Jim put on a very professional appearance the first time I met him at our PNW gtg a few years ago. He and his saws were clean and performed beyond any expectation. Another member was impressed as well and t as lked me into giving this local porter some work. So I did, it seemed like we became friends, then behavioural issues started showing and I became concerned. I decided it would just be better for all for me to of course, pay him in full, and get my stuff back. That's when his true behaviour came through. I finally, after much begging, and an arranged a 2 hour drive I was able to see him. I was persuaded to give him another chance and agreed. My personality is not suited toward this behaviour and it did not improve. I was civil with him and when in person he behaves much better, I gave him several saw related things, lent him some which he took to mean they were his, and it's been downhill from there. He behaved badly at his first chainsaw race when he did not understand the rules, from what others have said.
Now in his defense. He does build strong saws, a 044 he did for another member is especially strong as was a 2151 he built. His ms180 will absolutely spank a string 200t. And all the saws he completed for me are reliable and strong. He is very resourceful at finding hard to get parts. Before this blowup, others had asked what I thought of him. I always answered that his work is good but we had a personality conflict.