Andy Collins

Well, hopefully you can think of your mate when you look back at this thread, a kind of memorial to him online.

Gents. This is an emotive thread, in support of one of our members friends. I don't want to have to moderate it, or close it. If you don't agree with the circumstances, causes, or anything else, could you refrain from posting on this thread. I think Matthew would like to show his friend his respect here, rather than argue the causes. I trust you can all give Matthew that respect. Thank you.

That burning tree reminds me of a tree we took down when I was in my early teens. My dad had an old (then) Pioneer, and the sparks ignited the tree. As you say, the hollow acts like a chimney and draws the flame, making for an interesting job. Nice to see some slightly different picture topics there, cheers.

Pretty neat. Not a patch on the Cirque Arbtalk at the shows this year, balancing double bits on top of a ratchet, slicing neat lines in the turf, and hanging the axe in varying positions in the safety nets.

Just ordered a couple of the no2 style lanyard. In aid of a great cause as well. At the opposite end of the spectrum to the Children's Trust, yet just as necessary. Good call Spud

Is this to find out about them before purchasing, or for coursework?

I have some made by Heil, very good quality, had them around 5years or so now. About the £80 mark though.

I agree fully with Les on this. It's almost word for word what I discussed with a couple of other traders. In addition, the AA goes on about raising our game as an industry, IMO they need to up the ante. The best way to get the message to Joe Public is at an event, let them see how professionals operate at the show, currently the only people who attend are professionals who are either really interested enough to attend, or seeking that elusive bargain buy. So make the show attractive to interested parties. Get more trade bodies and charities in on the act. More woodworky crafty types in. Advertise to the general public, 1/2 days trade show, final day public day, big push. Head to head pole climbs, or multi-skills comp like Cutters & Climbers with poles, felling disciplines. Get the Axemen in with their skills. This is meant to be the Arb show, the best show in the calendar when the APF isn't on. Make it so Countryfile want to run a whole programme based around it, invite the media. This show IMO was the best laid out for years, most interesting to look around, lets raise the game to make it the show to beat the rest. There is only so much money people have to spend, if it's that good a show, then it will be the one they spend the money at.

I read somewhere that for the area you're talking of, wet ply weighs heavier than steel of the same size. This will reduce the amount you can legally carry on board, and as mentioned elsewhere on the forum, VOSA are clamping down on trucks , so beware, it may be a false economy. Ally sides would be ideal, look nicer for longer, and slightly increase the amount you can remove from site.

It's always good to get a vote of confidence from members but we have to move with the times, address issues if and when they arise, and if necessary, alter things to make the forum an even better place. The overwhelming response I heard was that its a great place to hang out and chat about trees all night.

Criticism, good and bad, of the forum can only help to improve things on the forum. But we can only act on issues if we are told about them. One strong criticism I heard at the show was the continuous misinformation on general safety issues involved in tree work, this point was raised by a well known and respected instructor. I'd like to remind all who use this forum, that Arbtalk is no replacement for correct training with approved instructors, it is merely a platform to discuss various topics. With the high rate of posting that such an active forum attracts, it is very hard for us to ensure the details of each and every post is 100% accurate, so don't take it as read that it is 100% accurate.

And likewise, in reverse!! Many thanks to all the guys and girls who helped put this event on for us, it looks a lot of hard work! Thanks again.

Yss, liked the way you had your back to the camera, mid shot, to make sure the back print was visible. Brilliant show coverage too. Worth catching on iplayer if you missed it.

All the best, Likeitlumpit On an upbeat note, because we are iron men, of strong body and mind, it will take far more to break us. In the face of adversity we can handle far more than your average man. Had a bit of belly ache at the end of 2011/early2012, got over it and went back to work. You have to fight every step of the way, never give up even when it hurts. It really is survival of the fittest, mentally fit as well as physically fit.

Yes many thanks to everyone who came up and participated over the two days. It really helped with us having a better location on the site, even though the wind made things a little interesting yesterday pm. The zone behind the Heras was a dead area, no access, with another Heras fence to the rear securing that area, essential to prevent accidental walk bys. Great time again, and thanks to the lovely Nicole from the Children's Trust helping with scoring and bringing the sun for the day on Friday, shame she took it home with her

I'm with Peter, I can focus far better early morning with a fresh head than evenings or in the middle of a job. There are none of the usual distractions with family "noise" and I get through it a lot quicker. Paperwork is my pet hate, so once it's done I can relax and focus on the day, a bit like eating sprouts first before everything else to take the taste away.

Well, I can recommend the Oregon Ws, had mine about 2.5yesrs, probably done around about 6 months work in that time due to a slight "lay off". But I'm very pleased with the way they've lasted on tough jobs. Probably a bit cheaper than Stretches, good value for money.

Stretch airs here, though I do wear the Oregon Waipoua at times, wearing well, not sure if they're available in Cs though

Thoughts are with you Matt, love the bench memorial idea RIP Dan.

Any vital emails I do quickly on the Blackberry, everything else waits until I get home. What can't wait? IMO this is all part of the rush rush rush world we live in, can't wait till we get home to do some downloading? Stress city central. As far as etiquette, if I was paying you to work on my trees, trim my hedges, I'd be a bit annoyed to see you sitting around on the Internet, I'd find that rude, probably wouldn't want you back. But this is the modern world, perhaps it is something that has to be considered now?

Though your enthusiasm for the Stihl brand is laudable, I fear it is blinkering your better judgement my mate bought a brand new long reach Stihl trimmer, and it felt like I was stepping back in time using some dinosaur piece of kit. It was heavier, less well balanced, vibrated like a really vibratey thing, it was awful. He couldn't work out what I was saying about, so I lent him my Echo to try for a while. No, you can keep your Stihls, I certainly am not convinced by them, and I have one, but it'll only every come out as a back up machine now.

It comes under racism, they are a race and its derogatory.

It's not just the quality of the cut that's important. Amongst other things, vibes are a killer of many brands, Echo seemed to mastered the worst of this, and I think it's a really important factor when choosing a machine. I have used several models and makes, and honestly think the Echo comes out above the rest for many factors. Gets my vote, and I do own two Echo models, two Stihl and Fuji robin and Tanaka at present.

I think there are two separate issues. One is the 5 yearly certificate update, which is not really unreasonable, by any industry standards. The second is obviously the gnarly issue of FISA, the way it's run, for whom it is run, and who it will affect. Small businesses are no longer welcome, not by government, not by the taxation system, small business is now a dirty word. Looking at car maintenance, small business can no longer compete due to the expense of diagnostic equipment, essential for most work on the modern car. Technology is pushing the small business out. I do think that if you wish to work for a body such as the FC you have to sing along to their tune, that's a choice you make when you choose the direction of your business, after all they hold the purse strings. It's not really different to an employer insisting that the employee has certain quals, and works the way he/she is asked, just on a bigger scale. FTR, I have no interest in working for the FC, in towing the line their way, but that's my own choice, and as said before, it's easy to sit here on a laptop spouting off, when it's not my work on the line. I do hope it works out in the end for those of you it does affect.

I don't quite get the problem here. People bang on about wishing to be accepted as professionals, highly trained and competent individuals who wish to be separated from the cowboy element. Well, surely this is exactly what you wanted? Now people are saying that they dont want to be checked to ensure they are still competent? You can't have your cake and eat it, you can't have it both ways. So the system says that to work for such as the FC you require updates, then if you want that work you will jump through their hoops, do things their way. If yu don't want to, you don't have to, you can do other work. My son is an apprentice-served technician, he has to do regular updates to keep his position and pay-scale, or you slip down to the bottom of the pile and start over. It's the way of the world these days,