Dom

What would you want a crab for? Surely that's cheating Just 50m of 3 strand rope with a running bowline in the end is all you'll ever need. To begin with at least.

My chipper has a tracker, based on a small mobile phone sized device. Just have to recharge the battery every few days. I have considered leaving a chainsaw out in the open OUTSIDE my container, with a tracker in, would be interesting to see how long it lasts in the open, and then to track it down.

Black Diamond's Half Dome climbing helmet is great. Feels much lighter and smaller than the Petzl jobby. The Petzl one feels like its sitting too high on my head. The Black Diamond fits snugly, I've never found a better helmet, and people always comment on how nice and light it feels.

Margarine or olive oil and a scrubbing brush works a treat. Next I need to figure out how to sweat less so I'm not having to climb with a towel to mop my brow.

used to do it a lot with a dosko grinder. A bit tense at first but it's no bother. Easier than lifting an unpropelled one onto the back of a truck by hand.

I generally refuse to start a tree job if there's dog crap all over the lawn. Always ask the customer to move it, and remind them that they are paying for my time, and will be paying for my cleaning bills too. Have had a few well-to-do ladies say something along the lines of "oh, yes, theres a poop scoop against the wall", to which I reply something along the lines of "No, madame, I think you misunderstand me, the job doesn't get done until the poo is gone, and it won't be me picking it up." Then again, treading in/on a dead cat in a black bin line is many many times worse than poo. Dead cat in bag smell lasts for weeks. Once found a big box of double ended jelly dong 18" mega dildos along the side of the motorway in Kent one winter, all still in their packaging.

Got these for a 20+ stone, size 13 footed groundsman, who's very heavy on his feet, hates doing up his laces and destroys boots and shoes regularly. After the sole coming off the first pair, I sent them back and got a replacement, that lasted for almost two years. I think they were £90, cheapest size 13s around by quite a long way.

I move the sequoia up and down as needed, sounds like I don't wear it as low down as you though Steve. It does feel like I need my weight to be supported under my arse so to speak, rather than around my hips.. Maybe one of those old school wide webbing harnesses with no leg loops.. Without making excuses, I think some of it is to do with me being a shortarse, so often in order to fit the chainsaw between my chest and the trunk, I'm leaning back a lot further than a taller guy would need to, so I'm at a more obtuse angle to the trunk and thus more pressure on my legs... if that makes sense. Spikes on stilts could be handy. Hopefully some enterprising manufacturers are listening. Think I need to get myself down to a shop and try on what's available. Failing that I'll just invest in a good sky hook.

Hi, Was hoping someone might be able to recommend a good harness for wearing when spiking up large trees with heavy saws.. Currently using a petzl sequoia, which is absolutely great for fannying around the tree, but I find it bloody hurts after about 10 minutes up a big lump. Taking down a large beech today in 6ft sections today was no fun at all.. Guessing I need something with a larger more solid back support, would a rigid seat help? I'm also pretty miniature, so it'd need to be something that's made in a fairly small size.. Cheers

I think every contract is different. I used to work for an AA approved firm doing a council contract, was there for 6 months, and probably averaged about 2 days worth of work a week. Most of the time was spent driving around, sunbathing, reading papers, bacon sarnies etc. The TOs didn't seem to be giving us enough work, and we were obliged to be there 5 days a week. It got quite dull in the end, and felt a bit sorry for the other lads on the other busier contracts, who actually sweated for their money..

Wood you say? From trees? I've got plenty, but thanks. Shame the field the unsplit stuff is on is all clay. Praying for the rain to hold off for a while, or for freezing ground. If you need to get rid of some, I might be able to help.

Tree work, funnily enough Although I'm not over that way too often, and haven't seen the tree in question since I was employed in Claygate and that must have been about 2004. If only I could remember important things as well as I can remember a wonky tree.

I have a Laburnum growing in the front garden, and one of it's limbs is different to all the others, it seems to be some kind of witch's broom, it's got a weeping habit, and is quite tangled and contorted. It also holds onto its leaves and flowers for a lot longer than the rest of the tree. Would I be able to take cuttings from this? When's the best time to do it? Anyone done it before? And... if I succeed in creating an awesome new weeping low growing winter flowering laburnum, can I put my name to it and sell it for millions? I'll try and remember to take a picture tomorrow.

Dagnabbit, I found this thread too late to dazzle you with my arboreal knowledge, I was going to say weeping Wellingtonia, and I think that one is in a front garden in Claygate area somewhere, it looks familiar. If only I'd got my answer in before you had a chance to feel smug..

Someone's said it already, but an inner tube around a log, then use a froe and mallet to split it. Tie a ribbon or string around the now split log, whip off the inner tube, done deal.

Could you put small snapped sections of twig around in the kerf of the cut? one wedge will tilt the opposite side down and will catch your saw. Whereas several sections of twig will support the weight of the final ring, and stop it teetering onto and catching your bar as you finish the cut..

I have a few transit sized loads of woodchip each week usually. Where abouts are you?

To be fair, the chaps at VOSA don't know what the law is either. I got done for towing a <750kg chipper once. They insisted and insisted that I wasn't allowed to tow anything whatsoever, 3.5tonne mam, no more. Lots of hassle later, had to find someone to tow it home who had a pre 97 licence, and had 3 hours to do it otherwise they were going to impound it. As soon as I got home, I found out they were wrong, and i was fully entitled to be towing, ruined my day, lost me a job, cost me a small fortune. When VOSA pull you over, ask to see their written permission from chief of police of the area, it's illegal to pull over a vehicle without express permission from the local police chief. After some digging I realised that I'd been pulled over by a lady with no right to stop me, there were only four people in Surrey who were entitled to do so, and their names all began with "Mr".. Bloody VOSA.

Personally I feel it's often safer to use a top handled saw on the ground, it's the saw we as climbers are probably most familiar with, smaller and more maneuverable, and we all fully know the risks of chainsaw use, and I can't see how we are any more likely to have any accidents, if we are trained/competent. I'm no less careful with a top handled saw on the ground, probably more so, because of the perceived extra risk that's been drummed into us.

Dog poo. Chose a few good logs that they'd definitely choose. Make sure you know which ones they are... And cover them in the doggy doings. Maybe put a camera up then, so you can see their reaction.

Dog poo. Chose a few good logs that they'd definitely choose. Make sure you know which ones they are... And cover them in the doggy doings. Maybe put a camera up then, so you can see their reaction.

A few years ago we used to do regular work for a Mrs Wiggan, of course there was a standing joke where we all called her Mrs Wigwam. One day another of the chaps got sent to her property to grind some stumps, and didn't know her real name was Wiggan so called her Mrs Wigwam. Sure enough the gaffer got a very angry phone call, and I'm not sure we ever worked for her again..

I've had a Ryobi blower for 7 years. Never done anything to it, except cleared the air filter once. It's stayed on the back of the van permanently, in wind rain and snow, been covered in woodchips, had logs dropped on it, and been used 5 days a week for the last 3-4 years. It even had a 2 year warranty. It's indestructible, and no one has stolen it off the back of the van because it's not a Stihl. Granted, its not quite as powerful as the stihl handheld blowers, but for the price, it must be my most financially efficient tool I've ever owned. Has paid for itself a hundred thousand times over. Not sure if their new models are quite as resilient, but they do have a 2 year warranty, and I think a 1 year warranty for commercial use, so it's worth a punt...

Simple rule, it usually holds true, unless the weather people on the tv actually say its going to pee down ALL day: "Rain at seven, gone by eleven" Very rarely does it rain all day. I don't like working in the rain, but it won't soak through my skin..

I did a job a couple years ago, felling 4 Large leylandiis in a back garden. The guy was a WW1 researcher, and his house had no rear access or side gate at all. No direct route through the house, was literally jam packed with grenades, rifles, helmets etc, all on shelves and round awkward corners - it was hard enough carrying a ladder through. Everything had to be burnt on site, in a small garden. Super hot fire, white smoke, tall flames. Environment agency man came round because he'd had complaints, but he told us that we were well within our rights to burn, as long as we were only burning green waste. And to constitute a nuisance, it would have to be done regularly over a period of time. He admitted he was powerless to stop us burning, and understood fully why we had to, but he did go and speak to the neighbours and reassure them that we'd been "dealt with" and would be finished by the end of the day. I'd like to burn more often, but most people seem to be convinced that it's in some way illegal, especially before 6pm.