Albion435

Just seen this. Thanks for the reply but I am in Kent, a bit too far.

Hi all, I was wondering about kit to do refresher training. Obviously I will need chainsaw safety trousers, gloves and a helmet/ear/face protection. I also have eye protection.. My question is about boots. Are standard heavy duty steel toe cap boots accepted as opposed to dedicated chainsaw boots? Thanks Clive

Yes an acquired taste and a bit of a nut. His trucks and lifestyle are interesting. I agree he doesn't know that much about trees, especially hard wood. He knows saws and felling though. His story is interesting, addiction as a young man and how he turned it around.

He has struggled with a few things including a bad accident, he broke his back. I find his videos quite well put together, he is very old school which is quite refreshing.

Anyone else follow this guy?

Yes 116 si. Great saw. I agree it would be fine for one day, it's not even a full day as in training you are waiting on others. I would take another saw as a back up. I need a modern saw anyway, let's face it you can never have enough.

Wow, just got back here, this escalated 😂 Thanks all for your comments, useful info. So if I put a 15" bar on my Sachs Dolmar 116 si (it has a 20" bar in it now) what do we think of that, it's 60 cc? Cheaper than buying a new saw. I have a McCulloch 486 as well with a 14" bar but would rather use the Dolmar as that can only be described as a garden saw, I like it for that though. I am a gardener. Love the Dolmar, cuts really well. I am talking refresher not basic training.

The training providers specify a max bar size of 15 inches. Why is this? I get that the max tree size must be specified but don't understand the restriction on bar size. Arguably a larger bar makes it safer and is better on your posture, less bending etc.

Hi yes, that is what I think and it has been backed up by the NPTC however I got this from a training provider. Anyway they are the only ones that are saying this so will just go elsewhere. I also attach an email from the NPTC.w code numbers 201/202/203. The current qualifications only allow candidates to fell up to 380ml diameter

So this is my qualification/certificate. I think it is a forestry specific one. I am getting mixed messages, one training provider saying it is obsolete and I can't do a refresher on it as it doesn't exist now. Another saying it's fine as it is a life long qualification. I don't know what to do as the cost of doing it again from scratch is high. Should I maybe just do the larger tree one, if they let me? I want to be a freelance/self employed ground worker, have no interest in climbing. Advice appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks both. Yes well finish time can be negotiable depending what the Mrs is doing. Yes I have my own transport. I will do that,

Based on East Kent. Please contact me for a discussion. Thanks Clive Hammerton.

Hi, I am new here. I am a self employed gardener, I want to work as a ground operative in quiet times. I am experienced and qualified with the chainsaw in a forestry environment. I qualified with the NPTC 30 years ago in cross cutting and felling 450 mm, I will need to do the refresher, which I will book shortly. Would be happy to help a tree surgeon on an occasional basis for big jobs or when needed. I have no desire to climb. Any advice would be appreciated, primarily is there an agency or similar for self employed forestry/ground workers. If not what are my chances of working with a tree service? I have a 5 year old boy in school so need to finish at 3 pm, any start time, that's the main reason I went self employed. Thanks Clive.