Andy Collins

Bit of tree planting today, a couple of lebanons, not happy with the shape of the 1st one, but I didnt accept the delivery (luckily)

I think you've made your point now.

Mr tidytrees, It sounds as if the working practices you re using are the same as they were up here around 20years ago. Instead of having a rant why dont you focus your energies into helping improve things in that line of work? You keep shouting corruption and politics, this seems to make you very angry and maybe frustrated. Many of us have been in the job for a good length of time, and have done line work too, so we're not all as green as we're cabbage looking.

With that kind of attitude I have a feeling something nasty will happen one day, take care.

Cant you hear them? Scratchy 8 legs stomping all over the place!

No, the silly little things we have here, God knows why, but I got over it. I used to hate the sound of them crawling up walls when I was a kid, made my skin crawl. But when you're climbing around trees, they are nothing to fear, and this changed my whole mental way of dealing with them. Hell, can even pick them up and out them outside now:001_smile:

Njc, get on all the courses you can, learn to use everything properly. When you feel up to learning to climb, do small prunes with a handsaw. learn positioning and safe working practices,and get on a climbing course. I was very wary of 2 things when I started this job, big spiders and heights. It took me quite a while to trust a slippy knot to hold my weight. Then one day it sorta clicked, and my confidence gradually grew. As for the spiders, I was on a dead tree looked around and saw what appeared to be the biggest mofo sitting on my shoulder. Rationality said the spider couldnt kill me, but making a mistake and falling could, so I ignored the spider and just got on with the job in hand. I'm not a climber, but i can climb now without worry (slow as hell though). I'm sure you'll do fine, absorb all the info given here, no-one wants you to be a statistic through ignorance (or otherwise) and it really is scary seeing people having a go without knowledge or skill. One tale regarding a chainsaw and steps for you: an old boss of mine also does bereavement counselling. He had a call to the local hospital, where a chap had been admitted with severe chainsaw injuries. The bloke had been pruning fruit trees in his garden from steps with a chainsaw. The steps wobbled and fell, he fell onto the saw which grabbed a hold of his clothing. Now as the tick-over was not set right it ran on, spinning the chain, which was also very slack. The saw pulled itself from the lower leg, to his midriff, opening him up badly. He died in hospital from his injuries. No chainsaw ppe, just a pair of work gloves and goggles as sold with many saws at diy outlets. The family were the ones in need of counselling.

All the woodchip on my heap is sold off, for chaaarity mate:thumbup: I've never had a problem with people paying so far, they just stick the money in an envelope and shove it through the letterbox. I make it clear the money pays for the upkeep of the charity woodland that I'm a Trustee of.

Aah ok:blushing:

IMO the idea of the wee chippers is to avoid removal of chip from site, as soon as you start that malarkey, you may as well start paying the extra bods to drag out and chip conventionally.

I have an Oegon with the non-spill spout, still going after about 14years chucking about, and the Stihl clear, which is also good. The huskies have the problems listed above, and i cant think of anyone who hasnt been miffed with them

Ok ignoring you now, thought you' gone mad:laugh1:

My mate and I used to rag an old Lada Cossack off-road in some old lime pits, it was awesome going through the bits the Landy boys ran away from. Incredible little machine!

Welcome back, and welcome to Arbtalk, hope everything goes well for you:thumbup1:

I can understand Stevies perspective to a certain extent re: smoking. I went to a company the other day (garage) and the guys stopped for a fagbreak in between tea breaks. 4 of them stopped for about 10mins each, thats 40mins, if another 2 stop, thats an hour at 50 quid per hour. It looks bad to clients, I said to the manager that i wasnt going to pay for their fag breaks, and he admitted its a problem, but does nothing. Now I like a smoke, if I'm busy I dont tend to stop, if I want a fag I quickly roll one during a re-fill, light up on the way back to the tree, and probably it will go out and get discarded. I probably rarely smoke a whole one during working hours. I now carry a portable ashtray so the butts arent on the floor, but in my pocket too.

You cant fatten misery:lol:

How many men? 2 men, chipper and saws for 4hrs about 280. 2 men, logging and stacking 250ish. Tbh find it a pain to stack brash, may as well chip it, only got to move it once.

What a load of crap, 62, 69, 72 etc etc never produced anything like the quality of a 64 vintage, with a full and fruity body and a subtle strength that will sneak up and blow your head off!

Well Tidytrees, what an entrance to the Arbtalk forum!! Sure you'll generate a huge response to your comments here. We dont need or want such an abrasive tone though, we all know there are bad practices in all areas of tree work, and the utility guys do cop a fair bit of flak as they cover such a large area and are so visible. If things are so bad, then just quit and set yourself up, or get in with a private reputable business, then come back and post up some nice pictures of your quality tree work.

The only risk I would assess there is dehydration, all hammock testers should have a pint in hand while testing:biggrin:

Looks like its been tested well anyway, should be ok:thumbup:

Ps does anyone know how I change my screen name don't know why I called myself tractorboy Contact Steve Bullman, and he'll sort it:thumbup1:

Dont you remember, I rang you to ask which ones?

I'm currently on a Dell Inspiron, had it about 3months and to date no problems.