Ty Korrigan

Morning, My experience with Greenmech is currently limited to the CS100. My next chipper will probably be a Quadchip based on the user reports I've read. I don't need a demo to to know that the Quadchip will be be an excellent machine. Given the performance of the CS100 and the excellent customer service and spares backup I have received in 190 hours of wee chipper chipping (I put an hour clock on from new) If you have a problem with a machine you must inform the manufacturer a.s.a.p. That is the best route and the way forward when it comes to correcting faults and developing the product. Ty

It is used as a source for turpentine, possibly the earliest known source. The turpentine of the terebinth is now called Chian, Scio, or Cyprian turpentine. The fruits are used in Cyprus for baking of a specialty village bread. In Crete, where the plant is called tsikoudia, it is used to flavor the local variety of pomace brandy, also called tsikoudia. In the Northern Sporades the shoots are used as a vegetable (called tsitsírava).The plant is rich in tannin and resinous substances and was used for its aromatic and medicinal properties in classical Greece. A mild sweet scented gum can be produced from the bark, and galls often found on the plant are used for tanning leather. Recently an anti-inflammatory triterpene has been extracted from these galls.[3] In Turkey, where it is known as menengiç or bıttım, a coffee-like beverage known as menengiç kahvesi[4] is made from the roasted fruit and a soap[5] is made from the oil. Terebinth resin was used as a wine presevative in the ancient Near East.[6]

Hello, Here in Euro zone France the G.M Quadchip road tow sells for the equivalent of £19'000 without vat once you've done the exchange. The dealers are like a tight fisted union and will not move a centime from the list price. My question to you boys in the world of sterling is "How much are they?" I've actually called 2 dealers in the South of England and they never got back to me, all very cagey about selling to a company in France Frankly, its all very irritating as French chippers are stupid prices generally Regards Ty

Ah, Stumpgrinder... Your limited experience still outguns my measly knowledge. So... The friendly guy at the engineering works drilled the bolts out at last. He had to sharpen his drill bit half a dozen times! There is no corrosion present each time, its as though the resins and sap just glue the ******* in. (can you guess what bad word I used?) Next time I'm going to try a flame on the bolt heads before hand. Then it was fitting the blades outside in the rain after a long hard day... Still... beats working for the Co-op or riding a desk for a coin. Ty

Hello, Every time I change the blades I say a little prayer that the bolts holding the blades will come undone. I use a torque wrench and plenty of clever heat resistant grease now when installing the blades despite being advised not to grease the threads. Last 2 occasions have been fine but this time I went almost 30hours without a blade change when normally I go 20 odd. 3 bolts won't budge AGAIN! I am wondering if the sap as its Spring is gluing them in place? I apply GT85 before hand to penetrate but perhaps another product would do better. Anyway, the (really bad word) tool just cams out as the size is just to small for the amount of torque required to undo the bolts. So we try drilling them. This NEVER works as the bolts despite being made of cheese are still harder than the professional drill bits we bought. So AGAIN tomorrow its off to the engineering factory who sharpen the blades to get them to drill the bolts out. I'm frustrated because it should be such a simple job which I (bad word) up regularly. Am I really just a (bad word) mechanic or am I not alone here...? Any-one else have these issues? Ty

Hello, There are indeed strict regulations governing forestry work. Permissions are required to 'work' any parcel of forest over 2 hectares. Contact the local department of forestry for further info. Regards Ty

