Dean Lofthouse

Some Hack, I prune. So correct pruning cuts don't need to be done anymore. We can just cut the branch anywhere and it will sort itself out. I like to think I prune trees correctly in a way that benefits the tree. Infact I'd go as far as to say I can't think of one job i've done that hasn't had correct pruning cuts. The tree compartments the wound off much quicker resulting in less chance of pathogen entry, basic stuff really. Like I have said in previous threads, I came into this proffesion with the intention of running a business that does the job right, without bodges. I am well known for striving to do everything right, to the point of it becoming an obsession, whether that be building repairs, mechanical repairs or whatever, everything has to be right. If I set up a business that business will be run properly, otherwise I might as well not bother. I could get a job and be paid far more than I'm earning now and without the hassle, but I choose to be self employed. I have employed people to do work for me only to find their work is crap and sub standard. I've just come down off my roof after stripping back slates over the bay window and putting right what some F'#kwit should have done right in the first place. I can swear on my own life, that I have never, ever, bodged a tree job and have walked away from many requests to top or lop. I don't want and indeed don't need that sort of work. If it comes to a time when I run short of work and have to look at topping or lopping, I'll do a part time business to make up the short fall. I never have to wonder why I am not short of work. It's quite obvious to me, do the job right, advise the customer correctly and do a good job. Works for me

So if it's done from a MEWP, your a mewper

Oooh, Rich, no need for that mate

Take it your not going to the Southern or Middlers get together then.? Mind you, they might not have a "slide of death" We didn't do too bad, there were about twenty goes on it and only two injured, only a 10% chance of serious injury.

Don't make me do it !!!

I think I'd rather be a Streisand than a Middler

My take on it is: If you are a climber, your job description would mean you should only be taking trees down and removing dangerous limbs. If you understand how a Tree works, what happens when you do a correct cut, what happens if you do an incorrect cut , then you are a tree Surgeon. If all of the above and you have an understanding of what is happening or can diagnose problems with ailing trees and can advise remedies or preventative measures, and have a more advanced knowledge of how a tree works. Then you are an Arborist ..and if you know sweet fa about trees and just do as the customer asks and lop the tops of this that and the other, then your a Tree Butcher

We have to call the middle of the country "Middlers" Northerners, Middlers, Southerners and frogs on the south coast

Exactly, you might wake up one morning and forget everything and turn up to work in just your socks with a rope. Hey, at least you'll be able to climb the tree and let all your worries melt away.

John, it's 26 mile north of london, anything 26 mile south of Barnsley are southerners

Huskys aren't immune from problems either, I bought a 357xpg from last years AA show and it wouldn't rev till it had warmed up. You had to start it, not touch the throttle at all and leave it 2 mins on the floor ticking over to warm through, it would then rev fine. I left it like that till it had run in then spent 15 seconds adjusting it to run perfect, only a 1/4 turn on the jet. If I had not known what to do I'd have been slagging them off saying they were crap and had problems from new.

Well I am suprised David. I thought you would have had a Tie in point on the bollards for the kids with little harness's etc, you know, stop them falling in. Obviously don't do risk assessments on holiday then

And so he should. If for some reason, you found yourself with no side strop or lanyard, you would still be able to carry out the job and not stand there scratching your head. All you need is your rope and a crab. I think it is good that people carry the knowledge, just because they teach you this method they are not saying you should use it.

I think you've hit the nail on the head there Matty. A dealer that doesn't have the engineering or mechanical skills to service and repair can give a product a bad name

I'll translate, "Wow, look at the adaptive growth on that"

I get stressed because I never seem to get time off. 6.30am straight out of bed and load truck up whilst kettle boils, make flask and sandwiches. 7.45 off to work, listen to "while your here can you just" all day and answer phone whilst 45ft up. 3-4pm come home, groundy gets off, I unload and set off down the wood to tip. 5pm ish look at calls and go out pricing jobs get home about 7pm and start working on house till 10pm Go to bed, get up in morning for cycle to begin again. Late calls, why do people think they can flipping phone you at 10pm or even after 7pm Had one last night at 9.45 and tonight I've just taken another call. ...and most wait till friday when you are just beginning to try and wind down. ... and what stresses me most is dealing with toss pots at call centres trying to get a leccy shutdown !!! aarrrggghgh:mad1: Way I deal with it? Wait till someone leaves my gates open in the wood and grab them by the throat, lift them off their feet and wait till they turn blue then let go. Or, strap two pillars round your head and run round the garden screaming as loud as you can, no-one hears you but it releases that tension. Best way to release stress without you realising is to be vocal when your driving, just moan and complain about everything and everybody and call other drivers all the names under the sun, fit one of the electronic machine gun sounds things to your steering wheel so you can press a button and machine gun them. "What love" ? "OK love"! Have to go chaps, wife wants to lock me in my padded cell, it's that time of day.

well stop spending your profits on mucky women and beer then

It took me a full afternoon and a bit to burn the load I had tipped

Talk about opportunistic I had a bath tipped over the weekend

I think I may have lost myself a job today. Whilst I always try to maintain a professional approach when I go to price jobs, I did wobble a bit today, which may not have gone down well with the customer. He rang me and asked if I could come and price taking a conifer down. I had worked for him before so remembered the layout of the garden and buildings and indeed the said conifer. When I got to the house I was met by piles of building materials and an extension that completely cut off the rear garden. I clambered under the scaffold, climbed through a window of the extension out into the rea garden only to find a huge new hut blocking my way to the base of the conifer. The conifer was against two neighbours fences under which was flower beds with what I would describe as excotic plants. The customer came out and said morning, my first words were, "Well, 10 out of 10 for difficulty, I couldn't have made it more difficult if I'd tried". I don't think he was amused after I told him what I meant and then even less amused when I quoted him £400 for taking down a 25ft conifer. It seriously was that difficult it would have taken all day with two groundies, what are people thinking when they build extensions that completely block access to the rear of the house, it wasn't even a garage were there was a door out the back.

Why didn't you use the LDV steve, couldn't you find the diff lock ?

Just as a matter of interest, where would you have put a second TIP or your lanyard in the senario. A lanyard would have got in the way of the cutting, unless you choked it further down the stem you are coronetting and looped it slack below, in which case there would be a hell of a swing and snatch if you did cut the main tip. He should have had spikes on BTW for better work positioning, spike holes will create more habitat

Good point there, I wouldn't have thought (without reading up) that pop would not compartment off easily because they are long course grained, I would think if you had have taken it right down to the ground you may have been leaving an open wound for the old pathogens. i would probably have done the same but a little lower so the owner can cut off the new groth himself.

Your not being helpful you two.

If he'd have done that it would have grabbed him by the throat and ragged him about like a rag doll.