Rupe

Yep, he sent Jerry some stuff, Its good that Jerry has included stuff from around the world, a gathering of information and practices to add to his own. I don't think he has done much with Beech trees in california!!

Detailed information in the review, but basically it covers the work doen in the tree, not the actual climbing aspect (thats in the first series). Its available from treeworker. Tree Climbing Equipment Online Shop - Treeworker.co.uk - Home Although its not featured on the website yet.

I have written a propper review of it here. http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/rigging-hardware/15987-working-climber-dvd-series-2-cutting-rigging.html But was wonderign if anyone else had seen it and what there thoughts were? I think Jerry has done an awsome job, bringing together all the fundamantals of tree work together into one film, although there is 6 hours of it. Many of the things we don't even know that we know are covered, and many new things also. I learned plenty and it proved I have plenty to learn. Jerry is a true master at his craft.

I have recently been watching this 6 hour DVD box set from Jerry Beranek and its been really interesting.

I can't remember who for or against what anymore, this thread has gone on for so long. I think some worry about what others think and some don't. Life is good because we have different kind of people in it, and thats what makes a good forum too.

Maybe another way of looking at this skills issue is to look at what we skills are needed to start out in the industry?? MAybe that is what defines us as semi skilled? To start as an architect or an engineer requires a degree. To start as a teacher requires a degree and/or the teaching qual thingy. To start as a doctor requires a degree and medical school stuff on top. To start as a tree worker requires nothing! So thats un skilled work. As you progress you get training and experience and quals and can be classed as semi skilled (even though we all accept that it is a skillled trade) in the scheme of things that is all that we are. Theres lots of talk about plumbers having to be corgi etc and we should have something similar, but that is not how it is. Anybody can be employed by a plumber with no exams or much schooling. You don't need corgi to be a plumber! You only need a corgi reg. person or company to fit up the gas to the boiler, the rest can be done by trainee lad under supervison. He then get his quals and tickets at evening school and become skilled at plumbing but its still only a semi skilled job because all trades are semi skilled. Does that help at all? I don't knwo why folk are getting so upset by all this. Tree work is a great trade to be in, and for some who may not have got very far in other proffesions its a great way to be really skilled at something and to make a living from it. But its suitable for a wide range of abilities (achademically) from total thickie to degree capable drop outs, (I'm not saying which of those I am) Common sense and physical ability and determination are of course required but those aspects alone don't make it a skilled proffession. Its a great sense of achievment to be good at something like tree work, and I remind myself how well I've done, and I remember how hard it was to start with. That makes me highly skilled at tree work, but I don't expect to be regarded as a skilled proffesion overall, I'm still just a tree cutter ! I stuffed my A' levels, got turned down by the Navy (I wasn't called Rupert for nothing) because of my laid back attitude, and I fell into tree work for the doss really. The only thing that has made me skilled is the time that has gone by, I had no actual skills at anything except climbing before I started tree work. Making a decent livign out of it?? Well that is a skill in itself!!!!!!!!!

I took my driving test in Swindon, and wen tover the magic roundabout. No worries! Its scary/confusing, so that slows the traffic down and it works quite well.

BArtletts have a base just north of Cirencester. Generally a good area for work, but so is bristol and bath areas.

Apart from ground clearance I would say subaru legacy is the best car/4x4 compromise available.

Mate of mine has a disco M reg for sale 1200 quids.

You cant use it on a lifeline though, it wont realease under a high load so you won't go anywhere! Its only a gri gri but with the handle removed and no spring in it. The gri gri can be used for climbing but its still not ideal, better when used in a rads system. It doesn't have a fail safe either though.

Well I'm not a freelancer now Paul, but I've had my GRCS for 6-7 years and was freelancing when I got it. And mine may have been used on some AAAC site audits a bit nearer to home ! All I can say is that business was good for freelancers who had the right kit! So much so that they set up on their own, especially as a gap was left in the market in this area and CBC found themselves with one less contractor!

Yes or borrowed it from the local freelancer!

John, which one of your kids designed it?

Mines tiny, thats why I use so many other locations when ever possible. I dont' want woodchip in my yard if I can help it, logs only from now on! Also some of my regualar big clients love woodchip so we turn up there with yesterdays woodchip on board and they have that too.

