Tom D

I can't beleive he couldnt hear anything. I have worked with people like that, act all surprised when a machine breaks and then say "well it did start making this funny noise". Stupid womans fault, but the guy should have stopped. I'll bet she won't do it again.

Local firewood guy has a tractor and loader, I haven't seen it though. We'll find out how good it is tomorrow.

that lamb looks delicious Monkey:001_smile: here's a few of todays job, traffic lights as its an A road and one of the main routes into edinburgh. me andrew and treeson (when he finally turned up). two beeches to come down, got all the brash down and felled 1 stick today.

Drinks are on frank at the apf:001_smile:

372 must be a bit heavier though, I recon the 362 is lighter than the 357 BTW, I haven't weighed them though.

I would chose the stihl because that husky has been a bit unreliable, hopefully the 362 wont be.

the huskys on .325

This is a little vid I took today, I reckon there is so little to choose between them on performance that other preferences are perfectly valid, like feel balence etc. The one second diference means that on ringing a 4m log 14'' thick the stihl will save you a whopping 20 seconds. They are just tools at the end of the day, so pick the one you like best and don't try and pretend that the other doesn't come close. The husky had been idling for a while as I was farting about with the camera hence the smoke. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4fzcRMPD6o]YouTube - stihl vs husky.wmv[/ame]

I'll take that bet, I have seen a whopper that was only 150. we get plenty of rain here to help them grow though. I'll be very surprised if its 300+

I bet ts younger than you think, I'll go for less than 200.

Big tree, nice job, must have been warm work these last few days. Looking forward to the vid:001_smile:

Nice work, love the pics. I really do fancy a crane dismantle.. just gotta find the right tree.

talking of plant juice, I had red blotches all over my belly and chest yesterday, still there now, only on the drive home I realised that there was probably a little but of hogweed or equivalent in the grass I was strimming on strurday, there are two big blotches where the shoulder straps go prob from bits that got stuck there.

I was just wondering if we could have a simplified version, blank except for the shrinkable clays, so it was idiot proof:blushing:

4Days!! You are way too chilled out man. that looks like a mornings work:001_tt2: Or are you on a day rate:thumbup: Only joking, nice work.

After reading the street trees thread I wonder wether it would be useful to have a geological map somewhere on the site if possible, showing shrinkable clay areas. I know there are hardly any in scotland yet I constantly get asked about these issues by clients, would others like an online map so you could check out your clients area? Just a thought, don't know if its possible.

I just quoted a job today, 10 sycs and an elm, most have been topped before, they want them all brutally topped, I explained all the pitfalls etc and they fully understand. However they still want them all down to about 10 foot, and that's what I'll do, I'm not turning down £1100 for a job right on my doorstep just so someone else can do what I won't. I'll be doing them in a few weeks, not sure if I will post pics though:blushing:

I have one but its not fully run in yet, prob its 3rd or fourth tank. My first impressions are, that it has plenty of power although it does slip the clutch a fair bit, seems to bite off more than it can chew if you get my meaning. If you don't push it too hard it will cut fast, I reckon faster than my 357 but only just, there isn't much in it tbh. the clutch slipping is most noticable when using a pushing chain and has been a little annoying at times, but i am hoping that it will improve as it runs in. Weight wise it feels lighter than the 357 (both on 18" bars) although i prefer the profile of the 357, that could just be familiarity tbh though.

I got well burnt yesterday, was strimming in the morning and then farting about on the tractor, lost track of time, must have had my shirt off for about 4 hours, no cream. My shoulders are a bit tender. Unfortunately I burn fairly easy, unlike the missus who just goes brown streight away.

As tree surgeons we do not swear a hippocratic oath as medical surgeons do, we are therefore not duty bound to do whats best for the tree, if this was the case we'd all do nothing but deadwooding and most of the guys on here would have been "struck off" years ago. Give this guy a break, he did what his client asked, I have done the same before, I always correctly advise the client before undertaking such work and 95 times out of 100 they take my advice. But in those few cases where only a topping will do then thats what we do. I am pleased to note that AA Techie agrees with this, that is exactly the sort of pragmatic approach we need, and little things like that will no doubt improve the standing of the AA in the industry at large. A few caveats: When "topping" I always reduce to a decent fork and never leave a stub with a twig attached, as many seem to, kidding themselves that they are doing a reduction. It is worth noting that lollipopping trees and leaving stubs will inevitably lead to streight upright epicormic re-growth which will rapidly defeat the object of the pruning in the first place. Since most of these jobs are to improve light levels its far better to prune back to a large lateral to reduce the tendancy for epicormic growth even if this leaves an odd shape to start with. I also think it is important to explain to a client that in many cases they are better off felling the tree and re-planting, unless they are prepared to fork out again in the near future. The true cowboy is the one who topps a tree without warning the client of the future repercussions both arboriculturally and financially.

Are you an assessor borders training, and if so would you do an assessment without providing the training? I would potentilly be interested in soem assesments if so.

Some of mine:001_smile:

those guards look a nightmare! with the original engine they are a bit soft, goes nicely with a few extra horses tho.

Guards? thats how mine was when I got it.

People seem unsure of what this is when I describe it so here it is...my V Twin Little david. The teeth were dull unfortunately but you get the idea, the vid makes the wheel look like its going slowly, it isnt. look at the grindy grindy:thumbup: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrSYw93n4_U]YouTube - Video018.mp4[/ame]