Morning... Some info I came across that some may find innneresting...or not. The link: Prix élagage : les tarifs des entreprises d'élagage quasiment incontournable, mais à quel prix ? Prix de l'élagage : différent selon le type de chantier Il n'y a a pas de tarif moyen pour un élagage car chaque chantier est une opération individuelle sur un arbre précis avec des contraintes spécifiques. Le tarif moyen d'une opération d'élagage dépend de l'action ou de la suite d'actions à réaliser ainsi que de la hauteur et de la nature de l'arbre : arbre très haut : intervention plus onéreuse que sur un arbre de taille moyenne en raison de l'équipement supplémentaire à utiliser et du temps requis pour la grimpe ; arbre enclavé à proximité d'infrastructures : requiert plus de temps et de précautions que pour un arbre isolé ; déplacement de l'élagueur, de l'entreprise d'élagage ou du bûcheron à prendre en considération : que ce soit pour accéder à un chantier perdu ou pour évoluer sur un versant escarpé ; présence d'insectes dangereux (frelons, chenilles processionnaires et urticantes) : peut obliger l'élagueur à faire appel à des intervenants supplémentaires ou à procéder à des traitements non prévisibles en temps et en budget. Un tarif horaire ou à la tâche pour le prix de l'élagage Voici quel est le tarif horaire (sur site) d'un élagueur constaté en 2011 : PRIX DE L'ÉLAGAGE : TARIF HORAIRE OPÉRATION TARIF BAS TARIF HAUT SUPPLÉMENT POSSIBLE Taille d'entretien sur arbustes et haies 25,00 € 35,00 € Enlèvement. Taille et élagage sur arbustes (<6m) 30,00 € 40,00 € Enlèvement. Taille et élagage sur arbre (6 à 10m) 35,00 € 45,00 € Débitage & enlèvement. Taille et élagage sur arbre haut (10 à 15m) 40,00 € 50,00 € Débitage & enlèvement. Taille et élagage sur arbre très haut (> 15m) 50,00 € 60,00 € Débitage & enlèvement. Voici quel est le tarif à la tâche (sur site) d'un arboriste-grimpeur ou d'un bûcheron : TARIF D'ÉLAGAGE : TARIF À LA TÂCHE OPÉRATION TARIF BAS TARIF HAUT SUPPLÉMENT POSSIBLE Taille d'un palmier 55,00 € 80,00 € Enlèvement. Démontage d'un arbre haut 600,00 € 800,00 € Location nacelle ou grue ou hélitreuillage - Débitage - Enlèvement - Dessouchage. Abattage (calculé au stère de bois abattu) 50,00 € 70,00 € Débitage - Enlèvement - Dessouchage. Les suppléments du tarif d'élagage Voici ce que l'entreprise d'élagage peut compter comme supplément : l'enlèvement des végétaux par l'entreprise, l'élagueur ou le bûcheron qui peut impliquer la location de véhicules, de broyeurs de végétaux ; la remise en déchetterie, qui est gratuite pour les particuliers, est payante pour les professionnels et se monte à plus de 30€ la tonne (vite atteinte) ; les démontages particuliers (grue ou hélicoptère) est à prendre en compte dès la rédaction d'un devis. Par contre le choix d'une nacelle pour élever le personnel sans grimpe ne doit pas être à la charge du donneur d'ordre. Négocier un tarif d'élagage : les critères Avant toute négociation, il est impératif de vérifier que l'élagueur ou le bûcheron est un professionnel titulaire : d'un numéro de SIRET ; et d'une assurance en responsabilité civile professionnelle RC PRO. Si un grimpeur ne loue pas de matériel lourd pour le démontage d'un arbre, il prend plus de risques personnels que l'élagueur qui loue une nacelle élévatrice. Attention ! La nacelle élévatrice et les engins sont des agressions pour un jardin, si l'élagueur prévoit ce type d'engins, faites inscrire dans le contrat la remise en état du terrain (pelouse, arrosage enterré...). La compétence en taille d'entretien et de structure doit être vérifiée sur des réalisations antérieures. À noter : L'auto-entreprise n'est pas du travail de moins bonne qualité que la société, mais simplement une disposition fiscale. Regards Ty

We used 2 planks to pull ours up into a van (Seb and I...) No, really, 2 light weights such as my Frenchy friend and I can easily do it. Take off the chute first and caution wet boots! We had rope hand holds to help us. Regards Ty

Hello, Last week a client asked us if we could chip a few shrubs whilst during a spruce take down. ARGH! It was as though I had a heavy cold and conjunctivitis with a handfull of itching powder down my shirt! My nose was like a running tap of snot for about 2 hours. I quickly found the cause... The client, so we got him to chip the rest! Later, he dug up the root and swore never to plant it again. Ty

Hah, Yes, I offer money that is fair and covers overheads for a self employed labourer but personal overheads for example like a big fat ex-wife and 4 kids to maintain are nothing to do with an employer or his pay rate. I only say this because I've not long had this conversation with a rejected candidate. Ty

