supermarkets as hamster bedding!! Earn $$$ Act now!!!

Just been watching Project Veritas Action undercover sting on YouTube - absolutely shocking. (Guy posing as a potential donor infiltrates with hidden camera, talks with people who pay mentally ill homeless people to show up at Trump rallies and start trouble). Time to Drain The Swamp!

It's going to be tricky. If they forestry logs, harvested with a machine, the wood is probably messed up pretty bad I imagine? You can get a beautiful finish just by peeling the bark carefully, but with harvested poles? I dunno, wouldn't have much hope. Can't you ware gloves and finish them with a disk sander next year?

Yikes! Can you give us an analysis of the accident?