Dan Maynard

Have you got hold of the handles when it's running round? I have a muck truck which is wheeled, has no steering built in so when loaded like that you lift a bit on the back end and it swings pretty easy. I'm wondering if you need to lift a bit too, so it's easier for the tracks to slide.

I wouldn't click the 'read full article' link either. Smells fishy to me.

Nor on my phone which is Android, can download but not view. I think you can on apple.

Have you got somewhere covered to work? Could be a way to be productive on days otherwise cancelled due to weather, that way you're earning a lot more than nothing.

He's going some to get 5 litres a day through a topper so no wonder the chains don't last.

I think I've heard of them as Scandinavian stoves, don't know where they started but makes sense the idea should spread around if they work so well. I can't remember anyone from Romania on here before, so is really interesting to get other perspectives on logs and fires thank you.

That bit doesn't depend where you are, answer is yes. I would guess the birch will die after a few years but hard to be absolutely certain - it might just fall over, 1m isn't a lot of leverage for main roots. Also if you build that close there'll be a thread in a couple of years about whether leaving or removing the tree will cause subsidence or heave.

That would depend which 6 months and where you are though, Sept to Feb not much drying whereas Mar to Aug in the sunshine and wind sat in IBC in the open would dry nicely round here.

What can you sell for? Price of firewood has gone up, now seems 120 a cube round here but if it hasn't gone up as much you're getting squeezed on costs.

There are different kinds of 1.3mm chain, so depends. In old money 1.3 is 0.050, more popular in the US apparently where you get 3/8 .050 chain. Basically the same as .058 chain, just use a compatible set. More modern .050 chains have been made which are narrower, Oregon call this Speedcut, Stihl rapid micro. The principle of these is that cutting out less wood uses less power so you can cut faster. I don't know the dates or choice as never bought a 550 but Stihl made this switch over to Light04 bars on the 261 which I think was after Husky brought out the SP33 chain Rapid Micro 3 Pro (RM3) - For .325" | STIHL WWW.STIHL.CO.UK Minimum-vibration saw chain, high cut quality, sturdy, and low chatter. The new high-performance saw...

Local reputable log supplier is the way to go, air dried. Friendly face and somebody you can talk to. They are around, try asking your chimney sweep or on local Facebook pages for reputation. Logs that go mouldy in the garage aren't dry, avoid.

He does seem to drive a million miles a week, fuel for that must cost a lot.

Definitely not 200. iPlayer or Netflix you need about 5, unless you want 4k films on your telly. We have about 30 and I have two teenagers in the house, it's fine. It does sound like you're paying a lot for speed you don't need.

My brother does this in a small village in Hertfordshire, it works really well. 30Mb ish which will do two Netflix at the same time. Think his is bundle from EE with the box and SIM, plug and go. I put WiFi in our village church which would have needed trenching the churchyard, bound to be bones wherever you dig, so I bought a 4G box (roughly £100) and they pay £18 a month for unlimited from iDmobile. Again, it's ok for two Netflix at the same time. Don't look at 4G on your phone and think it will be rubbish, that's a tiny computer with tiny aerials. Decent 4G router is pretty good actually. As others have said, set up email from someone else so you have freedom to change internet provider anytime. Google is free, they look through your data as payment. Microsoft charge. If you want to set your own domain then it's another few quid a month. Hotmail does get blocked because it's been around so long that there were very few checks in early days of internet and people used Hotmail accounts for all sorts of dodgy stuff.

If you have a stolen 500i surely you put it on eBay for a grand, not try to sell it to everyone at half price? I'd guess scam.

I was going to say you have to be pretty desperate to bypass the electric meter, sounds like he was pretty desperate on all fronts.

I'd maybe use it on a chainsaw strop. Or dog lead.

I've got a customer tree that I've reduced a couple of times over 5 years, think it's whitebeam but never was sure . I'm back there next week so I'll check if the buds match too.

That's funny because I'm in a Premier Inn at Southampton Airport, restaurant all booked so been out to local chippy. Probably more choice round here to be honest.

Sounds like you rather need to send the tree guys on training courses if they need following around by a fencing team.

Thanks for that honest and straightforward explanation, does make sense. Maybe I will come to the APF this year, not been for a while. The tracked one sounds interesting, I wouldn't want to give up self drive but the M500 is pricey to replace if/when the time comes.

Other thing - those lights aren't going to girdle the tree, they snap really, really easily with not much tension at all. (apparently)

I had a customer once who'd lopped off all the branches that were "diseased" - then I was supposed to reshape what was left. Showed her lichen on some other trees in the garden, lovely lady she was, singing teacher.

Took this just after Christmas, meaning to add it to this thread. This tree has been struggling for a few years with dead limbs, there is definitely white rot in the roots but I can't tell if that colonised a tree weakened by dieback, or was actually the underlying problem.

Thanks for this Jim, I think I came on your stand at the APF 2016, but the chippers were yellow - it's just my curiosity really but I'm guessing those used to come from this factory but no longer do? Or did Haeksler just decide not to support UK sales any more? I was impressed by the chippers but ended up with Jobeau for the extra power and hydro drive.