acquiring a certificate in chainsaw usage
Moderator: Peak Moderation
You get the paperwork AFTER the practical training. Have you ever used a chain saw? They're great for removing human limbs as well as tree limbs. I haven't done the training because I only do simple work with it. If I did any work in woodland I'd do training first, and if it was in someone else's woodland I wouldn't be allowed near it without the paperwork.RGR wrote:I'm still stunned by the concept of needing PAPERWORK before learning to use a chainsaw.
Do they work like that in nuclear power stations too?RGR wrote:You should see the boys work on a drilling rig....there isn't anything a floorhand can't move, bend, break into, hang, weld or repair with a huge pipe wrench, bubble gum and a cordless power drill.
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emordnilap
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The course is run by Coillte, the Irish national forestry body. By the end of the course, individual trainees may or may not be awarded a certificate.
To earn money legitimately by doing work which involves a chainsaw, it is by far safer, much more sensible and, of course, more lucrative to be properly trained and to hold the nationally-recognised qualification.
There are enough cowboys around as it is. I hope the English meaning of that word is clear.
To earn money legitimately by doing work which involves a chainsaw, it is by far safer, much more sensible and, of course, more lucrative to be properly trained and to hold the nationally-recognised qualification.
There are enough cowboys around as it is. I hope the English meaning of that word is clear.
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
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mikepepler
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Sounds like a fair deal to me. The going rate in the UK for chainsaw training seems to be around £100/day.
I did NPTC units CS30 and CS31. The first covered maintenance/sharpening and logging, the second felling trees up to 15" diameter at breast height, using various methods. Although the course is normally 5 days, I went with an instructor who did 6. So, it cost me an extra £100, but we got to cover techniques beyond what was required for the CS31 exam, so it was worth it. Also, the instructor was of the opinion that the extra day meant you were far more likely to pass the exam first time, so saving money in the long run.
For NPTC the exam was separate from the training, and required to be conducted by a different person. The exam and paperwork cost a further £200.
I realise some of the details will vary from country to country, but the way it works here is that if you don't do the exam, you can't get insurance. If you're only working on your own land, then that may not be an issue.
About numbers on the course, we had 5, which worked fine. I wouldn't want to be doing it with more than 6 students I think.
And about the comments about learning it on your own - I'm sure this can work, but getting training from someone with decades experience in the business can save you a lot of time, effort and expense, not to mention reducing the risk of injury. There were many things we learned about that have taken years for people to perfect, and I'd rather know them from day 1!
Another advantage of doing the training was that I got to try out different chainsaws, sharpening tools and other tools, so when I went to buy my own kit I knew what I wanted.
A year after doing my initial training, and having done some coppicing, I went on a further training course as well:
http://peplers.blogspot.com/2008/10/cop ... day-1.html
Perhaps next summer I'll do the "medium" size tree felling course, which would cover me up to 30" diameter.
I did NPTC units CS30 and CS31. The first covered maintenance/sharpening and logging, the second felling trees up to 15" diameter at breast height, using various methods. Although the course is normally 5 days, I went with an instructor who did 6. So, it cost me an extra £100, but we got to cover techniques beyond what was required for the CS31 exam, so it was worth it. Also, the instructor was of the opinion that the extra day meant you were far more likely to pass the exam first time, so saving money in the long run.
For NPTC the exam was separate from the training, and required to be conducted by a different person. The exam and paperwork cost a further £200.
I realise some of the details will vary from country to country, but the way it works here is that if you don't do the exam, you can't get insurance. If you're only working on your own land, then that may not be an issue.
About numbers on the course, we had 5, which worked fine. I wouldn't want to be doing it with more than 6 students I think.
And about the comments about learning it on your own - I'm sure this can work, but getting training from someone with decades experience in the business can save you a lot of time, effort and expense, not to mention reducing the risk of injury. There were many things we learned about that have taken years for people to perfect, and I'd rather know them from day 1!
Another advantage of doing the training was that I got to try out different chainsaws, sharpening tools and other tools, so when I went to buy my own kit I knew what I wanted.
A year after doing my initial training, and having done some coppicing, I went on a further training course as well:
http://peplers.blogspot.com/2008/10/cop ... day-1.html
Perhaps next summer I'll do the "medium" size tree felling course, which would cover me up to 30" diameter.
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emordnilap
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mikepepler
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Maybe it depends on your instructor? Mine was 6 days rather than the usual 5, but I loved every minute of it, and felt like I was learning really useful stuff from an expert. The instructor's goal was to make us safe and efficient, and making money was secondary - he prefers to run small groups. When Tracy and I went back to him for a coppice harvesting efficiency course there was only one other person on it with us, and the instructor said he preferred it that way!chris25 wrote:I'm doing my chainsaw license at the moment, and cant believe the money and time it involves.
Could easily take one day but they string it out over days.
Thats crazy money! You could get all your saftey clothing for that and a good book or two and still have change. Different if you want to make a profession of it.Vortex wrote:€650 .... wow!
For that you could probably download info from the web and/or buy a book AND buy the protective kit AND a cheap saw too!
"I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that." — Thomas Edison, 1931
Nope its all legit, lets face it in the UK you need a ticket for everything, I know I got loads from the construction industry. Plus I think its a good course and if you've never used a chainsaw then best go on one. After all if you slip the chain blades will only hit you oh I dont know say 150 times in one second. I just cant believe how much it costs!Lamont wrote:Are you folks serious about needing a license to operate a chainsaw, or are you just having fun? I can understand needing to learn how to fall a tree if you have never done that, my father taught me how. But then he ran logging camps many years ago. Sounds like a scam.
"I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that." — Thomas Edison, 1931
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