Dan Maynard

Don't buy either of those Makita saws, they have been updated and the new brushless ones are better. Still 2 x 18v batteries, rear handle. https://www.fastfix.co.uk/makita-duc355p-twin-18v-brushless-chainsaw.html The Bosch shredder will drive you mad, you need something bigger. It seems you need to buy a longer ladder, handsaw, chainsaw, harness, rope, helmet with chinstrap, chipper, fuel for trips to the tip so you're going to be spending more than £1300 on gear to get anywhere, putting yourself in danger, and frankly it's a lot of work. There has to be a way to get the £1300 together, even ask the neighbours to chip in. This just isn't a DIY type job.

This has come up before, think @Big J was talking about Sprinter upgrades when towing log bullet. Can't think of the company name though.

Crikey, I am thinking about some better loppers too but that's a bit steep for me. I'm going to cut 65mm with a chainsaw so no real need to spend that much.

Didn't rain here but never warmed up, so lit fire this evening.

You need RobD at chainsawbars, he imports them, I know he's been saying there are supply issues for ages. I wouldn't have thought it's so important on 20" anyway.

I bet she can drive a tractor!

I wouldn't even use any screws. Just ratchet strap it together. Make sure small bridges to span the trench and prop it with these in 6ft sections. Build a 6ft wall in that section, then prop and dig the next 6ft section Yeah fair enough, done in sections not too much weight on each part.

Glad you're happy with it, I think they are solid built. (Said before but I would definitely get a shorter bar) Oilers I tend to crank up, on the basis that a bit too much oil is not expensive, but not enough will knacker both bar and chain so is.

Thank you. Maybe I'll have another go with a better file, strikes me would be like anything else that it's easier to sharpen if done earlier rather than letting it completely lose the edge.

Our church tower was rebuilt by the Victorians without taking the spire down, they propped everything on oak beams. Seems like you must be able to prop this with enough 4x2 like you say, maybe a box or two of 100mm screws.

I can't quite make out the formation at the top of that, looks a bit like either a limb or top has gone from there? Or maybe it was whacked back because of the power line. Seems like a risk of decay at that point, might be possible to tie in a brace across the Y but I think be prepared for something more drastic.

I get the tools and plant through Trust, they seem to just take a percentage of the value to work out premium and so pro rata mine is probably around that sort of level, that would be 5% of 15k (guessing cost there) Having said that, I had 2 claims in less than 2 years so I'm not on the best rate.

I'm intrigued, it went one of two ways: Like the old lady who swallowed a fly, they set out in the smaller van but it broke down, so they fetched a bigger one to carry it. Then that one broke down..... Or did they start with the tractor, put a truck on the back and think "Hey, that's an empty truck right there, we could put another truck on it" and then when they'd loaded that one think "Hey that's an empty truck right there.....

On the plus side if you've got 40 trees then you have scale, worth getting machinery in even if they are tricky trees then a grapple saw would take them down quickly. Depends where you are but maybe worth talking to someone like Alistair Magee.

You're on. Let us know when you're up so we can set the video recorder.

March April usually pick up for me after a Christmas lull, hard to detect the increase this year.

You let the others have a go with it then? Does look good kit.

He buggered in the second round though when you have to choose a different subject.

I tried sharpening with a diamond file that I had a few years ago and while it was sharper wasn't really happy that it was back 100%. Maybe a better file would help. Did a search for diamond feather file on eBay and seem to be about £8 now - are these the ones?

Reckon if they're made in China the dimensions will be designed around shipping containers rather than people.

Personally I think reality is a blend of the above, the tree has a price and the customer doesn't know what team or equipment you're going to use or how efficient that makes you. I also think there is definitely a level of service vs price factor. It's not quite the same as mercedes vs lada though, because there is also the personal relationship/trust factor. Then I think there's a kind of price ceiling like you get with houses, as in you couldn't charge £2000 for a £200 tree no matter how professional you are. The only way to get that is fluke or threatening behaviour, which is not unknown (Hodges rogue crew above). This must mean people have a vague idea about what they can afford before we start. There's a chap Nick Bailey I've seen post on FB who sometimes posts the job price, people will moan that's he's a ripoff merchant but in reality he's just offering the mercedes level service at a mercedes price. Quick professional quotes, smart, logo 7.5t trucks, quick in and out so customers not waiting around, etc.

Elder is quite a good one to pick as well, as it has a naturally short lifespan - be a rubbish strategy if you always picked oaks and then waited for them to die.

Perfect! You're not "going to the pub a lot" , you're "doing design research"

Bahco triangular bowsaw won't fit in my sawpod very well. The zubat isn't designed to be sharpened either, hardened teeth. As a climber my silky does a lot of reduction work, haven't worked it out exactly but many thousands of pounds per blade. Don't tell Silky but I'd still buy one if they cost twice as much.

With a bit of luck the inside of his chainsaw wrench is rounded out and there's nothing wrong with the saw!