Rowan the Bruce

phoenix bloody palms

yeah mate, doing one in Melborne with a pole saw, it slid down and a spike went in one part of my hand and out through another, still got the scars. plus you have to wear a ski mask or you get a face full of dirt!

In Australia there is no one week assessment and you can go use a chainsaw, however if you want to become an arborist and call yourself one, you must train for a level two qualification, a year or two if working aswell. Surely then you will understand a bit about trees and how to work on them and use the machinery. Is two weeks of training and 'I'm now a tree surgeon' good enough in this country? I'll admit that some of the old school guys I've worked with and learned from would cut my ears off for saying it, for they learned everything from on the job training, but I really think if the industry is to improve something has to change.

I feel that everything is ok in moderation, and depending on the situation.I've never really smoked :bongsmi:at work and have told my groundies that they could get off site if they think they are gonna use a saw stoned, besides it would slow you down a bit surely, and I should know! The thing is I reckon you'd be more careful after a spliff than after a pint or two, the only time i climbed after a drink(bottle of guiness) I cut my hand open with secateurs removing epicormics.

Best to just leave it to the weekend!!!

yeah the petzl was defo not built for spiking/ big takedowns!

Keep your eye on the tall, dead, hung up ash stem on the woodland edge, that you've just speared out when the lights are on all red, and when it comes straight for you.............................side step at the very last minute so it misses you by a foot. Here's the tip - keep your visor down so the groundies can't see how pale you've turned, shrug your shoulders and carry on!

Lucky day today!

hi, I used a navaho for two years and it was all I could afford at the time.I prefered it to the crushed pelvis feeling when hanging, of the willans nappy, and as i was doing loads of pruning and street tree reductions, i found it good. After a while about 18 months I realised that due to the lack of back support my lower back was suffering and as soon as I changed to Tree magic it cleared up, now the tree magic is feeling a bit flimsy and I'm thinking ekn. Am I just getting cream crackered!

I think its down to what you prefer and total hard wear, which most tree kit goes through.......enjoy what you've got!

An obvious one, but street trees and domestic, check the ground for what those little old ladies leave behind. Nothing worse than footlocking with foriegn objects attached to your boots!!!!

I managed to somehow stand on my captive eye triplelock on the end of my short strop/pole belt, getting a fresh turd in the grip.......scraping it out from the tread of your boot is one thing!!!

That day I was suffering from a bad case of 'TREE TORETTS', scaring passers by - ha!ha!

I'm re-writing this after my toddler just deleted the first one, arrrrrgh! Anyway good thread, I'm looking at getting my loler testing done soon aswell.Possibly by the same guy as you as we are from the same county. I've been using 9mm cord from penrose outdoors for ages both on my vt and on prussik loops, in fact I had one on for 2 years before I was told it needed replacing by the inspector (a bit lazy I know).As for use with the blakes, I can't comment, never used that system-seems like too many knots and biners to me!

By the way do you know anyone with a chipper for sale in the westcountry?

pastytastic!!!

Yeah I reckon that you should go for the cs units, having the experience on the ground for at least a year or two, build up your confidence with the saw, getting your maintenence right etc is all important. I wouldn't worry too much about the woodchipper units, most employers would rather the saw units. Tree companies usually have a high staff turnover so newbies are wanted and at least you'll have the satisfaction of a proper wage in your pocket!

I've just finished the RFS Cert arb by correspondence, hard going when you're working 40+hrs but cheaper and if you've done your Hort stuff recently you'd breeze the exam. Enjoy.....life is for living!!!

Hope my 660 is ok , got me worried now , just bought it but not used it yet , have to run it in first though!

Just did my RFS Cert Arb by correspondence, I live in deepest darkest Cornwall, and passed the theory part, I have the other nptc tickets, just need the ao1 planting a tree to get the full cert. My local training provider has been er... 'thinking about running that one' for the last 3 months so i'm looking further afield in the southwest,Devon or Somerset maybe. Its a compulsory unit so has to be done. Any ideas?

nice one!

Thanks for the advice, perhaps i'll keep hiring for six months and save some cash, 6k will get me a good chipper.Finance is not an option at the mo!cheers anyway Pete B, although I have considered Greenmech, i use an eco-arborist with a firm 3 days a week and its ok, pretty reliable, good for the cornish lanes and narrow driveways.

Keep you eyes peeled for anything mid-range and good.

Hi everyone I've just become a member, and also self employed.I've a good bit of experience a truck,saws, climbing gear etc.But, being from Cornwall and having no arb stores within a 80 miles I'm finding it difficult to locate a 2nd hand woodchipper for under 4k, Ebay is all very well but driving 300miles to Kent or wherever to find its pile of junk is not for me.

I've talked to Masons but they haven't anything for under 4.5k and told me not to bother with anything less(but they would).I'm not a big business so something small, but deisel is ideal, if anyone can help me out I'd be grateful as i've been looking for a few weeks now and hiring ain't cost effective.Thanks.