18 stoner

Cheers steve, i dont mind. Pricing is a totally different can of worms to the reason i started the thread, but i believe it is still connected. All the things that concern me, such as breakdowns, servicing, pricing, invoicing, even such as being let down at the last minute, all have an influence on your final price, but it is that that the customer has an opinion about, only seeing what you do on site. I can only pass comment on how i view my own business. I cannot however, pass comment on any one just supplying contract climbing, but i am sure there is not the same amount of hidden issues i was talking about. Everyone to thier own i suppose but perhaps the issue of pricing would be more appropriate in the thread "day rates" started by bill. Cheers all so far for the input about how much goes into the business, at least it isnt just me!!!

Hey Iain, dont you wish you could pop down to chapman motors and get yourself a subaru pick up? Eh those were the days, along with the fourtrack. Navara- the old one was a bit numb, but reliable. My brother has the new one, thats a beast with plenty of room in the cab and the back, but does look a bit in your face. Ranger- heard a lot of bad reports on build quality, economy, ride comfort, not expensive though. Not driven one though. Not seen any thing new. maybe they sorted them now. L200- good allround truck but really bad turning circle. The latest one is much better, but does look a bit wierd? Mazda- correct me if im wrong, but isnt that the Ranger re badged? Hi-lux- sold off the back of its name, has avid followers but i wouldnt touch one..... never found it good off road, bad economy not good at towing, uncomfortable, oh dear... Not been near a new shape one though! My long winded ten penneth P.S Im still running a landy- it suits me but does have some pitfalls

Ok, just wondering how much "unpaid work" you guys all do. I have found in the past that a lot of people think that turning up on the job, getting work done in six or eight hours is all there is to it! The reality of it is for me, i frequently spend weekends and many nights servicing and repairing gear, for instance i spent three full days last xmas working on my chipper. Another thing is hidden costs such as insurance, mantenance, fuel, storage etc. But i guess what i am asking is, how do you explain to these people that there is more to it than meets the eye, or is it not worth bothering!

Yeh cheers for the input mate, think ive come to the same conclusion as you, it would be a great thing to do if, you have little else to do, you wanted to live like a nomad, in the woods on your own, not have a care in the world, and most imprtantly not try to make a massive amount of money from it. Hope i about got it right from what i have learned over the last few days, its more a way of life and should ideally be run along side another forestry based lifestyle. Thanks again, it was a great read.

Think i was sent here from proclimber-dont think i was really welcome there:lollypop: At least i didnt get banned there tho:damnmate: On a serious note, thanks for inviting me steve and keep up the good work:thrasher:

Maybe did the lot with the flymo:151:

Once saw someone cut a bank like that with a flymo on a rope and was swinging it side to side- looked great fun!

"She was so ugly i didnt know if i should f**k it or fight it"

Just found another great birch job, yet again done in east yorks and about ladder height- must have been one of those birch specialists:asshole2:

Wow, certainly some goood info on that link treediver, not got it all read yet but found an answer to one of my thoughts in using tree surgery wood-; Qoute; Size, seasoning and stacking Lengths of 600-900mm (2'6"-3'), with a minimum top diameter of 50mm (2") and maximum butt diameter of 150m (6") are best, in straight lengths without forks. For efficient conversion rates, the kiln must be packed tightly with the minimum of air space. Because of the extra work involved, it's not usually worth splitting larger diameter wood for charcoal making. A more profitable use for waste wood of this size is to split it and sell it for firewood. Seems one of the very important parts is to leave as little air space as possible. I shall read on, and thanks again

Ok, just thinking out loud here about those semi-retirement jobs.......... Does anyone know much about charcoal, like is it easy to make or buy a kiln, is it easy enough to set up, what kinds of wood needed and obviously is it a commercially viable option instead of firewood................

very rare i climb with specs, seem to get in the way somehow, great for trimming tho

Using sherrills own at the moment for hedge trimming (about £4 a pair) but never noticed a difference in manufacture on the sweat issue.....

Jeez, Matty, just think how often i need to in those situations:151: Oh, and yes i voted every day:post:

Yeh sure matty the pikeys seem to target birches for some reason round us- some the work is criminal. There was a bit more to the conifer job i showed in the pic, i wont go into it too much as i still get narked thinking about it, but i was trimming a hedge next door when they did it (a bit keen on the sides in my opinion!!!) then seeing me working asked me if i could take their crap away.... he even offered me £20. You can imagine the rest:BoomSmilie_anim:

And a couple more, one next to a customer, the other next to my best mate;

A very well done conifer reduction next door to one of my customers

A row of "pruned" beech

Oh dear we have some really skilled pikeys round us............

Know what you mean pete, it does make it more difficult to use, flopping around!

Oh, and definately bolted grab for me too:smokin: P.S. Sorry steve, i know its the tree pics........

Too right tim, but i would like to add to what you say, that doing as pete says, in a risky situation putting your flip line to the D will save you getting squashed to the stem, BUT in this case you should definately not bypass your soft link. That is your means of rescue, and obviously its already known this would be an action taken in tricky situation. Not lecturing vduben, just trying to refresh a few minds as to why the soft link is put in the lanyard.

Our Pete may not be an old geezer yet, but he sure is a wise dooood:thrasher:

Oh well, dont worry matt, bet i`d have been on the floor before you came down! Dare say you can still go back to the job can you?

You should patent that style. Very realistic:151: