Mike Hill

Mercedes-Benz 1117 1994, 126000 km., kr. 150.000, - - You could have it in just a few days...

There is no easy road into it. Falling for a Hauler is primo work as you don't do any limbing.Downside is the steep Terrain. Most Fallers start out on the skids and then move into Falling for ground based (Skidder/Dozer) extraction.Alot of the flat stuff is done with Harvesters now,but they don't get all the Stubs so a Skiddy or two is still needed. What ever way its turned,you still need General Requirements and a First Aid ticket to work in the Bush.

First find out how to do "General requirements" the Trainer will be well connected in the Logging industry.He may know someone who would give you a trial. NPTC Tickets will be irrelevent.IF you get a job it will probably be on the "Skids" the Logs are pulled onto the Skids by a Skidder or Dozer to be limbed and cut to length by Men.You limb and cut to length two at a time from Butt to Head and one comming back from Head to Butt.You will be limbing with an 660 for four hours at a time in up 40deg in the Summer up to 4000ft up.No shade,no sit downs and no Tea Break except 30mins for lunch at 11am. Forget about learning how to Fall untill you have done the hard yards for a few years. I worked in a Hauler Crew (Yarder) for a few years in my Teens.Based in Taupo and working in the Pines.

Coming "Straight off the Boat" and expecting to get a job as a Faller in a Logging Crew is a Pipe Dream. To work in the Bush you first need "General Requirements" thats a basic ticket on Radio use,Fire Fighting,Common sence etc. Next a First Aid Cert Then you will need "Chainsaw Maintainance and operating" Then probably "Processing on a Landing" Then deffinatly Stage one (Its the basic Falling Ticket) Spiked Boots,Chaps,Wedge Belt,Hammer,Wedges,Fire Extinguisher,First Aid Kit,Helmet,Muffs,Visor But most guys didn't get a job unless that had "Stage Two" Kind of like advanced Falling. Its important to remember all this Ticket Must be sat in NZ and you have to do all of it at a production Speed in a Production setting.Most logging Crew either call in Fallers or Train them up in house.You would have to have been in a Crew for a few years Limbing or Breaking out before a Boss would consider money spent on training well spent.Also alot of Bosses don't like guys in their early 20's Falling.Its as dangerous as ----. You might find work with your UK Forestry Tickets working in a Thinning to Waste operation. If Arb is what you know,stick with it.

Took down some Poplars today.Hope you like it [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmLj7Gz1k2I&feature=related]YouTube - Extreme Tree Cutting[/ame]

Got back this morning,chipper will be following later. Thanks to Mark for the venue and the efforts of those who helped clear the access. I would have liked to have stayed longer but had things to get on with.

He pulled it out of his Bottom.

Why are you online during normal working hours?

Had an Oak Reduction this morning.Was a bit windy,good thing my "Pruning Spikes" were good and Sharp.

MS660. You can Fell anything with it.

I am coming! Will try and do some climbing if the Tree isn't too big and Scary and someone can tell me that the branch is strong enough to climb on. Will there be Toilets?

How did you know what way it would Fall? Only Joking,looks like one of the Jobs we all love!Well done and thanks for sharing the pictures.

Nice Truck! I've had a couple of those.Unfortunatly they are easy to get into without Keys,Replace the Pin in the side Window latch with a small Bolt and Nut.You will see what I mean when you open the Passenger Door and then open the Small Side Door. Welcome to the "Propper Pickup" Club.

How many were on your course Ewan? Did the Staff where you were learning outline the realities of the industry before you chose the course?

Do you have any Pins and Bolts for the DIN plate?

Nope. Just trying to break the "What Boots","Best Saw" pattern of Threads. I think it would be interesting to find the ratio of Graduates vs jobs,to gauge the demand.

Googled it.There are Bloody heaps of "Treesurgeon Courses" in the UK.There may be over a Thousand Treesurgeons graduate each year.

Like a DJ? Probably the ones that go on to do broadcasting John.What a silly question.

Learning is discovery. Go do some Discovering.

I was thinking this today,whats the total number of graduates seeking work each year in the UK? How many Colledges,Polytech's,Short Courses,etc are being run? It would be interesting to see how many advertised job opportunities there have been in the past year vs how many have graduated.

STUNT FELL! "Because saving time ain't a Crime!

How much Lead can one expect to be exposed to from using a Throw Bag? How much Lead is released by a Throw Bag? How long does it take for a Throw Bag to begin to release Lead? How many times do we handle a Throw Bag? Do we manage to keep a Throw Bag long enough for it to begin to release Lead All this questions need to be answered before your concerns regarding Lead exposure from Throw Bags can be seriously considered.

Whats wrong with using lead? Its probably alot safter than throwing a Pointed Heavy Object around.

That saw cost him £772 plus the Vat. Its been used now, and I would guess he's looking for £700. So its been used and is more expensive than a new one.

Cheeky Buggar! Do you think he was one of the minority of Travellers who do things like that? Or just some person knocking on doors and telling lies to get Tree Work?