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Dan Maynard

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Everything posted by Dan Maynard

  1. Dan Maynard
    Just to prove it takes all sorts I have a multisaver, I've used a rope guide, and I prefer the multisaver. The main thing for me is to have a little bit of friction up top reduces the work the knot has to do and makes descending smoother. I've also climbed on zigzag and pulley, I find it a bit on-off but I think this is partly because I'm quite heavy. Another advantage of the multisaver is that you can set it long, this takes your moving rope away from the anchor point so it wraps around the stem as you move round the tree rather than rubbing. I also have a standard fixed length ring to ring, haven't used it in years so that would definitely be a waste if you'd bought that.
  2. Dan Maynard
    This kind of tree is where it's bad that I'm heavy but good that I'm tall. Doesn't look too big to me so by the time you are stood in those crotches you can reach enough, throw the lanyard round several stems for reassurance. Don't see how you would get a cherry picker in the middle of that anyway really but not used one much.
  3. Dan Maynard
    I would use the inverter, but it does need to be in an enclosure with a little bit of start stop wiring. Like a lot of things not too tricky to do if you know how already. 240v single phase motors are bigger for the same power, less efficient, and don't have the same starting torque so generally a poor swap.
  4. Dan Maynard
    Spot on there, if you've already got CS38 then you have the climbing skills you need. Also, you can download the NPTC workbook and course schedule online, but the first section on legal bits, risk assessment etc is pretty much the same all tickets. If you can read up and get all the answers down pat then you're well set up on the assessment day, and not trying to cram learn them all at once just before the test. You'll find the best way for yourself but I try and take it in chunks like one question a day or something. Otherwise I find reading all the sections at once my brain blurs.
  5. Dan Maynard
    Does sound possible the bearing replacement 100h ago wasn't done right, and/or whatever caused them to fail before was not rectified eg flywheel out of balance.
  6. Dan Maynard
    Beech is a bit of a slow burner, especially on an open fire goes better mixed with other woods.
  7. Dan Maynard
    Firewood. We have a firewood pile from the local wildlife trust wood which is nearly run out. Or are you looking to process and sell stuff yourself? You can make firewood without shelter, depending on where you are in the country. Where are you?
  8. Dan Maynard
    I can sort of see where they are coming from but it's not the removal of the climbers that is the problem, is it? It's the heavy handed damage to the tree Or do they mean the ivy could be holding the tree up and if you cut it off the tree will fall down? Otherwise damage is damage is wrong, you wouldn't get permission to hack it off with a chainsaw and damage the tree so seems silly to suggest an application is required. Be interesting to see if there's precedent for a prosecution following ivy removal.
  9. Dan Maynard
    Class 1 will be fine for CS39. You can do CS38 in trainers (in theory) but wouldn't, they get stuck in the tree forks.
  10. Dan Maynard
    I just hire the one I use, and the place turn them over fairly often so always quite a new machine and anyway maintenance not my problem. They do have niggly things wrong though, on the other hand it's a stump grinder so always a hard life. Would I buy one... Well it grinds a lot quicker and with less effort than a Predator 360, from that point of view it's a good machine. Because I hire it I tend to rack up the jobs so I've run it all day and even then not got sore shoulders or back, no humping and lumping it around because of the self drive and that includes pulling itself on and off the trailer. It'll go through a normal gate if there's a straight run but there are gardens with corners that you can get a 360 into that you can't get a 460 into. So as an only grinder, probably not. As a second, bigger grinder I would definitely want to try out the FSI to see what you get in terms of quality for the extra money.
  11. Dan Maynard
    Fuel filters only a few quid, as RoughHewn found having a blocked one can be very bad for the saw (seized) so I'd change that anyway first if it hasn't been done in 3 years. Quite an easy job with a bit of wire to make a hook.
  12. Dan Maynard
    Leyland cypress Cedars deodar , blue atlantic Learn the Pyracantha hedge so you don't grab it in the middle of something else.
  13. Dan Maynard
    I would say on smaller stumps the central pivot makes less difference. When you get a reasonable pile of grindings, or do something like a cherry where you had to chase out roots so you're working across a trench, then the central pivot is absolutely brilliant and massively reduces the physical effort of the job. I've used a Predator 460 which had pivot and electric self drive, also a really good back saving feature. I've not used FSI but believe build quality is better, Predator have their fans though.
  14. Dan Maynard
    Thanks, yes not the ideal start to Christmas and not what my son wanted for his 16th birthday. Water with us comes up very quick and goes down very quick, which makes drying out quicker as well.
  15. Dan Maynard
    Definitely. MoT in theory is the same everywhere but in practice is not, always has been and none of the new systems change that really. Worst I've had was a big dealer type garage, always seemed to find something. This was a shame as very handy to my house. On the other hand I got an MoT once in a backstreet garage on a Dolomite I bought for £70, driving away one of the indicators didn't work and the rear axle bushes were so shot you could feel the back of the car turn when you left off the accelerator. I didn't go back there either, just sorted the car out. Comes down to finding a garage you trust and stick with it. Near us a family run garage I reckon are pretty fair, and take the LR to an independent LR specialist.
  16. Dan Maynard
    Yep. You can split the hair even further, do the chainsaw training first and then if you are carrying out the trade your chipper training would be ok. I think also there would be an abundance of tax deductable "training" - sailing, skiing, quad biking, racing driver, scuba diving, etc etc.
  17. Dan Maynard
    I was going to point out that your £1500 training will be a new skill hence not allowable expense but with all the handbags and grenades around think safer not to so I won't.
  18. Dan Maynard
    Thanks for all the tips, sounds like next step is wedge the clutch pedal down for a week or two anyway.
  19. Dan Maynard
    Fair point, I need to give it a go to find out.
  20. Dan Maynard
    Too much rain here too. Not as much as December 23rd though, water was completely over this bridge rail and 14" deep in our house. Bit of a saga.
  21. Dan Maynard
    Camon is a bit of an unknown, Greenmech well known well supported and has good resale. The 13/75 isn't a great choice, less easy to feed and spits everything out too near the floor so you've got another job moving the chip. If you're gardening though you should keep an eye on the difference between a shredder and a chipper. These are wood chippers, which are less good on hedge cuttings/soft material and can't handle any soil at all because they have sharp knife blades. Shredders with hammers are slower on wood but better on the soft and dirty. Depends what kind of garden work you're doing really, horses for courses and all that.
  22. Dan Maynard
    You get covered in sap when cutting softwood down, yes. Leave it two or three years and the stickiness disappears, bark starts falling off. Then it's fine wood to burn.
  23. Dan Maynard
    Yes, Synthplus doesn't turn to goop when it's cold so no need for faffing with thinning it any time of year and I've never had to flush to prevent resinification. We've had this question before, my bars run on it and last well but it's difficult to compare longevity as they last so flipping long. In theory better lubrication means less energy lost to friction so more for cutting, I suspect much less of an effect than a sharp chain. Other tip is Synthplus is 17% cheaper if you buy 4 of the 5litre from L&S Engineers.
  24. Dan Maynard
    Money and I guess consequent shortage of folk to do it. I felled a load of trees out of overstood hedge for a local farmer, who said he cut them himself 30 years ago but the Parkinson's means he's not going to do them again. He said it's hard to find contractors willing to do hedge work that can't be done from a tractor seat.
  25. Dan Maynard
    Yes, clutch plate stuck on. Sadly it's been parked up a few years so I suspect holding the pedal down may not work but maybe I could borrow a field from someone to drive it around in. Just think it would be really handy for moving ibcs with some forks on the back.

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