Mark Bolam

Seriously, I think Skyland’s honesty policy on stock levels is a credit to them. Yes, they have lost sales to me when another top arb supplier has something in stock that they don’t, but they had the decency to tell me that, so I’ll go back there. The real problem is us with our Amazon Prime next day mindset. Those days are gone. There is a world shortage/supply issue with pretty much everything, it’s pretty unfair to rant about arb shops. We need get back to planning ahead a bit more. Spare chain for your primary ground saw and topper? Get some spares in when they are available. It’s not like you won’t use them! I’m as bad as anyone for wanting my luxury bits of bling there and then, but I can also remember the days of A&F Warehouse and Charterhouse Richmond. We maybe need to plan a bit more rather than rant. We have been spoiled for a few years, I think we’ll have to tough it out for a bit.

I don’t care really. It’s all about the free sweets.

😂 That’s what I was looking to get them for. Will put this pic up of them cut into 3 so you can get 24’ of track for every 2 boards.

@Will C has experience here. I’ve just had a quote of £39 + VAT, but that’s for 6mm. I’m a tad worried it might be a bit bendy!

Above my pay grade mate, ask Shigo! I’d say there are good shouts for both, but a lot depends on species, season, cut diameter etc.

Makes sense to me. Keep any new rot issues away from the main bole.

Bigger than they first looked! What’s the craic with leaving the arms on them? More instant headshape when they sprig up?

I find a Ford Transit ideal for handling the second rope.

Well, there was this time I sent him off for a long weight….

What is a clutch? Is that what cars used to have in the old days?

Good follow up Briscoe. Glad you got a result. 👍

I can’t think of a worse time in the last 10 years to be trying to get into arb, regardless of age or fitness.

Register on here - https://arbtalk.co.uk/recycling?nearby=100&lat=51.06763663809168&lon=0.8553085328971585 @Steve Bullman would this be better off in the General forum?

Just for the record, the two ‘tree surgeons’ who ‘chopped the top off and hoped it would get back into shape’ weren’t actually tree surgeons.

@AHPP

I love it when a plan comes together!

6mm stockboard is apparently the kiddy mate.

Is it literally beside a house, or up a side entrance beside a house?

That’s a great combo for payload, not so great for short domestic drives, and chipper. There is no one perfect set up.

Drenaline and Tach have too much bounce for SRT. I’ve found none-CE Donaghys Cougar Blue to be great for both. Nod at Treeworker can usually get it. Mine is 50m. There’s probably loads of new stuff out now that is as good or better. I also use the Jet Step, teamed up with a HAAS Velox 2.0.

That’s alright mate, I have a loader….

Slight derail on the attachment/welding stuff, but does anyone have experience of working on ground protection mats with mini loaders? We have a few jobs I could tow the chipper in with, but there’s lots of moving brash and timber (albeit staying on site) and the shift from the drop zone to the landing would look like The Somme if we do it now. Piss wet through heavy clay. Might be able to borrow some mats from a civils contact.

Tyres can make a big difference on 2WD’s. I chucked some cheapo Fedima AT’s on the (twin) rears on the Transit a few years ago. They are basically BFG AT copies. Made a huge difference on wet grass, slippy gateways etc. Couldn’t source them in skinny tyre size last time, in this country at least, (185/75/r16), so went for something less aggressive, and have regretted it. If you’re wallowing in mud, forget it, but the extra traction in a lot of situations can really help.

@Joe Newton f**k off before you start.

That’s the kiddy I meant. My mate Von who I am in a loose partnership has one, and it’s a beast of a machine. Worlds apart from a 150. Don’t know how the new smaller engined version compares, but that Kubota will probably still be chucking out the horses when most of us are dribbling cocoa in a care home.