Mark Bolam
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Everything posted by Mark Bolam
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Thanks Andrew. I’d rather not get involved now, I’ve never guaranteed any tree is 100% safe, and I’m not about to start.
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The fans will definitely wear with age, like anything. Could be worth replacing, but it won’t be cheap. It could also be that the B&S engine is just down on power after years of use.
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A guy we have worked for has a mature oak with a large, historic split down the middle fairly close to his house. It would be fairly catastrophic if it failed (the split has been there for years). We could install Cobra bracing, but I have no qualifications in this, and wouldn’t offer him any guarantees in the event of failure. If anyone in Kent (High Halden area) wants to give him a quote for bracing, please could you PM me. I think rods much lower down would help as well, but this isn’t something I have the slightest clue about. He is highly opposed to having the canopy reduced.
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Cut and Climb jacket-are they still available?
Mark Bolam replied to Treetom15's topic in General chat
Try Clark Forest mate. https://www.clarkforest.com/media/uploads/cat-485/clark-forest-catalogue.pdf -
Logging doesn’t get better than this. Me and Macca on the saws ringing at waist level courtesy of a Intermacato Tigercat grapple with a good op.
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Forgot about them Mick. They should be paid every two hours.
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I’d go HP Super personally.
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😂 Summer tyres! They are shipped from Italy mate. I can still get the Fedimas from Portugal. I still have stuff in customs in Oldbury that I paid for in May, excuse me if I doubt the stated delivery times….
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Thanks Blake and RAC Man, but as usual the tyres aren’t available in 185 75 R16. Transits have twin rears, so they are pretty skinny. I really feel the manufacturers are missing a trick here. A Transit will never be a 4x4, but extra traction in some situations would always be appreciated. As someone said earlier in the thread, having the correct rubber is probably the cheapest way to upgrade your vehicle.
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Quick follow up on this. Due to the current supply chain issues VFS have had this part on order for ages and none have come in. They did eventually manage to grab one for me, which arrived today. Fitted in a few minutes, problem solved! Thanks again all, and of course VFS. 👍
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Great vid John!
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Slight derail Paul, but anything you’d recommend for a Transit? My cheapo Fedima AT’s need replacing and I can’t seem to source them any more. I’m after something reasonably priced but with a bit more traction than standard road tyres.
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It’s a lot of work Stu. I would have pushed for lower finishes, but at least your client seems to understand the future implications of this type of work. Bon chance, and finished pics please.
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I hope you’re not spiking them Stu.
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Struggling to find labour? Time to buck up?
Mark Bolam replied to mattalway's topic in Business Management
Thanks for the clarification RC, appreciated. I’m in a pretty good position pricing wise, but I feel for the smaller companies trying to feed 6-man crews constantly. I get on with my local pro competition, and work together now and again, so I’m luckier than most. Taking down 40’ connies doesn’t really need massively pro performance though, does it? We take down far more 40’ connies than 90’ pops. -
Struggling to find labour? Time to buck up?
Mark Bolam replied to mattalway's topic in Business Management
I get where your coming from Treevolution, and agree to a large extent. Mick makes a very valid point though. I think it was Retired Climber on here who said his day rate was £384. If Danny Mac who climbs for me wanted that I’d happily pay him it, because he’s shit hot. BUT he wouldn’t be in very often. I could price it in to big complex takedowns ok, but not on day to day stuff. -
Good to see you back on here Tone.
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Are they a lot lighter then Paul?
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Helluva little machine Mick. Think that one goes about 4.5t. Will lift 3t and wrestle a lot more.
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Machinery for the win for us today too.
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To me it just means they want to bring in people with specialist skill sets. For instance if the school field was a muddy bog, they may co-opt a Governor who is a drainage contractor , or retired drainage contractor. They can’t bring in people who will just vote a certain way to back up their cronies. In theory….
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Used Eve years ago when I was in telecoms, they were brilliant. Put a 1.5 km track in for T-Mobile (One2One back then) for an emergency tower build in a couple of days, in pretty unforgiving terrain. I remember turning up at dusk to do a quick survey and there was a little Gurkha in a sentry box protecting it! Few quids worth there, like. Thanks @dumper, looks like my mate for 2-days with mini loader will be a better option if we can hiab the butt sections over the obligatory school / POW camp palisade fence.
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The 592 looks belting, but I doubt you can beat the crap out of one for 15 years and it still start 2nd or 3rd pull every time! I wouldn’t run a 592 on red oil though, will defo need semi-synth. Get the 592, but I’d really try and keep the 660 as well. £20 offer still stands though mate, I’m a man of my word….
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😂 They are cracking saws Joe. Mine is older than yours, and has been the mainstay of my fleet for that long. £500 seems fair, but I simply wouldn’t sell mine. I’d keep if I was you. Just drain it, and one day after a storm whack the 30” bar back on and you’ll make that in a day. Ran mine on Stihl HP red for years with no issues, runs HP Super now because I switched due to newer auto tune saws, but no problems. Most reliable saw I’ve ever owned.
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I think £20 is about right. Shall I PM my address?