I own one yard already, not looking to pay for any others. I have people all over the place who will take woodchip etc.so whichever is nearest, some only take woodchip others logs etc. so there are always logistics to take into account, as long as I'm not paying to tip then I'm happy.

Why does it say arboricultural on it as well then? Won't that confuse the issue? I know you do tree photos as well but when you are at the hill climb you want to be hillclimb photographer man only, different cards for different jobs.

Yes often I am very close, of course that all gets factord in amd every job is different. I know though that a leave on site will be a better day rate most of the time, but less gross income of course. Another truck woudl be handy in many cases.

Good link thanks. They probably cost more than I would pay for the truck for it to go one, but its a good reference. I'll search ebay some more.

My typign sucks!

Yes i see what you mean. In my case I also charge more for removal, but once my truck is full thats work over till its empty, whereas if its leave on site I can carry on doing tree work all day and end up earning more. PLus my tree work skills (or lack of) are piad for already, but the truck is a consatant expense, so the profit on tree work can be higher. For example 4 trees to dismantle. 450 each to remove from site, each one take two journey to the yard but easily done in a day. So thats 450 a day using two journeys in a truck. Or same trees 250 each to leave on site, get 2 done a day chipped and wood stacked, and only one journey in the truck. Thats more money a day for less outlay, so higher profit margin? Of course the removal nets you more in total but its spreads the timescale massively and reducied % profit, but this can be made up late if you sell the wood etc. But whatever works, we all do a bit of every type of job and it all helps. I just use the "non recyclable" card to get me out of taking garden wast etc. Once tha tis on my truck I cant fit in another job until its empty, and I tip chips and logs in different places so I only want one product on my truck at once if possible.

No, all help welcome. I say Hiab generally as I might say hoover, if I knew what one of those was! 50kgs is too small, I can lift that, but the hand winch ones are generally not waht I'm after. This is the ebay one I've seen, part hydraulic and part manual and is almost ok, an all hydraulic one would be better. Maxilift 12 volt Crane / Hiab on eBay (end time 22-Apr-10 20:18:10 BST)

Yes lots of options. Thanks Liam, that a 013 hiab. smallest I had found so far was a 015, which was too big. Lee, the fassi sounds great but 500kgs at full stretch is almost too good. If that could pick well over a ton at 1m then thats me full in one go. No real need for that, plus it must weigh a lot itself. Liams 013 picks 998kgs at 1m that s plenty. I wonder if there is a smaller one? Trailer is definatly an idea but I have two already, and one is quite easy to roll four foot logs onto without a winch. Also another vehicle would be handy. And a rear mounted hiab would load the trailer also? I can get a dropside LDV cheaper than a new tipping trailer, plus I would need to pay to keep a trailer somewhere (no more space in the lock up) but I get free parkign with my lock up so no extra fees but of course ins.die.tax etc! Anyone got any pics or links for electric?

Right, I don't know much about hi abs and those small swing arm manual loaders that you see on transits etc. But, on ebay there is a part hydraulic and part hand operated lift, with manualy extendable boom, that will pick 850 kgs at 1m 450kgs at 2m and down to 200kgs at 3.5m Well thats more than powerful enough to go on a 35t vehicle. 3 big logs and your up to weight anyway. I was just wondering what the smallest ALL hydraulic hiab type crane would lift, and how kuch it would weigh itself (the more it weighs the less you can carry of course), but I know little about thesethings!! Mr Ed had some small ones on those landy's he bought but I can't find the pictures of those, anyoen got any pics of little cranes?? Basically I am thinking of gettign another truck and flatbed.dropsides are so much cheaper than tippers, so a flat bed with little crane could be just the thing. I have a mate with tractor and timber trailer for proper jobs, just need something I can pick up the odd bit with, and maybe sacks of logs etc.

I think certian record breaking footlocking types use it as there is so little stretch. I'm looking to move away from heat resistant stuff though, burns my hands too much. I'm not leaping aroudn enough these days to melt something to quickly. In the past I've burnt cords out in one climb but I'm too lazy now.