THE ARBORIST'S UPDATE

Arborist’s Update: Summer Heat Fatigue & The Biosecurity Shift – Week of Jan 2, 2026
"This week: Big win for the industry as 'Arborist' remains on the Core Skills list. WorkSafe issues critical fatigue alerts for the current heatwave, and the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer response shifts gears in WA. Plus, technical data on why your battery top-handles are losing run-time in 38°C temps." Read more...
Summer 2025 Fire Safety & Machinery Guide
As we move into the peak of the 2025/26 Australian summer, the heat brings a specific set of challenges for machinery operators. Whether you are a professional arborist or managing a property, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Rural Fire Service (RFS) regulations are currently in full effect. But compliance is about more than just checking an app for Total Fire Bans; it’s about understanding the mechanics of your saw and how it interacts with a volatile environment. This week’s update focuses on the invisible risks of summer operation: Vapor... Read more...
Storms, Skills & The Physics of "Compression Wood"
A standing tree is predictable; a storm-fallen tree is a loaded spring. As the East Coast cleans up from the Boxing Day storms, we break down the dangerous physics of 'Compression Wood'—why it traps saws, how to read the hidden kinetic energy, and what the 2026 Core Skills listing means for the future of the Australian industry. Read more...
The 2025 Power Wars, Husky 564 XP vs. Stihl's Battery Push
The chainsaws of 2025 are landing, and the big manufacturers are drawing battle lines. If you’ve been watching the industry news this week, you’ll know that the 60cc market is about to get a massive shake-up, and the "Battery vs. Petrol" debate is moving from the backyard to the forestry block. For the professional Australian operator, these new saws represent a leap in power-to-weight ratios. But remember: A new saw almost always comes with a "Safety" chain. If you want to unlock the true potential of these 2025 beasts, you... Read more...
Maximise Your Milwaukee: The Ultimate Setup for Your M18 Chainsaw in Australian Conditions
  If you have made the switch to a battery-powered chainsaw like the Milwaukee M18 FUEL, you already know the benefits. There is no mixing two-stroke fuel, no pulling a starter cord until your shoulder aches, and no exhaust fumes filling up your shed or 4x4. The Milwaukee M18 has become a favourite for Aussie campers, 4WD enthusiasts, and arborists because it is instant, powerful, and quiet. But to get the absolute best performance out of this machine—especially in Australian hardwood—you need the right setup at the business end of the... Read more...
The Best Chainsaw Chain for Australian Hardwood: Why "Fast" Isn't Always "Good"
If you have ever spent a weekend wrestling with a block of seasoned Red Gum or Jarrah, you know the feeling. You sharpen your chain, make three cuts, and suddenly you are pushing against the log, watching dust instead of chips fly, while your saw screams in protest. It is the classic Australian woodcutter’s dilemma. Our timber is not like European pine or American oak. Australian hardwoods are some of the densest, most abrasive timbers on the planet. They are notorious for dulling chains in record time, often leaving operators... Read more...
Forensic Diagnostics: Why Your Chainsaw Cuts Crooked (and How to Cure It)
There are few sensations in arboriculture more frustrating than the "crooked cut." You enter the log straight, but within three inches, the handle is fighting you. The bar pulls violently to the left. You apply counter-pressure, twisting your wrists to force the line back to center. The engine bogs. Smoke billows from the kerf. Finally, you withdraw the bar to find you have cut a "curved cookie"—a slice of timber that looks less like a board and more like a Pringles chip. Read more...
"Universal" is Code for "Compromise."
Walk into a big-box hardware store, and you will see blister packs labeled "Universal 18-Inch Chain." They claim to fit Stihl, Husqvarna, and Echo. In the world of precision engineering, "Universal" is a lie. A chain that fits everything fits nothing perfectly. Read more...
Stop Throwing Good Money After Bad Steel.
There is a misconception that a frugal operator keeps a chain until the teeth are filed down to nubs. This is false economy. There is a specific mathematical point where keeping an old chain costs you more than buying a new one. Read more...
Sawdust is Data.
Most operators look at the log. The expert looks at the ground. The waste product ejecting from your clutch cover is a real-time diagnostic stream telling you exactly what is happening inside the cut. Read more...
Amateurs React. Professionals Prepare.
In Australia, the opening of the firewood collection season (typically Autumn) is not a suggestion; it is a logistical window. If you wait until the last moment to check your equipment, you have already failed. You will spend your first weekend in the State Forest fighting a carburettor instead of felling Ironbark. Read more...
Decoding the DNA: Pitch, Gauge, and Drive Links Explained
When you order from Alpine, input these three numbers. We will send you a chain loop that fits with the snap of a distinct mechanical lock. Read more...