conkers
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Everything posted by conkers
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You can make money on logs but every day has to meet a target. I don't think there is much margin in it. A lot of lads around here seem to be stockpiling it, maybe due to fuel prices they see a boom next year. It has made me take in more timber just in case but you need a lot of storage. Anyway, it isnt quantity but quality. We live in a wet country hence a lot of fire wood is delivered wet and tipped wet leaving the customer with a nice pile of unburnable fuel wood.
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Am selling a 300tdi because we needed something bigger. Miss 4x4 capability. When I first bought it for 15k and it was the most unreliable vehicle and could not understand what all the fuss is about. Utterly fustrating. Jobs hard enough. Now I have got it right I have to sell it:sad: Tempted by a new one on a 130 but the cost:scared1: For 3K though your best mate better be a mechanic! No such thing as a bargaln
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This is a recuring topic. This industry is full of people doing the job for pennies. You have to stick to your guns, know your price and not get sucked in to a spiral of cost reduction. The problem is, if there is not enough work to go around, you may as well pack it in, or accept that you will be working for a loss untill work picks up. We have one guy around here we cannot touch on price. He is one third of the price of the average day rate for a two man team.
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You are right, but for areas where work is in abundence and you can plough through the work, but if you live in rural areas but love tree work you look at your market first and then work out your day rate. Then you look at your overheads and see if you can survive as a company. The alternative is bragging to every one down the pub you charge £800 per day for a three man team once a week and go bust in a month. If you are not in a busy area you have to run a modest outfit, cut all overheads you can and be value for money.
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A couple of years back we were called to a 70-80 ft pine with a lifting root plate. Standing at the base watching the plantlife go up and down when the wind picked up. Tree over a busy road with three schools emptying. The police said we could not close the road until the rush had died down:scared1: At 5.00pm we got the ok to drop the tree after arriving on site at about 2.00pm. Police said can you climb it and make a name for yourself:ohmy: My point is- seven Arbs- three trucks- two police cars- three highways trucks and yards of blue and white police tape and a farmer. A chuffin cyclist broke the tape and cycled under the tree while we stood there at shouting distance. With such stupid people around anything can happen. Should of heard the abuse from drivers when the road was closed, tho Mr 066 and a few tonnes of timber smashing onto the tarmac quietened them down a bit.
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of course. They are the greedy ones
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There is obviously a period of adjustment after a period of greed and madness but if we do all hit really bad times then I blame the media for it. Lazy beggers- cheaper to sell stories based on fear to get us all worked up than report on real events all over the world! As yet can't see a real difference in work but I do think early 09 will be hard on some. Depends where you are.
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Eltan Fellsman, comfy, cheap and should last a year or more.
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Tree pruning is rarely done correctly. Even with the right methods and motives. Mainly due to generalising methods- thin, lift reduce. It takes a good appreciation of trees to do properly and then you have to take the customers wishes into consideration. As you say, to mix various appoaches can give the best result but long term health of the tree can be reduced if the tree is under stress. The only answer is to plant thousands of the right trees in the right places all over the country. Bring back mixed commercial growing on a huge scale and then the future would be rosey even if the current over pruned, over compacted, over concreted, root severed town trees died. Having said all that- I too lift thin and reduce, as best I can but still get it wrong from time to time.
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I just take the first ascent up the line or the tree steady and not dash up like a squirrel on a bird table! My bones are really hurting latley so dont take my advice. Maybe falling out of that Ashtree 11 yrs ago without a bruse is having it's revenge- if you remember Skyhuck:blushing:
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Agreed. If you can pay your bills and be a viable company then fair point. Means you can do the job you want to but less than £300 for two and kit,
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Where do you work. Ill bet it isnt NW England. We had a dry day today and it felt really strange
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AA Guide to the Use of MEWPs in Arboriculture
conkers replied to Amelanchier's topic in General chat
Surely the only time you need a bucket is when the tree is unsafe to climb. Imo that is fine but as long as you are on firm ground, you can get the thing in to the job, which often compromises size and reach and then position the very expensive TARGET under the tree. Often the platform can only positioned on the side of the tree you dont want it should the tree/ limb fail rendering them usefull on nice wide roads where the tree is leaning the right way on a windless day. -
Yep! Cheers. The tree is leaning also. A braver person than me would lower the back limbs off in big stem smashing lumps first but I know someone who would:ohmy: No one on here I may add!!!
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Cheers, We will climb anyway because the thought of putting a felling cut into the void is more scary and the Ash is close enough to be clattered but too far to rig from:thumbdown: Sorry to divert thread!
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On the subject of Meripilus. One 60ft Acer. Basal stem cavity 2/3 of stem with no rib formation. Cavity extends down about three foot and up two feet from basal flare. Fungi on one side of tree. Crown lost leves in July. Possible fell but prefere to climb as want to avoid damage to Ash trees! Can drop 2/3 of crown but some lowering is unavoidable. Would you climb it? Anyone?
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I got my tickets some time ago but a chap I work with is expanding on his. Why has it become so time consuming and expensive to get Nptc's these days?
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I used to think there was a problem when I first started Arb and the tension was removed from the pole. Swaying about, then as soon as you understand the simplicity of it, you don't worry. It's not about size I think it's all about the state of the tree. The trees with the cavity you know is sketchy but you cannot fell and no room for MEWP. That is where knowledge and experience count but there is still a strong chance of bad things happening:ohmy:
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I have one working 200t, one under repair and two dead ones. I dont think they are great but have never tried anything else. Any feedback welcome. Not that expensive for the work they do but repair costs make it almost a throw away item when they get old and start playing up. Used to use Dick Leigh who I could rely on but live too far away now! Anyone else for repairs in Cumbria???? And......... What is the Husky top saw like:confused1:
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The potential for things to go wrong increase with every bit of advice you get from the ground, especially when their interest lies in getting tree on the ground asap. Things always look rosey and easy from the ground because they have totally different perspective. If in doubt take it in bits you can manage. Dropping large sections from the crown takes experience. Best to watch others first, without offering any advice!
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Payment on completion or send an invoice?
conkers replied to Big 'Ammer's topic in Business Management
Invoice in the post is always going to be a relaxed way of saying, pay in a week, or a month. Most pay within the month but sus out the funny ones and put payment on completion in the quote. -
Jonesie. We also worked for NB in Beckenham. I worked for a Landscaper then though! Were the Lions there?
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Done one. Charged £60. Not a friend and on a Sunday. Took bag and gloves but the little fella jumped on me and clung on all the way down.
