Lantra 2 day Chainsaw Course 2nd - 3rd February 2012

Another interesting course for me, with Paul and Dean who normally use their chainsaws for chopping up heavy duty rubber mats that are used on level crossings.

Sounds simple, but the mats are made from recycled car tyres and so they are also filled with tiny bits of metal - not the best thing for chainsaw chains.

Their chosen method of using cheap 'disposable' chainsaws and Oregon Powersharp chains was one I couldn't

really argue with.

A very frosty day, but beautiful in the sun despite the -7 C frost.

Thanks to Paul and Dean for putting up with the continuing work going on around the new workshop.  Unfortunately it wasn't a match made in heaven, because the roofers couldn't hear each other speak because of the chainsaws!

Fortunately, we've come to the end of

the wood in our hedgerow, so its back to the woods for the next chainsaw course.

Hopefully, we'll have a finished roof by the end of Feb, and work should really take off after that.

Thanks again to Paul and Dean for introducing me to saws full of rubber dust and the finer points of level crossing construction.  The number of uses for a chainsaw never ceases to amaze me.

So far, we have carried out courses half way up Blackpool Tower, on Ascension Island on the equator, cut samples from 6000 year trees from a petrified forest and given advice on cutting up stranded wales!  There are also several companies that operate underwater hydraulic chainsaws for removing old railway bridge timbers (done with zero visibility and no protective gear!).  Even as an experienced instructor, there is much to learn from the people we teach.