Tom D
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Everything posted by Tom D
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SWB's right, running a business is not everyones cup of tea, there's loads of stress involved, and yes the thought of not being able to pay wages is the worst as it affects other people directly. The profit margins are way lower than you think; its easy to look at your boss charging 500-700 for a days work and think he must be minted, trust me he's not. I make a point of letting staff know how much things cost, so they take more care with them and also so they appreciate the real running costs of the buseiness.
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This could be the most pointless thread ever, but.... I was wondering that since i started using my new yard in feb my chip pile is about 1/3 the size of the log pile. This seems like a lot of chip compared to previous years, could be lack of takedowns? or perhaps more people keeping wood? Whats your ratio?
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I noticed that when I started in 2000 ther was 1.5 pages of tree work in the YP. now there's five. However despite that and the recession I'm really busy, I have averaged £500 a day for the last 5 months which is good for me, I think there are a lot of newcomers out there fighting for work but us established guys with long lists of happy clients will always come out on top. I loose the odd job here and there, but so what there's plenty more work out there. Looked at a job this morning which I got: £1800, got a £500 one yesterday... can't complain. And you can't blame people for trying; If you took away everything that I have tonight, I'd be back out tomorrow looking for a second hand chainsaw so I could start all over again.
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Left a cambuum saver up a nightmare Ivy covered tree yesterday with throwline in for reinstalation this morning. It broke. I have always used bog standard line and although I find it works ok I do occasionaly get breakages, I was wondering if it is worth paying four times as much for lines like "zingit".
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Reading the boots thread reminded me, with january fast approaching and already a couple of jobs booked in, does anyone know the official line on when the rate increases? I.E. on jobs done / invoiced after the 1st? or jobs booked / ordered after the first? Could you invoice in advance at 15% and complete the work in the new year? It makes a £25 difference on a £1000 job so people are going to start asking for jobs to be done before crimbo before long,
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Most good tree surgeons couldhave a 30' tree on the floor in under an hour, If you make it clear that you will do everything else it shouldn't cost too much.
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Surely thats gotta go?
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That looks positively dangerous, most of the 6 wheelers that I have seen have the rear axles closer together, put some weight on that thing and it'll only go in a straight line.
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I just scanned that, it came up as Tenna lady 24 pack:lol:
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Its not the whipping I'd wory about its the bury, the original splice has a nice even taper, the new one has a lumpy look to it like the bury has been cut short or not seated properly.
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Very nice work, a good reduction is a rare thing round here, which is a shame. Good to see you do them well down south.
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Go to Keilder in Northumberland, europes largest planted forest and property is cheaper than in Scotland:001_smile:
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Pretty tragic, I cant beleive the machine even lets you move it at height. Just dropping a wheel off the kerb would be scary enough. I once was driving little 2 ton forklift with a man basket on it, my boss was in the basket changing a ight bulb at pretty much full extension on the mast. He asked me to drive forward and as I did the front wheels dropped into a drainage gully, it was only about 3" deep but he nearly **** himself.
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I like the simple design of that pulley Reg, I used a similar setup once but it had a separate line running through a pulley on the LD and another pulley on a grab which you pushed up the line. Effective but a major PITA to setup, yours on the other hand is far simpler, nice work mate. BTW If you use a friction hitch which only grips in one direction you can push it further up the line with a forked stick giving a bigger pull each time.
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New they're £200... Yours for £60+postage
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This whole area is a minefield, sprinkled generously with idiots. You will always get wingers, I have had 2 that I can remember: one who ordered a bulk bag, which i delivered in the bag, once I had tipped it out he said "is that all you get" The other who complained that the logs burned too fast, on further questioning it turned out he liked the ones that hiss and burn for ages to make the coal last longer. The way I see it demand outstrips supply, so just leave the muppets to it and let them go elsewhere.
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Nice work mate, I love watching others videos. BTW Is that a POV you're using? or another cam with a wide angle lens? IC Trees was wondering if your TIP was too small but i find the wide angle lens makes stems look much thinner than they actually are, so I'll stick up for you:001_smile:
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Yes it is, well half of one to be precise and if it gets a sale I'll include one, although that particular one is no longer available.
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Very smooth mate, every time I see that setup I get jealous. Must save so much work / time.
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That's a great tool stevie, I suppose if you get a bit you can't quite reach you can just get it swinging lol.
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How are the supports dug in to the ground? Nice work BTW:thumbup1:
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Now thats a wedge! Nice one.
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I looked for a second hand alpine for ages before I bought mine (new), a big investment but I am well pleased with it. Its the fact I can tow it behind the landy that does it for me.
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One of the hottest burning things i have come across is the deadwood from scots pine, we had a load which i logged and they were seriously hot burning. all the brash I burnt in the yard as its a nightmare to chip, once it got going I had to move all the vehicles as the side of the van was too hot to touch. That stuff really goes:thumbup:
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Its hard... especially when you spend all your time on here. One thing I will say is I take my hat off to all those guys who do everything themselves. I reckon the key to being a good businessman (not saying i am one) is knowing your weaknesses as well as your strengths. If you know you're crap at book keeping, get someone else to do it. I pay £50 a month for a secretary to do my books, invoicing and payroll, she does it from home and we email eachother details and stuff, I wouldn't tell her but for the hassle it saves me I'd pay £500.
