Ty Korrigan

I think our work is nothing to be ashamed of and if our kids temporarily dip their toes into our world of knarly graft then it might well give them the motivation to indeed better themselves. Stuart

Due to an issue with my 6" roadtow, we broke out the CS100 for a few days. Day 2 of this and I'm shattered. My shoulders are burning from lifting branches high and feeding them into the hopper. I can't even yawn without bringing on a fresh ache. Wednesday, I've arranged a day long Bugnot demo as we've another council job with traffic control. I can't really ruck up to that with a CS100 and whack 7 pines through it in a morning. Stuart

5 visits to the Briggs dealer. 900km, 12 hours driving. I have asked for a pressure test on 2 previous occasions only to be mugged off. Last Saturday I was assured that one would be done and that I could leave the chipper and collect Monday. Today, by phone, the mechanic now says my chipper is a non-runner after his ministrations and that it won't be ready until next week. He's been fiddling with the crank sensor instead of doing the pressure test so I asked for a third time for a pressure test to be done. What I predicted has come to pass. I'm being mugged off by the very people who are supposed to there to provide aftercare. Once again a dealer has proven their incompetance in solving a simple problem. Not like it is a fecking Rolls Royce Merlin engine. This evening, the familiar tightening across the chest has returned plus the restless feeling which comes with suppressed anger, anxiety and stress. GM as ever have been very supportive though their hands are tied as this is a Briggs issue not a GM one. Stuart

My new 2511 stopped oiling. It isn't blocked, something isn't engaging. Guess I'll need to replace first the worm then the whole chuffing pump if that 'marche pas'... Stuart

It was fun whilst it lasted. The trigger fell apart, exhaust has fissured, new Sugi bar destroyed hitting metal and lacks an antivibe which I cannot get to stay in place. It is currently with a man who has a huge list of 'round-to-it's' Stuart

With the 500i being able to run 50cm to 90cm who needs anything else other than an Echo 2511 I'm a 2 saw business these days! Stuart

One of my lads recieved an angry email from a client complaining they had spent 'all morning' trying to cut up the wood he left behind. He thought WTF as the quote stated 'leave wood in 2m lengths' So being a customer oriented fellow and a sensitive soul who wouldn't sleep soundly until matters resolved, he drove a hour back to the job only to find the clients husband had put the chain on back to front on his saw. The guy is a builder who at the quoting stage told my lad "I'd be doing this myself but the Missus won't let me" (3 hairy gurt pines mixed up with power and phone lines) Stuart

In reality, even on a large conifer job, 4 hours chipping would be alot of machine hours and require people cutting and dragging to keep the wee chipper fed. Empty hours accumulated without chipper being fed just mess up calculations of machine life and costings. My CS100 blades averaged 25 hours even being obsessive about clean material going through. Yeh, I got more hours but I also got fewer after lending it out to more careless hands. Stuart

Nothing 'anal' about a Tinytach unless you use it for felching with your boyfriend. Another aid to estimating hours would be the number of blades used. Stuart

Chinesium lustre is only as deep as the price is low...

Any Hyundai class chipper owners with over 300hrs on the clock? Our CS100 has... Stuart

Expat Brits not French. Stuart

Good grief! If I had this machine (in France) I'd be minimum €420+ inc vat per day owner operator. Even my compact tractor I charge out at similar with driver. Whatever happened to making money? No effing way is £70 a realistic tariff but hey, your business model not mine. Stuart

Worse, I find in France, people who 'retire' early then become self employed to access the health system. They buy machinery and then hire themselves out at fabulously unviable rates which make my bid seem unreasonable. Stuart

I think you need to upsell the use of your machine, all costs and depreciation covered with a healthy margin for a decent profit. I see many guys working their businesses at cost only. Stuart

A tracked loader costing £20k hired out at the sum you propose would barely cover the depreciation let alone actual running costs. I would have thought £150+ would be a more viable rate. Stuart

True! Abattage (felling) is also slaughter. As in 'abattoir' Stuart

I folded and re-booted. www.lejardinieranglais is mothballed. I still own the domain but the trading name is dead under French law. New site 'en cours' Current one was hastily put up by a mate for no charge. Alot of revision of the script and an effort made with better images. It can't be that bad considering the amount of work coming our way but as I see it, the site has much room for improvement. www.franglaiselagage.com Stuart

This is in 'foreign' Most French clients assume 'Franglais' is my name. I don't mind, I'm regularly called worse. A Brit said I was 'expensive' I replied my wife says 'I'm priceless' Stuart

'Treeple' I read it as... Stuart

Finding a balance for a couple can be difficult. I'm just glad we left before the lady returned. Regardless, it helped as we where on site for only 2 hours and the boys went home early. Stuart

3mm alloy. I could have ordered 4mm but it's a trailer not a Panzer...

Is there any advantage to chequer plate? Stuart

I originally sold the wife on a reduction/thin leaving enough branches to look like a handsome yet sparse tree, fitting for the situation, revealing a view across the valley currently obscured. On the day, the husband took me aside, " I want it all off." Are you sure? We can do good things here. "No" was his reply, "all off. Climber starts his saw "last chance" I shouted to the client who just waved from the seat of his JD1026 tractor and mowed on past. Ah well I sighed and signaled the climber to begin. Bet his wife burst into tears when she returned from petanque... Stuart

In retrospect, we panicked a little over importing before Brexit (unknown tariffs) and rushed into buying this trailer from stock. I could have waited and ordered one with alloy sides and saved some serious €€€. Stuart