Novice: top or rear handle 18v Makita for occasional use?

[Stubby]

Just now, topchippyles said:

Tease did you get the job though ?

Yes I did it . I bugs me though when it could have been so simple .

[Macpherson]

8 minutes ago, Stubby said:

he had no idea of the tension and compassion involved

That sounds a bit ' Charlotte Bronte '... damn predictive text 😊

[Ian C]

I would add extra on if a customer had started the job as nothing will be cut right and will be a rats nest of shite, also we generally only chip what we have cut for reasons stated above.

[Jack.P]

Is that it then defeated by the ugly conifers.😀 Just chop the lot and hire a chipper 

[Mark Bolam]

It really is that simple isn’t it Jack?

[Will C]

cheaper??? The climber has now got to cut all those bloody pegs off before they can start as well as clear up your mess. The price will go up more likely than down!

[Steven P]

OK so to make this a better job for the OP, I reckon he is getting the idea... if not there is no helping some people....

 

I guess if you assume what you have cut off won't go through the chipper, strip off all the really small stuff and cut the larger parts to 250, 500, 750mm length sticks - multiples of the width of my stove fire box, you should be able to punt them on the internet to someone if the price is right and there is enough to make the trip worthwhile - a 'warehouse DIY' store will sell a cheap axe and a sharpening stone that will do that job OK if needed (a car boot full could fetch about £15 to £20 if you're lucky and sell it - the cost of the axe). What is left, clear out the way for tree surgeon to have clear access. You can put it in the green waste wheelie bin over a few weeks or a couple of trips to the tip with the waste. (Note that you can't ever make a profit or a dent in the felling costs by homeowner selling firewood from their ex-trees)

 

When you get quotes talk to the guys, and see if there is anything you can do to help and make the job quicker and then cheaper rather than just going ahead and hoping you are doing the right thing. Might be they say "Sure, if you can carry stuff to the chipper, I can do the job with 1 less employee that day", might be they say "To be honest whatever you can do will save about 10 minutes off the whole job, you're better off bringing a steady supply of tea and biscuits". They can see the whole job, from where to park, where to put a chipper and where the trees will be happiest falling and so on and can give better advice than anyone here with photos.

 

 

So how to make the job better for the OP. what to do to make it more affordable?

[Doug Tait]

If Scottish Cleaning Services was still a member here he'd travel to do it cheap no bother. He had huge ladders and 2 jigsaws ideal for a dismantle like those trees.

Wonder if he's published his autobiography yet.

[Muddy42]

A lot of professionals giving customers grief for "doing some of the work themselves" and leaving branches to be chipped.  I guess much of this work is in rural smoke controlled areas where home owners can't simply have a bonfire? or don't have the skill to get a bonfire going.  Such fun!

[Mick Dempsey]

4 minutes ago, Muddy42 said:

A lot of professionals giving customers grief for "doing some of the work themselves" and leaving branches to be chipped.  I guess much of this work is in rural smoke controlled areas where home owners can't simply have a bonfire? or don't have the skill to get a bonfire going.  Such fun!

No bonfire pretty much anywhere here (France).

All the more incentive for clients to to give it the old “while you’re here with your machine would you mind if…”