echoechoecho

Thanks for the replies. I'm considering wiping my old laptop and installing Linux Ubuntu or Mint on it, so I will see about upgrading the ram and hard drive at the same time. The main problem with it is the battery life - even from new it only ran for a few hours on a full charge, but now I get maybe 45 minutes before it needs to be plugged in. The Makita USB adaptor can charge my phone about 4 times from a 5ah battery. The output is 2.1A / 5v, so if that's too low for a laptop then I will have to look into alternatives for keeping the laptop charged when away from the office - either an 12v-230v inverter in the van, or one of the cheaper Ecoflow power packs.

My work laptop is finally on its way out so I need a replacement soon. I know enough about computers to get by, but it's been about 8 years since I last bought a laptop and things have moved on a lot so I don't really know what I should be looking for. I'm not too bothered which brand but I'd prefer to avoid obscure Chinese manufacturers, even if their laptops are good value. Graphics card, screen resolution, touchscreen not important. Needs to be running Windows, minimum 250gb SSD, and good battery life. My budget is up to £500. If at all possible, I'd like to be able to charge it from my Makita 18v usb adaptor as I sometimes take the laptop away with me for work. I've had a look in Currys but it seems only the £800 + laptops have the ability to charge through the USB type C ports. Any suggestions?

I will pay for hardwood or softwood logs. Any size or quantity Contact me to discuss price and make arrangements

Not sure about Stihl Motomix, but the Husqvarna 5l cans of alkylate fuel are compatible with Aspen nozzles, so they both have the same cap thread.

And the charities set up in war zones and developing countries seem to have a higher-than-average percentage of paedos working for them, trading food for favours with the desperate population.

I worked as a same-day courier when I was 18/19 (owner driver). One time I had a job to collect a "full van load" from a Save The Children office in Bristol and deliver to a hotel in London asap. I arrived, a woman pointed out the load - 3 rolled-up posters, a laptop bag and a folding display stand - and said she would personally meet me at the delivery point. As I was loading the van she climbed into a very new Audi estate. This job, like most of my jobs, was subbed to me. The larger the client the more companies involved, all making a tidy profit. I charged something like £140, so by the time the three or four companies who passed down the work added on their commission, this 2.5 hour journey might have cost the charity four or five hundred, possibly more; all paid with £2 per month donations from the naive public. The load would easily have fit into the boot of her car, if she could be bothered. NHS, BBC, and charities were by far the most unnecessarily wasteful I worked for, with decisions made by feckless, incompetant administrators who knew there was no accountability - no matter what they did their jobs were secure.

30 degrees is more than I expected for such a short machine.

How are these machines on steep slopes, and will they dig up a lawn, even on turf tyres?

I bought it last summer from Jenkins Garden Machinery. I'm only on my 4th can of Aspen since then, so the spout hasn't had a lot of use really. I've sent you a PM. Thanks for the gesture, it's much appreciated!

It looks like they use a standard thread, though I tried a spout from another can and it didn't form a seal when screwed on. I'll dig around in the shed.

My flexible Aspen spout has split. Nowhere local sells replacements and I begrudge spending £5-7 postage on a £4 spout from an online shop. Do spouts made by any other manufacturers fit the 5 litre Aspen cans?

Just seen your post - she's doing graphic design. If you know what design software she'll use, you can find the recommended specs needed to run it.

I bought an A grade refurbished HP Elitebook laptop six years ago from Tier1Online for under £300 inc. VAT. They build the laptop to your specifications. If your daughter plays games or uses design software then you would need a laptop with decent graphics. Otherwise for general word processing and internet browsing I personally don't see the point in spending a lot. Laptops have moved on since I bought mine, so minimum 8GB RAM and a 500GB SSD hard drive wouldn't cost too much. Refurbished laptops and notebooks from Tier1online.com, we supply second user high quality laptops to the UK. WWW.TIER1ONLINE.COM

For pallets, a jig saw with a coarse blade would be better. Blades are cheap; they don't mind cutting dirty wood embedded with grit; and if it hits a hidden screw or nail, just back up a bit and change direction. I've clamped pallets vertically from one corner with a Superjaws-type sawhorse and cut down with a chainsaw, but the time saved cutting is lost in repeatedly repositioning the pallet and looking where to cut to avoid nails.

Update. There was a little bit of swarf at the bottom of one the holes, probably picked up from my bench when I initially removed the muffler. While it's off I'm going to replace the gasket as its indented. Anyone know of a cheap supplier of exhaust gasket sheets? I imagine it'll be less expensive to cut out my own than buy a ready-made gasket.

Thanks, I'll take a look in the morning.

Exhaust is leaking from between the cylinder and muffler on my Echo 501. I've taken off the muffler to inspect and both mating surfaces are clean. The original gasket seems to be in good condition. Will high temperature silicone gasket sealer on the original work, or buy/make a new gasket?

Unfortunately the police seem to be more concerned about persuing "non-crime hate incidents" nowadays than tackling actual crimes. My shed was broken into about eight years ago and the police eventually visited three days later. If it were to happen now, I doubt they'd even bother coming out. It would be a faff, but can you bring the saws/most valuable items into the house at night? Otherwise, multiple layers of discrete security is about the best you can do - if they want your stuff you can't really stop them. Wired alarm system, sirens, flood lights, door blocked with van at night, windows bricked up/covered with bars, tools locked in secure cabinets etc. If they are professional thieves (i.e not oportunistic addicts looking for a easy target) then they'd likely be armed and willing to use violence. I haven't been broken into since moving here six years ago, but if it happens and I manage to chase them off, I'd be concerned of them coming back at a later time for retribution.

I've had two bulging discs and sciatica since my early 20's. Anyone tried CBD oil for their back or joint problems?

If it's the people I think it is, then they're about 1/4 mile from me as the crow. flies. Their property backs onto the field behind my house.

What saw did you fit the Prazi onto? I have an old 7.1/4" Skil wormdrive which I rarely use since buying a cordless Makita, so I'm considering fitting either a Prazi beam saw or Bigfoot 10.1/4" conversion kit to it. The Bigfoot replaces the standard base and guard to accommodate a larger blade and increases the depth of cut to nearly 4". I'm leaning towards the Prazi as I already have a 10" Wolf saw and ancient 9" B&D Ripsnorter, but neither have the power of the Skil.

I read about wound sealers this evening, and according to the RHS it should be used when removing branches infected with apple canker to prevent reinfection. If no disease is present they recommend not sealing the cut. Peasgood - do you mean very slightly chamfer the cut edge?