The blade on the ferm is not man enough. You need an aligator saw like this
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...69483&id=10164

B&D used to do one cheaper or try the local hire shop

"sw" wrote in message
. co.uk...
Sam wrote:

How about something like this?

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...05479&id=19394

We have one and i use it anywhere I'm not happy using the chainsaw -
like
above shoulder height or up a ladder. It says max 115mm in wood but I've
cut
trees much larger than that. I'm sure it would manage a sleeper all be
it
fairly slowly. It's particularly effective at pruning.

The only thing I've used that's remotely similar to that is the
Black&Decker equivalent owned by a friend. Looks a bit more like a
normal saw, but with a powertool where the handle should be. Admittedly
I was told the blade was dull, but it struck me as little more than a
good way to get vibration white finger fast. I tested my bowsaw on a
piece of the wood when I returned home, and I could handsaw faster and
with less effort with the sawblade that had cut the crossing timbers
than was required by that electric saw. Clearly your mileage varies, or
the Ferm is very different to the B&D version.

regards
sarah


--
Think of it as evolution in action.