Frenchy-ville-en-Merde Self employed with own saw, insurance, PPE, we supply the t'shirt, fuel and lunch. 100-120euros per day gross. IF your a grafter and have serious previous arb experience 150euros. Its a day rate whether we work 8 or 12 hours or even away from home for a few days. The problem with subbies is that they often over value their worth. It is not they who generate the work and carry the daily can. They can sleep easy after the day is done. Bosses have got quotes and maintenance to do. Ty

Oy! Why didn't shout you where coming? Domfront is within my range and a charming place it is too especially when all the pears are in bloom. Ty

Hey, I enjoyed my day and got fed, what more does a man need? Don't say a beer PLEASE!.... Ty

Just to say I've uploaded some images onto the pictures forum of TomTrees in France with his Peterson. Regards Ty

More images, some showing some nifty loading using Toms 'charger' I don't know the English for this machine!

Hello, I spent my Sunday with TomTrees of this parish at his place some 25km South of where I live in Brittany France. Tom has a large renovation project and is currently boarding a barn using Douglas he stole from members of the firewood and forestry forums Actually, that is a huge lie So in exchange for a feed I gave a hand and generally got in the way with my camera.

Back again... The simplest form of business is the 'micro entreprise' This is capped at 33k turnover. You are given a 50% allowance for expenses then pay 50% social charges on the 50% that is left. So for ever euro, you pay 25 cents to the state. This is not suitable for businesses with alot of expenses to offset. It is however, good for its simplicity and for a tree surgeon starting out a good option for the first few years if your equipment is already well old. In the first year you pay approx 2400euros, year 2 4800euros and year 3 7200euros with year 4 being the year they total up all your gross takings and 'regularise' your situation. You may end up paying more so always save 25% of your take in a savings account ready for the day. Your local M.S.A will advise you on any social charges payable upon land used for horses. Its not classed as agricultural for equine use. Also for micro entreprises no accountant is required although many ex-pats choose to use one, I found friends and just going to the local tax office and smiling the best route. Once you exceed the 33K turnover limit or register as a sole/partnership trader limited company you will require by law an accountant to formalise your books. Important, always charge the French going rate for your services. Too many ex-pats ignore this and charge too little to begin with then try to ramp up their prices later on losing ground in the beginning then losing clients later on. Ty

Morning, You sound like a man with a plan there. On the horse front, France has very no intricate system of green lanes and bridleways for horse riders. Off road routes (at least here in Brittany) are few. If your near the coast then la Plage is normally open for horses in the winter but often closed in summer (dogs also forbidden too) If you are going into horses then offering riding lessons to the French is a viable entreprise. There is a shortage of riding schools around (here around Rennes anyway) with the few local ones packed during the holiday season and weekends. BUSINESS WARNING! Once you start up in you chosen commerce you will be registered with the Mutual Society Agricole, the government body responsible for collecting the social charges, pension contributions and administering the health care for land based workers. Budget to have at least 10'000euros set aside in advance for your first 3 -4 years social charges which are payable whether you make a coin or not. Currently, this is the system for land based workers. Mr Sarkosy suggested that he may change things upon re-election but he is a weasel like all other politicians. Social charges represent a minimum of 50% of your profit and 60% if you are a limited company. SARL/EIRL If you have serious expenses and investment to offset such as horse feed, vet bills, diesel then a limited company is the ONLY option and you WILL be registered for v.a.t (t.v.a) No lower limit for this. Your accountant (a requirement) will cost you 1500-3000euros depending on how much you bother them. You cannot submit your own accounts as a limited company but you can get them in order your self beforehand. Don't start up a business straight away. Start to make your publicity, network and get a feel for the area. Again I cannot stress enough the importance of moving close to a city. Brittany and Normandy have high ex-pat populations but you will be hard pushed to make a coin solely from them and make a coin you must if you are to pay your social charges. The only route is to attract French clients and to do this you must be able to communicate with them. Right, enough of this storm crow talk, I'm not urinating on peoples dreams, I'm just offering the darker side of the French dream. Ty

