tockmal

Ok, ID cards will cost £100.00 per person, thats $200 to you MB. When your current passport runs out, the government plan to use that as an opportunity to put you on the DNA database and put a laser swipe bar code on the back of your neck.

If anyone else is gonna bid, lets keep it in increments of 1 pence as this will keep the final price extremely low, thank you brothers and sisters.

Nod - Price: £195.00 (Excluding: VAT at 17.5%) Size small fits 32inch to 36inch waist apparently. I'm gonna make a bid. £140.01

Yeah, what are they new? about £230?

Hard to believe but there's a 'nearly new' TreeFlex for sale on ebay. Just over a week left to go - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TREEFLEX-Arborist-harness-nearly-new_W0QQitemZ140193563782QQihZ004QQcategoryZ11900QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

There is also AlphaPlus in Livingston, they're doing 45m of 16mm New England Lowering rope for £130. http://www.alphaplus.co.uk/shop/1240-new_england_ropes_lowering_rope I'd go for the Buckingham Portawrap if I were you.

Did you see those shoes? Seems they've enforced a Roger Moore style shoe policy for this unit. Kool!

NPTC have apparently introduced a new unit to the blue book - Run and Cut. They did some demo's in the US to see what people thought. Looks quite good. I'm gonna set up something similar for my groundies. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JZghey6sFQ&NR=1 What d'you guys reckon?

Makita japanese?

Good point, well made.

I've worked for many one, two and three man companies who own and use 88s. Albeit using them 6 or 7 times a year.

Tried MacCluskey's in Irvine?

Yes, it is.

If your going to go for a chainsaw other than Stihl or Husky it has to be Jonsered. Jonsered are the only serious chainsaw makers outwith the Stihl/Husky stranglehold. I've used Dolmar - Junk.

T'dog, The MS660 is a beast, not suitable for making hundreds of small cuts like delimbing a tree you just felled. Its very thirsty on fuel and using one of these day in day out for your average UK arb work is like of using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. Not a good saw to buy your doing a wide variety of work. Here is a shot of my 660 - its the best saw I own, but there is no way I would buy one if it was going to be my only ground saw.

and ever......

If your gonna go mid-range, dont rule out the Husq 372xp a brilliant mid-ranger and for the best value for money the hugely underated Jonsered 2171, its a robust, no-nonsense workhorse, and like the 372xp it'll take a 15 to 24inch bar.

Jumble sale. This was my first attempt at kitting one of my dogs out for treework. It was too heavy and the dog (Benji's mum), wasn't too happy with look.

Welcome to arbtalk timberdog, How much experience do you have with using chainsaws and what is your budget? For example if you are new to using saws, you should steer well clear of the bigger models.

You gotta get them mini hardhats!! Here's Benji, my groundie! lol!! He looks after my keys. Now imagine your posse with company hardhats!!

Arborist, What do your clients say about the 4 dogs? Are they by any chance mini poodles? Cause if so that would be pretty cool, great marketing tool. You could even put mini hardhats on them!! lol!!

Arborist, your pic was too big! try making the pics about 500 pixels width or 500 tall. I re-sized it for ya. That looks like a nice little rig, good for small streets and driveways, not a huge chipbox, but not bad. I take it all your tools go in the crew seat bit? have you taken the seats out? Shelves, hooks etc? What about a roof rack of some kind on the cab? Like the ones you see on Defenders? I'd also put a ladder rack on top of the chip box. Is the overhang at the back ever a problem?

I know of three Picus' in Scotland, I just cant imagine there being that much demand for their use. I've seen them marketed as an instrument that can tell you wether your tree is safe or not. This could lead the client into a false sense of security. But the guys who have them are desperate to put them to use as they have payed out a fortune, and need to recoup their money. There is so much more that has to be taken into consideration when dealing with a tree's safety. Targets, visible structural weaknesses, decay fungi?, soil, growth habit, foliage, shape of crown, history of branch failure?, tree species, ground disturbance etc. The Picus is only good for investigation the extent of suspected decay. Its a good tool for further investigation if you have the knowledge to apply the readings constructively. Which you probably do, but many people dont. I have heard of co-operative use, and Picus owners sub contracting themselves out as someone who can get you the readings you require. Expensive.....how much is the client willing to pay?

Roller, The Cabstar may be good, but it an ugly little beast, I spend a lot of time in my vehicles, writing quotes, eating lunch, reading newspapers, yapping about the problems of the world etc....I just cant see how the Cabstar could be comfortable, in fact it looks worse than a Defender for comfort. The new one is an improvement, but too bloody expensive. I might go for an Iveco Eurocargo.

Oakwilt, I can't decide wether your a grumpy but good natured old pessimist or a melancholic soul who thinks too much. Thanks for the suggestions people.