Ty Korrigan

Stump Busters are not 'omnipresent' Your client will most likely stick with you alone if the stump is an optional extra on your quote so offer it as such even if it is at a price. In 3 years the grinder has cost us approx. 1000euros in parts (new cutter wheel, axle and bearing plus belts and servicing) It has grossed around 27'000euros Your bottom price is it's hourly cost plus your business costs including your wage. Anything else being profit. It may be the reason you get the tree job too. So... Fuel, say 4.2litres for a 27hp machine = 7euros Teeth, I price these in (green teeth) and don't sharpen then on a small grinder. So 12euros an hour for teeth (including an allowance for the pocket wear) 3.50euros for wear and tear. 10'000euros for the machine, sold after 5 years for 5000euros. 1000euros per year in depreciation. You do for example 100hours per year grinding so that is 10euros per hour for depreciation. Total 32.5euros costs. You may be able to reduce this by sharpening your green teeth if used but add in the time and tooling to sharpen the teeth regardless and you'll arrive not far off the original costs. Add your wage and business costs PLUS...profit margin (you want an bigger truck, chipper, grinder don't you...?) I arrived at around 60euros per hour The grinder actually averages 90euros per hour and many jobs the grinding time is an hour but the quote is 120-180euros. (price in your travel/load/unload time) Right, now I've told you my secret to making a million you own me a pint of English Ale. Bon Nuit Ty

I charge as much as I think I can get away with. You should do the same. Don't give your clients presents, they won't do the same for you. Plus NEVER be tempted to do a stump for free just cos your on site. It's not just fuel and teeth but all that hidden wear and tear, belts, bearings, grease, oil changes and depreciation. Just stop mithering and buy one. Ty

One was brought down today when No.1 Climber topped out a lone Lawson. The eggs where ready to hatch and smashed open in front of the chipper. Afghan chipper feeder was shocked to see is despite all he has been through in 14 years of war. Shame but I'm not losing valuable work for 5 due to a birds nest, that is just nuts. If I didn't do it then some-one else would and the coins are better off rattling around my pocket. The biggest predator of wild birds must be domestic cats not tree surgeons. Not as if we are felling a Scots Pine with a Golden eagle roosting in it now eh? Ty

We needed it these last 2 days. Fighting with curly Lawson branches and knarly fists of hedging. 4 of us out including the Carlton 4012 following on grinding as we cut. I called Mac at GM and he mentioned the possibility of such a machine in existence... No reply from Mr Wolf as yet though. Ty

Hello Mr Wolf, That IS an interesting machine and I've been on the site to look further. Questions for you: What is the height of the in feed from the ground? Are the turbine fins made of alloy or steel? Are ALL the bearings able to be greased easily? Regards Ty

You actually working then or on holiday? Ty

Is it a strap on? I DO so love a strap on... Seriously, is it for climbers? Ty

Well, I've just been to quote but Bolam has already done it for the wood... Ty

T'is but a scratch! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CLwxObfaNE]Monty Python Meets Star Wars - YouTube[/ame] Go to 2min 45sec... Ty:lol:

Here: Hedgecutting: AngloINFO Brittany Ty:001_rolleyes:

Hello, As part of our business planning we are considering our future chipper. Currently running a Quadchip and very happy with it:thumbup1: However, what we 'think' we require is the same...only BIGGER! And so...What out there is on a turntable, 45+hp? Regards Ty

We bought 2500m2 with decent buildings for 12'500euros or £10k Plus side is that we can use it as a stock yard for chips and no permissions required for business use. Before we exchanged our use of some land for doing the private garden for the owner. Buying own land is cheaper long term and yes, it is a good future investment. Just having water and electric put in and an extension built. Never ending spendout...bleh! Ty

If you want to work the French 35hour week then find another employer. The door is over there friend... Ty

You read my mind! Ty

And so, We enter into our 3rd year of ownership of our G.M Quadchip It has been an excellent investment for us all round. However, when we chip conifer on dry warm days (something we do a lot!) The radiator screen requires clearing every truck load or so. A fine fibrous mat develops over the screen and also blocks the lower hydraulic radiator. We also open the hatch to give the compartment a blow out with the leaf blower and then back at base blow out with an airline. Our Carlton 4012 suffers the same problem to a lesser degree but even so yesterday with the swirling currents of hot dusty air carrying wood fine chip up into it needs to have the radiator blown out between stumps. Not a moan, just an observation. Ty

If it was a French oak: To dismantle the oak, chips smaller diameter branches (essential for ease of working), cross cut larger wood to 'manageable sizes' All arising's left on site, no raking up. Our fee 980euros (£800 inc vat) Options: Cross cut ALL wood to 50cm or less and pile it (not stack it) 280euros To split and stack all wood over 15cm 45euros per m3 Stump grinding 240euros All other labour billed at 45euros per man hour (to get around the just can you stack it behind the house and whilst your here can you prune this Forsythia...) Ty P.S I'd win it here too...

For the record, same applies to France. (If you can speak French of course:001_rolleyes:) After moving to Rennes in April 2010 with just a kangoo van and microchipper, we are now fielding a team of 3-4 every day and still cannot meet demand. Ty

I've just given 80m3 to a farmer for bedding. Try calling around a few. Ty

I was marginally cheaper than the ground works company on stumps. Bit of trouble tonight, 2 of my free wood pickers got stopped by some locals and accused of stealing the wood. All cleared up by a few phone calls but I'm glad people are watching out here. I've told the rest to come on Sunday and load up to avoid any issues. Ty

Friday and it was 28c in the shade today here in Brittany. Working locally for 3 days clearing a building plot of macrocarpas before work starts end of next week. All was going well until the waterboard turned up to fit whatever they had to fit right underneath our last tree...NUTS! Luckily we always have plenty to get on with but it meant that at the end of the day we still had an unfinished tree standing rather than just the stumps which are a one man job on a Saturday. Could hardly grumble as it was the same crew who have just installed water to our new HQ and as ever in France some-one knows some-one who knows us and so we where amongst friends. All the wood is being given away through our grapevine, some 25m3. 80m3 of chips have gone away collected by a farmer who lent us a 20m3 trailer. Every-ones a winner...almost. Ty

And Ted from Burgess Hill Ty

To be fair, £12+ vat IS the price of a new tooth anyway on their web site. I've found them to be decent people to deal with. Ty

I sell mine on 'Le Bon Coin' A sort of free ads site which you can also pay to advertise on. So far I'm selling more than we are creating. This week I'm giving 60+cube away to a local farmer who has supplied a tractor and trailer for the job. He is going to use it as bedding for his cows. I've also arrange to sell the chip direct from the job. That is to say straight to the client. I've a waiting list for certain species, some want pop others oak. Farmer is taking Macro and cedar. Ty

How much does it cost in the U.K for an oil change on a Kubota engine Quadchip plus diesel filter? Just would like to compare with prices here in France. Regards Ty

Hi, What is considered the best way to clean machinery like grinders, tractors and the equipment like flails and rotavators? I generally brush or scrape the worst off then wash the body work off. I don't use a pressure washer except on rare occasions but I was thinking a very strong compressor might be the trick having seen such being used for blowing grass out of mower decks at a local machinery workshop. Ty