Marc

Best of luck to you Wills, I'm sure you'll do fine the work is out there. For the record I made a similar decision in 2007 and went fulltime, back then i was more of a groundie who was hungry to climb thought going fulltime would get me climbing more, I spent over 6 months with them and although i had garantued income was unhappy. My wife went out got a job and forced me to hand in my notice, i've pushed myself hard and now earn twice what i was on. Self employed is a risk but its a risk i'm happy taking.

Are you availible some time next week? As i have a Tesco's carrier bag full of reciepts that need adding up for my end of year tax return.

Another, not me climbing but if i when i'll give the climber the laces as his share of the prize.

Saw these at the recent arb show Safe-Eyes | No Misting, No Scratching, Un-fog-able Eye Protection they were quite comfortable and look worth a punt if the Stien helmet doesn't help.

No need to fight his corner a "picture" can speak a thousands words!! Simon device shares nothing in common with the other device shown here (other than it is a drum). I'd cetainly buy something like that after some more user feedback, although competition is there with Reg Coates and Nod bringing out similar devices. Be good to see yours in action Brian.

That looks really good and well thought out Simon.

Made by a professional with many years arb experience who knows how this type of kit is applied in tree work?? He could build space rockets, if he's never seen snatching operations how can he design a tool for such use? its easy to copy a design but unless you understand the dynamics the device will be subject to its very easy to get it very wrong. When you buy a device from Greg Good, Reg Coates or ISC and Buckingham your buying from those who know how to make devices specific for our work. No offence i'd rather take a wrap round the trunk at least I wouldn't be worrying about a steal tube shooting up the tree towards me. For girly lowering though it'll be fine:001_tongue:

Which confuses me more as most straps we use are marked with a Maximum Breaking Strain (MBS), so a 5 ton strap has a SWL of what???

Only vaguely!! Its a tube with a bar through it welded to a section of u shaped steel/ali? with some holes for straps. This design is common sheds loads of them out there if you look. Nods had several unique features which made it a well thought out design, if possibly a little overkill. Same as Reg's single drum device well thought out tool desgined by arborist for arborist. Not a boiler mechanic!!!! How much snatching has that guy seen!!

I'm not sure if lowering bollards have to have a ce mark be intrested to know for sure, never noticed them on a grcs or other bollards before, the grcs is a sailing winch effectivly adapted to treework. They are strength tested but not ce rated i thought. The real weak link in the bollard from ebay is its attachment to the trunk and shock loading!! It doesn't look like it'll take heavy snatching when you compare it to other devices like the Hobbs, grcs, Reg Coates or even Nod's device, these have had more thought into there design.

Loving Mr Hancocks and Tony's pics, Here is one of me, i'm lacking decent photo's of me climbing plenty of other people none of me.

Nah I didn't take anything personal from you Rupe, its good to think about these things how valueble they are to you and to see if changes need to be made, it one of the very positive aspects of Arbtalk that it can give food for thought. I didn't think you was practicing at being a cantanckerous git, i just assumed you always have been:001_tongue:

Maybe i've muddied th waters for you Slicx, even now i'm re-evaluating just how worth while my own pli is and wether i'll renew. I think its plainly be said here that you don't need your own pli as you can work under his pli providing he has proper cover!! It sounds a little suspicious, are you going to be using your own equipment, truck, chippers running the job yourself etc?? this is bona fide sub contracting. If your using his kit as in trucks, chippers, saws whatever and following his spec then your self-employed. At least thats how i understand it!

Jeez it seems like there is a problem me having pli, I can't see why its my choice and works well for me, if your self employed you do not need your own pli this is with out question. Yes if i do my own jobs and use people to help me employers lia. is a must. I can't afford to go employed the figures don't add up for me and my situation, i've tried it and it was a massive financial difference for me. Having just one company suplly me with the bulk of my work is a much more finacially secure way for me to operate, the company i mostly work for does not employ anyone we are all self-employed and paid well, and in my opinion makes us all very motivated to work to a very high standard. Even though i work under others pli, and consider myself a very safe and effcient worker able to take on very difficult jobs to a high standard if for any reason i mess up I want to know I can cover my mistake myself, it doesn't mean i'm not competent or the company that uses me made a bad decision in using me!! In fact in my opinion its totally the oposite. Just because one company supplies me with the majority of my work doesn't mean they have to employ me, I train myself, purchase my own kit to a high and costly standard, pay for my loler, provide my own cover. I'm free to work for who i want when i want, take as much time off as i want and even have more freedom in how i carry out any given job, I am used for this reason because whoever uses me has the confidence i can carry out a job with minmum guidance with my own kit.

Yes i know what you mean Rupe its not just there to look good, there is also vicarious liabilty to consider. I may be covered by the company i am working for at the time or whoever supplied the qoute, only what if I make the costly mistake and the company tries to pursue me saying i disregarded there spec didn't carry out work to best practice etc etc. Having my own pli covers me in these instances and for my own private work, and even though 85% of my work is for one company having my own insurance does make me look more independant to the tax man.

Having pli does look good to the tax man and is essential if your doing your "own" tree work, in all honesty though i'd say save your money invest it elsewhere for your first year, if your working for someone else you can work off their pli even if your s/e. I didn't have my own pli for years, only recently have i got it as i do the occasional tree work myself. If you really want it then i'd reccomend Trust it'll cost you £525 for 5mill cover with some indemnity with no height restrictions for a year, very quick and easy to set-up as well. Although i'm not sure where you stand as you don't have all your basic competency tickets?? Which leads me to my first point save your money and get your tickets and then some experience first!

Why don't they just build their trousers to take the strain like everyone else?

Good job fellas be intrested to know your thoughts on the headsets.

Not many places stock them that i know of, Needle Sports Aid Climbing needle sports has them on there website they don't stock them though. Also i know someone who may be able to special order one near Oxford for you just not sure how long it would take to arrive.

Whilst you are right, using a guide requires precision of movement, something that is hard to do with a guide you nearly always end up twisting slight or tilting up or down which will throw the guide out without you even noticing. With out a guide your not so restricted in your movement which allows you to guide the file in the cutter better, just my opinion and observation. Guides are in my opinion there for those who are not as practiced at sharpening/novice to intermediate users, if you've sharpend daily for years then freehand is accurate and can even give far better results.

I don't see the point myself, just do the cutters first, i can judge how much needs to come off before or after, i can also not damage the freshly sharpened cutters with a flat file. I've not voted.

Life is to short and there is much wood to be cut, it'll never be long till you need to sharpen anyways.

Cutters first always for me for best results, depth gauges are important the reduce vibration stress on the saw and i reckon increase chain life, so its important to do the cutters first to get the depth gauges right. I do all my sharpening by eye no gauges, apart from using the depth gauge to check i'm right, not use it as a filing guide!

Yep they are pops, look at the second pic and you'll what looks like a Lombardy looks like the reduced the height and side towards the road thank god for professional tree surgeons making our roads safer. Again i'm only guessing, although there is a similar belt of populars alongside the A34 near the M40 that have had similar work done, and an oak that has had the one side towards the road spanked. I can only presume this is to stop them being blown over???

Probably relieved that such hazardous trees have been made safe. I would just like to point out i'm not being serious, and have no idea what the tree officer thinks