Taupotreeman

They were all pretty good to be fair and we helped a few out with some coin for food. I lost count of how many times I'd drive 100m down the road and pull over AGAIN. Photos just don't do justice to the trees, no matter how good they are although yours are way better than mine Mario. I also found that Scotia was quite a strange but neat little place. Enjoyed looking around the museum there and learning about the floods but its quite sad to see just how much of the original Redwood forests have been decimated by logging. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Nice perspective JimM and I had also noticed the level of respect that most American service men and women are held in, as they should be. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Yep we did get to see the Carson Mansion. Spent a bit of time in Arcata and driving through Eureka while we were tiki touring. Plenty of homeless in Arcata but then we saw that in a lot of places. Maybe transient is a better word. Spent most of my time trying to get decent photos in the Redwoods and trying to drive and not crash. Far to much time looking up and not at the road. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Damn Mario. I only saw lots of homeless, nothing like that young lady. Enjoyed my stay though and glad you encouraged me to take the time to look around properly rather than rushing. Also interested in the camera and lenses you're using. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

I took this while I was in Newport New Jersey earlier this year. Also had the opportunity to visit the 9/11 memorial and the gardens. Aiming to go back in 2015 to be there on September 11th. It's odd but the memorial garden is far from a somber place, although you need time to gather your thoughts a little. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

We carry that quick clot stuff in a first aid kit on our climbing harnesses and there's a first aid kit on the truck. We are very rarely that far from the truck but its certainly a reminder to think a little harder about what you need in an emergency. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Awesome effort Steve, long may it continue. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Seconded on the spider jack although I'm seriously tempted with the lock jack sport. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Sounds a fair enough wage to me. I paid myself less than that self employed. If holidays etc are thrown in, plus the chance to gain experience and advance through the ranks? No brainier isn't it? Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Pleased to say I've now actually been there, Arcata included. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Just got mine back spud and I think the bill was around $340 so halve it to get the figure in pounds. One of the first saws I used was an 026. I don't know what vintage this is but if it proves more reliable than the 261 and the 395xp then it's money well spent. This is our local Stihl guy too and going on the many negative comments I've seen lately re said Stihl dealers, I think our guy looks after us pretty well. I'd be keen to send my saws over to you to get sorted but I think the shipping might get expensive 😄 Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Pleased to hear that having given the mechanic the go ahead. Just hoping the barrel isn't too far gone. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Are the old 026's worth the work? We found an old one lying around in the cupboard with a scored barrel. We currently have it in the local Stihl dealers where the mechanic, hopefully, is going to put a new piston in (if the barrel comes out alright after it's acid bath) and then port it. Cost is less than $500 as compared to buying a new 261 that shreds clutch bearings. I seem to remember the old ones were a good little saw and we are short on a small ground saw to compliment the 261. Will it be worth the 500 notes (around £250) for the work? Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Finished off with a knotted hanky on the head. Yeesh, just spent the last two years trying to get my dad to not wear socks with his sandals. He makes it worse by pulling them right up to his knees if he can. Couple that with the below the knee shorts........I'm gonna have to get a photo aren't I? Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

That's just wrong on so many levels Mr Blair 😃 Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

You must be as old as me Tony. That was the norm at one stage. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Just checked with our local Stihl shop and the same applies here in NZ. No online sales. He, fortunately, is not a Stihl franchisee as such but just a stockist. Also fortunately, we have never needed to order anything online and, unlike others, our local Stihl guy is good. He gives us good discounts, lets us trial new saws, gets repairs done same day or by the following day and his mechanic is good enough that we take out husky to him as well. Seems like we landed on our feet.

Opportunity to get the council's latest toy out for a play today. Pine weighted back over the fence and neighbouring houses. Took the lower limbs off then pulled it over with the Terex. Cleaned up and ringed up by 1pm. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Bandit 12 inch drum with winch. We could probably make use of a little bigger but this thing has been awesome so far. Only stalled it once otherwise it eats everything we chuck at it. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

20 of these Cypress to come out. They were planted possible as a hedge but then left to their own devices. Some had been topped or side trimmed but all were over growing the adjoining houses badly, filling gutters and meaning the residents had to have their lights on all the time. The only access was via the storm water gully so not a great deal of room to work in. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

But not every cheap job is done by the guys in the tranny tippers. I posted on another thread that was along the lines of the following; Imagine Joe Bloggs is just starting out. He does a job for Mrs Smith at a cut price rate. Does a good job etc. Mrs Smith tells her knitting circle friends what a good job Joe did and how he was good value. Joe gets a several more jobs out of it and at the end of the first year he's made enough money to pay overheads and a little bit of cash to keep the wolf from the door. The following year, he ups his prices a little. Still gets the work, keeps his customers happy, doesn't have too much big gear so can afford to charge a little less and just take a bit longer. Stacks the rubbish on a truck rather than chipping it so doesn't have to worry about a chipper, fuel etc. I know I started out like this in order to get a foot in the door and it worked pretty well. My first customers still come back to me because they know I do a good job. The price increases they have taken in their stride. Fair enough, I lose a few but not that many in the grand scheme. People seem to forget that we all started out on the bottom rung of the ladder and cheap doesn't always mean a crap job. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Excellent links, suggestions and photos, all taken on board. Thanks heaps for the input so far. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Most firms will provide PPE, it's a requirement, but it probably won't be top of the line. Boots and bling maybe but I wouldn't bother with too much else. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Bet it didn't put you put you off your cider though eh Jon. Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Holy heck, that's a doozy. Any story behind it apart from possible just grabbing the chain for the fun of it?