Dan Maynard

We have a lad from New Zealand with us, who's got wanderlust and thinking of Canada next. We've done two conifer hedges together so far, he does the top so that he gets the full UK tree work experience to look back on when he's bored of being 150 feet up a conifer in BC.

Couple of strokes on each tooth every few tanks of oil, much easier to keep it razor sharp than to let it get blunt and then try to put an edge back on. I'd get a kit like this: OREGON 4.5mm (11/64-Inch) Chainsaw Sharpening and Guide Bar Maintenance Kit for 3/8-Inch Narrow Kerf Saw Chains (558549) : Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors WWW.AMAZON.CO.UK Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders. Shop OREGON 4.5mm (11/64-Inch) Chainsaw Sharpening and Guide Bar Maintenance Kit for 3/8-Inch Narrow Kerf Saw Chains (558549).

Are you sure? Was in our local wood today, some of the stumps I coppiced 3 years ago have sprouted to over 8 feet tall. Regrowth from stumps is much faster than new planting because of the established root system.

I've done a few as a subbie which overrun, climbed out on top of one and I swear it looked like a tennis court it was so wide and green. I think you just have to do your best, if it takes 4 days instead of 3 then that's not ideal but ultimately not your responsibility, you can only do what you can do, safely. Your boss can't climb to the top of each one to check before quoting, and they know that so they should have some contingency in the price. Only other tip I could add to the suggestions made is sometimes on a ladder like that where it feels sketchy I will wear a harness and chuck a lanyard round something in the hedge, means you can lean against it and have both hands free for holding saw. Sometimes though you wouldn't hit the ground if you let go and ropes just get in a tangle and better off without. I do think it's funny sometimes how there is no NPTC for these kind of skills but it's actually what you spend a lot of time doing. Heard some chaps today saying they had been required to do a blower ticket.

That legislation is already passed, so not new regulations really but just the regulations coming into force for smaller producers. If you take any notice of course.....

The simple Stihl or Oregon plate types that clamp to the file.

chainsawbars.co.uk let you order any number of links so that would be one answer. Otherwise if you can find a smaller dealer they should be able to make up the loop from a bulk reel. I guess maybe there's another bar but bit of a minefield to advise.

Following Stubbys post, if you crush a few laurel leaves together the cyanide released smells of almond. It would destroy the cutting. To be honest we don't have that much rhodi round here as mostly clay so things are usually laurel. I did a bit of looking, rhodi should have spiral leaf pattern but laurel alternate. To me it looks like laurel from the picture but don't take my word for it.

I don't use those guides, one thing that put me off trying is that you need a different one for each pitch and gauge of chain. I think the problem will be that your Husqvarna chain is 0.058 gauge and the Stihl is 0.063, wider gauge meaning wider links rather than brand of chain as such. If you widen it, it'll wobble on the narrower when you go back - not ideal.

Don't want to crush some leaves together to find out on this one...

Not at the minute, tend not to keep them around but rather tip off as soon as I can to avoid double handling. I can PM when something comes up.

Jas P Wilson in Scotland will send you a Posch 3 phase splitter, or Fuelwood Warwick have AMR. Both good brands.

I'm in between St Neots and Peterborough, have to admit I don't often venture down that far south though.

You're limited on the amount of power you can get out of a 240v socket, even blue 16A is only around 3 or 4 hp which is enough to run a log splitter but never compete with an engine or 3 phase one. Getting beyond that current limit would require more complicated electrics and work out more expensive than a small petrol engine so that's what people usually do. Have you already got the PTO splitter then?

I know the normal husky bars have been held to be made from chocolate so lots of people put different ones on, I just found the Husky were a really good price so stuck with them. I have seen the Husky/Tsumura bars, to me this seems like their answer to the previous bad reputation so I would definitely give one a go especially as they are so much cheaper than Tsumura badged which are a premium product. Would be interested how you get on as will need to replace the bar on my 372, it's not lasting well.

Yeah chicken food isn't cheap think prices of everything has gone up recently i think ( bedding and mixed corn /layers pellets... etc) more than the price shop bought free range eggs which probably hasn't changed much for decades? Sold eggs outside house for £1.30 half dozen probably isn't enough to cover cost of inputs.... Anyone ever done any rough calcs? We found a local animal food business that delivers sacks of food to the door for half the price of pet places. Think it's £10 or £12 a 20kg bag now, haven't calculated but ours would lay 65p a day at full speed so pay off the bag in under 3 weeks. Biggest cost not accounted in that is the winters and then the years after they slow down then stop laying, which is where they turn into pets I guess.

Did mine there, enjoyed it. Towcester so should be within range.

Secret to not having a quagmire is plenty of wood chip. Working for us.

Did it have an air leak to cause the original failure? Would have thought it's worth a pressure test to be sure.

This all day. It'll be quicker to cut 36" with an 18" bar from both sides than an overloaded saw with 36" bar.

Bang some posts and put up woven bamboo screen or similar just as a temporary measure while the laurel grows. It hasn't done much whilst shaded and competing for water with the old hedge which is gone, but has established good roots. I would expect it to take off now, much better than new big plants which will be shocked by a transplant.

I'm intrigued by the project, I think I'd go for trees that you see locally and then let nature change its course. Many old woodlands are on the poor soils, that being one of the reasons they were not turned over to agriculture. This means the mix of plants you initially get may be unusual, thinking maybe lots of nettles will spring up.

I don't think you would find one that's meaningful, it will be so site specific. Most tree roots will be in the top metre or so, and spread to collect enough water and provide enough stability.

That's got me thinking your bearing at 18mm is pretty big. Don't think that would match my 112 or PS-6000i either.

No problem, doesn't have a bar on just now so only need pop the circlip off. Seems like it's a bit different I'm afraid 80.2 OD, 76.9ID, bearing bore 16.1.