Andy Collins

Nice one Quercus, a good example of using the forum to further your career! Good luck:thumbup1:

I have a thatcher working at the farm near me at present, if I get time Ill pop in and ask about supplies and stuff. Some now use plastic spars/brauches, but the older guys apparently still prefer the hazel.

Sorry I haven't, only what this chap was saying. They must have a forum or something where you could look into it?

I was talking to local thatcher on Friday, and he was saying they have to buy in all their brauches from Devon, may be an avenue with following up?

I have probably 4 retailers in a relatively small area around here. I can get some bits from one, another bit from the next, and maybe the remainder from the others. Or I can go online, in the convenience of my own home, and buy exactly what I need when I need it, and have it here tomorrow. It's a no brainer really. I also think it's such a shame. I don't want these small outlets to fail, but how can I support them? What are the online suppliers doing that the local dealers aren't? how come the online suppliers have what I need? It isn't just saw shops, it's just about any hobby or trade you can imagine. The online, web presence is King.

I now carry the ArbAid kit, since a couple of weeks ago, and I've updated my FA training too. I also carry a First Responders kit, which is just as big, just as well equipped, but not in a yellow box, which I had until I got my ArbAid. Tbh I won the Arb Aid kit in the raffle here, and I would never have bought it otherwise. But now I feel it would tempt fate not to have it on site. On my last course, it was suggested that we should have a defib unit on all sites too, and at £800 we would hardly have an excuse not to WTF?!! I agree with the poster who said about preparation for an incident, knowing your roles and duties in case. Know where you are, know where the kit is kept, awareness of area, overheads etc for heli meds and so on.

I think it's a cracking idea. It's not about huge payloads, off road capability, or top speed. It's about making your business noticed!! I like it, Deans USP,

We've all had to start somewhere, I had to learn the hard way, as did many others. There is no easy ride, and that applies as much now as ever. Personally, I wouldn't wish to be starting out now in this job, the market is now at saturation point tbh. It's tough to know where to start with pricing, and I gues business studies isn't part of an Arb course, maybe it should be.

Ian, you live in one of the wealthier areas of the country, the recession has barely touched this area, 2nd homes are the norm, the Gay pound is strong, and the Grey pound here. Look at the cost of a mortgage, or rental of a property in this area, and land for a yard, it's pretty high. How are you going to ever hope to get going if you work for peanuts? I worked for a successful local Arb company ten years ago who was charging more for a two man gang than many charge now. He had the best kit, and was at the time at the fore of Arboriculture. If you break down all your costs, as Yorkshireman mentioned, you will be astounded how much you need to earn to keep afloat, don't forget wear and tear on your kit too, depreciation, costs of loans etc. People make the mistake of starting out too cheap, (I did) then chasing their tail in circles all the time (I did) Being busy is not being succesful, if you do jobs too cheap you're still smashing your kit to pieces, for nothing. People will let you work for naff all, so long as they get it done why would they care? Someone once told me if you win 100% of quotes, your too cheap, less than 50% your too dear, so aim to win around 60-70%. Another problem with starting too cheaply is that your clients will always expect it, and be offended if you try to charge more later. Not going to share what I charge these days for typical 2men and chipper, as you're relatively local to me. Do the math.

Mmmmmm paracetamol base with a Morphine topping, absolute heaven. :elefant:

Just thinking on this thread, and I think it's strange. Those in a career outside of Treework wish to get into it around 40ish, and those already IN tree work want to get out around 40ish. Is there more to this? Lack of satisfaction with life's dealings? Mid life crisis? Just an observation and by no means intended as a dig at anyone in particular. To the OP, I'm 48, physically a wreck at the moment, and too stupid to find an easier job, so I cut trees for a living. And I love it. Good luck.

I broke my chipper the other day, the spring loaded bit over the top roller, 2hrs into a 3 day job. Luckily my local chipper hire guy had a machine I could get the job done with. Took the shine offf the job a bit.

Some of those crafty types who supply walking stick makers sell horn, antler and bone, may be worthy of a punt.

and Chippertech were at one time sponsors of this fine site, so sort of qualifies under Ian's "keep it in house" philosophy. PLUS Daniel helped me out when I had issues with my chipper this week, a handy man to have on speed dial!

I'm struggling to understand this. A guy who has served 13yeArs in the RM is niggled by someone poking fun at his height, rather lack of height. I can't see it, I really can't.

As said, many thanks to Daniel @ Chippertech (Stowmarket) for baling me out with a back up chipper when mine let me down yesterday. top service, rapid response, and worthy of thanks here.

Daniel @ Chippertech, reasonable rates 01449 616665

A "considerably shorter than I"climber colleague used to comment that I spent more time looking up at him, than he did me. I think he only said to make himself feel better. but though we'd joke about him lack of height, or my short sighted ness or hair colour (titian) there was ever any malice. So if your groundie was passing comment, didn't intend it to be rude, I would just pass it off as such. If he meant what he said to be taken as a nasty comment, then tell him in no uncertain terms what you think.

No spite intended

I wonder if it was a bit of horseplay at the Findus factory, a joke that got out of hand maybe?

Yes yes I know that's the responsible, grown up approach, and I appreciate that a "joke" can get out of hand too. I never have time to muck about these days, too much to do.

Damn, run out of eggs, been eating pancakes for days now. Love them. Nom nom nom

Ditto the above, the tickets are your property, it's your responsibility to ensure their safety. Next time, take copies, hand out those. SHOW the card and put it back in your wallet. Lesson learned. As For the horse play, it shouldn't happen but it does. Today you're the butt of the "joke", tomorrow someone else is. Not really that big a deal is it?

That'll teach him to keep all his eggs in one basket

I think youre too old to become a fast top of the range, all singing all dancing climber. It'll take say five years to be able to do anything thrown at you, which will make you around 38, most climbers seem to be looking to "retire" or slow down a bit by then. BUT you could become a handy climber still, nice and steady, to back up the no1 climber on a team, and of course Aerial rescue is a handy string to your bow. So to sum up, go for it, enjoy it. You've still got thirty odd years of work in you.