Tom D

So, we tendered for a job where we were told TUPE might apply, the incumbent contractor had provided details of the wages of their employees which the winning bidder would have to employ and maintain. The 4 man tree squad were paid as follows: one man : £200 per day, one £144, one £124 and the trainee £80... So £548 a day plus overtime pensions and PPE Etc. on top of this a chip truck, chipper, tractor and roofmount and timber trailer were to be provided as well as the usual equipment. As anyone working in the industry knows those are very high wages, but not beyond reason. It occurred to me that it is in the incumbent contractors interest to inflate their wages as far as TUPE is concerned since any other bidder tendering will have to add these figures in to their price. Because wages are confidential and can't be obtained under freedom of information neither the buyer or a rival contractor can know for sure if the stated wages are accurate. In this particular case the incumbent contractor won the tender again (surprise surprise). We were not second so it wouldn't have made any difference to us, but I know that the price that we submitted was 30% higher than it needed to be in order to cover our TUPE obligation. Having spoken to the buyer to express my concerns they were unable to provide any evidence of the actual wages of the incumbent contractors. Sufice to say I have serious doubts that they are on annual basic salaries of £52500, £37584, £32364, even the trainee is on £20880. They also get time and a half overtime and double time on sundays. I know these salaries are possible, but knowing that the price submited by the winning firm was not that much more than the £548 per day it seems unlikely that these are accurate figures. It is possible that the two higher salaries are the company directors, but if that is the case they will be taken as dividends and therefore not subject to TUPE. We just have to take this on the chin but it smarts a little. Does anyone else have any experience of TUPE and or its abuse?

Were they registered on Arbsafe? Thats on of my jobs for this week, taking all the serial numbers and adding the last of the kit to the register.

I just trialled a Dolmar 7910 and was very impressed, I'd buy that. A 660 / 395 is too big and heavy for firewood cutting, you want something between 60 and 80cc to comfortably use it all day and still have the power.

I suppose so long as the rams used are matched power wise to the strength of the machine then it would be ok..

I take it yours has been fine then John? if so then I reckon the 6-300 would be a good machine.

John's used to feeding a TP 250 with his crane, so a 300 will seem easy. Wether it will pull the stuff in is my worry.

They can slap on a TPO pretty quickly if they want to. I have had that happen on a development site though. A member of the public asked the LA about a felling license and they went to FC only to find that the FC asked them about planning status.

My point is STARTING at 40 is too late if you want to be really good. Totally agree with you on the experience.

People get really worked up about this. The first thing that the FC will do is ask the LA if there are any TPO / CA issues. Felling licences are for woodland/forest areas and are there to ensure that our woodland cover is preserved. If the area in question is horticultural, garden, amenity or subject to planning permission then there is no need for a felling licence.

I don't mean that you're past it at 40. I know a few very good climbers that age. But in order to be a great climber in your 40's you need to start young. There's a lot to learn, and not all of it can be learned at College. I'd tell anyone to go for it, whatever their age, but it takes a fit 20 year old 5 years to get really good. I'm 40 now, if I was starting now I'd never reach the standard I have done having started at 26. That's a fact.

It depends how good you want to be. Awesome freelancer / competition climber : 20's Good competent production climber : 30's Occasional landscaper climber :40's Thats my take on it anyway.

Careful John. Dave and I were chatting to Alex price about this at the apf the top roller frame on the 300's is a bit thin and so can't be fitted with pressure assist. Heizohack only use the weight of the roller to bite the brash. I'd say pressure assistance is a must if you want to chip brash. Re horsepower you are fine. Heizo have a really low requirement, I know of a 300 that might be for sale. Give me a ring sometime.

I'd agree Jake. Or a hookloader. Excavators will lift a lot. Remember that huge oak stick, that was lifted on by a 13 tonner.

I'd be well surprised if they won't let you chip into the woodland. I hire out the heizohack with roofmount and operator, 5.5 ton winch if you need it. 16x27" chipper can do up to 100 ton a day crane can stack timber ready for lifting etc. let me know if I can help, so long as it's not miles away.

Bummer. Got a dump site sorted?

What's the mog for? All the Commission work we have done everything stays on site. Occasionally we chip but usually its habitat piles.

My heizo is available to hire (with operator) for the right job it would really pay to get it in. I can chip 20 - 30 transit loads in a day, not that you'd use it that way. No way I'd hire my other chippers out, not without a man anyway.

Sounds like an engine issue to me Mark, if it takes 30 sec to get back up to speed and it likes choke I'd start with the engine.

Ash is ok but green it hisses just like any other wet wood, the best for me is the iron oak tops from stag headed oak trees.

I smashed my HTC and thought I'd try an iPhone instead, I now have an iPhone 6, first impressions aren't great. The dialler seems very basic, with the htc I could type in the first couple of letters of a name and a list would pop up, I'd hit the required name and be on the phone in 3 clicks. With the iPhone the dialler just dials numbers, I have to go into a separate search function to make a call, then when I have found the right person clicking their name brings up another page but still no call, you then have to press another button to dial. After all that it would have been quicker just dialling the whole number! Surely I am doing something wrong? Anyone help?

It might be a 7901? ask Shavey, its certainly on a par with the 7900 that we have...

I have borrowed the saw off Shavey, they are just over 700 I think. it will out perform a 441 for sure, but its probably heavier.

I'd need the two side by side and I don't have a 460... excellent power to weight though I'd say. Really nice saw to use.

Tried a 7900 today, its a great saw! Fast and gutsy with a 24" bar, I reckon it will pee all over a 460.