I never climbed it. Would have loved to have done my arborists climbing licence, but unfortunately, 2 weeks before I was meant to do it, I broke my arm, mountain biking. And then the collage changed the way they did the learning modules. It used to be that a person could do different modules towards your complete Forestry Certificate. I did the crosscutting, felling and wood processing course.(Basically, cutting it down, then cutting it up). But now, a person has to do the Forestry course, as a whole. But I think it goes on for 5 months, and I couldn’t have that much time off, as Id only just ‘gone out on my own’, as a self employed gardener. ( chainsaws are essential, in a garden business).
They invented the chainsaw, or certainly the layout you see these days. They are valued by classic chainsaw collectors, same as the original McCulloughs in North America. I researched the hell out of buying a new saw a month or so ago.
My partners dad is an ex forester, he still owns around 140 acres of forest. He says Stihls are for home owners, and farmers - Husky's are for foresters. To be fair, if you look on youtube, a lot of the pro guys seem to use Stihl. Weirdly, the small arborist work, where they climb and take branches off nearly all use Echo brand, or Stihl with the top controls - only the really big saws on youtube seem to be Husky - this guys has some cool vids - and is nuts - As I understand it, the Stihls have a smaller fuel tank, so are lighter, but they are around 15/20% more expensive. I have the Stihl multitool - so you get an engine and can attach weed whacker/Strimmer/loper/hedge trimmers to the one engine and the quality is spot on. I also have a Husqvarna petrol strimmer that has been used fairly hard for around 20 years and hasn't missed a beat. I bought Husqvarna simply because the deal at the time was good - we have a 18 Ash coming out next week (ash die back) and two log burners and then there are a few others not on the roadside that I will take down myself. Her dad is giving me lessons - I agree with the posts above, it pays to have the right kit and training.
Two friends had very bad days in the forest, one lost a few ounces from an ankle, the other came face to face with the chain (he's ok). Never, ever, taken my petrol or electric saws for granted.
Worse accident I had with a chainsaw, was when I opened the van door, and it fell out onto my foot. I’ve been cutting once, and lost a chain. Just flew off, but they always go forwards and away from you. I saw a chainsaw accident vid, on my course. The amount of people with cut faces. They don’t hold the saw tight enough, and it bounces up and gets them across the face at full revs. Ouch. Hedge trimmers snd strimmers can be fun too. It can be dangerous, just being a gardener. The personal liability insurance is pretty steep...
I had a scare the other day. Was chopping some brash to clear around a pond. Just a 2 min job. Must have been some hidden old barbed wire wrapped around the brash which whipped up and cracked me vertically in the face. I nearly fell over, turned off the saw and took my helmet off and it was smashed in two and the visor was caved in. Thank god I put the helmet on as I've been known not to for quick start/stop fencing jobs etc.
Well anyway I was using this big ol husky .. I think it was about in 1995 I was given a job with a lad to cut up these logs.. bearing in mind that there was no h and s ..or not much compulsory training To be had.. Anyway I set about these logs And there was this awkward knarly looking log Ahh stick The garden fork innit ..an hold en I said Well I whacked the saw in full goose on full revs and touching the log with the tip of the saw Well it kicked back.. in .5 of second and by about 100mm I nearly took his head off As I lost control of the thing
I have a small Stihl chainsaw I liberated from a boatyard skip. Cleaned sawdust out of the carb, eventually it started running. It should have stayed in the skip. It took longer to cut a 2 inch branch than a hand held pruning saw ... I think it met the skip after chopping railway sleepers up in the boatyard.
