Andy Collins
-
Posts
13,793 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Classifieds
Tip Site Directory
Blogs
Articles
News
Arborist Reviews
Arbtalk Knot Guide
Gallery
Store
Freelancers directory
Everything posted by Andy Collins
-
Plippy should reach Mach 2 in about a hundred feet, distinct weight advantage
-
Minimum wage at 16 is £3.68 per hour, by law. Also check the law on rest breaks, as these are a little different for under 18s. If you have no chainsaw certs, he cannot employ you to fell without direct supervision, that means a suitably ticketed person is literally watching over you while you fell.
-
chazzer, he should not be employing you to fell without your tickets. I have no doubts as to your abilities, I know of others who have grown into the business. But without tickets, he could get into a whole world of trouble with the H&S guys. If he is a friend, he will understand the importance of doing things properly, he shouldnt want to see you get hurt either. I also you are not working alone in the woods, for your sake. As a 16 year old, though you can take your tickets, there are other considerations that must be looked at, you are still a minor in the eyes of the law, this means you need more looking after than an adult, and again his responsibilities are higher because of this. I don't want to put you off, get ticketed, get a proper job with a proper set up, or go to college and study the trade. ArborVenture Training have an excellent track record and reputation, by the way.
-
People are rushing to the gardens square before the onset of winter IMO, this is the Winter of Discontent, Doom and Gloom will take over, the End is Nigh!
-
That's just it, it's open, nothing hidden, no agendas, no witch hunts, you can all see the bare bones for yourselves, and of course draw your own conclusions. Let's move onwards and upwards, nobody gains by dwelling in the past.
-
I think he's just realised that he agreed to share his pictures and thoughts by agreeing to the forum rules, and doesn't want to any more.
-
The diary of an obsessive compulsive arborist
Andy Collins replied to Tony Croft aka hamadryad's topic in Picture Forum
Oh well, I guess that the Diary closed then. Thanks for sharing the scores of pics over time, and your contributions to the forum in general over the time you've been here. The forum rules were in place when it was set up back in 2007, and you agreed to follow the rules as a forum member, like it or not. Such a shame that you put so much effort into your work to then choose this stance now. Oh well. Most people help others with advice for no other reason than they purely wish to just help, no hidden agendas. Others take their ball and run away so noone can play any more. Such a pity. -
The diary of an obsessive compulsive arborist
Andy Collins replied to Tony Croft aka hamadryad's topic in Picture Forum
Tony, it matters what every body thinks of this forum, at whatever level they are at. Everyone has a contribution to make, and something to gain from involvement. Even if it's just conversing with like minded souls, even if it's just learning which file to sharpen with, or what that fungal bracket is. Arbtalk is a sum of parts, made up from the great melting pot of the variety of people involved in tree work in any way. Most of all it's where people help each other. I should hate to feel anyone felt that they could no longer be a part of this. -
In Desperate times...My Silky saves the day!
Andy Collins replied to silky fox's topic in The Lounge
Kew is always stunning, at anytime of year, its been a funny old year for me so I'll have to try and get up there on a sunny day for the autumnal colours. If not there's always next year -
It all sounds an awesome experience Will, you've come a long way from that couple of days you did with me a few years ago. Good for you, looking forward to the pics.
-
I have two combicans, one is over 15 years old, made by Oregon, the other is about 5 years old and made by Stihl. I don't have the Husky cans, my mate does and gets through a lot of spouts, ridiculous, and blinkered, just buy something better!!
-
Did pretty well, breaking rules to achieve...yeah good on him. Wouldn't want him n my team though.
-
Shame I don't listen to my own advice sometimes though:001_rolleyes:
-
Rubbish, there will always be work out there to do. I've spent every year since I started tree work thinking along these lines, going without holidays and the such like, working 6.5 day weeks, funny thing is there is always more work about. All you'll do is make yourself ill, end up divorced and miss your kids growing up. Take the holidays, you'll come back refreshed and better focussed, and work harder cos of all the money you've lost not working:001_smile:
-
Too right, enough of these Stihl v Husky threads, real people doing real tree work in the real world, encouraging others by their actions, and it makes such good reading on the forum too:thumbup1:
-
Nice one Will, now where's all the pics, give Silky Fox a run for his money in the interesting thread stakes
-
I think Josh has hit the nail on the head. Text book Arb is the ideal to aim for at all times, real tree work is about doing the work to earn the money to pay the bills. Sometimes the text book has to be left on the shelf and a realistic approach has to be taken. Slightly off topic, but I was talking to an old climber the other day, he subs to a very large national company doing a variety of large sites, he had pruned trees back to the branch collar where necessary. His site foreman chased him up at the end of the day and asked hm to flush off all his cuts "properly" cos thTs how they like them done! But theyre the boss, they pay the bills, so their way is the way if you want the job and future work. Or do you get out your Blue book, stand your ground and have a row with the foreman? Not get any more work, no income etc etc. Morals don't pay the bills every time.
-
Knowing several "mature" climbers, I would not even query their wearing of spikes on a retained tree such as a repollard. I trust their professionalism not to "dig in" until they're above retained wood. This is the same argument as one handing a topping saw, a professional and competent person will know when it is safe or not to do so.
-
Although I'm quite a landlubbers, I do venture out to sea fishing, quite often the local RNLI will cruise out and have a quick chat, make sure we havent seen anyone in distress etc. Good on ya, top bit of volunteering
-
I wonder if builders talk about who they're waving to every day? Probably not, they don't have Builderstalk.co.uk
-
Cleared a site with a badgers sett on a few years ago, had a 20m exclusion zone all around it.
-
How much is the 576 Ed?
-
Pound for pound, I prefer the WolfGarten range of pruners. Good quality, hard wearing, for every day use I don't think they can be beaten. AND if you need a new part, you can pop into any gardening outlet and get them. I've tried many many makes, in the past, Wolf-Garten have lasted the longest, I'll stick with them.
-
Down here we charge enough so we don't have to
-
I try to avoid working in any weather