Evening, I thought I'd just post some advice for any-one who may be thinking about moving to France for a better life with the idea of starting up an arb business. Others already here, please feel free to post your own experiences and advice for a more complete picture. Why come here anyway? Well... to live the dream of course and get away from the drudgery of Crisis Britain. Many see the advantages in selling up a wee semi in suburbia for a sprawling rural longhouse with an acre or 2. Low crime rate, cheap wine, every day a holiday, renovation, sun and freedom. Well, whatever floats your boat! France has its disadvantages too. High rural unemployment, the long rural winter too, lack of decent bacon (I'm being silly here) But the worst thing is the feeling of isolation that slowly creeps up on couples after a couple of years. Eventually (after the 3rd dull winter) the realisation dawns that they are living in a self imposed exile with funds running low and the renovation stalling as a result. Man finds little work because he has NO transferable skills (formally an assembly worker for a jap car firm or a pen pusher in the city...city of Norwich that is) and that on the black as he has not grasped even enough French to work at the local abattoir (the usual resort for hard up Brits) The missus, fed up with the local hairdressers making her look like a lesbian and the lack of shops she can relate too throws a wobbly and returns to her mothers in Bexhill. So, to survive here in France you need transferable skills with which to earn a coin or its pig sticking at the local knackery for you. Tree work, now theres a coin to be had there. You don't need to justify your certificates or even prove yourself to set up in business. You don't even need to jump through any hoops with the right advice to guide you. Insurances are cheap, kit expensive, and taxes high (social charges) around 50-60% depending your trading status. Warning! There is no future in chasing purely expats, you will need to market yourself to the local Frenchies. It would be better for your business if you moved to an area of high population rather than seeking an isolated rural retreat from which to launch your new French life. Learn enough French to be able to answer the phone and talk to clients. You'll do this best just by total immersion sur place rather than wasting hours on evening courses at the local polytechnic. I would advise those who wish to pursue the French dream NOT to sell up in the U.K but to come here and rent a place first. You may need an escape route more than you wish to believe. Most ex-pats return to the U.K within 3 years, less wealthy than when they arrived in France having blown thousands on wine, unfinished hovel renovation and keeping entertained through that dull rural winter. Now don't think other ex-pat firms will employ you, most just cannot afford to as an employee costs 2.5 times his salary again in social charges and admin costs etc. The best route is for you to get a job with a large French concern (assuming you can speak French of course) Go via the agencies, there are agencies who specialise in land based industries and agencies are the biggest employers here after the state. Right enough for now. Ty

Ah! Electronic ignition! Get them to change your glow plugs to improve cold starting whilst your at it. All the best Ty

Hello, We are adding a wee phrase to our qoutes "sans vice cache" Or some such spelling. It basically means "without hidden issues" So when we find a WW2 mine below a stump or each tree has grown around a metal pole used to stake it 20years before...we can charge for any extra time/effort. Yes a fixed price... to a point.

Oops, should be in the pictures forum, blame my flu...sorry. Ty

Now I have a question for the experts here... What is that strange growth we found beneath the bark on several of the branch stubs? Last image, look at the bark bottom left. It looks like a Martian root from War of the Worlds... Ty

So, It involved a 400km/5hr round trip to take down a dead Monkey Puzzle. I had asked the owner to send images and to test the condition of the bark. I was told...solid. As the owner had failed to find a local arb to take it down despite being very well integrated so I guessed there was 'issues' surrounding it. Sure enough, on arrival I first inspected the condition of the trunk and found a spongey mush of compost beneath a brittle skin...nuts. I just hoped my gaffs where long enough for the job! It was a horrible ascent indeed! I would normally have shot up there like a weasel in a porn stars trousers but every movement had to be carefully done to ensure the gaffs penetrated the bark and into the solid wood below. The wood was like iron to boot! In the end, I dropped the branches and chogged down just 2 lumps before felling. I left the branch stubs long in order to have something to rest upon. The tree moved no more than normal BUT I still had Auld Rab watching the roots for movement. My first Auracaria and despite it having lost 99% of its leaves I still got well pricked! When Auld Rab felled it the stem fractured into 3 pieces and the bark leapt off in a black shower! The whole job took 1h30min plus 30min to pack up before an excellent lunch provided by our hosts who run a well reputed B+B in the centre of town.

Ah...60hours on average. The ex-pats clients always involve a 1hour MINIMUM drive but the French ones are all within 15-20min. Thats hard on Seb as he has kids and it may get hard for me in the future. The goal is to get more local clients to reduce the travel. Mondays job is almost 3 hours away! Well, the travel is reflected in the price so its not so bad just a bit boring. Ty